Marathon Motor Works facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Marathon Motor Works
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| Location | 1200–1310 and 1305 Clinton St., Nashville, Tennessee |
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| NRHP reference No. | 95001482 |
| Added to NRHP | January 4, 1996 |
Marathon Motor Works was an early car maker based in Tennessee. It started from an older company called Southern Engine and Boiler Works, founded in 1889. This company made industrial engines and boilers in Jackson, Tennessee. Because they already worked with metal and power, they could easily switch to the new and fast-growing car industry. They began focusing on cars shortly after 1900. From 1907 to 1914, the company built the Marathon car.
Contents
The Story of Marathon Motor Works
Building Cars from Scratch
Back then, and even now, car makers often buy some parts from other companies. They then focus on putting the cars together and selling them. But Southern Engine took a different path. They decided to design and build every single part of their car themselves!
The company was lucky to have a very talented young engineer named William Henry Collier. He took on this big challenge. By 1906, he had a first test car ready. But it wasn't quite ready to drive. The company's newsletter joked that the car "should move, but don't."
After that, they made quick progress. They built a small number of cars in 1907 and 1908. In 1908, they invited outside investors to help. By 1909, they offered two models: a roadster and a touring car. Both had 35 horsepower 4-cylinder engines. These cars were open (tops were optional) and sold for about $1500. They sold around 400 cars, which was good for that time, especially since they made almost all the parts themselves.
A New Name and a Big Move
At first, the cars were called "Southerns." But another company was already using that name. So, they decided to rename the car-making part of the business and make it a separate company. In 1910, Marathon Motor Works was created. The name "Marathon" came from the excitement about Greek things, inspired by the 1904 Olympics.
At the same time, the company moved its operations to a bigger factory in Nashville, Tennessee. Nashville had better ways to get money and transport goods, which could help a growing company.
Rising and Falling
And grow it did! Marathon quickly became very successful, even in the booming car industry. Their cars gained a good reputation for being well-made and lasting a long time. This was probably because the factory had full control over its parts, design, and building process.
New models and national advertisements followed. Production jumped to 10,000 cars in 1912. They signed up dealers on almost every continent, and they had more orders than they could fill.
However, like many early car companies, the business side of things didn't keep up with how well they made cars. It was said that William Collier, the engineer, had less and less say in decisions. He had to listen to a board of directors that often changed. Important people started to leave, and suppliers began to complain about not getting paid. The company fell as quickly as it had risen. 1914 was its last year.
Some former employees, with help from a group in Indianapolis, bought the tools and equipment. The Herff-Brooks Corporation briefly continued to make the cars in Indianapolis.
Marathon Cars Today
The Marathon car is remembered in Nashville as the only car brand ever actually built in the city. (Today's Nissan and GM factories in the area are outside the city limits.) The old Marathon factory building still stands today. It is now home to several creative businesses.
Marathon cars are now collector's items, like other Brass Era cars (early cars from 1896-1915). Only nine are known to still exist. Five of these are owned by the people who own the old Marathon Building.
Recently, reports showed that the car in the best condition is in Argentina. This unique car runs perfectly. An Argentinian collector owned it and spent two years restoring it. This collector managed to keep all its original parts, making it look like new. In December 2019, the Marathon Motor Works Museum bought this car.
The Marathon Motor Works building also houses an antique store called Antique Archaeology. This business is featured in the television show American Pickers. The building also has a direct marketing company called OLN.
Images for kids
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Marathon Motor Works in 2009
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Marathon Motor Works in 2009
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Marathon Brochure from 1910
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Marathon Advertisement from 1911
