Car Manufacturers Who Fell Victim to The Recession and Great Depression Of the 1920's and 1930's

This documentary is about Automobile manufacturers from the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century who fell victim to the recession of the 1920's following the end of WWI and were unable to survive the Great Depression and the results of the economic downturn of the 1930's. Companies like Auburn, Anderson, Cord, , Chalmers, Duesenberg, Elkhart, Durant, Kissel, Essex, Peerless, Pierce Arrow, Durant, Stanley, Oakland, Lexington, Harroun, Hupp, Lexington, Maxwell, Marmon, Moon, Jackson, Dort, and Franklin, just to name a few.
This video shows photos and video from that time period as well as advertisements from several of these manufactures. I managed to fit many images to create this interesting documentary.
You can find my I Fix It Merchandise here kensmithgallery.creator-sprin...
When I am not making images for my normal (if there is such a thing) bodies of work as a photographer, I make plenty of fun videos for my Model A that you can find on this channel too. Be sure to check them out.
As to gear, I shoot a variety of full frame Nikon cameras and lenses. Most everything is shot on a tripod to produce the sharpest images possible.
You can see more about me and my photography at my website here www.kensmithgallery.com/
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My 1930 Ford Town Sedan has eyebrow fenders and still has the original interior. It's certainly worn but it still is functional. I have rebuilt the driveline, suspension, and tie rods, installed a modernized Model A motor with oversized intake valves, insert bearings, and a high compression head. I also have a lightened flywheel and V8 clutch. The car comfortably cruises at 50MPH but I've had it up to 60MPH. I have also insulated and installed sound deadener which has made the car enjoyable to be in even at 90 degrees.
#1928 #1929 #1930 #1931 #fordmodela #modelaford #victoria #roadster #phaeton #coupe #sedan #fordor #townsedan #truck #subscribe #subscribetomychannel

[@nomadpi1]

Being nearly 80 yrs old, I've seen less and less choices of everything available to consumers. Congress has allowed whales to swallow too many innovators. We have less choice and less ability to choose what we can afford or want. There's less competition amongst retailers, hence higher prices. Who thinks a Ford F150 pickup is worth $50-$60 thousand dollars?. Everything is now franchises and lower quality of food, clothing, cars, houses, ... everything. THIS ISN'T PROGRESS; THIS IS STAGNATION!

[@sandygeorge9741]

That's true.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

:-)

[@trudygreer2491]

Nope.. just capitalism at work..

[@chandrashekhardeshpande1918]

Correct

[@cspaulin]

There is too much regulation about what a car needs to have. If simple, like the Ford Model T, it would be easier to start a car company. I was not taught in school about how to make a car. The Prussian schooling is not education.

[@alexclement7221]

26:50 Winton continued on, making heavy diesel engines for ships, and later for locomotives of the Electromotive Motive brand. GM ended up buying them, changing the name to EMD motors, which spawned off the brand name Detroit Diesel, which still exists today as the #2 manufacturer of diesels for the trucking industry.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi Alex and welcome to the channel. Thanks for sharing this information! I appreciate it!

[@keithstudly6071]

The Diesel, details. GM bought Winton for the large Diesel engine design and renamed it Cleveland Diesel. GM then designed smaller Diesel engines based on the Winton design and built them in Detroit. This was Detroit Diesel. GM decided to produce locomotives using the Winton Diesel and created EMD (Electromotive Division). Most of the engines in US Navy submarines in WW2 were produced by EMD.

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

There were several American automakers who went out of business during the "Roaring 1920s"... years before the Great Depression. Only a few of the "Independents", as they were called then, survived until the U.S. War Department awarded military contracts to all of the automakers around 1940. The high capitalization of the auto industry (facilities, labor, engineering, manufacturing, marketing, franchise distribution, and service) favored the large manufacturers with multiple models. What hurt the smaller independent automakers was a lack of widespread service and replacement parts. Generally, the automakers of that era changed the engineering of their cars so often that replacement parts were nearly impossible to find on cars more than five or six years old. With GM, Ford, and Chrysler, buyers were used to widespread service departments. But as an example, it would be difficult to find service and parts for a Moon or Cole automobile. Also, Locomobile built much more expensive cars than the mainstream Cadillac, Lincoln, and Packard of the 1920s.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

You brought up some great talking points! Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts!

[@HoosierRooster]

I was in Reno Nevada in 1986 at the Harrah's collection before they actually built the museum and I stood in front of a Pierce-Arrow for nearly 15 minutes hypnotized by its beauty

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi and welcome to the channel. Thanks for your comment!

[@brentritchie6199]

Fantastic doco on why they failed economic downturns mainly - thank you

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!

