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Brugman Brothers
1902

brugman brothers

Years In Operation:  1902
Models Built: Manistee/Autoette
Approximate Number of Cars Built:  At least 1
​Factory Address:
  • 344/350 River Street
  • 284/286 River Street
  • 74-76 Division Street

​Officers of the Company:
  • Otto Brugman: Founder
  • Henry Brugman: Founder
  • Frank Brugman: Repairman
  • Louis Brugman: Repairman
  • J.L. Sweetman: President-1911
  • J.H.D. Wallace: Vice President-1911
  • B.P. Barnes: Secretary/Treasurer-1911
  • Dr. A.S. Payne: Vice President-1915
  • T.J. Elton: Secretary/Treasurer-1915
  • Alexander Smith: Board of Directors-1915

What can i see today?

There is no known vehicle that exists but you can learn more about the Brugman Brothers at the Manistee County Historical Museum.
​Address: 425 River Street, Manistee MI 49660
​Phone: (231) 723-5531
Website:
https://www.manisteemuseum.org/
The first factory location was at the Brugman Brothers shop.  It is currently occupied by Taco Bout It...
Address: 344/350 River Street, Manistee MI

The Brugman Brothers started the Auto Garage Company in 1911 located at 284/286 River Street.  The original building is no longer standing.
By 1921 the garage had moved to 74-76 Division Street.  The original building is still standing today and is occupied by Manistee Tire Service...
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The story

The Brugman family came to the United States from Germany in the mid 1870's.  The parents, Henry Sr. and Caroline, were married in Germany in 1864 and had 4 kids there including their oldest, Otto....
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The Brugman Brothers opened a shop in Manistee in the 1890's that sold and fixed a whole array of items.  It was here that they honed their mechanical skills...
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In 1893 Otto Brugman was granted a patent on a lock and latch system.  Patents were common among some of the early industrial pioneers such as Edison, Ford, and the Dodge Brothers...
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The first mention of a vehicle in Manistee came in May of 1900.  The vehicle needed some repairs and was brought to the Brugman Brothers shop...
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In 1899 the Brugman Brothers began work on their own vehicle as a hobby and finished it in 1902 calling it the "Manistee".  The car was powered by a two-opposing cyclinder steam engine located under the seat.  It was started with a crank on the side of the vehicle and had a top speed of 25 m.p.h.  The vehicle was intended to be used as a taxi service for the community.  The photo below shows Otto and his sister Mary sitting in the seat...
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The vehicle was made to hold plenty of weight.  Otto is shown here driving while his sister Mary is sitting high in the back wearing the black hat.  This photo is courtesy of the National Automotive History Collection, Detroit Public Library.
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By 1903 the shop had the address of 344 River Street as shown here in the Michigan Gazetteer.  This would have given the brothers better visibility on the street...
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Brothers Louis and Frank also worked at the company for a time.  Frank would have been around 14 at the time which could explain the "boy under 16" sworn statement....
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In 1911 the Auto Garage Company(spelled wrong here) was formed which was the continuation of the Brugman Brothers business.  The location was at 284-286 River Street in the original Manistee Iron Works building...
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Photo courtesy of Leelanau Historical Society Museum
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Henry and Otto are standing here together in the middle of the photo...
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This photo shows the possible assembly of a "Manistee" in the background but it is not clear.  It is rumored that the Brugman Brothers produced automobiles throughout the life of their business.  Otto Brugman is standing to the right of the seat assembly here circa 1910-1915.  This photo is courtesy of the National Automotive History Collection, Detroit Public Library.
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The Brugman Brothers were not only car inventors but their business included repair, sales, and storage of cars in the winter.  This photo shows a "Manistee" in the back right as well as signs of the tire manufacturers of the day.  Otto Brugman is standing second from the right and Otto is standing second from the left.  This photo is also courtesy of the National Automotive History Collection, Detroit Public Library.
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This article from February 18th, 1915 shows new officers being elected.  Otto and Henry held different titles throughout the life of the business...
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The Auto Garage Company was always a repair shop but was also an agent for many different car companies including Dodge Brothers, Overland and Hudson...
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There are conflicting stories on the National Garage & Sales Co. being absorbed by the Brugmans in 1916 but, even if true, the business never moved to the building on Washington Street.
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The Auto Garage Company eventually moved to 74-76 Division as stated here in 1921...
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It is said that the Brugman Brothers continued to make vehicles for their local community.  Their ads stated that they were "Pioneer Automobile Men" which certainly seems to be the case.


Photo Courtesy of the Leelanau Historical Society Museum


An article in the news(unknown origin) shows the death of Otto on March 1st, 1937 at 69 years old...

"Brugman Passes
His many friends throughout the region were saddened to hear of the death of Otto J. Brugman, Auto Garage Company Founder, and a resident of Manistee for the last 51 years.  He was one of the first automobile dealers in this part of the country, and during his life watched the development of the auto from the first one cyclinder car up to the present models.  He was 69"

Henry Brugman passed away July 19th, 1940 at age 64.
Frank Brugman passed away January 19th, 1914 at age 23.
Louis Brugman worked as part of the original shop, a mechanic for the garage, and at an auto factory in Detroit.  He passed away November 16th, 1952 at the age of 73.

references

  • Standard Catalog of American Cars-Clark/Kimes
  • Manistee Newspapers-1915-1937
  • Manistee City Directory-1913/1914
  • Manistee Phone Book-1911
  • Michigan Manufacturer & Financial Record-Feb 1915
  • Traverse City District Library
  • Manistee County Historical Museum
  • Motor World-1908/1916
  • U32Chronicle.com
  • Manistee: The Salt City of the Unsalted Seas-American Printing Company-1910
  • The Automobile-Volume 22
  • Motor Age-Volume 20
  • State of Michigan-Bureau of Labor and Industrial Statistics-1904
  • R.L. Polk & Company-Manistee 1902/1903
  • The Accessory and Garage Journal-November 1911
  • The Hudson Triangle-January 1917
  • Scarborough Road Map of Michigan-1913
  • Michigan State Gazetteer and Business Directory-1921/1922
  • Automobile Topics-Volume 43
  • United States Patent Office
  • Leelanau Historical Society Museum
  • National Automotive History Collection-Detroit Public Library
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