Rich Line

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Rich Line Boats

Richland Mfg. Co.

Box 908

Richland, Missouri


Additional address is 526 Woodruff Bldg., Springfield, Missouri.


Richland Manufacturing Company was incorporated in 1953 to build aluminum boats; the first production boats were made in 1954. In the 1959 Rich Line brochure, both Rich Line and SeaFury boats are advertised. Rich Line bought Sea Fury Boats in late 1958 in order to add a fiberglass model line. This 1959 brochure lists manufacturing plants in Richland and Conway, Missouri as well as Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Sales Manager, J. B. Appleby, left Rich Line in 1960 to found Appleby Boats. He later returned to buy the company in the 1970's and consolidated operations under the Appleby Boats brand. In addition to boats, Rich Line offered a line of boat and camping trailers.


History

Boating World Article Thanks to George Schneider

                                         The Origin of Rich Line Aluminum Boats by George Schneider      


In the summer of 1952 my father, Gordon L. Schneider and I were standing on the dock at Hyde-Away-Cove at the Lake of the Ozarks watching a Lone Star crossing the lake. My dad commented that he could make an aluminum boat that would plane better than that. He was silent for a time. Then, he said, "George that is what we are going to build at that old Shell Pumping Station in Richland." I had no idea what a Shell Pumping Station was and I had never heard of Richland, Missouri.

On May 4 of 1953 the articles of incorporation with 8 members were filed by Gordon L. Schneider with the Secretary of State, State of Missouri. They were approved, creating Richland Manufacturing Company, on May 14, 1953. By August of 1953 we had moved from Independence, Missouri to Richland and I had seen the Shell Pumping Station which my dad was turning into a boat production plant.

My dad was well qualified by the summer of 1953 to create, design, build and produce aluminum boats. He started out in Independence, Missouri as a metallurgist, then worked his way up in the world of manufacturing. During World War II he was Chief Cost Accountant for Lake City Ordinance Plant in Lake City, Missouri. After the war he went to work for Vendo in Kansas City as their Assistant Plant Manager. He then managed several small businesses in the Kansas City area like Stalcup Sign Company, Peterson Manufacturing, and Northeast Tool and Die.

In August of 1953 Richland Manufacturing Company began fiber glassing the wooden boats from the resorts of the Lake of the Ozarks to help finance Rich Line Aluminum Boats. The first Rich Lines were tested at the Lake of the Ozarks in the spring of 1954. By the fall of 1955 Rich Line aluminum fishing boats, runabouts, and houseboats were streaming off the production line at two shifts a day, five days a week. The Governor of Illinois purchased one of the houseboats. By early 1956, 6,000 Rich Lines had been sold.

This drew the attention of the Springfield News and Leader. Don Payton, a reporter for the newspaper took a tour of Richland Manufacturing Company and his news article, “At Three year old plant: Boat Building Is Big Business” appeared Sunday, April 15, 1956.

My dad sold the company in 1957. Richland Manufacturing continued making boats another 21 years. They also purchased Sea Fury and Tom Sawyer Boats for an early fiberglass line. The Rich Line name continued until 2003. In the 2003 July-August issue of “Boating Life” there is an ad for a Rich Line Pontoon Series along with a Rich Line Web Address which was later taken down.

Some 63 years, after the articles of incorporation creating Richland Manufacturing Company, there are still Rich Line Aluminum boats performing like it was their first day. Many resorts even today offer Rich lines as part of their vacation packages. These boats were built by hard working men of the Ozarks who poured their hearts and souls into them. It is in part a testimony to their work ethic, and my dad's vision, that these boats are still giving service.

The last brochure I have been able to locate by Richland Manufacturing is circa 1973. The corporation was dissolved on 11-27-78 by the Secretary of State, State of Missouri.

If anyone has information to contribute, sees something they consider to be misinformation, or has a Rich Line brochure, I would greatly appreciate the input.


Model Information

1963 Outboard Boat Trade-In Guide Blue Book


Undated Information

Miscellaneous


1954 Information

1954 Brochure Thanks to George Schneider


1955 Information

1955 Brochure Thanks to George Schneider


1956 Information

1956 Brochure Thanks to George Schneider


1956 Miscellaneous

1957 Information

1957 Boats Brochure Thanks to George Schneider


1957 Houseboat Brochure Thanks to George Schneider


1957 Miscellaneous


1958 Information

1958 Brochure Thanks to George Schneider


1958 Miscellaneous


1959 Information

1959 Brochure Thanks George Schneider


1959 Houseboat Brochure Thanks George Schneider


1959 Miscellaneous


1960 Information

1960 Brochure Thanks to George Schneider


2nd 1960 Brochure Thanks to George Schneider


1960 Miscellaneous


1961 Information

1961 Information Thanks to George Schneider


1962 Information

1962 Brochure Thanks to George Schneider


1963 Information

1963 Brochure Thanks to George Schneider


1963 Miscellaneous

1964 Information

1964 Brochure Thanks to George Schneider


1965 Information

1965 Brochure Thanks to George Schneider


2nd 1965 Brochure Thanks to George Schneider


1965 Miscellaneous


1966 Information

1966 Miscellaneous


1967 Information

1967 Brochure Thanks to George Schneider


1967-1968 Houseboat Brochure Thanks to George Schneider


1967-1968 Fiberglass Boats Brochure Thanks to George Schneider


1968 Information

1968 Brochure Thanks to George Schneider


1968 Miscellaneous


1969 Information

1969-1970 Brochure Thanks to George Schneider


1969-70 Houseboat Brochure Thanks George Schneider


1969 Miscellaneous


1970 Information

1970 Brochure Thanks George Schneider


1971 Information

1971 Brochure Thanks George Schneider

1972 Information

1972 Brochure Thanks George Schneider


1972 Miscellaneous

1973 Information

1973 Brochure Thanks George Schneider


1974 Information

1974 Miscellaneous


Rich Line Boats in Use


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