[@jeffbrinkerhoff5121]

My grandfather Lunda Kyle, sold Auburn, Cords, and Deusenburgs. Family lore has my mom learning to drive an Auburn in the back yard taking out a grape arbor in the process. He delivered cars to several movie stars of the era and took mom along. Teenage girl from IN, going to Hollywood in beautiful cars, meeting movie stars, coming back to IN on the Silver Chief. Pretty cool..

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi Jeff and welcome to the channel. What a great story! Thanks for sharing.

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

How amazing that your mom told you these stories! Did you know your grandfather at all?

[@jeffbrinkerhoff5121]

@@mitchellbarnow1709Hi Mitchell, my mom's dad died a few months before I was born . My other grandfather lived til I was 5 but I never knew him as other than in invalid. Both men were dynamic characters that I know only through a few stories and my own idiosyncracies. Thanks for asking, best to you.

[@jeffbrinkerhoff5121]

@@mitchellbarnow1709 addendum: my dad told me the story during which my mom added pertinent details as follow, as the car approached the grape arbor Granddad instructed "both feet down" to which Mom depressed the clutch and the accelerator rather than the clutch and brake pedals..

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

@@jeffbrinkerhoff5121Jeff, you are an awesome gentleman!

[@terryeustice5399]

Sad we lost so many car manufacturers to the Great Depression. But, if they were stock companies. Makes sense that it did. Great History of the cars. Thank you for sharing! 💯👍👊

[@kensmithgallery4432]

It is sad about all those lost auto makers. Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@rayfridley6649]

Missing is the Sultan, which was manufactured by the Otis Elevator Company from 1900 to 1910. Sultan was a luxury automobile manufactured mainly in Springfield, Mass, with components from New Jersey and other places. It is described in Jason Goodwin's book OTIS: GIVING RISE TO THE MODERN CITY.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi Ray and welcome to the channel. There were many other car manufactures who went out of business prior to WWI. I focused only on the ones who were out of business in the 1920's and 1930's. Thanks for your comment though!

[@applelover98]

At one time Springfield, MA was very busy in the automotive industry. The Sultan, Duryea, and Rolls Royce all made in Springfield.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

@@applelover98 Hi and welcome to the channel. Thanks for sharing!

[@carywest9256]

@@applelover98 Rolls-Royce, same maker in England?

[@edradetsky9026]

Coming from a guy who owns a Marmon, well done! People don’t realize that in the early 1900s, there were nearly 2000 car companies registered in the United States. Granted, a lot of them only ended up making one or two cars.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi and welcome to the channel. Thanks so much for your comment!

[@rjevenson583]

​@@kensmithgallery44327:06

[@starguard4122]

Thank you for taking the time to make this documentary. It was very informative and useful

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@MYJ61]

Thank you! I learned of brands that I’d never heard of. One that you didn’t include was the “Klinecar” manufactured by the Kline Motor Company in Richmond Virginia. The last remains of its factory were razed just last year.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi and welcome to the channel. I learned things as I made the video. Thanks for your comment!

[@johndoylemc]

My Great Uncle owned a Hupmobile in 1915. I have a snapshot of him and Aunt Lillie in theirs. He is cranking it.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi John and welcome to the channel! What a great memory. Thanks for your comment!

[@robertmoffett3486]

My father's first car was a 27 Hupmobile. No idea when he bought it, but it sure wasn't new

[@CAROLDDISCOVER-FINDER2525]

Very interesting thank you for taking the time to put this together 👍

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@rosewhite---]

2:20 the little metal brackets holding the roof timbers together is a clever bit of design.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi Rose and welcome to the channel! I took another look and you are right!

[@adamcook]

Very well put together Ken!

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hey Adam! Welcome to the channel and thanks for subscribing!

[@txsailor57]

My great uncle had a Hupmobile that was his daily driver. When the local garages would no longer work on it he bought 2 LaSalles I think they were 1939 or 40 models. One was a 4 door sedan but the other was a convertible. He lived 1000+ miles from us but once on vacation we went to his house and he gave me rides in both. That was about 1970. I have no idea what happened to them when he passed.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi and welcome to the channel! Thanks for sharing this story!

[@soarornor]

Beautiful documentary. Really excellent selection of imagery too. Nice summation of the subject and well narrated. Thanks. I really enjoyed it.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@thesilentgeneration]

Gosh, that building shown for Jackson, Michigan is where my dad used to work. He was there at the time when Sparks Co. owned the building. He used to take me to work with him and I got to go all through the building. It no longer exists now and burned down some time ago. I had no idea that Jackson was so involved in automobiles. Thanks so much.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

You are most welcome!

