Geronimo was a pioneer vintage era

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, p ...

automobile A car, or an automobile, is a motor vehicle with wheels. Most definitions of cars state that they run primarily on roads, Car seat, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport private transport#Personal transport, peopl ...

, built at 409 South Grand in

Enid, Oklahoma Enid ( ) is the ninth-largest city in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It is the county seat of Garfield County, Oklahoma, Garfield County. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 51,308. Enid was founded during the openin ...

, between 1917 and 1920. It was what would today be called an "assembled car", relying on proprietary parts from outside suppliers.Barron, Robert.
In 1917, Enid hoped to be the second Detroit
" Enid News & Eagle, July 27, 2009. In addition, the company made tractors.Everett, Dianna,

", Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, Oklahoma Historical Society

History

The Geronimo Motor Company was founded in 1917 by William C. Allen and incorporated with a $500,000 stock sale. The company offered two models: the 4A-40, with a

four-cylinder The engine configuration describes the fundamental operating principles by which internal combustion engines are categorized. Piston engines are often categorized by their cylinder layout, valves and camshafts. Wankel engines are often categoriz ...

Lycoming of , and the 6A-45, powered by a Rutenberg

six 6 (six) is the natural number following 5 and preceding 7. It is a composite number and the smallest perfect number. In mathematics A six-sided polygon is a hexagon, one of the three regular polygons capable of tiling the plane. A hexagon a ...

producing a claimed , with an optional six and a 122-inch wheelbase. One model was a roadster, the other a five-passenger

tourer Touring car and tourer are both terms for open cars (i.e. cars without a fixed roof). "Touring car" is a style of open car built in the United States which seats four or more people. The style was popular from the early 1900s to the 1930s. The ...

. Geronimo also produced cars under the

marque A brand is a name, term, design, symbol or any other feature that distinguishes one seller's goods or service from those of other sellers. Brands are used in business, marketing, and advertising for recognition and, importantly, to create and ...

Wing for export to France. The cars were distributed by agencies across the Midwest, in Kansas, Nebraska, West Texas, and Oklahoma. The 4A-40 was priced at $895, the 6A-45 at $1,295. By contrast, the Cole 30 and

Colt Runabout The Colt Runabout was an American Brass-era automobile built in Yonkers, New York, in 1907Clymer, p.63. by William Mason Turner. It was a two-seater, with a long hood and short tail (where a pair of spare tires were mounted), characteristic of t ...

were $1,500, the Model S $700, and the high-volume

Oldsmobile Oldsmobile (formally the Oldsmobile Division of General Motors) was a brand of American automobiles, produced for most of its existence by General Motors. Originally established as "Olds Motor Vehicle Company" by Ransom E. Olds in 1897, it produc ...

Runabout was $650.Clymer, p.32. Despite its price, the Geronimo proved popular enough that the company built a new factory on the outskirts of Enid, completed in the fall of 1917. As a result, both production and capitalization expanded, and in January 1919, the company sold another $500,000 in stock. By 1919, unit price had climbed as high as $1995, into the range of the $1750 FALClymer, p.104. or $2,000 Enger 40. On 14 August 1920, the plant suffered a severe fire which did $250,000 in damage. Insurance only covered $65,000, and the company was forced to close. At its peak, between 40 and a peak of 125 workers were employed, producing and selling a total of 600 cars, though production levels may have reached 1000. Only one survives, a restored example found in a field near LaCross, Kansas, in 1972. It is now owned by the Enid Region of the

Antique Automobile Club of America A classic car is typically described as an automobile 25 years or older, although a car's age is not the only requirement it must meet before being considered a "classic." However, a standard criteria for recognizing cars as classics does not ex ...

, and is still regularly used in parades and community historical events.

References

{{reflist, 2 Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States Enid, Oklahoma 1910s cars 1920s cars Luxury motor vehicle manufacturers American companies established in 1917 Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1917 Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1920 1917 establishments in Oklahoma 1920 disestablishments in Oklahoma Defunct manufacturing companies based in Oklahoma

History

See also

References