Bluebill
Bluebill Marine Specialties (BMS) is famous for the Bluebill sleigh. BMS offered the following colors: Black, Blue, Blue/White, Orange,
Red, Red/Black, Red/White, and Yellow.
Many snowmobile dealers that brand(s) didn't offer sleighs/cuttters
sold Bluebills and Sno-Cruisers (below) to fill the void. Some dealers even put decals on them to match the
sled color. An example example is the vintage picture showing a black
Bluebill with Arctic Cat Logo decal being towed by an Arctic Cat. It has not yet been confirmed if BMS actually made this
item or was end product assembly. Some believe yes BMS did and some believe
Trayco in Lapeer may have made different styles of cutters and sleighs for others to offer. If you can help with more information please let us know. Also, back in the 1970s BMS was located at 23733 Dhondt Ct in Mt. Clemens, 48043. Later rezoning moved the street city to Chesterfield, 48051 and relined the numbering system.
General Aluminum Products (GAP)
GAP in Charlotte released their first production sleigh in 1967. Over the years GAP made one and multi-passenger;
Rescue Unit; Sno-Camper (like a Pop-Up
Travel Trailer); and an utility fold down Dog Sled style sleigh.
GAP Rescue Unit
The GAP Sno-Cruiser Rescue Unit was basically a portable stretcher on skies with a 360 degree freedom of movement hitch. It came with a folding hospital stretcher that locked into position and a built-in kit box to store medical supplies. It was offered on an order only basis with basic list price of
$350. Special thanks to Steve B for allowing us to use three photos of his
Rescue Unit.
GAP Sno-Camper
The GAP Sno-Cruiser Sno-Camper was truly an all-season camper. After winter it fit into a pickup truck! It slept two adults that set up and folded down in minutes. An optional ice fishing hole made for shirt sleeve fishing in
comfort. There is one on display at the Top of the Lake Snowmobile
Museum in Naubinway.
GAP Sno-Cruiser
This was one of the most popular non-OEM sleighs ever. Like the Bluebill above, many snowmobile dealers
sold Sno-Cruisers. Some even matched color schemes and put decals on them to match the
sled (examples: "Massey-Ferguson (MF), Scorpion, ski-daddler, Ski-Whiz,
and skiroule to name a few). MF even sold
re-branded Charlotte based GAP Sno-Cruisers as there own. They were one of the few that actually had GAP Sno-Cruisers in their dealership
brochures. Sadly many Sno-Cruisers that were in the barn;
yard or weeds waiting to be found were indeed found by scrappers in the mid-2000s when Aluminum prices were at an all time high. The skis didn't take up much actual space and were heavy.
GAP Utility Sled
The GAP Sno-Cruiser Utility Sled was first offered for the 1969-1970 winter
season. A very high quality aluminum dog sled style sleigh that folded down to 10" high and weighed less than 60 lbs with a list price of just under $100. An
optional Comfort Kit (Front Snow deflector, Side Curtains and Cushions) was available for $25.
Lakeland MFG
Co Inc
Lakeland Manufacturing Company Inc out of Manchester, Michigan made fiberglass
sleighs and the Versa-Cap one and two snowmobile trailer covers in the early
1970s until around 1974. Some assets where sold off in the mid-'70s.
Lake Land
This sleigh was sold by Lake Land Specialties (LLS) out of Alpena. It has not
yet been confirmed if they actually made this item. Some believe yes LLS
did, some believe Trayco in Lapeer may have made different styles of cutters and
sleighs for others to offer, and yet some believe Lakeland Manufacturing
Company out of Manchester did. If you can help with more information,
please let us know.
Linabery
Linabery Sleighs were made in Gladwin in the late 1960s and early '70s.
Very unique design mixing the Trapper Sleigh style with the sit down
cutter. Best of both worlds! Sadly, only one is known to exist
(pictured).
Mush Sleigh
The Mush Sleigh was made by Alloy Marine in Algonac. Styled after the Alaskan Dog Sled this folding sleigh was
primarily made of rugged steel. It came in black or Tangerine. The Mush Sleigh logo and sleigh itself is one of the most beloved for Michigan collectors.
PAMCO
George Pardonnet started Pardonnet Mfg Co Inc (PAMCO) in the mid-1960s. PAMCO products were outstanding quality. Their single wide snowmobile trailer (Swivel Tongue) is still often seen in use around the Great Lakes state. Fun n Snow Camper was truly All-Season (carry in Station Wagon, in a Pick-Up Bed or Towed by a Snowmobile). For unknown reasons PAMCO creased production in the late-1970s. The also made a snowmobile sleigh--can you help with info?
Sno Savage
Ski-Bobbing in the late 1960s was huge in Europe. People not comfortable on skis or looking for something different than skiing on the steep Alpine slopes turned to
Ski-Bob(s). A Ski-Bob has a single frame with a steering ski up front and fixed rear ski attached with a seat, the rider would strap on skis. Very stable! With the off-shore market starting to impact domestic Mini-Bike and related sales Michigan based Michrina Enterprises (Lil' Indian) got in the Ski-Bob game with their Sno Savage. It was a quality made product just like everything Michrina did; however, it faced the same problem that Michigan's Sherman Poppen's Snurfer did--almost all of the ski lodges wouldn't allow it on the slopes. There were a lot of Sno Savages laying around in 1971 and it did gain some traction with Skijoring (a winter sport in which a person on skis is pulled by a horse, a dog or a motor vehicle). Well, what better motor vehicle than a snowmobile! A
later Sno Savage advertising picture even showed
one being towed by a sled. Thanks to Cliff S for sending the picture.
The Sliding Machine
This dual purpose toboggan was made in Detroit for the slopes and snowmobiling with IEC's one ton pull capacity Sno-mobile hitch.
Trayco
Trayco Company Inc in Lapeer made a snowmobile sleighs and ice fishing
shanties in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The Trayco Tracer was their most popular model. The Trayco Snow Traveler Camper was
one of very few snowmobile sleigh campers..
Voyager
Voyager Products Inc started making sleighs in the late 1960s in Detroit across from the old Packard Plant. After 1971 they moved to Mt Clemens. The one pictured was made in Mt. Clemens.
Yukon
Craftline Industries from 1971 to 1978 in Algonac made four models of fiberglass canoes; an 11-foot, two-passenger, sport runabout called the Scat-A-Boat; along with Yukon snowmobile sleighs. Thanks to Doug L for the pictures and
identifying this recently uncovered piece of Michigan snowmobile history.
Dedication and Thank You
Dedicated to those who invented; designed; made; sold; serviced; and owned Snowmobiles,
Over Snow Vehicles (OSV), and End Item related OSV products made in Michigan. Thanks to those who helped contribute with special mention US Patent Office, Google Patents,
Google Books, Popular Science magazine, The Winning Edge Magazine, Lisa from the Lakeview Area Museum, Oakland County Historical Resources, Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum, Richard L (Editor and Publisher of the Presque Isle County Advance), twintrackworld web site, the late Bud Knapp for inspiration, Chris B of Premier
RPC, Bob H, Bob L and Norma in Special Collections at the Alpena County Library,
Bob W, Brent C, Charlie and Marilyn V, Cliff S (Mini-Bike OSV Section and Snow-Trac), Doug L, Doug M,
E.F. Lindsey, Edward J, Holli T, Jeff H, John Gendregske, Kevin M, Les H, Richard H, Roger and Karen J, Steve B, Steve and Sherry L,
Todd K, and John M for access to his extensive research and
photos.