[@lucycats6282]

You did a great job on this video and I very much enjoyed watching it. I’ve had a 29/30 D.B Victoria for many years, worked very hard at collecting original parts and pieces and I hope to one day put it all together as close to it’s original glory as possible. Wish me good fortune

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Glad you enjoyed it! Best of luck on your restoration efforts!

[@highspeedgaz]

What a time to have lived being a young entrepreneur ,a risk taker not a chancer,but someone who had complete faith in one's own ability to succeed, Thanyou great video .

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi and welcome to the channel! Thanks for your comment!

[@lawrencemarocco8197]

Duesenberg didn't build complete cars. They built rolling chassis that were shipped to custom coach builders like DeDietrich, Fleetwood, and LeBaron for final finishing. Each car was uniquely built to customer specifications.The lack of vertical integration contributed to the company's demise.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi Lawrence and welcome to the channel. Thanks for your comment!

[@sc1338]

They really built the best of the best

[@myronjacobs5014]

Hi Ken, a very very well explained with fantastic pictures of the history that so much meant to the auto industry for what we have today. Very great and we enjoyed it so much. Hope you are doing fine and tgg he años again to bring soo much history in a nearly 30 minutes coverage. Well done my friend 🙏👍🏼🤝

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi Myron! Thanks so much for the kinds words! I appreciate them very much!

[@stargasm1000]

This is a VERY interesting video that makes me think of just how interesting the 20th century would've been if not for the Great Depression. The market wouldn't have been able to support that many manufacturers and there would've been inevitable consolidation and failures. If not for the Great Depression, some of these marques (Duesenberg) would still occupy our driveways and the automobile market would likely be remarkably different.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi and welcome to the channel! You have some interesting thoughts as I wonder what could have been myself!

[@OldDood]

Yes, it is a interesting thought. However, I still believe a majority of those Automobile Manufacturers would have closed up just from competition alone.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

@@OldDood a very good point!

[@ronaldwhite6508]

They left out CR Patterson and sons They built cars from 1839 to 1939 But no one mentions them

[@johntechwriter]

I take a different view. As the robber barons consolidated their fortunes into the 20s, the working class was mostly unable to participate in the Roaring 20s, being chained to their workbenches for long hours on low pay. It took the Depression to shake up this unhealthy economy - where like today a tiny elite skimmed the country’s wealth - and make possible the rise of the middle class, and the possibility for the working class to achieve the American Dream.

[@ernesttravers7517]

Magic video, Mate Thanks

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@ernesttravers7517]

It was great@@kensmithgallery4432

[@slicksnewonenow]

Coop is actually standing next to one of his Duesenbergs in that picture...

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi and welcome to the channel. Yes, you are correct!

[@markr.1984]

No mention of Stutz, which was a top notch car for a while. Yet another highly sought after car by celebrities and the wealthy. He mentioned that at one time, St. Louis had 100 car manufacturers, Indianapolis had 200!! But when Henry Ford started his mass production technique, all those small companies that basically made hand-made cars all over the country, could not compete. Took them way too long to make a car and they were not efficient enough. So it wasn't just the depression that killed them off. The mass producers in Michigan survived and few companies in Indiana other than Studebaker, could keep it together. But those old Indiana cars had a better quality. I'm glad he mentioned those New York built Pierce Arrows, one of the best made vehicles ever. If you ever are in northern Indiana, it's worth a trip to the Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg museum if you're a beautiful car fan.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi Mark and welcome to the channel. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and comments.

[@thomasschultz1376]

Stutz went off the market in the 50‘s…

[@todddenio3200]

@@thomasschultz1376 Stutz cars went out of production in 1935.

[@kdsanchez2433]

Excellent documentary , I enjoy every minute 👍🏼

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi and welcome to the channel. Thanks for your comment!

[@johndoylemc]

Has anyone heard of a "Starr Car"? There was a wrecked one in a family junkyard when I was a youngster. I sawed the radio antenna off because it was brass! Still have the antenna!

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Yep! Assembled by Durant! Went BK in 1928.

[@colvinator1611]

Excellent video and very informative. There's something very special about American cars. Thanks a lot, Colin UK

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Our pleasure! Thanks for watching the video!

[@jaws6869]

Lovely video, full of interesting facts. Thanks.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi and welcome to the channel! Thanks so much for your comment!

[@johnjwedrall4290]

Thank you for the history of cars in America 🇺🇸

[@kensmithgallery4432]

You are most welcome and thanks for watching!

[@brunodobia9223]

The Marmom was the most glamorous i mean a V16 all aluminum 8 litre engine in late 1920 early 1930’s it doesn’t get much better than this it just shows what the American’s could do was just incredible and they are still doing it the best of everything is really American .

[@kensmithgallery4432]

That was an amazing automobile!

[@ronsilva516]

That was a fascinating story 👍👍👍👍😎

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Thanks for watching!

