Wienermobile

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". A fleet of brandmobiles shaped like a hot dog on a bun, called "Wienermobiles", are used to promote and advertise Oscar Mayer products in the United States. The first Wienermobile was created by Oscar Mayer's nephew, Carl G. Mayer, in 1936.[1] For a brief period in 2023, it was renamed the "Frankmobile", but following popular demand, the name was changed back to "Wienermobile."[2]

First version and debut

The initial 1936 vehicle—not yet termed a "Wienermobile" in publicity—weighed 2000 pounds and cost $5000 to fabricate.[3] Its first public appearance was in Janesville, Wisconsin on 16-17 October 1936, having been completed in Chicago the day preceding (15 October).[4] Appearing with the new vehicle was Oscar Mayer’s “World’s Smallest Chef”— “19 years old, 42 inches tall, and weighs 45 pounds.”[5] The identify of this first “Little Oscar” making promotional appearances is not known. Meinhardt Raabe took the position only sometime after his mid-1937 hiring by Oscar Mayer,[6] and held it until at least 1941.[7][8]

The “Wienermobile” promotional name didn’t exist in the 1930s-40s and debuted only in 1951.[9] In the 1936-41 years publicity for the vehicle is variously “Wiener Truck,”[10] “Oscar Meyer Truck,”[11] “German Wiener Sound Car,”[12] “World’s Largest Wiener Car,”[13] and “Giant Wiener Sound Truck”[14]

History

File:Wienermobile-NAIAS-2005.jpg
The 1952 Oscar Mayer Wienermobile at the 2005 North American International Auto Show
File:Oscar Mayer Weinermobile.jpg
An Oscar Mayer Wienermobile in Royal Oak, Michigan, in 2022

The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile has evolved from Carl Mayer's original 1936 vehicle[1] to the vehicles seen on the road today. Although the first Wienermobile was scrapped for metal in the 1940s to aid the US Army during World War II,[15] Oscar Mayer and the Gerstenslager Company created several new vehicles using a Dodge chassis[16] or a Willys Jeep chassis in the 1950s. The 1952[17] model is on display at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. Beginning in the 1950s Wienermobiles were usually piloted by "Little Oscar" (portrayed by George Molchan) who would visit stores, schools, orphanages, and children's hospitals and participate in parades and festivals.[18] Noted industrial designer Brooks Stevens is also credited with a "new look" 1950s design, taking advantages of the possibilities of modern molded fiberglass construction[19] "to put the wiener in the bun" in 1958.[20]

In 1969, new Wienermobiles were built on a Chevrolet motor home chassis and featured Ford Thunderbird taillights. The 1969 vehicle was the first Wienermobile to travel outside the United States.Template:Fact

In 1976, Plastic Products, Inc., built a fiberglass and styrofoam model, again on a Chevrolet motor home chassis.Template:Fact

In 1988, Oscar Mayer had a fleet of six Wienermobiles built using converted Chevrolet van chassis; by 1995 all had accumulated more than 250,000 miles.[21]

In 1995, a new version increased the size of the Wienermobile to a length of Script error: No such module "convert". and a height of Script error: No such module "convert"..[22] This version also included the upgraded large parallelogram windows which could now open, as designed by Sheldon Theis.Template:Fact

Following mechanical problems with the Isuzu NPR, Oscar Mayer decided to adopt a larger chassis to accommodate an increase in the size of the signature wiener running through the middle. While the Wienermobile was not as long as the 1995 version, it was considerably wider and taller. Craftsmen Industries went through numerous overhauls of the truck including a flipped axle and a leveling kit. This version held a record for numerous suspension problems, most leading to the chassis not being able to hold the large weight of the Oscar Mayer Wiener.Template:Fact

In 2004, Oscar Mayer announced a contest whereby customers could win the right to use the Wienermobile for a day. Within a month, the contest had generated over 15,000 entries.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

In June 2017, the company introduced several new hot dog-themed vehicles, including the WienerCycle, WienerRover, and WienerDrone.[23]

In May 2023, Oscar Mayer announced that it was renaming the Wienermobile to the Frankmobile, to promote a new recipe for its all-beef franks. It was suggested that the name change would not be permanent.[24][25] The name was changed back in September 2023.[26]

For Carb Day, prior to the 2025 Indianapolis 500, all six Wienermobiles took part in the inaugural Wienie 500. Slaw Dog won the 2 lap race around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.[27]

Year Manufacturer/Builder Chassis Engine
1936 General Body Company – Chicago, Illinois Purpose-built chassis N/A
1952 Gerstenslager – Wooster, Ohio Dodge chassis N/A
1958 Brooks Stevens Willys Jeep chassis N/A
1969 Oscar Mayer – Madison, Wisconsin Chevrolet chassis with Ford Thunderbird taillights V6 engine
1975 Plastics Products – Milwaukee, Wisconsin fibreglass/styrofoam replica of 1969 V6 engine
1988 Stevens Automotive Corporation – Milwaukee, Wisconsin Chevrolet van chassis with Ford Thunderbird taillights V6 engine
1995 Harry Bentley Bradley for Carlin Manufacturing – Fresno, California Purpose-built chassis with Pontiac Grand Am headlights, Pontiac Trans Am taillights N/A
2000 Craftsmen Industries – St. Charles, Missouri GMC W-series chassis 5700 Vortec V8
2001 Craftsmen Industries - San Antonio, Texas RAM 1500-series chassis, flipped axle 5.2L Magnum V8
2004 Prototype Source – Santa Barbara, California GMC W-series chassis with Pontiac Firebird taillights 6.0L 300–6000 Vortec V8
2008 ("mini" version) Prototype Source – Santa Barbara, California MINI Cooper S Hardtop 1.6L Supercharged I-4

