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Very rare c. 1916 North American Motors Company, Pottstown, PA, catalog. 24 pages. Measures 10 x 7 inches. Cover is stiff paper wraps with graphics of Indian holding an engine. Embossed title. Bound with cord.
Illustrated throughout with line drawings of engines and photos from the factory.
The North American Motors Company operated as a specialized manufacturer during the early boom of the American automotive industry.North American Motors was primarily a proprietary component supplier rather than a consumer car brand. They built engines for:
- Bethlehem Motor Truck Corporation: Their primary commercial partner and ultimate merger mate. North American Motors supplied heavy-duty internal combustion engines for Bethlehem’s line of 1.5-ton to 4-ton commercial trucks.
- Independent Truck and Tractor Builders: They built heavy, low-RPM utility engines sold wholesale to various regional "assembled" truck manufacturers of the World War I era who lacked their own engine foundries.
- Automobile Manufacturers: Before the war, they supplied generic 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder powerplants to smaller, short-lived passenger car assembly shops across Pennsylvania and the Midwest.
In September 1918, a severe fire gutted one of the main factory buildings. Along with machinery, the fire destroyed 25 vintage Chadwick vehicles that had been stored on-site as scrap.: Following wartime production, the company sought massive commercial expansion. In June 1919, a major stock consolidation combined North American Motors with the Bethlehem Motor Truck Corporation. This merger eventually dissolved the standalone Pottstown entity as its assets integrated into larger corporate truck lines.
