Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-03-17
CADILLAC FIRST
DETROIT FACTORY
Started in the Year of 1902 on
a Scale That Startled
the Town

The Cadillac Company bears the dis
tinct1on Of being the Oldest manufac-
turer of<motor cars in Detroit, the
worlds center of the motor car indus
try.
Its inception dates back to June IN
the year 1902, not many years ago in
point OF time, yet "in the long ago" In
motor car history.
At that time several of Detroit's S
prominent citizens and capitalists or
ganized the Cadillac Automobile Com
pany.
The company proceeded at once
with preparations to manufacture cars
on q somewhat more extensive scale
than had heretofore been under
taken. They had plant thoroughly
equipped with all necessary facilities
excepting for the manufacture of mo-
tors.
The Leland and Faulconer Manu-
featuring Company had acquired an
enviable reputation for manufacturing
marine and automobile motors, as well
as nigh efficiency machinery, gears,
etc. Their cooperation was sought
and a contract was consummated for
the making of 5000 Cadillac single
lcylinder engines. The size of this con-
tract caused the automobile world to
gasp. 1t was looked upon as little
short of idiocy. But in time the au-
tomobile world began to appreciate
the far-sightedness of the Cadillac or
ganizers.
Sold 1000 Cars i'm 1908
Before the close of the year 1902 a
number of cars were built and tested
out. The following year about 1000
icars were made and sold The re-
mainder of the original 5000 motors
were used within a few months and a
second large order placed. 1t is the
pride of the Cadillac company that
practically every one of those cars. so
far as they are able to learn, is still
in service.
In April, 1904, the company suffer-
ed disastrous loss by fire, in which a
considerable portion of the plant was
destroyed. But they were not to be
disheartened, and before the smoke
had cleared away, plans had been for
mulated for continuing work, and in
| less than one week the shipping of
cars was resumed.
The company continue the manu-
facture of one cylinder cars for some
| five years and produced in all about
10000 of that type. In the meantime,
however, in 1905, the company placed
it's first four-cylinder model in the
market.
BY this time the interests of the
| then Cadillac Automobile Company
and the Leland and Faulconer Manu-
featuring Company had become so
Eclosely identified that consolidation
of the two was effected under the
name of Cadillac Motor Car Com
pany, and the general management of
the new corporation was assumed by
Henry M Leland, in which he was
very ably assisted by his son, Wilfred
C. Leland, who was elected secretary.
New Models Added
In 1906 new model was added to
the line and another in 1907.
While the Cadillac company had al
ways been recognized as one of the
largest producers. both as to quantity
OF cars and volume of business. the
Fall of 1908 marked the beginning
of new era in it's career.
At that time a sensation was Great
ed in automobile circles by the an
nouncement of new car. the Cadillac
Thirty" to be sold at S1,4O0, q hith-
erto unheard Of price for car of its
grade, size and power, and some 5000
of the cars were made and marketed.
AT the close of the 1909 season, Mr..
Wilfred G. Leland became general
manager of the company and Henry
M. Leland became advisory manager.
For 1910 the car was enlarged all
around and refined, several additions
made to the equipment and exactly
5000 were manufactured and sold at
$1,000.
For 1911 the car was still further
enlarged and refined, and during that
year exactly 10,008 cars were manu-
factured and marketed.
First Electric Starter
The opening of the 1912 season saw
what was doubtless the most import
ant single step forward in motor car
improvement up to that time since
the inception of the Industry
The Cadillac was the first to give to
the world an electrical system to crank
the engine automatically, thereby BAN
ishing the hand crank to oblivion
Not only this. but the system included
electric lighting features.
During the 1912 season $4,000 Ca
dillacs were manufactured and sold.
The year 1913 saw further advances
in the way Of increased size of en-
gine and general refinement all along
the line. as well as improvements and
developments here and there. includ-
Ing simplified electrical system for
cranking, lighting and ignition and an
automatic spark advance which reliey
ed the driver cf the necessity of con-