A Far Too Brief History of Peerless Motor Company

#peerless
This is a Far Too Brief History of Peerless.
From making washboards to producing some of the highest quality luxury automobiles of the early 1900s, Peerless held on to conservative design for too long and in the depths of the Depression decided they could make more money brewing beer!
Start 00:00
Founding 00:38
Peerless Motor Car 01:08
1910s 2:50
WWI 4:42
1920s 4:58
1930s 5:44
End of Peerless/Beginning Brewing 07:33
Conclusion 08:22
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AllCarsWithJon

[@killerontheloose80]

Big John, always plugging the old old school cars of the teens, 20's, and 30's. Much respect. The great depression of the late 1920's, 1930's killed off a lot of American independents.

[@AllCarswithJon]

I find those old brands interesting and frequently beautiful. It is also fascinating the names of people who come up over and over again, across companies and models.

[@henrychubbs2823]

Very intelligent commentary. I would have appreciated more pictures.

[@AllCarswithJon]

Thanks for the feedback. As I've done more of these History videos I've increased them to nearly 100% images. That's tough when you're talking about some cars from the late 1800s! :) Unfortunately I can't go back into older videos like this and just add in more images. :(

[@mrshelfsong]

Jon, I have been watching auto related videos for many years. I know all of the hot channels at the moment. I just want you to know that I consider your channel one of the most enjoyable and freshest take on the genre. Thanks for the time you put in to the production of your videos. lifetime sub here my friend.

[@AllCarswithJon]

Wow, thank you! I really appreciate those words!

[@danielulz1640]

Peerless definitely set the business model that is in widespread use today!

[@johnh2514]

Thanks Jon, a very interesting story. Admittedly I have very little knowledge in the car companies of this era so it was quite informative. Recently I’ve done a little reading about Overland, later Willys-Overland…that might be an interesting video to consider doing in the future.

[@AllCarswithJon]

It's kind of on the list, but a bit intimidating as it expands into the Willy story, of course the Jeep, etc. It gets big and complex. :)

[@rt_goblin_hours]

​@All Cars with Jon yeah, I swear everything I turn around in the 30s and 40s of car history you hear Willie's over Overland or kaiser all get passed around by everyone and their mother

[@AllCarswithJon]

@@rt_goblin_hours LOL! Yes, I've noticed several time one of those names popping up in research on an unrelated company

[@jeffking4176]

Excellent ‼️ 📻🙂

[@AllCarswithJon]

Thanks 🙂

[@mrgurulittle7000]

I think my favorite extinct luxury car brand is still Packard though. But this story was fascinating!👍👍👍

[@AllCarswithJon]

Of the recent ones I've done, I think the Auburn-Cord-Duesy is my fav.

[@mrgurulittle7000]

@@AllCarswithJon I have to check it out.🙂

[@johnnymason3265]

You should do a history on the Tucker. I would like to get your opinions on the 1948 Tucker and why it ultimately failed.

[@AllCarswithJon]

I've thought about that many times. I just don't think I'd do it any justice or add anything new when there's so much other history (and at least one movie) about that story.

[@tomtbi]

Another great and interesting history video....

[@AllCarswithJon]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!

[@tomtbi]

@@AllCarswithJon looking forward to the next one..

[@mrgurulittle7000]

Rubbish politics of corporations. They always screw up! Anyway, great tips at the end there where the designers went to different places.👍

[@michaelquinones-lx6ks]

You should do a brief history of the Porter Motor Car Company.

[@AllCarswithJon]

I'll have to look them up first! Thanks for the suggestion!

[@michaelquinones-lx6ks]

@@AllCarswithJon Thank you very much for answering my comment.

[@michaelquinones-lx6ks]

@@AllCarswithJonThank you very much for answering my comment.

