The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1916-02-23
Light Commercial Oar Will be
Assembled Here Immediate
ly and Later Made
Here Entirely.
BIC DEMAND IS GIVEN
ellsworth Truck" Will be
the Name of Car-Plant
Well Equipped for
Industry.

A light automobile delivery truck,
for which there is a great demand,
will be manufactured in keokuk. For
the present the bodies will be made
here, the chassis will be sent here
from an eastern factory and the entire
machine assembled here. As soon as
the business warrants, the entire
truck will be made in keokuk. The
plant of the Miils-Etlsworth Co., at
the present time manufacturers Of
shafts and poles, will be the home of
the newest keokuk industry. The
plant is exceIIentIy situated and fully
equipped for the new business, and
there Is plenty of adjoining space
which can be utilized for buildings for
the automobile factory when its
Growth demands additional space.
Keokuk Is to have an automo bile
factory, it was announced today. A light
automobile truck will be manufac-
tured here by the Mills Ellsworth Co.,
at their plant at B and Commercial AL
ley For the present the body Of the
car will be manufactured here and
the chassis will be shipped here from
an associate factory in the east. The
machine will be assembled and
shipped from the factory here. The
sales department will be established
at once, and catalogues and literature
bearing the name Of the car, and the
fact that it is manufactured in keo-
kuk will be sent out Immediately.
The car is to be called the Ellis
worth" and the sales motto will be
Built for Service" One car has been
assembled and Isl ready for use. 1t
q now in the plant here, and is ready
j inspection. 1t is painted black
I'd along the side Is the name with
g motto. The car is a neat, service
able looking affair, and it is certain
that 1t will supply a demand that has
long been felt. The field is open for
6 ;ch car, and there are few on the
arket which can satisfy the demand
is felt that the Ellsworth, made in
eokuk, will be one of the biggest hits
It has been offered, and automobile
en- who have seen the car, and who
over the possibilities are loud in their
praise of the truck, and the chances
for its success in the field.
Negotiating Many Months.
Negotiations for this new industry
have been carried on for several
months Through the splendid as
sistance given by the Industrial asso'
citation, and especially through the ef,
forts of the former president, j. Albert
Kiedaisch, the local people were put
into touch with the factory which IS
at the present manufacturing the
chassis The factory is an eastern
concern The Mills-Ellsworth company
is grateful for the help rendered by
the association. and especially for the
assistance from President Kiedaisch.
The Mills Ellsworth plant is well
equipped for an automobile factory.
In the first place, the plant is compact
and with a few minor changes, VIII
be practically ideal 1t is planned to
continue making shafts and poles at
the present time. One Of the rooms
on the lower floor Of the building will
be cleared imm ediately of stock, and
will be used as an assembling room.
This room has access to switch
track located conveniently, and when
an elevator is installed, will be an
ideal room for the automobile work.
1t will be possible with the new ele-
vator to carry a completed car to the
freight car or bring materials from
the car into the house direct.
The lumber which is used in the
manufacture Of the bodies is material
which the company uses in its pres
ent manufacture, and which can De
supplied from two sawmills OF the
company In Arkansas. This will be
considerable of a saving, as it will cut
the cost Of an outside firm handling
the lumber.
Plans Drawn Here.
The delivery truck which will be
manufactured here will be light and
serviceable. 1t will weigh about 1,5OU
pounds and will have a capacity OF
500 pounds. AS q truck for CONNER
cial purposes it cannot be surpassed
and there are few trucks on the mar
ket which can touch it. 1t will cover
field practically alone and will meet
with success wherever it is intro
duced. The truck will be driven by a
four cylinder Lycoming motor, 3A by
o; thirty horse power, electric ightS
and starter The wheel base is loS
inches, demountable rims.
All of the specifications and draw
lngs for the new truck were made d!
]. q. Ellsworth in the factory here.
Employ Large Force.
While the plant at the present tune
SO Il A,y