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Bump&McCabe Auto Truck
1915

bump & mccabe auto truck

Years In Operation: 
  • 1915
Models Built:
  • Auto Truck
Approximate Number of Cars Built:
  • 1 
​Factory Address:
  • Bump & McCabe Hardware: 316 Mitchell
  • McDermott Blacksmith: 610(611) Ingalls Street
Slogans of the Company:
  • None​
Officers of the Company:
  • Sidney S. Bump: Co-designer
  • George McCabe: Co-designer
  • William McDermott: Co-designer

What can i see today?

It is not known if the Auto Truck still exists.  You can find out more about Petoskey and the surrounding area by visiting the Little Traverse Historical Museum.
​Address: 100 Depot St., Petoskey, MI 49770
​Phone: (231) 347-2620
Website:
https://www.petoskeymuseum.org/
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The body of the truck was built by McCabe's men of the Bump & McCabe Hardware.  The structure is still standing.
Address: 316 E. Mitchell St., Petoskey MI
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The frame was built at the McDermott Blacksmith & Wagon Shop.  The building is no longer standing and the land is private property.
​Address: 610(611) Ingalls Ave.
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summary

A story appeared in 1915 of an "auto truck" that was made in Petoskey from the collaboration of two local companies.  The vehicle was produced with efforts from Bump & McCabe Hardware who made the body and the McDermott Blacksmith & Wagon Shop who made the frame.  The truck was assembled between the two businesses and an old Ford engine and running gear of unknown origin was used to power the vehicle.  It is not known if the men planned on producing additional vehicles as was the case in several cities in Northern Michigan around the turn of the century.  

The story


1888-1905

Sidney S. Bump started in the hardware business in 1892 and partnered with Henry Easton, John Walrond, and finally George McCabe around 1905...
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1906

William R. McDermott had learned the blacksmith trade early on.  His shop was originally built by Bill Schofield who ran it until 1905 with McDermott taking over the business around 1906.  According to records, the McDermotts lived next door...
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1915

An "auto truck" was made some time before May of 1915.  The body was made by the workers of Bump & McCabe Hardware and the frame was made by McDermott's Blacksmith & Wagon Shop.  The engine and transmission were from a Ford car...
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This is the replica of the vehicle that was built...
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The truck was most likely built for delivery purposes but this reference of an unknown date mentions the "Red Devil" truck owned by the company which was a Ford Model "T" half-ton possibly referring to the same vehicle...
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1919

In 1919, McDermott did also aid in the invention and patent of a one-man tractor grader...
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1943

The Petoskey community was honored to have a long time resident like McDermott.  In addition to his efforts with inventions and his blacksmith shop, he headed relief and care efforts in the flu epidemic of 1918...
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Much like Elmer F. Johnson who ran a bicycle shop in Kalkaska and was an automobile inventor during the same period, these men were ahead of their time in constructing a vehicle out of a combination of fabrication and spare parts.  It is not known if the truck was meant to be the first of many or if either original invention exists...

references

  • Petoskey Rcord-1911
  • Petoskey Evening News-1955
  • Petoskeynews.com
  • Gwood.us
  • EmmetCountyGenealogy.com
  • CharlevoixEmmetHistory.Weebly.com
  • Library of Congress-Sanborn Map-1913
  • Petoskey Public Library
  • Little Traverse Historical Society
  • 100 Years in Horton Bay Charlevoix County MI-1876-1976-Ohle
  • Tip of the Mitt's Automobile Factories-Wiles
  • Petoskey: Queen City of the North-1900
  • United States Patent Office
  • Ancestry.com
  • A History of Northern Michigan and Its People-Powers-Volume 3-1912
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