Metz Company

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For the German consumer electronic manufacturer, see Metz (company).
Metz Company
FormerlyWaltham Manufacturing Company
Company typeAutomobile manufacturer
Founded1909; 115 years ago (1909)
FounderCharles Herman Metz
Defunct1922; 102 years ago (1922)
FateBankrupt
SuccessorMotor Manufacturers Incorporated
HeadquartersWaltham, Massachusetts,
United States
Key people
Charles H. Metz, William H. Little
ProductsAutomobiles, Automotive parts
Production output
40,082 (1909-1922)

The Metz Company was a pioneer brass era automobile maker established by Charles Herman Metz in Waltham, Massachusetts, from 1909 to 1922.[1][2]

History[edit]

C. H. Metz began in business in 1886 making bicycle parts, and in 1893 formed the Waltham Manufacturing Company with Herbert L. Thompson, Elmer G. Howe and Frank L. Howe.[3] Later the firm developed designs for motorized vehicles. Metz departed his company over disagreements of company direction in 1901. He became the technical editor of the Cycle and Automobile Trade Journal.[4]

Waltham Manufacturing Co. was in financial difficulties and in 1908 C. H. Metz took back control. He reorganized as the Metz Company in 1909.[4]

Kit car[edit]

Metz inherited a large stock of automobile parts for the 10-hp runabout designed by William H. Little. Although Metz was not the first to offer a kit car (Dyke and Sears predated Metz with do-it-your-self high-wheelers), Metz did offer the first known kit automobile on the installment plan, known as the Metz Plan. The buyer would buy 14 groups or packages of parts for $27 which would be put together with the plans and tools supplied, for a total price of $378, (equivalent to $12,818 in 2023). A factory-assembled automobile could be bought for $475. The plan was in effect until 1911 when it became impractical to compete with a dealer-supplied model "T" Ford.[5]

In 1910, the two-cylinder 10-hp Metz was increased to 12-hp. Built on a 81-inch wheelbase, complete runabouts or special delivery body cars were produced into 1912.[4]

Model 22[edit]

1913 Runabout
1912 Model 22 Roadster, on display at the California Automobile Museum
Model 22 runabout in a parade

In 1913, Metz introduced the Model 22, a two-seat roadster or torpedo bodied car, with an en-bloc 22½ hp (17 kW) four-cylinder water-cooled engine. The Metz 22 had a 90-inch wheelbase with Bosch magneto, full-elliptic springs front and rear, artillery wheels with Goodrich clincher tires, and featured a Prest-O-Lite-type acetylene generator for the headlights. It was billed as "gearless", having a friction drive mechanism, and priced at $475, equivalent to $14,643 in 2023.[1]

Advertisements claimed to be the "winner of the Glidden Tour", due to all 3 of the participating Metz cars receiving a perfect score. In 1914 Metz had a Speedster model added at a price of $500. In 1915, Model 22 became Model 25 with an improved 25-hp engine on a 108-inch wheelbase.[4]

  • Gaetano Napoli in his Metz at the 1913 Targa Florio
  • 1914 Metz 22 Advertisement
  • 1914 Metz at Grand Canyon Hopi House
  • 1920 Metz Master Six

Fate[edit]

In 1917 Metz added 3 types of light trucks to their car production, but business was curtailed in 1918 due to the World War. The Factory was turned over to war work, but post-war road-blocks caused Metz to never collect $130,000 due from the government. In 1919 Metz fielded a larger car called the Metz Master 6, with a six-cylinder 45-hp engine.[4] This 120-inch wheelbase car, with a price range from $1,895 to $2,895 for an enclosed sedan, did not sell well.[4]

The post-war depression caused a dire financial condition and Metz was taken over by the Waltham National Bank. They reorganized the company and renamed it the Motor Manufacturers Incorporated of Waltham. The Metz Master 6 was renamed the Waltham Six, which sold for $2,450 and was produced in 1922 only. This restructuring attempt failed, and Charles Metz filed for Bankruptcy in August 1922.[4]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Clymer, Floyd (1950). Treasury of Early American Automobiles, 1877-1925. New York: Bonanza Books. p. 145.
  2. ^ The Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1913), A Directory of Massachusetts Manufactures, Boston: Wright & Potter, OL 7134711M
  3. ^ Waltham Museum Inc. "Charles H. Metz and the Waltham Manufacturing Collection: Finding Aid and Inventory" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 7, 2014. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Kimes, Beverly Rae; Clark Jr., Henry Austin (1996). Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 (3rd ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 978-0-87341-428-9.
  5. ^ Clark, Jess (October 1978). "The First Do-It-Yourself Cars". Car Classics. pp. 20–22.
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