Chatham Motor Car Company

The Chatham Motor Car Company was a Canadian brass era automobile manufacturer, based in Chatham, Ontario, from 1906 to 1909.^[1]

History

The company was created in 1906.^[2] Investors included Joseph T. O'Keefe and Thomas A. Drew (partners in the O'Keefe and Drew pork retailers),^[3] T.K. Holmes (who became company president). W.J. Taylor (vice president), D. N. McMullen, Thomas Dillon (secretary-treasurer), J.F. Dillon (general manager).^[4]

They established a factory in a two-story building on Adelaide Street, about halfway between McGregor Creek and King Street,^[5] previously used by Hyslop and Ronald to build fire engines.^[6] The plant had 40 employees.^[7]

The company built only one model, the Chatham, right-hand drive^[8] five-passenger tourer with a 20 horsepower (15 kW; 20 PS)^[9] (later 25 horsepower (19 kW; 25 PS))^[10] watercooled four cylinder engine.^[11]

The Chatham was priced at C$2500,^[12] when the Colt Runabout was priced at US$1500,^[13] the FAL US$1750,^[14] the Enger 40 and (in 1905) the Ford Model F were US$2000,^[15] while the high-volume Oldsmobile Runabout was US$650^[16] and (in 1907) the $700 for the Ford Model S was US$700.

Chatham did not build its own bodies, instead, they were subcontracted to William Gray & Sons, a local carriage builder.^[17]

The car earned the loyalty of its buyers, but the company suffered financial difficulties, and in 1907, it was sued by a Detroit creditor and ultimately liquidated. Chatham dentist G. W. Cornell bought the company's assets and resumed production.^[18]

In 1908, a new Chatham appeared, the Chatham 30, with a new 30 hp (22 kW; 30 PS) engine and "tulip-style" body.^[19]

The new car was entered in endurance trials and scored some successes.^[20] One example was driven 3,000 mi (4,800 km) from Arcola, Saskatchewan to Chatham by J.B. Stauffer.^[21]

The company sold only 35 cars, mainly to Chatham's wealthiest residents, before shutting down in 1909.^[22]

The factory was purchased by Detroit's Anhut Motor Car Company in 1910,^[23] which continued to manufacture badge engineered Chathams under its own brand.^[24]

The factory building still stood in the 1960s.^[25]

Notes

See also

• List of defunct automobile manufacturers