Torpedo, bomb loader, made in York, Pa., turns up in Tennessee museum

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This artist’s rendering shows the original ACCO Chain plant in York, Pa., built in 1916 and 1917. Peerless Chain Co. in Minnesota purchased the chain side of ACCO Chain & Lifting Products, then in York Township, in 2006. The lifting products side remains in York. The building now housing York’s Cable House apartments was part of the East Princess Street manufacturing complex. Also of interest: Jeep prototype has York County WWII roots and York-made vehicle welcome to retirement home in York, Pa..

York County – and the stuff made here – just shows up everywhere. For example, in Sevierville, Tenn., in the foothills of the Smokies.
The Tennessee Museum of Aviation has acquired a World War II bomb and torpedo truck, a small bomb loading machine, that was made in York, Pa. (See photo below.)
The truck was dated 1943 and manufactured by Manley Manufacturing, a division of American Chain and Cable, widely known as ACCO.
The following is taken off the vehicle’s data plate:

U.S. NAVY
Bureau of Ordnance
BOMB & TORPEDO TRUCK
Mark 2 -Mod.3
Capacity 2500 LBS.
Date 1943
s/n 2141902
Wt. 1108 LBS.
MFD by MANLEY MFG. DIV.
American Chain & Cable Co. Inc.
YORK, PA

ACCO’s chain side, a manufacturing force in York County for decades, was sold to Peerless Chain Co. of Winona, Minn., in 2006. The lifting products side operates in York Township.
At that time of the sale, ACCO was down to 40-50 employees at its York Township plant.
Georg Sheets’ “Made in York” noted the wide use of ACCO chains in World War II as part of the rigging that handled cargoes – including bombs and torpedoes – on Navy ships.
The book also mentioned the bomb and torpedo truck of the type secured by the Tennessee museum.
“The Manley Division of ACCO worked with the U.S. Navy in developing a portable bomb hoist and bomb trucks. Cranes made by ACCO were also used in shipyards to move ships of all sizes.”
Drawing courtesy of York County Heritage Trust

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