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Great vid!! 👍👍

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi and welcome to the channel. Thanks so much for your comment!

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

@@kensmithgallery4432 👍

[@markfortin421]

Nice job, with ALOT of research to bring us this story of the early auto industry. If you think about it..."What if?" What if the stock market crash of '29 never happened...could it have kept some of these companies around? Sad to say we'll never know, but it was fun while it lasted. Even Henry Ford pulled some tricks to stay in business, and the fact that he didn't trust bankers, so he had no loans or credit to be forclosed on, probably saved Ford Motor Company. Thanks once again for posting...a very deluxe presentation!

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi Mark and welcome to the channel! Thanks for the kind words. You brought up some really good thought provoking questions. Durant is a company that I think had it not been for the depression, might have weathered the storm.

[@ThomasSyracuse-gf7pr]

In 1935 in Buffalo NY dad was courting mom and drove mom's parents Pierce Arrow. He noticed the oil gauge , upon starting the car , did not move! Yes, was low on oil ! For how long? Not sure but my eventual grandparents , from Italy, had no idea what to do, but dad did add oil.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi and welcome to the channel. What a neat story! Thanks so much for sharing!

[@malcolmgibson6288]

What a great video.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi Malcolm and welcome to the channel! Thanks so much for your comment!

[@hanssaykiewicz4319]

Excellent programming. Very cool and informative.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi and welcome to the channel! Thanks for your comment!

[@jimniecurtsinger5361]

The worst thing to come out of the 20's is GM idea to change car design for the Jones and increases car price..

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi Jimmie and welcome to the channel! Thanks so much for your comment!

[@jaycarlson927]

Wow great research and list of companies that i have only heard of in passing

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi and welcome to the channel. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@MikeLoveBuns]

Amazing vehicle! Mike from Missouri

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi Mike. Welcome to the channel and thanks for your comment!

[@davebarron5939]

My Grandfather came over from Canada in the late 20's, working for Hupmobile initially, then ended up with Chevrolet for 42 years, and lived to be 100 passing away in 2003. RIP Grandpa, he saw the greatest years of this country.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

What a great piece of family history! Thanks for watching!

[@jerrywatt6813]

My brother inlaw inhearited a packard 12 cylinder convertible sedan from his mothers estate it had been garaged on blocks for 30 years he cleaned it up replaced some upholstery with pro help had 8t ribbed out and polished and it looked brand new ! I think its one of 12 still in existence and last sold for one hundred and six thousand if im not mistaken it was beauitifull to behold !!!

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi Jerry and welcome to the channel! Thanks for sharing your story!

[@codyhilton1750]

Very good video.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi Cody and welcome to the channel! Thanks for your comment!

[@Qrail]

New subscriber here. Thanks. Good job.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Thanks for subscribing to the channel and welcome!

[@luckyguy600]

Some fine automobiles. Innovation was key/ design and cost definite selling points. I say this two days after buying a 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross. Oh if the clocks could be turned back to the 1920's I am sure there were one or two I would have my eye on. Thanks for such a great ' montage' of car companies that are no more. There were many many more companies all over Canada alone that sadly, didn't make it either through the Great Depression of that time. As to the one we might be heading for/ or in/ we shall see what will become a classic for the generation now. 🤞

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi and welcome to the channel! Thanks so much for your comment!

[@jcmusco]

so many car companies, all in car shows or barns.thanks for the info.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi and welcome to the channel. Thanks so much for your comment!

[@jeffking4176]

Lots of research went into this very cool video. I have subscribed. 🚗📻🙂

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi Jeff and welcome to the channel. Thanks for subscribing! 🙂

[@jeffking4176]

@@kensmithgallery4432 Waiting for part 2. 📻🙂

[@kensmithgallery4432]

@@jeffking4176 and by popular demand, I will do just that!

[@georgewettig1860]

Extremely good video, I would have loved some info on the Crosley, built in Cincinnati. Excellent content.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Thanks! 👍

[@jsat5609]

19:08 Marmon may have gone into bankruptcy, but it did survive in the from of Marmon-Herrington, a company which I think still exists. Marmon-Herrington built military vehicles and 4 wheel drive conversions for light trucks. It formed a partnership with Ford in the 1930s, and also built truck, and other vehicles for the military, and busses.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi and welcome to the channel. Thanks for the additional information!

[@SpeedRacerV]

My Great Uncle designed Peerless Automobiles from 1909 to 1916 when he left to train pilots for WWI.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Wow! That's an awesome story. Thanks for sharing!

[@tirebiter1680]

The Ruxton was an excellant car. they started making them in 1929. They stopped making them right after black friday.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Yes it was!

[@robertmoffett3486]

How many did they make?

