F 521 148 VOL6 N02 - - - - VOLUME 6 No2 RECEIVED JUL 1 ;j 1994 S.S. TR Leviathan Captain Cunningham supervises the loading of the first Cord L-29 Phaeton to be shipped a broad by the Auburn Automobile Company. It was exported to European sales agent Coldwell S. Johnston in Paris in 1929. NG 9 9 4 �I Editors' Page 30J "The Car That Made Good in a Day": Stutz Motor �Made in Indiana Company of Indiana Paul Brockman William M. Gardner AS§� _!�j The Man from Kokomo: �Destination Indiana Elwood Haynes and the Ray Boomhower Origins of t e �utomobile Industry in Indiana 36J The Cord That Binds: Ralp/}D.G ray E. L. Cord and the Auburn Automobile Company • Lee Beck 42J Avanti: Sherwood Egbert's Ro�ed M. aylor Jr. Dream Car Patrick 1 Furlong � Carl G. Fisher: Front and back covers, Tlhe Hoosier Bar,num 47J Want to Buy a Hoosier t 9 3 2 Duesenberg SJ Speedster Ray Boomhower HUMMER? considered one of the best Patrick 1 Furlong �He's Gone on Ahead: American automobiles Harry Ostermann and 48J Contributors and ever built. the Lincoln Highway Further Reading AUBURN-CORIJ-DUESENBERG MUSEUM Peter T Harstad INDIANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES James]. Barnes, Crawfordsville Dianne]. Cartmel, Seymour William E. Ervin , Hartford City Ralph D. Gray, Indianapolis H. Roll McLaughlin, Carmel Ronald Morris, Greenwood Mary M. Mullin, Brookville Kathleen Stiso Mullins,South Bend Alan T. Nolan, Indianapolis, Chairman Larry K. Pitts, Indianapolis William G. Prime, Madison Evaline H. Rhodehamel, Indianapolis, Vice President RichardS. Simons, Marion, President John Martin Smith. Auburn Theodore L. Steele, Indianapolis P R. Sweeney, Vincennes Stanley Warren, Indianapolis, Treasurer Herman B Wells, Bloomington ADMINISTRATION Peter T. Harstad , Executive Director Raymond L. Shoemaker, Assistant Executive Director and Business Manager Annabelle J. Jackson, Controller Susan P. Brown, Director Human Resources Carolyn S. Smith, Membership Secretary DIVISION DIRECTORS Bruce L. Johnson, Library Thomas K. Krasean, Community Relations Thomas A. Mason, Publications Robert M. Taylor Jr., Education TRACES OF INDIANA AND MmWESTERN HISTORY Thomas A. Mason, Executive Editor J. Kent Calder, Managing Editor Megan L. McKee, Editor Kathleen M. Breen, Editorial Assistant George R. Hanlin, Editorial Assistant CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Ray E. Boomhower Douglas E. Clanin Paula]. Corpuz Ruth Darrel PHOTOGRAPHY Stephen J. fletcher, Curator Visual Collections Kim Charles Ferrill, Photographer Susan L. S. Sutton, Coordinator EDITORIAL BOARD Richard]. M. Blackett, Indiana University, Bloomington Edward E. Breen, Marion Chronic!£-Tribune Andrew R. L. Cayton, Miami University David E. Dawson, Indianapolis Robert L. Gildea, Indianapolis Ralph D. Gray, Indiana University, Indianapolis Monroe H. Little Jr. , Indiana University, Indianapolis James H. Madison, Indiana University, Bloomington Richard S. Simons, Marion Emma Lou Thornbrough, Butler University DESIGN Dean Johnson Design R. Lloyd Brooks, Art Director Scott Johnson, Mike Schwab, Designers TYPOGRAPHY "\Veimer Graphics, Inc. PRINTING Shepard Poorman Communications Corp. 1'raw oflndiaruz. rmd Midmestt'm Hi.slfn)' (ISSN 1040-7SSX) i!i. published quar­ ltrl�· and distribmed as a benel'it of mt'mber!ihip bv Lhe lndi:m� Historic3l Soc: el)·. trlilorial and executive o_ffkes, 315 West Ohiu Stn:-et. lndiana lis, � 46202-�299. m 1p _ p� lndtana Me benh categopes are Annual S20. Sustammg $30, C:ontribUiing $50, and Life $!100. Single copi�s arc $5. Second-das� postag(' paid at lndian:\polis, Indiana: USPS Number 003-275. U/erary1:011tri· lmtio1u: A brochure containing form ti in a on for conlributors is aVailable upon reque�l. Trnrna epu no respons b lity fOr un.rolicitt'd ml:l.nuscripu . cc i i mbm�tt�cl WI I home rn p Indiana ne.... � lU _ mlagc -spaper publisher� may obtain �rm•ss•nn to repnm aruclcs w t reque�l by �i ten to tht'Society. Th(' S<:Jciet)· Will refer requests from other publishers to thf" or (OHJ94 I auth ndiana Hi�· torica.lSociety. r gh 1·e�uvecl. rrintecl in the United St.uc� of Am('rica. PflstmtJJin': Plea!lf'Al �ncli l!i l aclclres..� changes to Tmr15 � Jndinnn m1d Mid11..,.1tml t i r :�is;m.