John Mohler Studebaker (* 1833 in Gettysburg (Pennsylvania); † 1917 in South Bend (Indiana)) war ein US-amerikanischer Schmied, Stellmacher, Automobilunternehmer und -pionier. Gemeinsam mit drei seiner vier Brüder baute er das Familienunternehmen aus der elterlichen Schmiede und Wagnerei den größten Betrieb zur Herstellung von Kutschen und Fuhrwerken der Welt auf.
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John Mohler Studebaker returned from California in 1858 where he made wheelbarrows for gold miners, and invested his earnings in the business. At this time, the brothers were filling wagon orders for the U.S. Army, and would continue to do so throughout the Civil War. By 1887, sales would eclipse two million dollars, and by 1885, production would top 75,000. [1]
Another of the sons, John Mohler Studebaker, headed to California in 1853. Stories had come back from California of men quickly gaining fabulous fortunes during the 1849 gold rush. When John arrived at Hangtown (now Placerville), California, he quickly realized that all of the good claims had long been taken. He also realized that an industrious man could make a better living by serving the needs of the miners than by panning for gold. John used his wagon-making skills to build rugged, durable wheelbarrows. His sturdy wheelbarrows quickly became popular, and he acquired the nickname, "Wheelbarrow Johnny." When the gold boom receded, John took his profits and returned home five years later. His brothers agreed to take John on as a partner and, with his $8,000 nest egg from California, expanded operations as the Studebaker Wagon Corporation in South Bend, Indiana and begin building wagons on a large scale. The Studebaker wagons proved to be extremely durable, and the Studebaker Wagon Corporation was able to obtain contracts to build wagons for the Union Army during the Civil War. The reliability and ruggedness of the Studebaker wagons became legendary, and the Studebaker Corporation was on its way to a place in history.
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- Ehrenpräsident der Studebaker Corporation
- Hall of Fame (2005)
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- ↑ coachbuilt.com: Studebaker
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