Deere car runs out of gas Believe it or not, a "Deere" branded car was made in Moline back in 1906.
No, it doesn’t have anything to do with the Velie family…those busy vehicle entrepreneurs didn’t get started until a few years later. The Deere-Clark Motor Car Company is a somewhat secretive, certainly short-lived part of Deere’s history. One reason so few know about this auto-building stint is that it didn’t last long — just two short years of production. The other reason it doesn’t get much press is because it was Deere’s only business failure. With one decade of experience (and one car company failure) already under his belt, William E. Clark decided to try again. His second venture had the support of Charles Henry Deere, the 68-year-old son of John Deere, who invested $10,000 in the enterprise. Unfortunately, poor health (as well as his many other business responsibilities for the John Deere Plow Company) kept Mr. Deere from actively taking charge of the young car company, which some say was a key reason for its demise. Officially organized in the fall of 1905, the Deere-Clark Motor Car Company in Moline joined an industry of around 40 other manufacturers in the U.S. Approximately 30,000 passenger cars were built in the United States at this time. The industry was a wild one — every year several new car companies jumped on the bandwagon…and just as many more failed to succeed.
By January 1906, a modern factory was built between First and Third streets in East Moline, and production projected 100 cars for the remainder of the year. However, by the time the factory began to run, planned output was reduced to just 50 cars for the first model year. By July, the first Deere car was on the road, driven by none other than Charles Deere. It was a 1906 touring car, known as a Type A model. The 4-cylinder engine generated 25 horsepower and could carry 5 passengers. List price for this model was $2,000. According to records, 20 cars were ordered and production was planned for one to three cars per week for the rest of the year. New plans for a runabout version as well as a possible 2-ton commercial truck were also underway. Attendance at major car shows in New York City and Chicago drew demand for the Deere car that the fledgling factory could not meet. For 1907, the Type B touring car was introduced. This 4-cylinder, 5-passenger vehicle sold for $2,500. The standard color was royal purple. Available options included three oil lamps, two gas lamps, a clock and a dragon horn. You could add an optional top for $125 or go for the limousine version for $3,500.
The 1907 Type C Gentleman’s Roadster two-passenger model came in red for $2,500. Advertising in 1907 claimed Deere cars were "without a single weak point." In fact, the cars were well-made and came with a one-year warranty. An ad from 1907 reads: "The four essential points aimed at in our car are Power, Speed, Endurance and Satisfaction." As it turns out, "endurance" was not a characteristic of the company itself. By April of 1907, several problems arose, including a machinists strike that further crippled production output. What’s more, the Deere-Clark factory supply truck ran over Barney Ward, a Moline man with very poor eyesight who stepped right into the path of the oncoming truck. A few months later, Ward sued for $5,000. This wasn’t the only challenge facing the new car company. By late summer, management could not get stockholders to increase the capital stock, which led to employees being laid off and additional production slow-downs. Now the Deere-Clark Motor Car Company was back in court. This time battling the Vim-Rock Motor Car Company of Vermont, who asked for $75,000 worth of damages for "violation of a contract made July 30 to deliver 500 cars on demand." On September 11, 1907, the company began involuntary bankruptcy proceedings in federal circuit court in Peoria. The company was bought for just $37,500 after bankruptcy but never made another car. A month later, Charles Deere died. Although records were not well-kept, historians estimate that around 100 Deere-Clark cars were built and sold between July 1906 and September 1907. Obviously, this level of production was peanuts compared to Henry Ford. His manufacture of 8,400 vehicles in 1906-1907 clearly dominated Deere’s dismal factory figures. Instead of taking advantage of Deere’s extensive dealer network, Deere-Clark could not keep up supply enough to satisfy demand. As a result, Deere’s Omaha and Kansas City branches signed contracts to sell cars from the Moline Automobile Company, a local Deere-Clark competitor. Later, these branches would carry the Velie vehicle line. Unbelievably, the Deere car was never sold through a Deere dealer. While no one can pinpoint a single reason for this company’s failure, many are quick to mention the lack of Charles Deere’s strong leadership. With it, perhaps the company could have corrected its sorry supply situation and seen significant success similar to Henry Ford. However, these statements are purely speculation. Truth be told today, the Deere-Clark car business suffered a dot-com disaster of boom and bust in a short period of time. So if you ever find one of those elusive 100 Deere-Clark cars (or anything associated with them), please call The Green Girl immediately! Next week, The Green Girl will write about how the NASCAR Deere chases the checkered flag. Reference: "Putting America in the Driver's Seat: The Deere-Clark Motor Car Company" by Leslie J. Stegh, Illinois Historical Journal, Vol. LXXXI, Number 4, Winter 1988. Text Ý © 2001 Brenda Kruse. |
