Lambert Automobile Company
Encyclopedia
The Lambert Automobile Company was a 300000 square feet (27,870.9 m²) automobile factory in Anderson, Indiana
to make the Lambert automobile through the Buckeye Manufacturing Company
.
of Union City, Ohio built in 1904. The name changed officially in 1905 to the Lambert Automobile Company and the Union Automobile Company name was dropped. A better quality automobile was then manufactured from the Union automobile.
The Lambert Automobile Company was founded by automotive pioneer John William Lambert
. The company was based in Anderson, Indiana
. In the eleven years from 1905 through 1916 the company manufactured not only automobiles but trucks, fire engines and farm tractors as well. The Lambert automobile was the signature product of the company however. The company always made their own bodies, but sometimes had the engines manufactured by different independent motor builders. These outsourced motors done by manufacturers like Buda, Rutenber, Continental, Trebert, and Daviswere were always of Lambert's design. The upholstery used on the interiors was of the best quality and the final body finish was done with fifteen coats of paint.
In 1906 Lambert produced the first "Lambert" automobile. With this line Lambert established himself as one of the more successful automobile manufacturers of that time period. Most of his automobiles were chain-driven rather than shaft driven. Production of automobiles and trucks had reached two thousand vehicles per year from 1906 to 1910. In 1910 the company had over a thousand employees and from 1910 to 1915 the production had reached about three thousand vehicles per year. It only produced about one thousand vehicles in 1916 and only a few vehicles in 1917.
The Lambert Automobile Company manufactured the Lambert automobile through the Buckeye Manufacturing Company
which had several subsidiaries. One of the main features of the Lambert automobile was the friction gearing disk drive transmission
. When the United States entered into World War I
the factory was converted for national defense in 1917. The company then made ammunition shells, caisson wheels and military fire engines. When the war ended Lambert did not resume automobile production. He realized automobiles were only going to be made by large manufactures. The Buckeye Manufacturing Company stopped manufacturing automobile parts permanently in 1922.
celebrates Lambert Days every summer.
It should also be noted that Union City, Indiana
and Union City, Ohio
are separated by a city street which is actually the Indiana-Ohio State Line. During the period of the Union Automobile Company (before ZIP Codes) all mail was received through an Indiana Post Office. Most advertisements and addresses for the Union Automobile Company will show their mailing address as Union City, Indiana.
George Lambert, brother of the famed John William Lambert, constructed the Lambert-Parent house. George sold it to his brother-in-law Wilder Grant Parent in 1898 - hence the name. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and located at 631 E. Elm Street in Union City, Ohio. The Lambert brothers worked together in their businesses that was associated with automobiles, engines, and grain operations.
Anderson, Indiana
Anderson is a city in and the county seat of Madison County, Indiana, United States. It is the principal city of the Anderson, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses Madison county. Anderson is the headquarters of the Church of God and home of Anderson University, which is...
to make the Lambert automobile through the Buckeye Manufacturing Company
Buckeye Manufacturing Company
The Buckeye Manufacturing Company was a company originally formed to manufacture horse and buggy parts. It was started in the later part of the nineteenth century and by the early part of the twentieth century was making parts and materials for the Buckeye gasoline buggy automobile as well as for...
.
History
The Lambert Automobile Company was initially the second factory plant for the Union Automobile CompanyUnion Automobile Company
The Union Automobile Company began to make automobiles in Union City, Indiana in 1902. It built the Union automobile from 1902 through 1905. The company was located in Union City, Indiana from 1902 to 1905...
of Union City, Ohio built in 1904. The name changed officially in 1905 to the Lambert Automobile Company and the Union Automobile Company name was dropped. A better quality automobile was then manufactured from the Union automobile.
The Lambert Automobile Company was founded by automotive pioneer John William Lambert
John William Lambert
John William Lambert was an American automotive pioneer, inventor, and automobile manufacturer.-Biography:...
. The company was based in Anderson, Indiana
Anderson, Indiana
Anderson is a city in and the county seat of Madison County, Indiana, United States. It is the principal city of the Anderson, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses Madison county. Anderson is the headquarters of the Church of God and home of Anderson University, which is...
. In the eleven years from 1905 through 1916 the company manufactured not only automobiles but trucks, fire engines and farm tractors as well. The Lambert automobile was the signature product of the company however. The company always made their own bodies, but sometimes had the engines manufactured by different independent motor builders. These outsourced motors done by manufacturers like Buda, Rutenber, Continental, Trebert, and Daviswere were always of Lambert's design. The upholstery used on the interiors was of the best quality and the final body finish was done with fifteen coats of paint.
In 1906 Lambert produced the first "Lambert" automobile. With this line Lambert established himself as one of the more successful automobile manufacturers of that time period. Most of his automobiles were chain-driven rather than shaft driven. Production of automobiles and trucks had reached two thousand vehicles per year from 1906 to 1910. In 1910 the company had over a thousand employees and from 1910 to 1915 the production had reached about three thousand vehicles per year. It only produced about one thousand vehicles in 1916 and only a few vehicles in 1917.
The Lambert Automobile Company manufactured the Lambert automobile through the Buckeye Manufacturing Company
Buckeye Manufacturing Company
The Buckeye Manufacturing Company was a company originally formed to manufacture horse and buggy parts. It was started in the later part of the nineteenth century and by the early part of the twentieth century was making parts and materials for the Buckeye gasoline buggy automobile as well as for...
which had several subsidiaries. One of the main features of the Lambert automobile was the friction gearing disk drive transmission
Lambert friction gearing disk drive transmission
The Lambert friction gearing disk drive transmission was invented by John William Lambert originally in 1904. The invention relates to a friction disk drive transmission for automobiles that is gearless. He saw the need for a simple transmission of engine power to an automobile's drive...
