Ryno the Wino - Yazoo Pale Ale - Marathon Motor Works, Nashville, TN

Description

In 1884, the Southern Engine and Boiler Works opened to business in Jackson, Tennessee. The company manufactured gasoline engines and boilers for industrial use. In the first twenty years, by 1904, it had grown into the largest plants of its kind in the nation. By now, the automobile was the new darling of industry, as literally hundreds of companies jumped into their manufacture and production. Most new car brand names belonged to companies that bought and assembled components into complete cars. Fewer, more ambitious companies manufactured the entire vehicle to their own designs for engine, chasses, running gear and suspension. At Southern Engine and Boiler Works, a young apprentice engineer, William Henry Collier, accepted the challenge of complete design. His enthusiasm -- and yes, genius -- persuaded the directors of the company to let him to build his car. The company newsletter reported Collier put the first gasoline engine into an automobile in 1906. In recounting the occasion, the newsletter bluntly reported, "...should move, but don't." It was another year, 1907, before Collier had a car that "actually could be depended on to go, and come back." With this success, eager investors poured $50000 into the company by 1908. By 1909, two models were offered -- the A9, a five seat touring car, and B9, a rumble seat roadster. The price of either car was $1500, but tops were an optional extra expense. Newspaper reports at the time put the production figures of 1907 at 20 <b>...</b>

Keywords

ford, model, car, collier, mckeel, tennessee, whiskey, corsair, gin, bourbon, a9, b9

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