Auburn, IN: 1900 Auburn Automobile Co. (Duesenberg & Cord)

(Satellite, the museum is in the original administration building.)

I see I have written about an Auburn assembly plant in Connersville, IN, but not the one in Auburn. Tommy's post below has motivated me to research the Auburn plant. Auburn Automobile Company (ACC) was founded in 1900 by the owners of the 1874 Eckhart Carriage Company, and mass-production was moved to Connersville in 1933. [AutomobileMuseum.] The ACC began production in Connersville in 1929. ACC came out with a whole new model in 1934, but it succumbed to the depression in 1937. The first Cord, introduced in 1929, featured the industry's first front-wheel drive. The next Cord, the 810 introduced in 1935, used unitized body construction and revolutionary Art Deco styling. (For example, the radiator and headlights were hidden.) The Duesenberg Model J, introduced in 1928 with a 265 hp straight-eight engine, "easily surpassed its nearest rival by 100 horsepower." [acdclub] AuburnSpeedsters explains E. L. Cord's role in the success and failure of the company. The speedsters really were speedy. With a supercharged straight eight engine, the Auburn 851 was guaranteed to go 100 miles per hours. [dailykos]

Tommy Lee Fitzwater posted nineteen photos with the comment: "Between 1907-1930

Auburn Automobile Co. Auburn, Indiana."

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1910 RPPC Real Photo postcard of AUBURN AUTOMOBILE At Lake George Indiana

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The plant was south of Main Street.

1959 Auburn Quadrangle @ 1:24,000

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They acquired the Duesenberg factory in Indianapolis. And they controlled the Lycoming Motor Company of Williamsport, PA, which made their engines. [Text screens in this movie.]
(new window)  (It is silent.) There is an interesting scene at 3:18. Unfortunately, it has exposure problems.


A plant built in 1900 still uses line shafts and belts. I still haven't figured out when small electric motors became common. Or was this a repurposing of their horse carriage plant?

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A big gang drill for a lot of holes. I did not realize this was developed so early in the 20th Century.

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Obviously, they had an inline eight engine. This gang borer must have been a rough cut because they show more steps after this.

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A crankshaft lathe.

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"After testing under power, all motors are torn down and examined for wear and defects." [14:22] "On arrival at Auburn, each motor is individually and carefully tested." "Each motor is run for ten hours, which approximates 200 miles." "The motors are then connected to a propeller which offers the same resistance as the car and again carefully tested under load."