Buckeye Manufacturing Company
Encyclopedia
The Buckeye Manufacturing Company was a company originally formed to manufacture horse and buggy
parts. It was started in the later part of the nineteenth century and by the early part of the twentieth century was making parts and materials for the Buckeye gasoline buggy
automobile as well as for the Union automobile and the Lambert automobile. The company was organized in 1884 in Union City, Ohio
, originally under the name of Lambert Brothers and Company. One of the subsidiaries
was the Pioneer Pole and Shaft Company, which was run by George A. Lambert, the son of John W. Lambert. Other subsidiaries were the Union Automobile Company
, Lambert Automobile Company
, and the Lambert Gas and Gasoline Engine Company
— run by John W. Lambert.
The stationary Buckeye engine
designed and invented by John William Lambert
was patented in 1894. The company then started manufacturing these stationary engines since at the time there was no market for Lambert's automobile. In that same year the company was reorganized and incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000. John William Lambert became the company's president with his parents taking key positions. His father became the vice president and his mother become the secretary and treasurer.
The Buckeye Manufacturing Company then moved to Anderson, Indiana
where it was built in the Evalyn industrial park
at Third and Sycamore Streets. The company expanded in 1903 with the purchase of 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) on Columbus Ave in Anderson, Indiana. The Anderson Weekly Herald newspaper reported that the new factory would have up to 300000 square feet (27,870.9 m²) of factory floor space and employ 350 to 400 people. The factory was to have the latest up to date equipment and electric cranes. The cost of the new buildings would be $150,000. A contract for the iron frame steelwork of the buildings was to be signed with the general contractors within a few days of the newspaper article. The factory manufactured gasoline engines and pressed steel articles for Lambert's automobiles.
The property was known as the Hannah Croak property owned by a Mrs. Hannah Carey and a Mrs. Pfafflin. The transaction was conducted by the Sears Real Estate Company. The Buckeye Manufacturing Company then shared its name with "The Lambert Gas and Gasoline Engine Company." The new factory began making Lambert automobile
parts and materials in mass production beginning in 1905.
Horse and buggy
A horse and buggy or horse and carriage refers to a light, simple, two-person carriage of the late 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, drawn usually by one or sometimes by two horses...
parts. It was started in the later part of the nineteenth century and by the early part of the twentieth century was making parts and materials for the Buckeye gasoline buggy
Buckeye gasoline buggy
The Buckeye gasoline buggy or Lambert gasoline buggy was the first practical gasoline automobile available for sale in America, according to automobile historians.-History:...
automobile as well as for the Union automobile and the Lambert automobile. The company was organized in 1884 in Union City, Ohio
Union City, Ohio
Union City is a village in Darke County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,767 at the 2000 census.-History:Union City was platted in 1838 and incorporated on December 6, 1853...
, originally under the name of Lambert Brothers and Company. One of the subsidiaries
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
was the Pioneer Pole and Shaft Company, which was run by George A. Lambert, the son of John W. Lambert. Other subsidiaries were the Union Automobile Company
Union Automobile Company
The Union Automobile Company began to make automobiles in Union City, Indiana in 1902. It built the Union automobile from 1902 through 1905. The company was located in Union City, Indiana from 1902 to 1905...
, Lambert Automobile Company
Lambert Automobile Company
The Lambert Automobile Company was a automobile factory in Anderson, Indiana to make the Lambert automobile through the Buckeye Manufacturing Company.-History:...
, and the Lambert Gas and Gasoline Engine Company
Lambert Gas and Gasoline Engine Company
The Lambert Gas and Gasoline Engine Company was a company founded by John William Lambert in the later part of the nineteenth century as part of the conglomerate of the Buckeye Manufacturing Company.-History:...
— run by John W. Lambert.
History
The Buckeye Manufacturing Company started with the sum of money of two thousand dollars. They initially started to manufacture buggy neck yokes and other carriage parts. They had a crew of six men and a few young boys that were helpers. The company name was changed to "J. H. Osborne and Company" within a few short years. They added a line of hardware specialties to the business. Some hand-powered, wood-boring drills have been located bearing this company's name and its Indiana address. By 1890 Mr. Osborne dropped out of the company and the name reverted back to the Buckeye Manufacturing Company. The Buckeye Manufacturing Company factory burned in 1891. There was a loss of $15,000 in buildings and materials of which $12,000 was covered by insurance. They constructed new buildings to replace the ones lost.The stationary Buckeye engine
Lambert Gas and Gasoline Engine Company
The Lambert Gas and Gasoline Engine Company was a company founded by John William Lambert in the later part of the nineteenth century as part of the conglomerate of the Buckeye Manufacturing Company.-History:...
designed and invented by John William Lambert
John William Lambert
John William Lambert was an American automotive pioneer, inventor, and automobile manufacturer.-Biography:...
was patented in 1894. The company then started manufacturing these stationary engines since at the time there was no market for Lambert's automobile. In that same year the company was reorganized and incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000. John William Lambert became the company's president with his parents taking key positions. His father became the vice president and his mother become the secretary and treasurer.
