Years In Operation: 1910-1914 Models Built: 13 Different Models Built Approximate Number of Cars Built: 480 Factory Address: There are two addresses listed for the company: 150 Elm St. and 801 Johnson St.(Both were actually connected to the same location according to the Sanborn Maps). Officers of the Company:
D.D. Hanover: President
Richard Collins: Also President at a Later Date
William Krebs: Vice President
W.B. Roberson: Secretary/Treasurer
Patrick Culligan: Board of Directors
C.H. Nunneley: Board of Directors
H.V. Grosbeck: Board of Directors
W.M. Trombley: Board of Directors
David E. Levyn: Board of Directors
J.A. Corben: Board of Directors
George Masters: Board of Directors
Fred N. Potter: Board of Directors
What can i see today?
There is one 1911 Alpena Flyer known to exist and it is located at the Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan in Alpena. Address: 491 Johnson St., Alpena, MI Phone: (989) 356-2202 Website: https://www.bessermuseum.org/
The first factory was used as a temporary location as the permanent structure was being built. It was housed in the machine shop of W.C. French where a parking lot sits today at approximately 321 E. Chisholm St....
The factory is still standing but is not open to the public. It is part of the Besser Company World Headquarters. Address: 801 Johnson St. Alpena MI
The story
The Alpena Motor Company was formally incorporated on June 13th, 1910 with the papers being recorded in Lansing on June 20th...
While the plant was being built, the work was already going on at the machine shop of W.C. French at the foot of Chisholm Street which is where the demonstration car (an Alpena 35) was assembled. Below is a picture of French who had a chance to sit on an Alpena Flyer years later...
$450,000 in stock was raised by approximately 200 investors...
The factory is built by The Northern Planing Mill Company and ground breaking was held July 16th, 1910..
Assembly and production begins at the plant on Monday October 24th, 1910...
A manual was given out with each and every vehicle just as it still is today. These manuals are from the 1911 and 1912 model years courtesy of the New York Public Library...
This photo shows the testing of the vehicle by the office staff and Mr. Nunneley who was one of the board members...
The Alpena Flyer was among the cars being displayed at the New York Auto Show in late 1910 as were a couple of local competitors including cars from Gaylord and Flint.
The vehicle was also displayed in 1912 at the Winnipeg Second Annual Motor Show in Canada in 1912...
Some of the advertising of the Alpena Flyer is shown below. It wasn't long until dealers were popping up all over including many in New York and 1510 Chesnut St and 21st & Market in Philadelphia...
Just like the Gaylord Motor Car Company, the Alpena Motor Car Company had big dreams to become the Detroit of the north but ultimately filed bankruptcy due to being sued over design copy. The company was unfortunately dissolved in 1914.
references
Besser Museum
Besser World Headquarters
Alpena Library
Library of Congress-Sanborn Fire Insurance Map-1910
