Studebaker was an American wagon and automobile manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana with a building at 1600 Broadway, Times Square, Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Founded in 1852 and incorporated in 1868 as the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company, the firm was originally a coachbuilder, manufacturing wagons, buggies, carriages and harnesses.
Studebaker entered the automotive business in 1902 with electric vehicles and in 1904 with gasoline vehicles, all sold under the name "Studebaker Automobile Company". Until 1911, its automotive division operated in partnership with the Garford Company of Elyria, Ohio, and after 1909 with the E-M-F Company and with the Flanders Automobile Company. The first gasoline automobiles to be fully manufactured by Studebaker were marketed in August 1912.: 231 Over the next 50 years, the company established a reputation for quality, durability and reliability.After an unsuccessful 1954 merger with Packard (the Studebaker-Packard Corporation) failed to solve chronic postwar cashflow problems, the 'Studebaker Corporation' name was restored in 1962, but the South Bend plant ceased automobile production on December 20, 1963, and the last Studebaker automobile rolled off the Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, assembly line on Saint Patrick's Day March 17, 1966. Studebaker continued as an independent manufacturer before merging with Wagner Electric in May 1967 and then Worthington Corporation in November 1967 to form Studebaker-Worthington.
1852Feb, 16
Studebaker Brothers wagon company, precursor of the automobile manufacturer, is established.
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Events on 1852
- 20Mar
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin is published. - 3Aug
Harvard-Yale Regatta
Harvard University wins the first Boat Race between Yale University and Harvard. The race is also the first American intercollegiate athletic event - 21Aug
Fort Selkirk
Tlingit Indians destroy Fort Selkirk, Yukon Territory. - 24Sep
Henri Giffard
The first airship powered by (a steam) engine, created by Henri Giffard, travels 17 miles (27 km) from Paris to Trappes. - 16Nov
22 Kalliope
The English astronomer John Russell Hind discovers the asteroid 22 Kalliope.