[@oldguy6976]

Plattsburgh, NY had the Lozier Motor Company. At one time the most expensive car in the US.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi and welcome to the channel. Lozier was a beautiful car. The company went BK in 1918 so I didn't include them. However, like many others mentioned other brass era cars, I may end up doing a video on just them so thanks for your comment and that inspirational push!

[@Kevin-go2dw]

Living in Australia I had never heard of the Anderson Motor Company. In March 2023, I was impressed by an Auburn Cord which I saw in the "Museum of Vehicle Evolution". One wonders how many of the new vehicle companies that have recently entered the market with electric vehicles, and old companies with internal combustion engines will still be in business in 10, 20 or 50 years time. I am sure some will also close up shop.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi and welcome to the channel! There were several manufactures I never heard of and I still missed a few.

[@johnlopresti1739]

Was hoping to hear about the Selden Co. in Rochester, NY, but can't get all of them in. Great video.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi and welcome to the channel. I didn't mention Selden only because they quit production of their cars before the Great depression. I do have a video on my channel about a Selden I was commissioned to photograph, and I have a video coming soon about Selden's patent and the Ford lawsuit. If you haven't yet, you should subscribe.

[@johnlopresti1739]

@@kensmithgallery4432 My dad used to talk about how Ford dragged Selden through the courts and broke him.

[@adamcampbell-jones7621]

Fascinating ! Like pic of Jaguar dealership in USA my Grandmother had a 420 in UK.William Lyons started out making motorcycle sidecars before manufacturing cars,& later brought out Daimler in 1960.i guess they were small & UK based at the the of the great depression which is why they survived.Looks like electric cars are making & come back.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Thanks for the added information and for watching the video!

[@Strato777]

Great information on Jack Benny’s pride n joy. Thanks.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi and welcome to the channel. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@waggitnshaggit6592]

Thanks that was great and no bailouts! Music was dreary Kid Ory would’ve got my vote sad and happy mixed into one 😊

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi and welcome to the channel! Thanks so much for your comment!

[@PontiacFan68]

@Kensmithgallery4432 can you please make a part two of this maybe make a series of videos about these independent automakers. I love the content keep at it with the good work.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi Pontiac fan and welcome to the channel. I had a 68 Pontiac convertible that I sold in 1993 to a guy who still has it! Man do I miss that car. Anyhow, yes I will make a part two as well as a few others I have up my sleeve.

[@PontiacFan68]

@@kensmithgallery4432 cool man I love old Pontiacs my dream car is a 68 GTO Judge and 77 Trans Am. I love Bonneville's, Catalina's, Grand Prix's, and the first Grand Am's. I also love independent automakers like the Pierce-Arrows and McFarlands all kinds of many brands that couldn't make it to the WW2 contracts. Keep making the content it's good work.

[@michaelburley9479]

You missed the other P - Packard which out produced all other luxury car manufacturers combined. Ask the man who owns one.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi Michael and welcome to the channel. I appreciate your comment. I actually did not miss Packard as they were still in business when the Great Depression ended and this video was about manufacturers that went out of business during the Great Depression.

[@billolsen4360]

As a teenager in the 70's, I knew a man named Franklin Mercer and he drove a 1922 Essex.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi Bill and welcome to the channel! That's a great story! Thanks for sharing.

[@robertmoffett3486]

That's some name! I knew an old lady in the 70s whose name was Portia Ferrari. Neither of those guys was known in the US when she was born circa 1900, so it wasn't strange at the time.

[@chriskappert1365]

Duesenberg , Cord , Pierce Arrow , Packard , Auburn to name a few .

[@kensmithgallery4432]

And that's just a few.

[@alexclement7221]

Wow, just how many auto manufacturers DID Amelia Earhart advertise for?

[@kensmithgallery4432]

I know right!

[@choppergirl]

5:00 We had an Alice - Chalmers tractor... 🙂 My uncle worked as a salesman for NCR in Europe.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Thanks for sharing!

[@stevenbittinger5128]

Allis-Chalmers. ,much later Fiat-Allis.

[@timvala7577]

One that wasn’t mentioned was the Colby car company in Mason City, Iowa. The Colby was an extravagant luxury car made in the early teens and was very short lived. Most likely it was ended due to the 1st war. It’s so rare that the only one existed was one owned by Ralph Thomas who told me he had only pictures of it and had to try and make all the sheet metal and body parts by ear. He had only the engine and drive train.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Thanks for your feedback!

