Zimmer Corporation
Donald Zimmer started "Zimmer Boat & Trailer" in the 1930s until the start of WWII when building supplies were reserved for the war efforts. After the war, in 1947, Donald started Princess Homes, first in Elwood, Indiana and relocating to Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania in the early 1960s. At that time, his sons , Paul and Don ran the company with Paul relocating the headquarters to Florida in the mid-1960s.
Zimmer Trailer advertisements circa 1948
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1949 "Wee Zim"
Curtis R. writes -
I own the only known surviving Wee Zim trailer. It was restored in 2015 for someone's static collection. I'm busy now trying to make it more road/camping ready. Also making it back to being period correct (1949 not 2015). The trailer is very unique, it is a rear entry, enlarged Teardrop style, that when you lift the roof the bottom center goes down automatically, and vise versa when lowering the roof. If you have any info on my Zimmer Wee Zim I would be most grateful. I will attach some of what I have found.
If anyone has any more information on these neat little trailers, send an email to Curtis directly at curtis_richards(at)aol.com (replace the (at) with @ when sending).
We can't imagine there are many of these around, either! A 1949 Zimmer Trailers brochure - originally 16 pages each measuring 11x15.5 inches this one is missing pages 12, 13 and 14 which appear to be floorplans for the models shown in this brochure. Anyone out there have one of these trailers of even the same brochure - contact us!
1956 Zimmer Industries Wayfarer brochure - some models cost as much as $6,450 - equivalent to over $72,000 in 2022!
In 1968, Princess Homes changed it's names to Zimmer Homes Corporation. At the same time it applied to have it shares listed on the American Stock Exchange after being an OTC company for many years. In 1982, the company's board voted to change it name to Zimmer Corporation and was re-incorporated in Delaware.
Over the years, it's subsidiaries manufactured a broad range of recreational vehicles, luxury automobiles, yachts manufactured housing and trailer homes in factories in at least as many as eight states. At it's peak, Zimmer Corporation employed more than 1,600 people.
In the 1980s, Zimmer produced at least two quarterly publications "intended for the members of Zimmer Corporation, friends and affiliates in the trade" and others who may have had an interest in the company.
The "premiere" issue, dated January 1984, is below and just below that, the next issue dated May - August 1984.
Does anyone know how long this continued or if these two were it? Contact us if you have any other copies!
The "premiere" issue, dated January 1984, is below and just below that, the next issue dated May - August 1984.
Does anyone know how long this continued or if these two were it? Contact us if you have any other copies!
This rarely seen "Zimmer Corporation Third Quarter Report 1986" was provided by former Zimmer employee, Chuck Bourdreau. Like other Zimmer printed matter, very high quality printing and visually appealing photography.
Do you have any other of these quarterly or perhaps even an annual report?
Do you have any other of these quarterly or perhaps even an annual report?
Contact us if you have any other copies - we'd love to add them to the archive!
Employee service awards used to be more common at companies than they are today. Zimmer Corporation instituted an awards program with the help of a company called O.C. Tanner (still in business today). This brochure was handed out to employees, but it's apparent from looking at it that Zimmer had a hand in the design, as it follows the "look and feel" of Zimmer's other brochures.
Zimmer History - as reported by the press
Below is a chronologically sorted collection of newspaper stories regarding the Zimmer Corporation. It is intended to provide a look into the company history as reported by the local media at the time. Scroll through, or click on a decade below to jump to that point in this historical chronology!