{6J�����;�i������l 1 ��� ����������/���j;� �c i Journals. ��:j � ;v�: �; : � ---------------------- I E D 1 r o R s' P A G E I ' h memorzes of even the oldest among us are dominated by images of cars. We remember the cars our fathers drove and their constant efforts to keepJ. them� running; we remember longtr ips to visit relatives and our parents' ultimate lack of Cord, and Stutz are just a few of the names of the rise and fa ll of Indiana's last classic, patience with such often-asked questions of those who fa ll into this category. the Avanti, and with a short piece on what as "What town is this?" and "How many Many others also succeeded in building may yet become a classic, the Mishawaka­ more miles?" Even more indelible are automobiles. In his introductory essay, made HUMMER. memories of our own cars: our first car, Paul Brockman men­ best car, first ticket, first wreck, first date. tions that more than Freedom and responsibility came to us eighty Indiana cities simultaneously with our cars. produced more than We also display our identities through five hundred makes of our cars. From the luxury car drivers who motor vehicles. This cruise from one meeting to the next with a issue of Traces, therefore, cellular phone glued to an ear to the dri­ is by no means compre­ vers of pickups, subcompacts, minivans, hensive. The articles four-wheel drives, and muscle cars, we are presented here, how­ in America what we drive. Automotive ever, are loaded with engineering, design, and marketing have information and tell always been geared toward reflecting a dri­ some good stories. ver's persona, and during a good part of Ralph D. Gray, the automotive history the cars Americans biographer of Elwood most wanted to drive came from Indiana. Haynes, contributes a This issue of 1races commemorates 100 profile of this metal­ years of Indiana automotive history, which lurgist and inventor's formally began when Elwood Haynes brilliant career and drove the first Indiana-made horseless car­ attempts to set the historical record Clar k Gable and his riage on Pumpkinvine Pike near Kokomo straight regarding his reputation. Stories 1935 Duesenbw; Model in July 1894. While that history, like most, by automobile historians Lee Beck and 1. can be interpreted from varied perspec­ William M. Gardner treat the works of tives, this issue fo cuses on the vision, E. L. Cord and Harry C. Stutz. Ro bert M. In an era dominated by traffic jams, air enthusiasm, and technical skill of those Taylor Jr. offers the cautionary tale of the and noise pollution, decaying inner cities, who participated in an industry that pro­ Ridgeville Senator, an Indiana broom man­ labor strife, and trade imbalances, one may duced some of America's best-known and ufacturer's short-lived entry into the auto­ view the automobile's legacy as mixed at best-loved automobiles. mobile competition. Ray Boomhower's best. Few of us, however, could be per­ Fueled by the natural gas boom, Indi­ essay on promoter and entrepreneur Carl suaded to give up our cars. For the last ana's automotive industry spawned scores G. Fisher, cofounder of the Indianapolis century, the automobile and the American of inventors and entrepreneurs. As Motor Speedway and developer of the dream have been inextricably linked, and Hoosier journalist .John Bartlow Martin Lincoln Highway, complements Peter T. Indiana played a significant role in bring­ wrote, "men kept starting up alley machine Harstad's look at Harry Ostermann, who ing them together. shops that in a few years became giant lived and died in an effort to promote the enterprises." Haynes, Apperson, Duesen­ Lincoln Highway Association. Patrick J. ). KENT CALDER berg, Marmon, Perry, Cole, Studebaker, Furlong closes the issue with a description Managing Editor Spring 1994 3 ROM THE 19105 TO THE 19305 INDIANA VIED WI TH MICHIGAN FOR THE TITLE OF AU TOMOBILE CAPI TAL OF THE UNI TED STATES. IN ITS FEBRUARY-MARCH 1986 ISSUE, AMERICAN HERITAGE LISTED THE TEN GREATEST AMERICAN-MADE CARS 1 9 3 2 DUESENBERG MODEL SJ, THE 1931 MARMON V-16, AND THE 1937 CORD 812, AMONG THE BEST AMERICAN CARS EVER PRODUCED. MICHIGAN- BUILT CARS MADE UP FIVE OF THE REMAINING SI X. ONLY NEW YORK'S BUFFALO-BUILT PIERCE-ARROW WA S ABLE TO BREAK THE TWO-STATE DOMINATION. • INDIANA PRODUCED A SU BSTAN TIAL NUMBER AND VA RIE TY OF CARS IN THE FOUR DECADES FOLLOWING THE FIRST DOCUMEN TED P A BROCKMAN U L TRACES 4July 1894 ElwoodHa_, ·nes's test�driveon Pumplrinvine PikP. MADE IN 9NOIANA Like all Indiana gas stations, the Brookville Filling Station (seen here in 1926 ) began charging a state gasoline tax in 19231 the federal gasoline tax followed in 1932. Spri>�g 1994 5 1909 Dollarvalue ofJndia ruz'sauto pTOduction ranks JouTth in lhenatzon. MADE IN Spring 1994 7 MADE IN EIND IANA Right The owner and wtfe of this Ohto Below, left : As early as 1905, in response Mud Hen greet a local official while the to the growing number of auto accidents, driver looks on. Governor Winfield T Durbin asked the Indiana General Assembly to Below: The owners of this car decorated it regulate the speed and handling of for use as the Bath To wnship float in a automobiles. Legislation, however, t 916 Indiana centennial celebration. cannot prevent all accidents, as this 1915 wreck in Brookville illustrates. Left The Cincinnati Auto Club stops for a break at the Va lley House, Brookville, - 2 December 19 11. 8 TRA E MADE IN test-drive by Elwood Haynes down Pumpkinvine Pike, three miles no surprise to many experts that the first two "500" winners drove southeast of Kokomo, on 4 July 1894.