King (automobile)
Automobiles | |
Production output | 35,261 (1911-1923) |
---|
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/KING_automobile.jpg/220px-KING_automobile.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/KING_blue_automobile.jpg/220px-KING_blue_automobile.jpg)
The King was an American automobile built by the King Motor Car Company in Detroit, Michigan from 1911 to 1923, and in Buffalo, New York in 1923.[1]
History
King worked for various other car companies before creating another car in 1910 and establishing the King Motor Car Company in February of the following year. The new King car incorporated a number of advanced features, such as a
The first factory was rented and located at 1559 West Jefferson, but soon outgrew the space and moved into the former Hupmobile plant at Jefferson and Concord in early 1912. Just a few months later, the firm was in receivership, possibly from over-expansion.[3] The company was bought by chewing gum magnate Artemas Ward from New York City in 1912 for $40,000.[6] He put automobile executive J. G. Bayerline in the president position. Two years later there was a disagreement between the two men and Ward replaced Bayerline in the presidency of the company.
In December 1914, a
Decline
In the fall of 1920, with the Depression of 1920–1921, Artemas Ward and other company directors petitioned to have the company dissolved, citing not enough working capital and a failure to secure loans from banks. The auto press said it was due to inefficient management. Early the next year, Charles A. Finnegan of Buffalo bought the company for $500,000 and assumed company debts of approximately double that.[3] The debt was paid off by late 1922 and the receivership was terminated. In October 1923, the firm moved to a much smaller Buffalo factory, but was bankrupt and finished by early 1924. While in bankruptcy hearings, remaining bodies and parts were shipped to England. There, 100 additional Kings were assembled in 1925.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d Kimes, Beverly Rae. Standard Catalog of American Cars: 1805-1942 (Iola, WI: Krause, 1996), p.807.
- ^ G.N. Georgano, Nick. The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile (Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn, 2000), p.824.
- ^ a b c d Kimes, p.807.
- ^ A Brief History of Gray Marine Engines Gas Engine Magazine
- G.N. Georgano, p.824.
- ^ Kugel, Brian (Jan–Feb 1971). "King History Sought". Horseless Carriage Gazette: 48.
- G.N. Georgano, p.824.