[@tirebiter1680]

If you lose lots of money in the stock market or get laid off, one of your 1st decisions is my car is only a few years old and it still runs good, I could drive it a few more years.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi and welcome to the channel! I'll consider that as long as I know that you got new wooden floor boards :-)

[@ronalddevine9587]

Did I see Amelia Earnhardt in a few photos? This was an excellent and educational video. Thank you for pronouncing Audi as AWDEE, NOT OWDEE.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Yes you did see her. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@johnedwards785]

I had an Uncle who as an owner of a small machine shop in Cokato, MN loved to collect and restore unusual vehicles. He had a 1903 Oldsmobile, a Kissel Goldbug Speedster, a Chalmers, a Rickenbacker, a bullet nosed Henry J. Kaiser, and a sixteen cylinder Marmon. Unfortunately when he went bankrupt, due to failing to incorporate his business, Lundeen Tractor Company; when the local Banker died and his son (the replacement) decided to call the note due; he lost his entire collection. These were just a few of his cars, as he had several more that I can't remember. I believe the Kissel Goldbug Speedster, now resides in the Harrah's Car Museum in Reno Nevada. The boat tail of the Kissel, he fabricated out of metal from an original blueprint of the vehicle.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi John and welcome to the channel. Thanks so much for sharing this story!

[@samgorin9836]

Also notable was Mercer, Playboy, Jordan and many others. What the 1930s didnt kill, the 1950s did - when we lost Tucker, Edsel, Hudson etc and then the 1960s when we lost Studebaker and Packard. Imagine a world with no Toyota and Subaru and Nissan.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi and welcome to the channel. I am pretty sure I will do another video covering those cars that went BK before the Depression, so thanks so much for your comment and your interest!

[@luckyguy600]

And Packard with no Merlin Engines being produced in the thousands. In those days no one could touch the innovations North America came up with. Not so much now. Serfs are not supposed to think & create, just do what they are told to do.

[@chuckschafer942]

EDSEL WAS NOT A SEPERATE MAKE IT WAS A FORD PRODUCT

[@katk7925]

The Jordan was assembled art! Bit of trivia, it was photographed in front of mansions in shaker hights Ohio (Overlook and South Park Drives) for promo pieces. These houses are still standing.

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

Tucker automobiles were not built in the 1950s. The last true Packard was built in 1956... with a Studebaker-based model built in 1957 and 1958. The Hudson became the 1958 American Motors Ambassador.

[@tirebiter1680]

In 1929 they made a contract with the Lycoming engine company, to do a production run of the Duesenberg straight 8 engine. After the stock market crash these engines went into a warehouse and remained there during much of the 1930s ocasionally a Duesenberg chassis would be made and shipped to a coachbuilder to put a body on it. Franklin survived by making small airplane engines. In the 1950s the company was bought by the communists and wound up in Poland.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

That's interesting!

[@justmike2944]

Maxwell was Jack Benny car. 😂

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Yes it was!😀

[@m.i.andersen8167]

I love old cars so the video was very interesting. Many of the car brands I had never heard of. All the old adverts and sales brochures were entertaining to look at and gave a good insight into the time they were made in. Unfortunately the sound on your speak is really bad but simple things can make a big improvement, most importantly a much shorter distance to the microphone and a little damping, a blanket or similar will help.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi Mark and welcome to the channel! Thanks so much for your comment!

[@nikjames2965]

Sounds like he is speaking in a tiled bathroom

[@richarddavenport31]

LOVE ALL THE AMERICAN MADE QUALITY CARS THAT ARE NO MORE!!!!!

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi Richard and welcome to the channel! Thanks for your comment!

[@tirebiter1680]

In the 1920s over 100 companies made cars in America. By 1942 the number was down to 7.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi and welcome to the channel! Thanks for your comment!

[@robertmoffett3486]

Before WWI, there were about 200, and a similar number of truck companies, if I remember correctly

[@kennethswain6313]

Another excellent presentation. How many makes did revue? I didn’t keep score.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi and welcome to the channel. To be honest, I am not sure. I know I missed a few but that gives me an opportunity for another video.

[@5610winston]

5:31 "...1923 when it merged with Chrysler...." Walter Chrysler didn't form his eponymous car company until 1925.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi and welcome to the channel. Thanks for your input!

[@DaimlerSleeveValve]

Very interesting! One slight error - the picture of the "Peerless Motors Ltd" premises refers to the UK maker, who made sports saloons between 1957 and 1960. Obviously there was no clash with any US maker with a similar name.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi and welcome to the channel. Thanks so much for your comment! I appreciate it!

[@likaleica]

Hard to list over 150 car manufactures who fell during these old times

[@kensmithgallery4432]

True that!

[@juanasanelli6831]

buenisimo habian marcas que yo nunca habia oido nombra tales como Moon.pero dejastes para atras Austin autobugy Autocar ,Clevenland , Bailey Jordan , Erskine, Marquette

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi and welcome to the channel! Thanks for your comment!

