Pretty good read.
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1852
Brothers Henry and Clement Studebaker decide to go into business together and establish the H & C Studebaker blacksmith shop in South Bend, Indiana, on February 16, 1852.
1857
Unable to fill a large wagon order, wagon manufacturer George Milburn of the Mishawaka Wagon Works turns to the Studebaker brothers for help. Milburn ends up subcontracting 100 wagons to the Studebakers.
1858
Brother John Mohler leaves California for South Bend. Upon his arrival, he buys out Henry, and becomes involved in the business.
1860
The firm includes a manufacturing shop, paint room, lumber yard, and office. It is also about this time that Studebaker produces its first carriages.
1862
The Union begins placing orders with the Studebakers for wagons, gun caissons, and other war materials. While providing war supplies does not make the Brothers rich, it does position the company for success upon the War's end.
1865
April 14th, Abraham Lincoln rides to Ford's Theater in the Studebaker carriage owned by the White House. The carriage is currently on display at the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend, Indiana.
1868
March 26th, Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company is incorporated under the laws of Indiana.
1872
The company proclaims itself to be the "largest vehicle builders in the world". In June of this year, a fire almost destroys the company, but the factory is quickly rebuilt.
1874
August 24th, a second huge fire destroys two-thirds of the factory, which is again quickly rebuilt.
1878
Studebaker wagons are exhibited at the Paris Exposition, where they win a silver medal for excellence.
1885
The factory in South Bend experiences another big fire. The works again being rebuilt in record time.
1888
Benjamin Harrison is elected to the Presidency. One of his first acts is to place an order with Studebaker to fully stock the White House garage with equipment.
1898
The Spanish-American War erupts, and Studebaker is contacted to see if they can deliver 500 wagons - complete with special paint and decoration - in 36 hours, which they do.
1902- 1912
In 1902, the Studebaker Electric automobile is introduced. Sales are never very strong, and production ceases entirely by 1912.
1904
Studebaker begins production of gasoline powered cars.
1910
Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company purchases the Everitt-Metzger-Flanders Company, an automobile manufacturer in Detroit, and is renamed The Studebaker Corporation.
1911- 1915
Albert Russel Erskine joins the company, and rises to first vice president by 1913. He is made president in July, 1915.
1914- 1918
Studebaker enters World War I, when the British government places an initial order for 3,000 wagons. Additional orders come in from England and are joined by orders from France and Russia, and eventually the United States upon its entry into the War. Items supplied eventually include equipage ambulances, artillery carriages, bayonet scabbards, staff cars, and caterpillars.
1920
All horse-drawn vehicle operations are liquidated in 1919 except for wagons, farm trucks, and harnesses. These final operations are discontinued in 1920. Meanwhile, automobile production is moved from Detroit to South Bend, Indiana.
1925
Studebaker introduces four-wheel hydraulic brakes into its automobiles. This was considered controversial at the time, as it was thought by many to be unsafe to stop so quickly.
1927
Studebaker celebrates its Diamond Jubilee on January 2.
1928
The luxury car manufacturer Pierce-Arrow is purchased, and allows Studebaker to offer cars at all price ranges.
1933- 1935
Unable to avoid the effects of the great depression, Studebaker goes into receivership March 21, 1933. President Albert Erskine, despondent, commits suicide on July 1, 1933. Studebaker is finally released from receivership on March 9, 1935.
1936
Raymond Loewy begins his association with Studebaker. Raymond Loewy Associates will hold the design account until 1955.
1939- 1945
Studebaker production supports allied demands in World War II. Starting with an order placed by the French government in November, 1939, for 2,000 trucks, Studebaker also supplies trucks to Belgium and Holland. Ironically, many of these trucks are used in the German army upon France's surrender in 1940. Trucks are also supplied to Russia as a result of the Lend-Lease Act. Upon the United States' entry into the War, passenger car production ceases on January 31, 1942 and Studebaker's assembly lines turn out military trucks, engines for Boeing B-17s, and an amphibious personnel carrier known as the Weasel.
1950
Introduction of the famous "bullet nose" design.
1952
Studebaker celebrates its first 100 years of business.
1953
The "Loewy coupe" is introduced.
1954
Studebaker merges with Packard.
1956
Introduction of the Hawk line.
1958
The last Packard is produced, but the name remains on the corporate banner until 1962.
1959
The highly successful Lark is introduced.
1962
Studebaker introduces the Avanti in May at the Indianapolis 500.
1963
The South Bend plant is closed.
1966
With closure of the plant in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Studebaker ceases vehicle production after 114 years.
