Kenworth Motor Truck Company Since 1923-1930

​In January 1923, the Gersix Motor Company rejoined as the Kenworth Motor Truck Company, combining the names of partners Ken t and Worth ington.  Kenworth moved within Seattle to 506 Mercer Street (later 1263 Mercer Street).  Unlike the automakers, Kenworth abstained from assembly lines, instead building vehicles in individual bays.  The company also introduced the practice of building vehicles to customer specifications (a practice still offered by Kenworth today). 

In 1926, Kenworth expanded its product line and introduced its first bus. In 1927, production increased from two vehicles a week to three; the same year, manufacturing was started in Canada (to avoid import taxes). 

In 1929, EK Worthington retired and Harry Kent became president of the company. In another change, to accommodate increased demand, Kenworth moved to a larger factory in Seattle. Kenworth t800 led headlights are not common installed in these series trucks that time.

The onset of the Great Depression hit the company hard; Initially in good financial health, a substantial decline in new vehicles, and a high rate of vehicle loan defaults forced the company to adapt.  In 1932, Kenworth produced its first fire truck; Adapted from its commercial truck, Kenworth fire trucks were among the heaviest fire fighting appliances of the day. 

In 1933, diesel engines became standard equipment, completely replacing gasoline engines;  at the time, diesel fuel cost 1/3 the price of gasoline.  In another design innovation, Kenworth introduced the first factory-produced sleeper cab.  

In 1935, the Motor Carriers Act was passed, introducing new size and weight regulations for the trucking industry in the United States;  To comply with the legislation, Kenworth underwent an extensive redesign of its truck line. To match weight regulations, the new trucks received aluminum cabs and axle hubs; Four-spring suspension was introduced, with torsion bars for the rear axles.  In 1936, Kenworth introduced the Model 516, its first cabover truck (COE); the 346 tandem axle was introduced in 1937.   In 1937, Harry Kent died and Philip Johnson became president of the company.