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Page 20. MAINE COASTAL NEWS April 2010
HONEST LES AND MANSET MARINE SUPPLY
in the dry air of Arizona which he later said
Continued from Page 19.
was of little help. The first winter with Wally
that moment Alton was shoveling fish parts away, Bill needed another salesman. He
and gurry off the floor. Les offered him a job handed Les a pencil, pad of paper, keys to one
at Manset Marine and as the story goes of the two new Plymouths they’d purchased
Alton dropped his shovel (I imagine cleaned from “Skip” Getchell at Southwest Motor
up) and went immediately to Southwest Har- Company, patted him on the back and said,
bor and started work that day. “Bob” Hebron, “Go out and make some sales.”
“Howie” Crafts, “Mert” Murphy, “Rip” Les, nervous as anyone would be, made
Reed, Paul Robinson, Sheila Farrell, Faith one of his first stops at Camden Shipyard
Ramsdell, and Mary Menfi were also added to owned by Capt. Bill Peterson, brother of the
the roster. “Howie” left in the fifties to be- well known schooner designer Murray
come “Mr. Crafts” and resume a teaching Peterson. Sensing Les’s apprehension, Capt.
career. I was later to take math from him at Peterson soon put him at ease. Talking like a
Pemetic High School. Dutch uncle he gave Les this advice. He said,
Wally Birlem, an excellent salesman was “Know your product and always be honest.”
continually plagued with severe asthma. “Honest Les from Southwest” was on
One of Manset Marine's buildings.
During the winters of ’47, ’48, and ’49 he his way.
worked for. If you were making money for him to those of us just starting out. He knew his
would leave for a few months to spend time From “Honest Les” came the quip,
he’d leave you alone and take good care of product and I could always count on him to
“Honest Les from Southwest, all the you.” come up with a solution to get me out of a
boys lie like hell, Honest Les the Quite apparently if MMSCO, now predicament. Les was good about bringing
truth will tell.” named Mansco were to continue on a path of product reps around to meet us. I remember
Manset Marine Supply Co. steady growth, the old store in Southwest well when Les introduced us to Bernie
continued to grow rapidly as area would be too confining. In 1968 Mansco Davies, the Hynautic (Hydraulic) steering
& COMPANY, INC.
sales expanded to include the entire moved into a spanking new 140’ x 140’ steel representative from Atlantic Marketing, an-
state. By 1956 Marine Services in building in Rockland, Maine. With glass other legend in the boatbuilding industry.
BOATBUILDING
Boothbay, a similar operation was walled offices and modern warehouse, the Bernie easily convinced us to try their new
& purchased from well-known building must have seemed huge compared steering system and we became the first in the
CUSTOM JOINERY
yachtsman, Carlyle Watson. With to the some 40’ x 100’ wood structure they’d state to try it and have used it since.
diligent work and planning MMSCO come so far in. Thus Mansco was now poised In 1969 another company, Sargent &
Current Projects:
became one of the largest marine for future expansion. Centrally located, the Lord of Portland, Maine was purchased.
Fife 8-Meter yacht "Quest" in for structural repairs.
supply companies in the region. state and other parts of New England were Sargent & Lord was not only a marine supply
Eventually a catalog was written now divided into territories with a salesman company, they also had industrial hardware.
34' Herreshoff yacht "Aida" - new construction.
which made both the salesman’s life for each. Les’ area covered from Eastport to For some time the corporate identities were
Just launched:
and their clients’ much easier. __________________. New salesmen were maintained with the industrial hardware re-
29’ Stephens, Waring & White launch powered by a
Then, catastrophe struck. In added and the “bible”, Mansco’s catalog maining with Sargent & Lord.
Steyr Hybrid diesel/electricsystem.
the summer of 1966, Bill Johnson, was close to 2” thick and included over 25,000 An interesting sidebar, Harry Miller who
See us at the 2010 Maine Boatbuilders Show. while playing tennis, dropped dead items from some 800 manufacturers. founded Harry Miller Co. started his com-
of a heart attack. Wally, though the As a boat builder, life became a whole lot pany selling marine hardware in Boston by
business was doing well, was un- simpler and efficient. I could call in an order pushing a wheelbarrow with marine items
able to secure financing to buy out by a certain day of the week and get delivery from ship to ship. His philosophy “Sell a
the partnership and MMSCO was by “Honest Les” in one of his famous Ford quality product, provide a real service, and
21 FRONT STREET sold to Harry Miller Co. of Boston, “Country Squire” station wagons or on your customers are your friends”.
BELFAST, MAINE 04915
owned at that time by Sydney Miller. Mansco’s delivery trucks that same week. It Harry Miller died shortly after his son
207~338~6706
Les has said he always had a was fun as well to see Les on his visits. He was Sydney graduated from college. Sydney
www.frenchwebb.com
high regard for Mr. Miller. “Syd always upbeat, had a new story or bit of
Continued on Page 21.
Miller was the best man I ever gossip to share or a word of encouragement
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