These revolutionary rigs were the first to move beyond the 8-foot (single-wide) house trailer width that had been an industry standard since the 1930s. The three original TenWides came in lengths of 41 and 53 feet and featured one, two or three bedrooms. The home rested on a tri-axle chassis.
The top-of-the-line TenWide MODEL MH 53E was a three bedroom coach. It extended a total of 53 feet from tail-end-to-tongue and sold for a whopping $9,695.00. The rig was heated by an oil or gas-fired furnace, with central air-conditioning offered as an option. Other premium features included an automatic garbage disposal, electric ironer, automatic dishwasher and Bendix Duo-Matic combination washer & dryer.
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The TenWide 53 footer was one of -if not- the first mobile homes with three "privately enclosed" bedrooms. Its kitchen came equipped with eye-level oven, 4-burner stove top, double-bowl sink, 10.2 cubic foot refrigerator and solid butternut wood cabinetry. Wall partitions were paneled in either Strided Mahogany, Knotty Pine or Knotty Cedar. Floors were carpeted wall-to-wall.
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The TenWide series was bested by Marshfield's TwelveWide line; introduced for the 1961 model year. These were the first 12-wide rigs in the industry.
The original series of TwelveWide trailers dispensed with the futuristic, space-age exterior design that had become popular in the late 1950s. The latest mobile homes, including the TwelveWides, were being built with a boxy, house-type design. Marshfield's offerings even included simulated window shutters. These would become a standard feature of most 1960s and '70s mobile homes.
The all-new TwelveWide extended 64 feet. The 2 Bedroom-Front Kitchen rig is depicted here. It had -as standard equipment- natural finish oak wood paneling, oak cabinetry, double "Hollywood" beds, sleeper sofa, white bathroom fixtures, a 7-foot-high raised living room ceiling and tri-axle chassis. Options included yellow, pink or tan bathroom fixtures, padded living room carpeting, storm windows and an automatic garbage disposal.
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