The Buckeye Manufacturing Company then moved to Anderson, Indiana
Anderson, Indiana
Anderson is a city in and the county seat of Madison County, Indiana, United States. It is the principal city of the Anderson, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses Madison county. Anderson is the headquarters of the Church of God and home of Anderson University, which is...
where it was built in the Evalyn industrial park
Industrial park
An industrial park is an area zoned and planned for the purpose of industrial development...
at Third and Sycamore Streets. The company expanded in 1903 with the purchase of 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) on Columbus Ave in Anderson, Indiana. The Anderson Weekly Herald newspaper reported that the new factory would have up to 300000 square feet (27,870.9 m²) of factory floor space and employ 350 to 400 people. The factory was to have the latest up to date equipment and electric cranes. The cost of the new buildings would be $150,000. A contract for the iron frame steelwork of the buildings was to be signed with the general contractors within a few days of the newspaper article. The factory manufactured gasoline engines and pressed steel articles for Lambert's automobiles.
The property was known as the Hannah Croak property owned by a Mrs. Hannah Carey and a Mrs. Pfafflin. The transaction was conducted by the Sears Real Estate Company. The Buckeye Manufacturing Company then shared its name with "The Lambert Gas and Gasoline Engine Company." The new factory began making Lambert automobile
Lambert (automobile)
The Lambert automobile and Lambert truck were built by the Lambert Automobile Company as an American vehicle from 1905 through 1916.The Lambert automobile motor in the early part of manufacturing moved around on the chassis. It was on the back of the chassis, then in the center, then to the front,...
parts and materials in mass production beginning in 1905.
See also
- Union automobileUnion (automobile)The Union automobile was based on Lambert's "horseless carriage" gasoline buggy. It had four wheels instead of his 1891 three-wheeled version. The automobile was made by the Union Automobile Company from 1902 through 1905...
- Lambert automobileLambert (automobile)The Lambert automobile and Lambert truck were built by the Lambert Automobile Company as an American vehicle from 1905 through 1916.The Lambert automobile motor in the early part of manufacturing moved around on the chassis. It was on the back of the chassis, then in the center, then to the front,...
- John William LambertJohn William LambertJohn William Lambert was an American automotive pioneer, inventor, and automobile manufacturer.-Biography:...
- Buckeye gasoline buggyBuckeye gasoline buggyThe Buckeye gasoline buggy or Lambert gasoline buggy was the first practical gasoline automobile available for sale in America, according to automobile historians.-History:...
- Union Automobile CompanyUnion Automobile CompanyThe Union Automobile Company began to make automobiles in Union City, Indiana in 1902. It built the Union automobile from 1902 through 1905. The company was located in Union City, Indiana from 1902 to 1905...
- Lambert Automobile CompanyLambert Automobile CompanyThe Lambert Automobile Company was a automobile factory in Anderson, Indiana to make the Lambert automobile through the Buckeye Manufacturing Company.-History:...
- Lambert Gas and Gasoline Engine CompanyLambert Gas and Gasoline Engine CompanyThe Lambert Gas and Gasoline Engine Company was a company founded by John William Lambert in the later part of the nineteenth century as part of the conglomerate of the Buckeye Manufacturing Company.-History:...
- Lambert friction gearing disk drive transmissionLambert friction gearing disk drive transmissionThe Lambert friction gearing disk drive transmission was invented by John William Lambert originally in 1904. The invention relates to a friction disk drive transmission for automobiles that is gearless. He saw the need for a simple transmission of engine power to an automobile's drive...
Primary sources
- Biography of John W. Lambert , written by his son January 25, 1935 — obtained from the Detroit Public Library, National Automotive History Collection
- Brandon, Rodney H. Who is Who in Anderson, published privately, 1906
- Dolnar, Hugh, Automobile Trade Journal, article: The Lambert, 1906 Line of Automobiles, Chilton Company, v.10 January 1906
- Forkner, John L., History of Madison County, Indiana, New York and Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1914
- Netterville, J. J., Centennial History of Madison County, Indiana, Anderson, Indiana, Historian's Association, 1925
- The Horseless Age: The Automobile Trade Magazine, The Horseless Age Company, 1902
Secondary sources
- Bailey, L. Scott, Historic Discovery: 1891 Lambert, New Claim for America's First Car, Antique Automobile magazine, Vol. 24, No. 5, Oct–Nov 1960
- David Burgess Wise, The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Automobiles ISBN 0-7858-1106-0
- Dittlinger, Esther et al., Anderson: A Pictorial History, G. Bradley Publishing, 1990, ISBN 0943963168
- Georgano, G. N., The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile, Taylor & Francis, 2000, ISBN 1-5795829-3-1
- Huffman, Wallace Spencer, Indiana's Place in Automobile History in Indiana History Bulletin, vol 44, no. 2, Feb. 1967; Indianapolis, Indiana Historical Bureau
- Huhti, Thomas, The Great Indiana Touring Book: 20 Spectacular Auto Tours, Big Earth Publishing, 2002, ISBN 1-9315990-9-2
- James, Wanda, Driving from Japan, McFarland, 2005, ISBN 0-786417-3-4X
- Kimes, Beverly Rae, Standard Catalog of American Cars, 1805–1942, Krause Publications, 1996, ISBN 0-8734142-8-4
- Madden, W. C., Haynes-Apperson and America's First Practical Automobile: A History, McFarland, 2003, ISBN 0-7864139-7-2
- Scharchburg, Richard P., Carriages Without Horses: J. Frank Duryea and the Birth of the American Automobile Industry, SAE, 1993, ISBN 1-5609138-0-0