One More From Wayne County

The Wayne County Historical Museum is filled with an amazing number of interesting exhibits centered around that region's vast history. Wayne County and Richmond, IN hosted a number of carriage manufacturers in the early days and many of them turned to making cars. In fact, 14 different companies made vehicles in and around Richmond. Included in this was this old style school "hack" as it was called.

From 1908 until the onset of the Great Depression in 1929, the G. W. Davis Motor Car Company manufactured autos in Richmond. Prior to that, Davis was a carriage and buggy maker. Shown here is a beautiful 1918 two seat touring car powered by a six cylinder engine.

George Seidel was another Richmond based buggy manufacturer. In 1909 he turned his attention to automobiles and established the Pilot Motor Car Company. Seen here is a 1920 Pilot 45. Powered by a six cylinder engine this car claimed 44 horse power. Pilot did well but could not maintain its 500 car a year output following World War I and by 1924 they had shuttered the doors.

Another of the G. W. Davis cars on display is this 1925 Davis Brougham. From the beginning Davis cars had a reputation for being well made and having a smooth, powerful ride. With these traits the company did quite well with sales, eventually reaching 1000 per year. But with added competition and the post World War I depression, sales began to slip. By 1928 Davis was sold to a Baltimore company.

The Westcott Carriage Company was another local firm that turned from manufacturing buggies to automobiles. They made the switch in 1907. Though the company moved to Springfield, OH in 1916, they had already established a reputation for being well built, dependable cars. Their slogan was "the Car With the Longer Life." The firm lasted until 1925. The car seen here is believed to have been the very first Westcott ever made.

Lastly is a 1926 Ford Model T Fire Engine. This fire truck serviced Richmond, IN during the first half of the 20th century.

To learn more about the Wayne County Historical Museum, go to their web site at http://waynecountyhistoricalmuseum.org/,