, 1924-04-03
STUDEBAKER
REWARDS MEN ON
list. BIRTHDAY

South Bend. Ind. April White
haired grandfathers, their sons and
grandsons stood shoulder to shoulder
at the se%venty-irst birthday celebra-
ton observed the other day by the
families Of 10000 employees Of the
Studebaker Corporation at South
Bend and Detroit.
Nearly 5000 artisans were award
ed medals for continuous and loyal
service of five, ten. twenty and up to
sixty years with Studebaker, the old
est automobile manufacturer IN the
world.
Some Servc 90 Years
More than 1900 received bronze
medals for five or ten years service;
1877 were awarded sterling silver
medals for fifteen years. and 222 had
gold medals pinned upon them for
more than 20 years employment by
the house of Studebaker. The last
group included those employees who
have been with the corporation from
20 years to 60 years. They were
cheered by their fellow workers as
thew received the honors.
For seventy-two years the name
Studebaker has been linked, not only
with every Improvement in transpor-
tation. but with American industrial
development as we'll.
Since its inception in 1852 as a
crossroads blacksmithing and wagon
building shop, Studebaker has ex-
parded to one of the greatest manu-
featuring institutions in the world.
with 500, 900 900 of actual net assets,
including S50,000,00O of plant facil-
tiles and an annual production ca
pacity of $50, 900 cars. S~tudebaker
has 5000 branches and dealers in the
United States and is widely repre-
sented in all foreign countries.
Branches Out Rapidly
This OF the American in
dustrial world began when Henry and
Glenn S~tudebaker commenced opera
tons in South Bend in 1852 with two
FORCES and a cash capital of S6S.
They built two wagons their first
year. II of which gave satisfactory
service for 33 years. a record that in
dicates the ideals of quality upon
which the business was founded.
Three other Studebaker brothers,
John NJ, Peter E.. and Jacob F.. join
ed the firm: the first, John NJ. adding
to the assets $4,000 which he had
earned repairing wheelblrrows and
stage coaches in the bua days of the
gold rush" in California.
The fame Of Studebaker vehicles
spread rapidly. In 1868 he firm
name was changed through incorpor-
alton to Studebaker Brothers Manu-
featuring Company, and a few years
later the first branch house was cpea-
ed at 81. Joseph. Mo, TO handle the
trade Of pioneers who were crossing
the country in large numbers. The
business prospered ard expanded ac-
c%ordipgly during the following years
until Studebaker became the worlds
largest producers OF horse-dra~a We
hicles.
Builds "HOrsclcsS Vehicle"
II was inevitable. therefore. with
the advent OF the automobile III the
late COS that the company would De-
come interested in this new method
of TRANSFORMATION and its pc, sible
bearing upon Studebaker's business
future.
A. early as the spring Of 1897
S~tudebaker built and experimental
with a "horseless vehicle" as IL was
described In the directors minutes.
and bodies were built In 1899 for
electric runabou!s made by another
company. studebaker actually be-
gan building electric %runabouts and
trucks In 1902 Of which twenty were
sold that year. and a total If 1874
were constructed up to 1912. When
II abandoned electric machines.
The company started production Of
gasoline propelled automobiles In
1904. and during the next seven years
built and sold 246l passenger cars
and trucks, the chassis Of whicn were
built by another company.
Tho management perceived the ne
costly Of embarking into tho busin KS
on a large scale commensurats win
It's position In the vehicle Industry.
and sufficient TO employ the facilities
Of It's large plants and sales urgani-