Source: Oscar Mayer[28]

Wienermobile drivers

Six Wienermobiles operate throughout the United States.[29][30][31]

The driver of a Wienermobile is called The Hotdogger. The Hotdogger's job is to "meat" and greet people around the country.[32] The duties of a Hotdogger include:

"...sharing photos and videos on social media, answering questions about the brand and the vehicle (the most frequently asked question is if there's a bathroom in the back, to which they respond: 'No, it's not a Weenie-bago'), and distributing swag."[29]

[33] Only college seniors who are about to graduate are eligible to be Hotdoggers. Applicants should be getting their BA or BS, preferably in public relations, journalism, communications, advertising, or marketing.[34] A Hotdogger's assignment is for only one year. Recruiting for each year's new Hotdogger cadre involves current Hotdoggers and Oscar Mayer recruiters visiting college campuses across the country. In 2018, 7,000 people applied to be Hotdoggers. As each Wienermobile carries two Hotdoggers, only 12 Hotdoggers are selected each year.[29] Notable Hotdoggers include former US House Speaker Paul Ryan.[35]

Models

Toys and scale replicas of the Wienermobile have been made over the years, with Hot Wheels issuing die-cast versions of the vehicle.Template:Fact

Notable incidents

On 5 July 1973, an abandoned Wienermobile was recovered by Seattle police about ten miles from the city's Oscar Mayer facility, where the theft had taken place.[36]

On 18 June 2002, in greater Washington DC, a Virginia trooper--whose job was "to stop large vehicles that might be carrying terrorist explosives" near the Pentagon--halted the touring Wienermobile and "directed it to an exit that would allow the vehicle to bypass the Pentagon."[37]

<templatestyles src="Stack/styles.css"/>

File:Weinermobile yummy.jpg
The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile in Omaha, Nebraska, in August 2006

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

In June 2007, a Wienermobile with the Wisconsin vanity license plate of YUMMY made headlines after being stopped by an Arizona Department of Public Safety officer for having an allegedly stolen license plate. Officer K. Lankow had observed the Wienermobile slowing traffic and checked the license plate to determine if the vehicle was street legal. The license plate came back as being stolen out of Columbia, Missouri,[38] so the officer stopped the Wienermobile and detained the driver. Oscar Mayer had not notified police that they had obtained a duplicate replacement plate after the previous one was stolen, and that it should be considered stolen only if not on a Wienermobile. The Wienermobile was released soon after the error was discovered.[39][40][41]

See also

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ “See Him Tomorrow…In World’s Largest Wiener Car” (Oscar Mayer advertisement). Decatur (IL) Herald and Review, 10 June 1937, 10.
  4. ↑ “Tiniest Chef Given Royal Greeting.” Janesville Gazette, 19 October 1936, 7.
  5. ↑ “Tiniest Chef Given Royal Greeting.” Janesville Gazette, 19 October 1936, 7.
  6. ↑ “U.W. Midget Gets Job With Packing Firm.” Wisconsin State Journal, 9 June 1937, 10.
  7. ↑ “’Little Oscar’ Will Be Seen in July 4 Celebration Show.” The Escanaba (MI) Daily Press, 31 July 1941, 3.
  8. ↑ “Little Oscar, Called Smallest Chef, to Be In City Monday.” Rhinelander (WI) Daily News, 14 June 1941.
  9. ↑ “Kids line up for balloons and close-up of the new Oscar Meyer “weinermobile” that visited Chicago Heights Saturday” (standalone photo caption). Chicago Heights Star, 11 December 1951, 17.
  10. ↑ “Meat Firm to Send Midget to Decatur.” Decatur (IL) Herald, 10 June 1937, 20.
  11. ↑ “Tiniest Chef Given Royal Greeting.” Janesville Gazette, 19 October 1936, 7.
  12. ↑ “Koach’s-727 February Food Event.” DeKalb (IL) Daily Chronicle, 5 February 1937, 8.
  13. ↑ “See Him Tomorrow…In World’s Largest Wiener Car,” (Oscar Mayer advertisement). Decatur (IL) Herald and Review, 10 June 1937, 10.
  14. ↑ “Grand Opening—Wolffs United Food Market” (full-page advertisement) Bridgeport (IL) News, 18 April 1940, 8.
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Actually, the vehicle was completed and first appeared in 1951, though perhaps on a "model year 1952" chassis. See “Kids line up for balloons and close-up of the new Oscar Meyer “weinermobile” that visited Chicago Heights Saturday” (standalone photo caption). Chicago Heights Star, 11 December 1951, 17.
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ "Brooks Stevens reimagined the 'Wienermobile of the Future' and an American classic was born", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 19, 2019
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ "New, sleeker wieners ready for the road" (Associated Press story). Baldwin Press-Register (Mobile, AL), 31 January 1995, 4.
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Cruising in Time (web archive)
  29. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ "Recover Missing $35,000 Hot Dog." Kenosha News, 6 July 1973, 2.
  37. ↑ "No, Oscar Mayer Wiener Can't Roll Past Security." Tampa Bay Times, 23 June 2002, 14A.
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ Cops ketchup with Wienermobile Template:Webarchive

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

External links

Template:Sister project

Retrieved from "http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=Wienermobile&oldid=5170046"