Fisher Automobile Company
Encyclopedia
Fisher Automobile Company in Indianapolis, Indiana
, is believed to have been the first automobile dealership in the United States
. It carried multiple models of Oldsmobile
s, Reo
s, Packard
s, Stoddard-Dayton
s, Stutz
and others.
In 1891, Carl Graham Fisher
(1874-1939) opened a bicycle
shop with his two brothers. Regarded as a promotional genius, Fisher was also involved in bicycle racing
and stunts.
Around 1900, the national bicycle craze turned to a newer invention: the automobile
. In partnership with his friend Barney Oldfield
, Fisher converted the bicycle shop to handle automobiles, telling his fellow racer "I don't see why the automobile can't be made to do everything the bicycle has done."
Fisher promoted the automobile dealership as he had his bicycle shop with carefully planned stunts. He flew an automobile over Indianapolis supported by a hot air balloon, and pushing another off the roof of his four story building in downtown Indianapolis.
Fisher made millions with the sale and manufacture of an early form of headlights, became involved with automobile racing and was a principal in the building of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
, and the Lincoln Highway
and Dixie Highway
, two of the earlier paved roads across the United States.
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, is believed to have been the first automobile dealership in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It carried multiple models of Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile was a brand of American automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. It was founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. In its 107-year history, it produced 35.2 million cars, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing, Michigan factory...
s, Reo
REO Motor Car Company
The REO Motor Car Company was a Lansing, Michigan based company that produced automobiles and trucks from 1905 to 1975. At one point the company also manufactured buses on its truck platforms.REO was initiated by Ransom E. Olds during August 1904...
s, Packard
Packard
Packard was an American luxury-type automobile marque built by the Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan, and later by the Studebaker-Packard Corporation of South Bend, Indiana...
s, Stoddard-Dayton
Stoddard-Dayton
Stoddard-Dayton was a high quality car manufactured by Dayton Motor Car Company in Dayton, Ohio, USA, between 1905 and 1913. John W. Stoddard and his son Charles G...
s, Stutz
Stutz
Stutz may refer to:*Harry C. Stutz , American automobile pioneer and manufacturer of luxury cars and fire engines*Josef Stutz , Swiss Conservative politician*Stutz Motor Company, American luxury cars producer...
and others.
In 1891, Carl Graham Fisher
Carl G. Fisher
Carl Graham Fisher was an American entrepreneur. Despite having severe astigmatism, he became a seemingly tireless pioneer and promoter of the automotive, auto racing, and real estate development industries...
(1874-1939) opened a bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
shop with his two brothers. Regarded as a promotional genius, Fisher was also involved in bicycle racing
Bicycle racing
Bicycle racing is a competition sport in which various types of bicycles are used. There are several categories of bicycle racing including road bicycle racing, cyclo-cross, mountain bike racing, track cycling, BMX, bike trials, and cycle speedway. Bicycle racing is recognised as an Olympic sport...
and stunts.
Around 1900, the national bicycle craze turned to a newer invention: the automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
. In partnership with his friend Barney Oldfield
Barney Oldfield
Berna Eli "Barney" Oldfield was an automobile racer and pioneer. He was born on a farm on the outskirts of Wauseon, Ohio. He was the first man to drive a car at 60 miles per hour on an oval...
, Fisher converted the bicycle shop to handle automobiles, telling his fellow racer "I don't see why the automobile can't be made to do everything the bicycle has done."
Fisher promoted the automobile dealership as he had his bicycle shop with carefully planned stunts. He flew an automobile over Indianapolis supported by a hot air balloon, and pushing another off the roof of his four story building in downtown Indianapolis.
Fisher made millions with the sale and manufacture of an early form of headlights, became involved with automobile racing and was a principal in the building of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race and the Brickyard 400....
, and the Lincoln Highway
Lincoln Highway
The Lincoln Highway was the first road across the United States of America.Conceived and promoted by entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher, the Lincoln Highway spanned coast-to-coast from Times Square in New York City to Lincoln Park in San Francisco, originally through 13 states: New York, New Jersey,...
and Dixie Highway
Dixie Highway
The Dixie Highway was a United States automobile highway, first planned in 1914 to connect the US Midwest with the Southern United States. It was part of the National Auto Trail system, and grew out of an earlier Miami to Montreal highway. The final result is better understood as a small network of...
, two of the earlier paved roads across the United States.