[@joeseeking3572]

IMOP, Peerless was a deserved member of the 3P's from about 05-15, but was largely irrelevant after WWI. The move 'downmarket' didn't help, and they traded on whatever residual respect the name held. Pierce, stumbled some what inthe 20's but came back with the late 20's 8 and then produced one of the best V12's out there, and right or wrong, they never abandoned the top of the market. The eventual extinction though of all of the 'greats' - at least those not backed by a major corporation (save Packard, which also moved down, and probably should not have grabbed for volume with the 110 - a step too far) was sadly, inevitable.

[@iternityhuman1782]

Thanks for your car history lesson I’ve never heard of Peerlees autos b4.

[@AllCarswithJon]

You're welcome. I wasn't really aware of them until I did my previous Packard and Pierce-Arrow videos.

[@kylekeith5259]

My name is Kyle and I am blind and a Makar nut. This is the first video I think I have found of yours request. I think it would be cool if you did one for Hudson Essex, and terreplein.

[@AllCarswithJon]

Thanks for the reply and welcome aboard. I did a video on the history of AMC where I talk briefly about the history of Hudson, but do not get into the Essex or Terraplane brands.

[@5610winston]

What about the nineteen-teens Pathfinder motor cars? I have seen precisely one, a 1918 twelve-cylinder, if memory serves. It was impressive and enormous.

[@speedwagon7562]

…I’d like to know where those 1954 Carling Breweries were… I heard a rumor, one was in Northern NY…

[@markhancock7527]

Do you anything about a British Guy called Charles Wridgway who i believe went to America to work for Peerless.

[@AllCarswithJon]

Doesn't ring a bell off the top of my head?

[@markhancock7527]

He was a racing cyclist in England but was also a pioneer motorist who rode a De -Dion engined Trike i believe he went to work for Peerless in 1900.

[@iracordem]

im trying to identify a ~1910-era touring car in an old photo. my grandfather & older family members.the rad logo appears to say peerless, but it is smaller than most others ive seen, a diagonal in the upper left. you seem like the man who might know if anyone would…

[@AllCarswithJon]

hmm, not me I don't think. can you send a picture of it? Either post it to my community tab (if you can) or email it to me and I'll post it to the community and see if anyone can identify?

[@iracordem]

@@AllCarswithJon im getting a handle on it. learning a lot. taking some time. figured it out.

[@iracordem]

@@AllCarswithJon looks like an 1911 premier, based on subtle differences in line, trim, fittings & minor features

[@iracordem]

@@AllCarswithJon thanks for offering to help. i enjoy your presentations, liked/subscribed

[@detroitredneckdetroitredne6674]

I wonder if this is the same peerless company that makes Trans Axles? for Riding lawn mowers.

[@AllCarswithJon]

I don't think so. I think there's just many other, but unrelated, "Peerless" companies.

[@ianperkins8812]

"capitalism at its finest" /s... They did make some beautiful models, but when you throw short term strategies into the mix (stock manipulation, fights for controlling interests, etc) it isn't much of a suprise that the bottom fell out. Ceasing production was probably the better decision, given the absence of any passion for what they were producing.

[@AllCarswithJon]

And that was my takeaway. I fully expected a story of a company that couldn't weather the Great Depression, but I was particularily surprised at the "we'll make washboards! Now we'll make bikes! Ohh, how about CARS! Eh, too much trouble... let's BREW BEER!"

[@ianperkins8812]

@@AllCarswithJon Well, given that beer is a fairly recession-proof product (disclaimer: I worked in the beer industry many, many years ago), I'd say that choice is entirely in character, the most capitalist choice they could make and Carling is still a thing, so the decision panned out, I guess. My Godfather always kept Carling Black Label on hand.

[@AllCarswithJon]

@@ianperkins8812 Oh, I agree. It kept them in business and the guys working. But still, you want to celebrate the passion for a vehicle... and to them it was just "the commodity" they were making.

[@OldsVistaCruiser]

​@@ianperkins8812- Except for one thing. The Depression started in 1929. Beer was illegal in the US until 1933!

[@ianperkins8812]

@@OldsVistaCruiser Apparently, they were idle until Prohibition was repealed.

[@5610winston]

5:05 _COLLINS RESINS..._ ? Where was the proofreader for that one, or were they talking epoxy adhesives?