Jonathan Dann operated a spoke and wheel business on Ohio Avenue. Enoch Anderson, J. N. Anderson and Cyrus Frazier formed Anderson-Frazier Wheel Works in 1881 to make wooden wheels and wheel parts.

One local company that made a successful transition to the automobile industry was the Tucker Wood-Work Company.

J. B. Tucker moved to town in 1901, bought the assets of John Loughlin's school furniture business, and began to make wooden bicycle rims. After the advent of the automobile, he converted part of the plant to produce wooden steering wheels and auto frames for cars. In 1915, the company produced 75,000 steering wheels. Quaintly, the company noted it was located in "Sydney, Ohio, U.S.A."

After the abrupt death of Mr. Tucker, Edward Mull took over the business. He was previously employed by the Willys-Overland Company, where he was responsible for assembling the first Overland vehicle for the firm. He renamed Tucker's business the Mull Wood Work Company. His operation grew rapidly, becoming the second largest maker of wooden steering wheels in the country.