Jackson Automobile Company

Jackson Automobile Company

Type	Automobile Manufacturing
Industry	Automotive
Founded	1903
Defunct	1923
Headquarters	Jackson, Michigan , United States
Area served	United States
Products	Vehicles Automotive parts

The "'Jackson Automobile Company'" was an American Brass Era automobile manufacturer located in and named for Jackson, Michigan. The company produced the Jackson from 1903 to 1923 and the 1903 Jaxon steam car and the 1904 Orlo.

Company background[]

1905 Jackson Model C

Carter operated a steam driven press and was a rubber stamp manufacturer 1894 Carter went into a partnership with his father selling bicycles by 1899 he built his first gasoline automobile but focused on steam cars.^[1] By 1901 his steam car was being manufactured by the Michigan automobile company in Kalamazoo.^[1] A year later Carter returned to Jackson MI after inventing and patenting a 3 cylinder 6 horsepower steam engine.^[1] Carter partnered with George A Matthews, a buggy manufacturer and Charles Lewis, president of the Lewis spring axle company.^[1] The Jackson automobile company was incorporated in 1903.^[1] The three main partners in the 1902 incorporation of the Jackson Automobile Company were Byron J. Carter, George A. Matthews and Charles Lewis. Carter had previously been a steam-driven press printer who later started a bicycle shop with his father, Squire B. Carter, in 1894. He built his first experimental, gasoline-powered car in 1899, and then used his steam experience to build a steam-powered car which became the Carter in 1901. Matthews owned the local Fuller Buggy Company and later built the Fuller automobile, 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-cylinder 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.^[2] In 1910, Matthews bought out Lewis, leaving him as the sole remaining partner. Lewis left to start the Hollier car. Matthews installed his sons in the president, secretary and treasurer positions within the company.

The engines used by the company continued to grow, with a six-cylinder engine becoming available in 1913, and a V8 available in 1916. Later cars resembled the contemporary Rolls-Royce. Indeed, the company used the phrase "The Car with the Keystone Radiator" in advertisements.^[3]

Jackson also produced their own engines with valves in the cylinder heads and overhead cab shaft.^[1] By 1912 there are larger vehicles used in multiple metal disc type clutch running in an oil bath, with the smaller horsepower cars using the more standard leather faced cone clutches.

The 1921 Princess Coupe was a hit at the Chicago Auto Show,^[3] but obtaining credit was difficult during that year's recession. 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.

Jaxon[]

1903 Jaxon Steam Car

Carter further developed his automobile, eventually patenting 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.

The steam cars were only produced for one year but the gasoline continued cars continued until 1924 without Carter.^[1] Advertisements proclaimed that "steam is reliable and easily understood".^[4]

Orlo[]

The Orlo was built only in 1904. The Orlo was a five-seat side-entrance model that was equipped with a 16/17 hp two-cylinder engine. The engine was located under the front seat and the drive was through a chain drive. The engine was water-cooled by a finned-coil mounted beneath the front of the bonnet. The Orlo cost $1,125.

Duck[]

There is some debate over whether this is actually a different marque of automobile produced by the company or just a Jackson model. It was also referred to as the Jackson Back Seat Steer. This gives new meaning to the term "back seat driver" because this is the actual location of the steering controls. The company probably introduced the car to see if having a car with the passengers seated in the front seat would be a winning sales proposition. Since this car only was around in 1913, it is not likely that there were many purchasers for such an unusual car.^[5]

Racing[]

Jackson did well in racing and won the Wheeler-Schebler Trophy Race which was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway before the first Indianapolis 500.^[1] The first race held in 1909 was originally scheduled for 300 miles but was ended at 235 miles because of the deteriorating track conditions.^[1] Out of 19 starters only five remained at the end of 200 miles and when the race was stopped Jackson had a lead of more than two miles ahead of its nearest competitor.^[1] In 1910 the Wheeler-Schebler Trophy Race was again held at the Indianapolis motor speedway which become a paved track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.^[1] It had 19 starters but was reduced to 200 miles.^[1] The winner was a specially designed six cylinder car built exclusively for racing and the Jackson stock model finishing second.^[1]

The first Indianapolis 500 was held in 1911, 46 cars entered representing the very best efforts of American and European designers, 25 of which had larger end engines than the Jackson entry.^[1] The four cylinder 559 cubic inch engine Jackson came in 10th overall beating out 16 cars with larger engines.^[1] The Jackson had a top speed of 75 miles an hour who was able to run continuously at this speed stopping only for tires and gas.^[1]

Demise[]

Carter left the company in 1905 because his partners did not wish to pursue the friction drive idea that he had.^[1] Carter went on to build the friction Drive Cartercar automobiles at the Cartercar company until his death in 1907 when he died at only 44 years old.^[1] In 1904 and 1905 Jackson produced one and two-cylinder models such as the "King of Belgium" touring and Jackson added a four-cylinder model in 1906.^[1]

During World War I, 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".^[3]

1922 marked the beginning of the end of the Jackson automobile company by 1923 the newly formed associate mortars observed the Jackson automobile company, Dixie flyer company of Louisville and Indianapolis national company period.^[1]

References[]

Bibliography[]

• G.N. Georgano, Nick (Ed.). "The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile". Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn, 2000. ISBN 1-57958-293-1
• Kimes, Beverly Rae and Clark Jr, Henry Austin. "Standard Catalog of American Cars: 1805-1942" (Third Edition). Iola, WI: Krause. 1996. ISBN 0-87341-428-4