The oldest surviving bus manufacturer in North America , Gillig was founded in 1890 as Jacob Gillig , trained in carriage building and upholstering , opened his own carriage shop in San Francisco . In 1896 , his son Leo Gillig entered the business as a shop foreman , becoming a full partner in the business in 1900 . The shop was destroyed as part of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake , but the Gilligs rebuilt the shop on a separate property ; Chester Gillig joined the business as a bookkeeper . In 1907 , Jacob Gillig died at the age of 54
1906 San Francisco earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
Gillig