Packard Forum Index » General

Over an extended period of time I intend to give an account of the history of Packard. Being as I like automotive history as I do, I thought maybe this might be a nice addition to the site. I welcome other persons contributions to this thread.

August 13 1898 J.W. Packard buys a Winton in Cleveland Ohio. He drive the 50 miles back to Warren. He experiences many breakdowns, constant overheating, and major component failures. J.W. has to enter Warren finishing the trip by looking at the south end of a horse that is towing his newly purchased Winton.

John F. Shireman

John,

If you can list the month and year for each event then once you are done with all the history, then I can build a graphical time line from it.

Actually, that horse's "end" was facing north.

So, I guess we should rephrase that to "...looking at the north end of a southbound horse that is towing..."

Seriously, I like Kev's idea of taking each of John's installments and building a timeline as a new site feature, complete with graphics, but we should run things through a spell-checker to give it the polish that such a feature deserves.

Meanwhile, we can use this thread to apply constructive criticism toward that same end.

1899 James and William Packard along with George Weiss invest $9000 to form a company for the production of automobiles.

This event took place on June 29, 1899.

John F. Shireman

April 11 1899

George Weiss who is a mechanic for Winton who tried to fix the problems of the Winton that James Packard had purchased.

On this date George Weiss receives a letter from James Ward Packard stating that they should found an automobile company to build autos.

John F. Shireman

July 1899

William Hatcher and A.C. Nelson are hired to help with the designing of the first Packard. Hatcher during this time period submits the first complete drawings for the new proposed Packard.

A.C. Nelson is hired as draftsman's and came from Berea Ohio.
Other people helping on the design of the first Packard include Russell Huff, Edward P. Cowles, and Harry Schryer.

John f. Shireman

November 1899

The first Packard built is test driven through the streets of Warren. With local newspapers in Warren reporting this most historic event. The publication Horseless Age publishes a report on the newly built Packard

Also a new machine shop at the Packard factory in Warren is completed.

John F. Shireman

1896: James and William Packard though about building their own vehicle. They went as far as having detailed blueprints drawn up. The brothers also purchased a gasoline engine from Charles King of Detroit.

Mr. King at that period of time was building small gasoline engine suitable for use in experimental horseless automobiles.

John F. Shireman

Also remember, till the move to Detroit these vehicles were built under the name of the Ohio Automobile Company

Thought i'd throw that one in