1940s
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Detroit Free Press, - December 3, 1947
Detroit Free Press, - October 19, 1949
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Detroit Free Press - October 3, 1949
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1950s
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The Call Leader - August 31, 1950
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The Call Leader - June 20, 1952
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The Call Leader - October 29, 1952
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The Call Leader - February 9, 1957
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1960s
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The Selinsgrove Times-Tribune - April 27, 1961
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Sunbury Daily Item - June 15, 1961
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The Selinsgrove Times-Tribune - July 6, 1961
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The Selinsgrove Times-Tribune - September 21, 1961
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Sunbury Daily Item - October 13, 1961
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Sunbury Daily Item - June 29, 1962
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Sunbury Daily Item - August 11, 1962
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Sunbury Daily Item - December 31, 1965
The Palm Beach Post - January 30, 1966
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The Tampa Tribune - June 14, 1966
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Fort Lauderdale News - July 13, 1966
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Fort Lauderdale News - July 17, 1966
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Fort Lauderdale News - July 30, 1966
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Fort Lauderdale News - July 25, 1967
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Fort Lauderdale News - August 23, 1967
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Fort Lauderdale News - October 20, 1967
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Fort Lauderdale News - March 10, 1968
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Fort Lauderdale News - April 24, 1968
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Fort Lauderdale News - June 2, 1968
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Miami Herald - June 9, 1968
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Miami Herald - June 11, 1968
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Fort Lauderdale News - July 28 , 1968
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Tampa Bay Times - July 7, 1968
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Miami Herald - July 21, 1968
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Miami Herald - July 24, 1968
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Fort Lauderdale News - August 27, 1968
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Miami Herald - October 6, 1968
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Fort Lauderdale News - May 26, 1969
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Fort Lauderdale News - August 7, 1969
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1970s
Fort Lauderdale News - February 24, 1970
The Miami Herald - February 18, 1971
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Fort Lauderdale News - August 4, 1971
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Orlando Sentinel - October 27, 1971
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Miami News - May 8, 1972
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The Miami Herald - Aug 1, 1972
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Fort Lauderdale News - Sep 30, 1972
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Tampa Bay Times - October 25, 1972
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Fort Lauderdale News - October 25, 1973
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Miami News - June 7, 1974
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Miami Herald - October 22, 1974
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Miami News - November 6, 1974
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Miami Herald - November 19, 1974
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Fort Lauderdale News - January 22, 1975
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Miami Herald - February 19, 1975
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Fort Lauderdale News - July 30, 1975
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Miami News - February 18, 1976
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Fort Lauderdale News -Apr 17, 1976
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Fort Lauderdale News - July 28, 1976
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Orlando Sentinel - July 26, 1977
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Tampa Bay Times - September 20, 1977
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Orlando Sentinel - August 1,1978
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Miami Herald - August 11, 1978
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Fort Lauderdale News - October 23, 1979
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Miami Herald - November 10, 1979
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1980s
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Miami Herald - August 4, 1980
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Miami Herald - November 26, 1980
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Fort Lauderdale News - February 24, 1981
Fort Lauderdale News - March 22, 1981
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Fort Lauderdale News - March 22, 1981
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Download a higher resolution PDF version here.
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Fort Lauderdale News - July 28, 1981
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Miami Herald - December 5, 1981
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Fort Lauderdale News - January 26, 1982
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Fort Lauderdale News - February 23, 1982
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Fort Lauderdale News - April 27, 1982
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Fort Lauderdale News - May 6, 1982
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Tampa Bay Times - June 27, 1982
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Fort Lauderdale News - August 14, 1982
Tampa Bay Times - October 17, 1982
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Miami Herald - December 15, 1982
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Fort Lauderdale News - April 19, 1983
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Miami Herald - April 27, 1983
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Fort Lauderdale News - May 3, 1983
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Miami Herald - May 23, 1983
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Fort Lauderdale News - May 31, 1983
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Fort Lauderdale News - June 4, 1983
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Miami Herald - June 13, 1983
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Fort Lauderdale News - July 26, 1983
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Miami Herald - July 28, 1983
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Fort Lauderdale News - August 2, 1983
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Miami Herald - September 22, 1983
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Fort Lauderdale News - October 27, 1983
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Miami Herald - March 12, 1984
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Miami Herald - May 1, 1984
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Miami Herald - July 31, 1984
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Miami Herald - September 3, 1984
Miami Herald - April 30, 1985
Miami Herald - July 30, 1985
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Miami Herald - November 1, 1985
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South Florida Sentinel - April 30, 1986
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The Daily Oklahoman - September 7, 1986
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Palm Beach Post - May 19, 1987
Palm Beach Post - May 25, 1987
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The Miami Herald - May 11, 1988
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The Miami Herald - August 6, 1988
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Miami Herald - October 6, 1988
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The Miami Herald - October 17, 1988
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Miami Herald - March 17, 1989
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Miami Herald - March 30, 1989
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South Florida Sun-Sentinel - July 18, 1989
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