Studebaker
Studebaker was an American wagon and automobile manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana, with a building at 1600 Broadway, Times Square, Midtown Manhattan, New York City.[1][2][3][4] Founded in 1852 and incorporated in 1868[5] as the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company, the firm was originally a coachbuilder, manufacturing wagons, buggies, carriages and harnesses.
For other uses, see Studebaker (disambiguation).Formerly
Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company
February 1852
- Henry Studebaker
- Clement Studebaker
- John Studebaker
- Peter Studebaker
- Jacob Studebaker
November 1967
Merged with Packard to form the Studebaker-Packard Corporation
Merged with Wagner Electric and Worthington Corporation to form Studebaker-Worthington
Some naming and production rights, along with Studebaker's South Bend plant, acquired by the Avanti Motor Company
635 S. Main St., South Bend, Indiana, U.S. 41°40′07″N 86°15′18″W / 41.66861°N 86.25500°W
Automobiles (originally wagons, carriages and harnesses)
Studebaker entered the automotive business in 1902 with electric vehicles and in 1904 with gasoline vehicles, all sold under the name "Studebaker Automobile Company". Until 1911, its automotive division operated in partnership with the Garford Company of Elyria, Ohio, and after 1909 with the E-M-F Company and with the Flanders Automobile Company. The first gasoline automobiles to be fully manufactured by Studebaker were marketed in August 1912.[6]: 231 Over the next 50 years, the company established a reputation for quality, durability and reliability.[7]
After an unsuccessful 1954 merger with Packard (the Studebaker-Packard Corporation) and failure to solve chronic postwar cashflow problems, the 'Studebaker Corporation' name was restored in 1962, but the South Bend plant ceased automobile production on December 20, 1963, and the last Studebaker automobile rolled off the Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, assembly line on March 17, 1966. Studebaker continued as an independent manufacturer before merging with Wagner Electric in May 1967[8] and then Worthington Corporation in November 1967[9] to form Studebaker-Worthington.
History[edit]
German forebears[edit]
The ancestors of the Studebaker family descend from Solingen, Germany.[10] They arrived in America at the port of Philadelphia on September 1, 1736, on the ship Harle, (see Exhibit B) from Rotterdam, Netherlands, (see Exhibit A, p. 11), original manuscripts now in the Pennsylvania State Library at Harrisburg). This included Peter Studebaker and his wife Anna Margetha Studebaker, Clement Studebaker (Peter's brother) and his wife, Anna Catherina Studebaker and Heinrich Studebaker (Peter's cousin). (see Exhibit A, p. 11)
In 1918, Albert Russel Erskine, Studebaker Corporation president, wrote the book, "History of the Studebaker Corporation", including the 1918 annual report, "Written for the information of the 3,000 stockholders of the Studebaker Corporation, the 12,000 dealers in its products living throughout the world, its 15,000 employees and numberless friends." (see Exhibit A, p. 9) This book was verified by lawyers and accountants and all board members and was a legal document. (see Exhibit A, p. 7) In the same book, Albert Russel Erskin, accurately wrote that Peter Studebaker was the "wagon-maker, which trade later became the foundation of the family fortune and the corporation which now bears his name." (see Exhibit A, p. 11)
"The tax list of York County, Pennsylvania, in 1798–9 showed among the taxable were Peter Studebaker Sr. and Peter Studebaker Jr. wagon-makers, which trade later became the foundation of the family fortune and the corporation which now bears his name." (see Exhibit D) "John Studebaker, father of the five brothers [that began the Studebaker Corporation] was the son of Peter Studebaker. (see Exhibit A, p. 13). John Clement Studebaker (son of Clement Studebaker and Sarah Rensel) was born February 8, 1799, Westmorland, PA, and died in 1877 in South Bend, St. Joseph, IN. John Studebaker (1799–1877) moved to Ohio in 1835 with his wife Rebecca (née Mohler) (1802–1887).
1902 advertisement for horse-drawn vehicles
1905 advertisement for electric and gasoline-powered cars
1909 advertisement for new and used cars
Studebaker "turning wheel" badge on cars produced 1912–1934
1917 Studebaker logo
Legacy[edit]
While Studebaker closed fully its automotive sector in 1969, the company still left a big legacy behind it among classic car enthusiasts. The Studebaker US6 truck was the basis for the legendary GAZ-51 Soviet truck that was produced in the Soviet Union until 1975,[67] nearly a decade after Studebaker had closed, and proceeded to form the basis for all GAZ trucks later, such as the GAZ-53, GAZ-3307 and 3309 and the GAZon Next.
The designers of the 1993 Dodge Ram stated that the Studebaker E series pickup was their main inspiration for the design.[68]
Spectra Merchandising International, Inc. produces a number of "retro" styled audio equipment under the brand name "Studebaker."[69]