. When the United States entered into World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
the factory was converted for national defense in 1917. The company then made ammunition shells, caisson wheels and military fire engines. When the war ended Lambert did not resume automobile production. He realized automobiles were only going to be made by large manufactures. The Buckeye Manufacturing Company stopped manufacturing automobile parts permanently in 1922.
Additional
There are only four known Lambert automobiles in existence as of the year 2008. Ohio City, OhioOhio City, Ohio
Ohio City is a village in Van Wert County, Ohio, United States with a population of 784 as of the 2000 census. It is included within the Van Wert, Ohio Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Ohio City is located at ....
celebrates Lambert Days every summer.
It should also be noted that Union City, Indiana
Union City, Indiana
Union City is a city in Wayne Township, Randolph County, Indiana, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 3,584.Union City was a stop along the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad, a forerunner of the Pennsylvania Railroad that connected Pittsburgh to...
and Union City, Ohio
Union City, Ohio
Union City is a village in Darke County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,767 at the 2000 census.-History:Union City was platted in 1838 and incorporated on December 6, 1853...
are separated by a city street which is actually the Indiana-Ohio State Line. During the period of the Union Automobile Company (before ZIP Codes) all mail was received through an Indiana Post Office. Most advertisements and addresses for the Union Automobile Company will show their mailing address as Union City, Indiana.
George Lambert, brother of the famed John William Lambert, constructed the Lambert-Parent house. George sold it to his brother-in-law Wilder Grant Parent in 1898 - hence the name. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and located at 631 E. Elm Street in Union City, Ohio. The Lambert brothers worked together in their businesses that was associated with automobiles, engines, and grain operations.
See also
- Union automobileUnion (automobile)The Union automobile was based on Lambert's "horseless carriage" gasoline buggy. It had four wheels instead of his 1891 three-wheeled version. The automobile was made by the Union Automobile Company from 1902 through 1905...
- Lambert automobileLambert (automobile)The Lambert automobile and Lambert truck were built by the Lambert Automobile Company as an American vehicle from 1905 through 1916.The Lambert automobile motor in the early part of manufacturing moved around on the chassis. It was on the back of the chassis, then in the center, then to the front,...
- John William LambertJohn William LambertJohn William Lambert was an American automotive pioneer, inventor, and automobile manufacturer.-Biography:...
- Buckeye gasoline buggyBuckeye gasoline buggyThe Buckeye gasoline buggy or Lambert gasoline buggy was the first practical gasoline automobile available for sale in America, according to automobile historians.-History:...
- Union Automobile CompanyUnion Automobile CompanyThe Union Automobile Company began to make automobiles in Union City, Indiana in 1902. It built the Union automobile from 1902 through 1905. The company was located in Union City, Indiana from 1902 to 1905...
- Buckeye Manufacturing CompanyBuckeye Manufacturing CompanyThe Buckeye Manufacturing Company was a company originally formed to manufacture horse and buggy parts. It was started in the later part of the nineteenth century and by the early part of the twentieth century was making parts and materials for the Buckeye gasoline buggy automobile as well as for...
- Lambert Gas and Gasoline Engine CompanyLambert Gas and Gasoline Engine CompanyThe Lambert Gas and Gasoline Engine Company was a company founded by John William Lambert in the later part of the nineteenth century as part of the conglomerate of the Buckeye Manufacturing Company.-History:...
- Lambert friction gearing disk drive transmissionLambert friction gearing disk drive transmissionThe Lambert friction gearing disk drive transmission was invented by John William Lambert originally in 1904. The invention relates to a friction disk drive transmission for automobiles that is gearless. He saw the need for a simple transmission of engine power to an automobile's drive...
Primary sources
- Biography of John W. Lambert , written by his son January 25, 1935 — obtained from the Detroit Public Library, National Automotive History Collection
- Dolnar, Hugh, Automobile Trade Journal, article: The Lambert, 1906 Line of Automobiles, Chilton Company, v.10 January 1906
- Forkner, John L., History of Madison County, Indiana, New York and Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1914
- The Horseless Age: The Automobile Trade Magazine, The Horseless Age Company, 1902
Secondary sources
- Bailey, L. Scott, Historic Discovery: 1891 Lambert, New Claim for America's First Car, Antique Automobile magazine, Vol. 24, No. 5, Oct–Nov 1960
- David Burgess Wise, The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Automobiles ISBN 0-7858-1106-0
- Dittlinger, Esther et al., Anderson: A Pictorial History, G. Bradley Publishing, 1990, ISBN 0943963168
- Georgano, G. N., The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile, Taylor & Francis, 2000, ISBN 1-5795829-3-1
- Huffman, Wallace Spencer, Indiana's Place in Automobile History in Indiana History Bulletin, vol 44, no. 2, Feb. 1967; Indianapolis, Indiana Historical Bureau
- Huhti, Thomas, The Great Indiana Touring Book: 20 Spectacular Auto Tours, Big Earth Publishing, 2002, ISBN 1-9315990-9-2
- James, Wanda, Driving from Japan, McFarland, 2005, ISBN 0-786417-3-4X
- Kimes, Beverly Rae, Standard Catalog of American Cars, 1805–1942, Krause Publications, 1996, ISBN 0-8734142-8-4
- Madden, W. C., Haynes-Apperson and America's First Practical Automobile: A History, McFarland, 2003, ISBN 0-7864139-7-2
- Scharchburg, Richard P., Carriages Without Horses: J. Frank Duryea and the Birth of the American Automobile Industry, SAE, 1993, ISBN 1-5609138-0-0