Jackson Automobile Company
Encyclopedia
Jackson Automobile Company was a brass era
auto manufacturer that produced the Jackson from 1903 to 1923, as well as the Jaxon steam car during 1903, and the Orlo only in 1904. All these cars were produced in Jackson, Michigan
.
, also in Jackson, before it was absorbed by the Jackson Automobile Company. Both Matthews and Lewis were directors of Jackson banks, Matthews of Jackson City Bank, and Lewis of Union Bank of Jackson. Carter convinced the two bankers to support him in forming a company to produce both gasoline- and steam-powered cars.
engine car that closely resembled the Oldsmobile Curved Dash
. The cylinder count in the engines doubled the next year, and doubled again in 1906. Not long after full production started, Carter left the firm to create the Cartercar
. He left due to a disagreement with his partners, who did not wish to use the friction drive
transmission he had developed. After Carter left, Jackson automobiles lacked any distinct feature, but they were well-built and long-lasting. In 1910, Matthews bought out Lewis, leaving him as the sole remaining partner of the original three. Lewis left to start the Hollier
car. Matthews then proceeded to install his sons in the president, secretary, and treasurer positions within the company.
The engines used by the company continued to get larger, with a Northway six-cylinder engine becoming available in 1913, and a Ferro V8 available in 1916. Later cars resembled the contemporary Rolls-Royce
. Indeed the company used the phrase "The Car with the Keystone Radiator" in ads.
During the war
years, car production at the firm declined by more than half, since the company was producing materiel
for the war effort
. For 1919, all production was geared to military supplies. Many Jackson dealers at this time converted to Jordan
dealerships. When car production resumed in 1920, the cars apparently were not as good as previously. One assembly line worker said that the company engineer "should have raised chickens instead."
The 1921 Princess Coupe was a hit at the Chicago Auto Show
, but obtaining credit
was difficult during the recession
then occurring. In 1923, Jackson, Dixie Flyer
, and National merged into Associated Motor Industries. The Dixie Flyer and Jackson were transformed into the National 4-H and 6-51, respectively. These models lasted just a year, and by the end of 1924, Associated Motors was no more, taking all three marques with it.
ing a 3-cylinder steam engine of 6 horsepower
. This became the basis of the 1903 Jaxon automobile. All Jaxons were steam-powered, with the Jackson name reserved for the gasoline-powered cars. There were two models on offer: the $975 Model A riding on a 72" wheelbase, and the $800 Model B on a 7" shorter wheelbase. Ads proclaimed that "steam is reliable and easily understood."
Brass Era car
The automotive Brass Era is the first period of automotive manufacturing, named for the prominent brass fittings used during this time for such things as lights and radiators. It extends from the first commercial automobiles marketed in the 1890s until about World War I...
auto manufacturer that produced the Jackson from 1903 to 1923, as well as the Jaxon steam car during 1903, and the Orlo only in 1904. All these cars were produced in Jackson, Michigan
Jackson, Michigan
Jackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about west of Ann Arbor and south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534...
.
Company Background
The three main partners in the 1902 incorporation of the Jackson Automobile Company were Byron J. Carter, George A. Matthews, and Charles Lewis. Byron Carter had previously been a steam-driven press printer who later started a bicycle shop with his father, Squire B. Carter, in 1894. Byron built his first experimental, gasoline-powered car in 1899. After that, he used his steam experience to build a steam powered car, which became the Carter in 1901. George Matthews owned the local Fuller Buggy Company and later built the FullerFuller (automobile)
At least two different cars have been offered with the marque of Fuller, one in Nebraska and one in Michigan.-Nebraska car:From 1907 to 1910, Angus, Nebraska was the home of the Angus Automobile Company, employing forty craftsmen that produced over 600 Fuller cars in its short life. Only one car is...
, also in Jackson, before it was absorbed by the Jackson Automobile Company. Both Matthews and Lewis were directors of Jackson banks, Matthews of Jackson City Bank, and Lewis of Union Bank of Jackson. Carter convinced the two bankers to support him in forming a company to produce both gasoline- and steam-powered cars.
Jackson
Full production started in 1903 with a single-cylinderCylinder (engine)
A cylinder is the central working part of a reciprocating engine or pump, the space in which a piston travels. Multiple cylinders are commonly arranged side by side in a bank, or engine block, which is typically cast from aluminum or cast iron before receiving precision machine work...
engine car that closely resembled the Oldsmobile Curved Dash
Oldsmobile Curved Dash
The gasoline powered Curved Dash Oldsmobile is credited as being the first mass-produced automobile, meaning that it was built on an assembly line using interchangeable parts. It was introduced by the Oldsmobile company in 1901 and produced through 1907...