[@joekulik999]

In the 1960's, I found a book on The History of American Car Manufacturing. It had a list of 1690 American companies that had produced at least 200 cars since the Duryea Bros started the first car company in Springfield Masshusetts in 1893. This book claimed that the Majority of these companies went broke because they built their cars TOO Well. Their cars lasted SO Long that no one needed to come back for a 2nd one. The book said that Ford, Chevy, & Chrysler ended up on top because their mediocre quality and their cheap prices Kept The SUCKERS Coming Back !!!

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Thanks for commenting and for watching!

[@oldsguy354]

Hearing about the Durant Motor car company going out of business was definitely disappointing especially since William Durant had already co founded General Motors, Frigidaire, and Chevrolet. Plus he was largely responsible for compiling many of the companies that made up GM. (Buick, Cadillac, Oldsmobile, and Fisher Body to name a few). Durant must have been hard to get along with because he ran off Henry Leland (Cadillac's founder) who went on to found another car company, naming it after the first President he had voted for, Lincoln. He also ran off Ransom Olds who started another car company called R.E.O. Motor Car Co. and made the REO Speedwagon. So I guess it's only fitting that Durant himself was run off of GM and started Chevrolet (which he used to retake control of GM before being run off to start Durant Motors) Also, Eddie Rickenbacker was no failure. Despite losing his car company, the airline he founded, Eastern Airlines, did pretty well from 1926 to 1991.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Great comment! Thanks for watching and sharing!

[@gildavis8266]

The interesting thing about this is the point which says," In business, the strongest will eat their young." And why not? Innovation is the father of complication. And complication is the enemy of profit. It is much better to allow others to innovate and improve something then buy them and their improvement at a weak moment.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi Gil and welcome to the channel. Eat or be eaten is exactly correct! Thanks for your comment!

[@nomadpi1]

Yes, but that's what we now have in the U.S.A. - less and less ability to buy what you want or can afford. Being nearly 80 yrs old, I grew up in an America of many choices for consumers. Hudson, Packard, Studebaker, Nash, Rambler, Plymouth, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, De Soto, International Pickups, Willy, + less independent grocery stores, less restaurants, less good brands of clothing, less independent clothing stores, less choices for leather shoes. Everything now is franchises. Tell me you think a Ford F150 pickup is worth $50 K. The same for the internet; less and less innovative merchandisers. Frankly, Congress has allowed too many whales to swallow too many innovators. This isn't progress. This is stagnation and defeat.

[@brianferus9292]

My parents bought their house in 1950, it had a separate garage. In it was a Essex touring car, later he sold the car for scrap and tore down the garage to expand the house. He would always get pissed when i brought up how much than that cars worth.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi Brian and welcome to the channel. Thanks for sharing this story!

[@TVTruther]

Another prime example on how and why big money would enable via lawmakers to create a recession/depression: to eliminate future competition that would rival them...

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Thanks for watching!

[@brianwhelan5382]

Any chance of outlining how many car companies went out of business, because I think there was a lot. Seems to me entering the automobile business is a formidable task, the number of parts, quality of those parts, the sheer logistics of running a car company, I think the smart money stayed away. Rockefeller made his money through Standard Oil, mostly by conniving and undercutting the competition until they were out of business, course it helps when you're a shareholder in the Chase Manhattan Bank and the privately owned Federal Reserve and most of big pharma and media or at least that's what my fifteen yeas research tells me!

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi Brian and welcome to the channel. You have my gears turning now. Thanks for your comment!

[@alexclement7221]

19:00: Marmon was making commercial vehicles until about 30 years ago....

[@kensmithgallery4432]

:-)

[@roberthaworth8991]

Most smaller manufacturers did not have the capital to convert to all-steel construction from the wood-framed variety. Once the former became the predominant public expectation, they had to fold the business. The Depression ensured the needed capital to make the conversion would not be forthcoming on acceptable terms.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

A great point! Thanks for commenting and watching!

[@nateo2131]

I am a docent at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum. A few notes on the makes I know. 4:55 Auburn Automobile was sold in 1919. 5:10 That is Gary Cooper with is Duesenberg J, not an Auburn. 5:26 Auburns last year was 1936. I won't go into the Duesenberg and Cord discrepancies. Sorry, I am a stickler for accuracy.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi and welcome to the channel. I appreciate your comments. To be clear, I never mentioned that Coop was standing by an Auburn, simply that he owned one. As hard as I tried to find a pic of Coop next to one, I couldn't. As to Auburns last year, the information on Wikipedia states that they went out of business in 1937, hence why I stated 1937. I'm sure one can find differing information but with all due respect, I am okay with what I researched. Your mileage may vary 🙂

[@sc1338]

Duesenberg made the best cars in the world. Better and more advanced than anything in Europe at the time. Jay Leno says it was the best car ever made

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi and welcome to the channel. Thanks for your comment!

