Studebaker

Studebaker, family name of 5 brothers (Clement, Harry, John Mohler, Peter Everst, and Jacob Franklin) whose company was the largest producer of horse-drawn wagons in the United States and was also a leading manufacturer of automobiles and trucks. Originally a blacksmith and wagon shop (1852) in South Bend, Ind., the company subsequently expanded (becoming the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Co., 1868) as a result of the growing demand for wagons created by the agricultural development of the Midwest. Near the end of the 19th century, the company began developing automobiles, creating an electric vehicle in 1902 and producing gasoline-powered cars in 1904. After chganging its name to the Studebaker Corporation (1911), it eventually produced only cars and trucks and merged with Packard Motors, Inc. in 1954. In 1966 it discontinued production of automobiles, and in 1967 it became part of Studebaker-Worthington, Inc.

See also: Automobile.