GMC TRUCKS: A HISTORY LESSON (Get your coffee and settle in, this is a long read) 1908 Advertisement from Grabowsky Power Wagon for their new Commercial Car GMCs start began with the Rapid Motor Vehicle Company of Detroit, formed by Max Grabowsky in about 1900. Their first commercial car (they werent called trucks yet) was sold in 1902 to a laundry before he even finished building it. Somewhere around 1908, his brother Morris joined the company, but it is unclear when or why. Max owned a machine shop and as a machinist and tool maker, he took a very different view of building motor vehicles and was focused on building vehicles specifically for commercial service, which at that time nobody had done! It was the earliest years of engine propelled wagons for the world and the initial need was to move people, so the industry was building vehicles for hauling people that also had body components that could be switched from seats to a delivery box. The weight and demands of hauling more than just people destroyed the people mover wagons quickly and Grabowsky was fixated on changing this and making a commercial only vehicle. In fact, it can be safely stated that Max Grabowsky invented the commercial truck! From the 1909 Book Automobiles a Factor in Commerce: The manufacture of commercial cars, while not an innovation, has attracted more attention at the present time than at any former period. It is generally recognized that the first gasoline propelled commercial car built in America was manufactured by Max Grabowsky, in Detroit, about ten years ago. At that time Mr. Grabowsky was the owner of a small, but well-equipped machine shop, and he had given the subject of gasoline engine and motor cars considerable thought. In the early days of the automobile, several of the models of the pleasure vehicle were so arranged that the passenger bodies could be demounted and the delivery box placed on the frame, but the failure of this style machine to hold up against the wear and tear of business service rendered it commercially valueless. The first car built by Mr. Grabowsky was bought before it was finished and gave good service for many years; in fact it is still running in Detroit, (1909) More orders came in quickly as the result of the first traial of this car, and Mr. Grabowsky formed the Rapid Motor Vehicle Company for cars of his design. The business grew like magic, and was later moved to Pontiac, Michigan, where a factory was built to accommodate the growth of the business. After a few years, Mr. Grabowsky made some very great improvements in the commercial car, which he felt would prove of immense value.to users of motor trucks. To build these new trucks, her returned to Detroit and in 1908 formed the Grabowsky Power Wagon Company. A moderate sized factory was obtained in the summer of 1908 and the first of the new Grabowsky power wagons was completed. This new truck shows a number of mechanical features that were positively revolutionary in their nature. The movable power plant, located in the front of the car, under the hood, could be drawn out in the front of the car for instant inspection and adjustment just the business man pulls out the drawer of his desk. The power unit, comprising the motor, transmission and control, is mounted on a sub-frame and can be pulled out clear with the car where it is supported by a folding tray. The importance of ensuring accessibility and frequent inspection of the engine can be readily understood by anyone who has had experience a motor truck. Another feature which Mr. Grabowsky has originated, and is shown for the first time in the Grabowsky power wagon, is the use of hardened steel bushings in all wearing parts. These steel bushings take all the wear, and, when necessary, can be replaced at a small cost, while on other cars, it must be replaced at considerable expense. Mr. Grabowskys entire experience in motor cars has been has been developed on the commercial side, and he has consequently gained a great deal of experience in necessary details not apparent to the eye of a layman. Strength is necessary in a commercial car; speed is seldom essential, but proper distribution of weight is more important. All these various points have been Mr. Grabowskys constant study for years. A new factory is being built in Detroit, which will be ready for occupancy about July 1910. There are lot of misstatements on the internet and even on GMCs own historical publications that are incorrect as it relates to these very early years. GMC Trucks lay claim to starting in 1902 even though the company itself (GM) didnt start until 1908 and the first GMC badge didnt hit a truck until late 1911 9 years after they say they started. Because Bill Durant bought Grabowskys company, and because Grabowskys ORIGINAL company (Rapid Motor Vehicle Co) was formed in 1902, GMC pushes the historical record lines here in my view. GMC Trucks really started in 1911 as far as I see it. The article above was copied from a 1909 issue of Power Wagon. To understand the explosion of the motor truck industry in a 10 year period, check out the July 1912 issue of Power Wagon in Google Books and you will get lost reading all the ads and seeing how many companies you recognize today advertising in this magazine in their early formative years; Remy Co. apparently was a business making electrical components and on the list of familiar names goes. I hope that this is a rainy Sunday and some of you will find time to get lost in this link and enjoy the record of things that were happening 102 years ago in the truck business: https://play.google/store/books/details?id=I2HmAAAAMAAJ&rdid=book-I2HmAAAAMAAJ&rdot=1
Posted on: Sun, 02 Nov 2014 08:00:01 +0000
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