Mobile Aerial Towers Inc

Mobile Aerial Towers Inc was an aerial platform manufacturer located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Founded in 1950 the company offered a series of aerial platforms for tree services, utility companies and the aerospace industry. The company would begin to offer articulating boom aerial platforms to the fire service in 1959. Mobile Aerial Towers Inc. declared bankruptcy in 1992.
==History==
After the delivery of a Pitman Snorkel in 1958, the Chicago Fire Department was looking to add more units of that type to its fleet. In 1959 they purchased two units from Mobile Aerial Towers which the company named Hi-Ranger Snorkel. M.A.T. offered these aerial platforms in a range of heights from 50 to 85 feet.
In 1960 Van Pelt became the west coast distributor for the Hi-Ranger utilizing the units on both commercial and custom chassis apparatus. Duke Lawn Equipment of Burlington, Ontario would become the Canadian distributor at about the same time. In the mid 1960s, Ward LaFrance became the East Coast distributor. 
The company was having financial difficulties in the 1980s and no Hi-Ranger Snorkels were built between 1982 and 1986. The last Hi-Ranger Snorkel was delivered in 1987.
==Sources==
*Barrett, Paul R. Elevating Platforms. Hudson, WI: Iconografix, 2006. ISBN 978-1583881644 
*McCall, Walter M.P. Illustrated Encyclopedia of American Fire Engine Manufacturers. Hudson, WI: Iconografix, 2007. ISBN 9781583882528 
*Madderom, Charles Van Pelt Fire Apparatus. Hudson, WI: Iconografix, 2005. ISBN 978-1583881439
Category:Defunct Apparatus Component Manufacturers
Category:Aerial devices