According to the late John Whiteside, "The Economy Motor Buggy started manufacturing its vehicle in Fort Wayne, Ind. in 1907.  But because of infringing on patents held by a St. Louis company and resulting lawsuits, Economy quietly closed its Indiana shop and moved to Joliet, where they opened a building on Bissel Street."

Mr. Whiteside notes further that company went into bankruptcy in 1911.

Below is an image of an article that appeared in the Joliet Evening Herald on March 31, 1909 that discusses the state of the automobile business in Joliet, including the building of the Economy Motor Buggy factory. You will note that the article states that the factory was located at Cass and Maple streets. A current map of Joliet shows that Bissel street is located off Cass street, one block west of Maple, thus it is likely that Mr. Whiteside and the Evening Herald were both correct as to the location of the factory.

You will also find an image of an ad for the Economy Motor Buggy Co. that appeared in that paper the same day.

Return to Joliet Remembers the 1900s

Images from the Joliet Evening Herald and the Joliet Daily Republican at the top of the page:
Left - Ford  Model T
Right - The Wright Brothers

Joliet Remembers the 1900s was written and produced by Jack Tegel and Roger Gambrel