[@JohnCunningham-sy5ug]

My family grew up in mid Michigan and there had to be 50 companies that came a gone. Since 1900. OLDSMOBILE most notably a great brand that General Motors flushed down the drain. It's just poor management and greed. 😢

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Good points! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@alexclement7221]

The Terraplane was later sold as a Hudson, and Hudson only went out of business in the late 1950's. For a while, the Hudson Terraplane straight-8 was the fastest car made in the U.S.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi Alex and welcome to the channel. Thanks for sharing this information! I appreciate it!

[@chuckschafer942]

HUDSON MERGED WITH NASH TO BECOME AMERICAN MOTORS

[@ksman9087]

No. The Hudson company was started in 1909. In 1919 Hudson brought out the Essex to compete with Chevrolet and Ford. In 1932 they decided to begin changing the name of the lower priced cars to Terraplane. In 1932-33 the cars were marketed as Essex-Terraplane and from 1934-38 as Terraplane only. After 1938 the name was changed to the Hudson 112. Also, Hudson went out of business in 1954 when it was merged with (was bought out by) Nash to form American Motors. AM did make a model called Hudson until 1957. These cars were basically Nashes with some different mechanical features and a different grill.

[@chuckschafer942]

@@ksman9087 THEY MERGED ACTUALLY THEY WANTED STUDEBAKER AND PACKARD TO JOIN THEM ALSO

[@ksman9087]

Yes, that was the idea of Nash president George W. Mason. Had he been successful in uniting the four companies they would have had a dealer network larger than that of Chrysler. The basic idea was for Nash to merge with Hudson and Packard to merge with Studebaker and then those two companies to merge. Unfortunately Mason died in 1954.after Packard had merged with Studebaker and his successor George Romney did not get along with Packard president James Nance. @@chuckschafer942

[@matthrivnak6572]

I have seen some pierce trucks in recent years

[@kensmithgallery4432]

That would have been cool to see!

[@jacksheridan2843]

Any Info. on Sheridan Auto, there was 1 for sale on eBay in 1997, bid but was bid out. Thanks

[@kensmithgallery4432]

I don't have anything but I am willing to look to see what I can find. Thanks for sharing this.

[@mikmik9034]

@7:08, Looks like a RARE Railroad conversion, "Doodlebuggy". Not the Railroad Steel Wheels. @14:46, Military Version, Note the Solid Rubber tyres, wood spoked wheels And Chains. I have heard how cruel the rich were to leave their chauffer "Out in the Cold", Actually it was for privacy, the wind noise 'deafened' the driver, so conversations in the cabin could be 'private'. WAGES think between 17¢ to 60¢ per Hour when hearing those vehicle purchase prices. 10 to 12 hours a day, maybe Sunday off. 4th of July and Christmas might be holidays.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi and welcome to the channel! Thanks so much for your comments! I appreciate them.

[@kennethsmith794]

Hi, I'm Ken Smith, as well as my father and son

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Well hi Ken Smith. My father was also Ken Smith!

[@user-xf2my3hq8x]

Maxwell. It was around until 1924, was asorbed by Walter P. Chrysler who had control of the Company and then under the Maxwell name was phased out in '25. However the Company was retooled and the Company was renamed after a type of twine in 1928, Plymouth. (Signed-Richard.)

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Thanks for the info!

[@user-xf2my3hq8x]

Welcome.@@kensmithgallery4432

[@user-xf2my3hq8x]

Welcome.@@kensmithgallery4432

[@RichadTheLionHeat]

Great historical review of these building blocks of America’s past automobile history. I have shared your top notch you tube car Chanel with over 85 others. Thank you again. And most importantly you be blessed as well sir. 🙏🏻✝️🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸🙏🏻✝️👍🏻😎🏎🧯🛞🚘🚙⛽️🏎🚓🛞⛽️🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸🙏🏻✝️🇺🇸👍🏻😎

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi Richard and thanks so much!

[@BonnieKay13]

Steam cars had MORE power than gas but ... took longer to get going, didn't pan out well in cold climates, they had problems similar to today's EV's, and why those will fail also.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Thanks for watching and for your comment!

[@1940limited]

No mention of the Marmon V16 here. surprising.

[@kensmithgallery4432]

one of my oversights. Thanks for watching!

[@1940limited]

@@kensmithgallery4432 Not a problem. I enjoyed it and saw a few cars I hadn't heard of. Thanks for the info.

[@vernonslone8627]

Never understood why Chevrolet was such a good seller when they stayed with poured babbit bearings until 1953....Ford left that behind in 1936....

[@kensmithgallery4432]

Hi Vernon and welcome to the channel! Thanks for your comment.