. The cylinder count in the engines doubled the next year, and doubled again in 1906. Not long after full production started, Carter left the firm to create the Cartercar
Cartercar
The Cartercar was an American automobile manufactured in 1905 in Jackson, Michigan, in 1906 in Detroit, and from 1907 to 1915 in Pontiac, Michigan.-History:...
. He left due to a disagreement with his partners, who did not wish to use the friction drive
Friction drive
A friction Drive or friction engine is a type of transmission that, instead of a chain and sprockets, uses 2 wheels in the transmission to transfer power to the driving wheels. This kind of transmission is often used on scooters, mainly go-peds, in place of a chain.An example of this system is in...
transmission he had developed. After Carter left, Jackson automobiles lacked any distinct feature, but they were well-built and long-lasting. In 1910, Matthews bought out Lewis, leaving him as the sole remaining partner of the original three. Lewis left to start the Hollier
Hollier
The Hollier, also known as the Vincent-Hollier, was an automobile built in Chelsea and Jackson, Michigan by Charles Lewis, president of the Lewis Spring and Axle Company from 1915-21. The Hollier was available originally with a V-8 engine of their own design. A later offering, starting in 1917,...
car. Matthews then proceeded to install his sons in the president, secretary, and treasurer positions within the company.
The engines used by the company continued to get larger, with a Northway six-cylinder engine becoming available in 1913, and a Ferro V8 available in 1916. Later cars resembled the contemporary Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce Limited
Rolls-Royce Limited was a renowned British car and, from 1914 on, aero-engine manufacturing company founded by Charles Stewart Rolls and Henry Royce on 15 March 1906 as the result of a partnership formed in 1904....
. Indeed the company used the phrase "The Car with the Keystone Radiator" in ads.
During the war
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
years, car production at the firm declined by more than half, since the company was producing materiel
Materiel
Materiel is a term used in English to refer to the equipment and supplies in military and commercial supply chain management....
for the war effort
War effort
In politics and military planning, a war effort refers to a coordinated mobilization of society's resources—both industrial and human—towards the support of a military force...
. For 1919, all production was geared to military supplies. Many Jackson dealers at this time converted to Jordan
Jordan Motor Car Company
The Jordan Motor Car Company was founded in 1916 in Cleveland, Ohio by Edward S. "Ned" Jordan, a former advertising executive from Thomas B. Jeffery Company of Kenosha, Wisconsin. The factory produced what were known as "assembled cars" until 1931, using components from other manufacturers...
dealerships. When car production resumed in 1920, the cars apparently were not as good as previously. One assembly line worker said that the company engineer "should have raised chickens instead."
The 1921 Princess Coupe was a hit at the Chicago Auto Show
Chicago Auto Show
The Chicago Auto Show is held annually in February at Chicago's McCormick Placeconvention complex. It is among the largest auto shows in North America....
, but obtaining credit
Credit (finance)
Credit is the trust which allows one party to provide resources to another party where that second party does not reimburse the first party immediately , but instead arranges either to repay or return those resources at a later date. The resources provided may be financial Credit is the trust...
was difficult during the recession
1921 recession
The Depression of 1920–21 was an extremely sharp deflationary recession in the United States, shortly after the end of World War I. It lasted from January 1920 to July 1921...
then occurring. In 1923, Jackson, Dixie Flyer
Dixie Flyer (automobile)
The Dixie Flyer was a vintage car built in Louisville, Kentucky from 1916 until 1923. Dixie Flyers were marketed under the slogan of "The Logical Car."...
, and National merged into Associated Motor Industries. The Dixie Flyer and Jackson were transformed into the National 4-H and 6-51, respectively. These models lasted just a year, and by the end of 1924, Associated Motors was no more, taking all three marques with it.
Jaxon
Byron Carter further developed his eponymous automobile, eventually patentPatent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
ing a 3-cylinder steam engine of 6 horsepower
Horsepower
Horsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
. This became the basis of the 1903 Jaxon automobile. All Jaxons were steam-powered, with the Jackson name reserved for the gasoline-powered cars. There were two models on offer: the $975 Model A riding on a 72" wheelbase, and the $800 Model B on a 7" shorter wheelbase. Ads proclaimed that "steam is reliable and easily understood."