Tow trucks, also known as wreckers or recovery vehicles, can be seen all over the world providing essential roadside assistance. But who built the first tow truck? The answer is not so simple.
The earliest known example of a tow truck dates back to 1916. A patent for the first motorized tow truck was granted to Ernest Holmes Sr., of Chattanooga Tennessee.
He designed and built a gasoline-powered wrecker for his garage, which he named “The Holmes. “
Holmes’ invention was based on a previous design by Emory F. Holmes (no relation). Emory’s model used a chain-driven winch powered by a hand crank to lift cars from ditches and other difficult locations. Ernest’s version used an electric winch powered by an internal combustion engine.
However, there are some who dispute Ernest Holmes Sr.’s claim to being the inventor of the modern tow truck. Another popular candidate is Albert Ernst Erskine, an inventor from Arkansas who patented a similar vehicle in 1919.
Erskine’s design, like Ernest’s, was powered by an internal combustion engine and featured a winch and cable system for hauling vehicles out of difficult spots. However, Erskine added several improvements over Ernest’s version including a telescopic boom arm and improved safety features.
Although both inventors created similar designs around the same time, neither one can definitively be credited with inventing the modern tow truck. It is likely that both men were inspired by earlier designs and adapted their own versions based on what they had seen before.
Conclusion: Who built the first tow truck? The answer is not clear-cut as there are multiple claimants to this title.
Ernest Holmes Sr., Albert Ernst Erskine and possibly others are all credited with creating similar designs around the same time period in history. What is certain is that both men made significant contributions to the development of this essential roadside assistance vehicle.
