Feature on automobiles. Topic: TRANSPORTATION &
INDUSTRY
Written by Rich Wallace in April,
1998
EARLY AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY IN SIDNEY, OHIO |
Sock and Buskin's production of 'Camping with Henry and Tom' directed by Sherrie Casad-Lodge promises to bring back many vivid memories of the early automobiling days for those attending the show and viewing the Shelby County Historical Society’s transportation exhibits. The play coincides with national publicity concerning the 100th anniversary of the invention of the automobile. The Ford Model T that is a centerpiece of the play evokes images of an era of romance and adventure for many Shelby Countians. Certainly no other product has so revolutionized our lives. It is quite difficult to imagine life with horses as the only source of transportation, let alone the magnitude of the transition from the horse-drawn to the motorized era. As people, we adapted to the automobile, and as a community, we made more than our share of contributions to this fabulous new industry. This story will provide a glimpse of the early days of the auto in our county. As the industrial hub of the county and all of west-central Ohio, Sidney has always been on the cusp of industrial change. That was certainly the case in the transportation business. Several large manufacturers in town produced wagons and buggies. Piper Wagon Works and the Rupert Wagon Shop were established in 1847 and 1850, respectively. James Crozier, later partnering with his son, made a high quality buggy here for almost 60 years, beginning in 1860. The firm of Miller and Smith rounded out the list of buggy manufacturers. Thomas Miller of that firm would later play a key role in a dark chapter of Sidney's auto business. Another notable buggy and carriage maker in the early days was the Bimel Buggy Company. Former St. Marys resident Lorenzo Bimel built a plant at 218 South Ohio Avenue, and produced several models, including the 'Storm King' which provided the occupants protection from the winter winds. Much more would be heard about the name 'Bimel' in the horseless carriage days that would follow. Along with the thriving buggy business, Sidney was the home for several companies that produced the necessary vehicle accessories. The Underwood Whip Company was the largest manufacturer of buggy whips west of Massachusetts. [ Back ] [ Next ] [ Up ] [ New Search ] |