(copy)
1852
Brothers Henry and Clement Studebaker decide to go into business together and establish the H & C Studebaker blacksmith shop in South Bend, Indiana, on February 16, 1852.
1857
Unable to fill a large wagon order, wagon manufacturer George Milburn of the Mishawaka Wagon Works turns to the Studebaker brothers for help. Milburn ends up subcontracting 100 wagons to the Studebakers.
1858
Brother John Mohler leaves California for South Bend. Upon his arrival, he buys out Henry, and becomes involved in the business.
1860
The firm includes a manufacturing shop, paint room, lumber yard, and office. It is also about this time that Studebaker produces its first carriages.
1862
The Union begins placing orders with the Studebakers for wagons, gun caissons, and other war materials. While providing war supplies does not make the Brothers rich, it does position the company for success upon the War's end.
1865
April 14th, Abraham Lincoln rides to Ford's Theater in the Studebaker carriage owned by the White House. The carriage is currently on display at the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend, Indiana.
1868
March 26th, Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company is incorporated under the laws of Indiana.
1872
The company proclaims itself to be the "largest vehicle builders in the world". In June of this year, a fire almost destroys the company, but the factory is quickly rebuilt.
1874
August 24th, a second huge fire destroys two-thirds of the factory, which is again quickly rebuilt.
1878
Studebaker wagons are exhibited at the Paris Exposition, where they win a silver medal for excellence.
1885
The factory in South Bend experiences another big fire. The works again being rebuilt in record time.
1888
Benjamin Harrison is elected to the Presidency. One of his first acts is to place an order with Studebaker to fully stock the White House garage with equipment.
1898
The Spanish-American War erupts, and Studebaker is contacted to see if they can deliver 500 wagons - complete with special paint and decoration - in 36 hours, which they do.
1902- 1912
In 1902, the Studebaker Electric automobile is introduced. Sales are never very strong, and production ceases entirely by 1912.
1904
Studebaker begins production of gasoline powered cars.
1910
Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company purchases the Everitt-Metzger-Flanders Company, an automobile manufacturer in Detroit, and is renamed The Studebaker Corporation.
1911- 1915
Albert Russel Erskine joins the company, and rises to first vice president by 1913. He is made president in July, 1915.
1914- 1918
Studebaker enters World War I, when the British government places an initial order for 3,000 wagons. Additional orders come in from England and are joined by orders from France and Russia, and eventually the United States upon its entry into the War. Items supplied eventually include equipage ambulances, artillery carriages, bayonet scabbards, staff cars, and caterpillars.
1920
All horse-drawn vehicle operations are liquidated in 1919 except for wagons, farm trucks, and harnesses. These final operations are discontinued in 1920. Meanwhile, automobile production is moved from Detroit to South Bend, Indiana.
1925
Studebaker introduces four-wheel hydraulic brakes into its automobiles. This was considered controversial at the time, as it was thought by many to be unsafe to stop so quickly.
1927
Studebaker celebrates its Diamond Jubilee on January 2.
1928
The luxury car manufacturer Pierce-Arrow is purchased, and allows Studebaker to offer cars at all price ranges.
1933- 1935
Unable to avoid the effects of the great depression, Studebaker goes into receivership March 21, 1933. President Albert Erskine, despondent, commits suicide on July 1, 1933. Studebaker is finally released from receivership on March 9, 1935.
1936
Raymond Loewy begins his association with Studebaker. Raymond Loewy Associates will hold the design account until 1955.
1939- 1945
Studebaker production supports allied demands in World War II. Starting with an order placed by the French government in November, 1939, for 2,000 trucks, Studebaker also supplies trucks to Belgium and Holland. Ironically, many of these trucks are used in the German army upon France's surrender in 1940. Trucks are also supplied to Russia as a result of the Lend-Lease Act. Upon the United States' entry into the War, passenger car production ceases on January 31, 1942 and Studebaker's assembly lines turn out military trucks, engines for Boeing B-17s, and an amphibious personnel carrier known as the Weasel.
1950
Introduction of the famous "bullet nose" design.
1952
Studebaker celebrates its first 100 years of business.
1953
The "Loewy coupe" is introduced.
1954
Studebaker merges with Packard.
1956
Introduction of the Hawk line.
1958
The last Packard is produced, but the name remains on the corporate banner until 1962.
1959
The highly successful Lark is introduced.
1962
Studebaker introduces the Avanti in May at the Indianapolis 500.
1963
The South Bend plant is closed.
1966
With closure of the plant in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Studebaker ceases vehicle production after 114 years.
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