Nyberg Automobile

Nyberg Automobile was the name used for a short-lived American automobile enterprise associated with engineer and inventor Henry Nyberg. The company emerged from Nyberg's earlier work as a builder, repairer, rebuilder, and reseller of automobiles in Chicago. Its production cars were manufactured primarily in Anderson, Indiana, with a separate operation established in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The marque belonged to the brass era of American motoring and was active as a producer of new automobiles from 1911 until financial difficulties led to receivership and the cessation of operations in 1914. Henry Nyberg was born in 1872 in Hellvi on the Swedish island of Gotland. After studying at the Technical School in Malmö, he emigrated to North America and began experimenting with automobiles. He built his first car in 1898 and established Nyberg Automobile Works in 1899. During his early American career he lived in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and worked for the Thomas B. Jeffery Company before moving his own workshop to Chicago in 1903. In Chicago, Nyberg and an investor named Waller produced a single-cylinder runabout that was known as the Nyberg or Nyberg-Waller. After one season of selling the runabout, the business shifted toward automobile repair and the rebuilding and resale of used cars. In 1907, with investor H. E. Jennings, Nyberg Automobile Works, Inc. was incorporated and moved to a larger building on South Michigan Avenue, part of Chicago's Automobile Row. This phase gave the business practical experience but did not create the financial base needed for sustained large-scale manufacturing. Nyberg and his investors later acquired the former Rider-Lewis automobile factory and equipment in Anderson, Indiana. The Anderson operation was incorporated as Consolidated Automobile Company and subsequently renamed Nyberg Automobile Company, although the public-facing business continued to be called Nyberg Automobile Works. The first Nyberg automobile built in Anderson left the factory on March 30, 1911. Nyberg cars were largely assembled vehicles rather than products built entirely from proprietary components. Early models used four-cylinder power, while a six-cylinder model was added in 1912. Engines supplied by Excelsior and Rutenber were used, and the range included roadsters, touring cars, and limousines. Listed prices ranged from approximately $1,300 to $2,500 during the period. The company also experimented with a fire engine and other truck designs, but those projects did not become sustained product lines. The company sought publicity through competition. It built a racing car for the 1913 Indianapolis 500, where Harry Endicott qualified and drove the entry. The car completed 21st after retiring with a transmission failure. A Nyberg Six-45 Tourabout produced in Chattanooga also took part in the 1912 Indiana Four-States Tour, a 1,224.8-mile endurance event across several Midwestern states. In February 1912, Nyberg established a Chattanooga manufacturing plant under a separate organization backed by C. E. James, John A. Patten, Z. C. Patten Jr., Henry Nyberg, F. H. Dowler, and G. H. Miller. The plant employed about 100 workers and planned output of roughly ten cars per week. These expansion efforts increased the company's geographic reach but also added capital and operating demands. The enterprise remained underfunded, and both the Anderson and Chattanooga branches entered receivership in 1914. Production ended that year. The branches were sold to A. C. Barley, who was associated with the Halladay automobile, but manufacturing did not resume under his ownership. Henry Nyberg bought the Anderson factory back in February 1915 and used it in a subsequent venture, Madison Motors. That later company produced a light six-cylinder automobile initially associated with the Dolly Madison name and later called Madison, but it was financially unsuccessful and was taken over by Bull Tractor Company in 1919. Nyberg was also connected with Regal automobile assembly in Berlin, Ontario, during the mid-1910s. Nyberg automobiles are rare surviving examples of the American brass era; two known cars are displayed at the Coker Museum at Honest Charley Speed Shop in Chattanooga.

Henry Nyberg, the founder associated with the Nyberg automobile, was born in 1872 in Hellvi on Gotland, Sweden. He studied at the Technical School in Malmö before emigrating to North America. Nyberg built his first automobile in 1898 and organized Nyberg Automobile Works in 1899. His early professional experience included work for the Thomas B. Jeffery Company in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Nyberg moved his workshop to Chicago in 1903. Working with an investor named Waller, he built a single-cylinder runabout marketed as the Nyberg or Nyberg-Waller. After one season of automobile sales, the business concentrated more heavily on repairing, rebuilding, and reselling cars. In 1907, Nyberg and investor H. E. Jennings incorporated Nyberg Automobile Works, Inc. and moved to a larger South Michigan Avenue facility in Chicago's Automobile Row. The transition to automobile manufacturing came when Nyberg and investors acquired the Rider-Lewis factory and equipment in Anderson, Indiana. The Anderson business was initially incorporated as Consolidated Automobile Company and later became Nyberg Automobile Company, while the Nyberg Automobile Works name continued to be used publicly. The first Anderson-built Nyberg was completed on March 30, 1911. Nyberg's production model depended substantially on assembling vehicles from purchased components. The initial range included a four-cylinder touring car, followed by a six-cylinder model in 1912. Excelsior and Rutenber engines were used. Roadsters and touring cars formed the main product range, with limousines also available. Prices were reported at approximately $1,300 to $2,500. The company explored fire trucks and other commercial vehicles but did not develop those experiments into lasting lines. The company also pursued publicity and technical validation through motoring events. A Nyberg racing car qualified for the 1913 Indianapolis 500 with Harry Endicott as driver. It finished 21st after a transmission failure. In 1912, a Chattanooga-built Nyberg Six-45 Tourabout participated in the Indiana Four-States Tour, covering 1,224.8 miles through Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Indiana. Nyberg expanded into Chattanooga in February 1912. The Tennessee operation had separate organization and investment from C. E. James, John A. Patten, Z. C. Patten Jr., Henry Nyberg, F. H. Dowler, and G. H. Miller. The plant employed approximately 100 people and expected to build ten cars each week. Expansion did not resolve the company's funding problems. In 1914, the Anderson and Chattanooga branches entered receivership, and Nyberg production stopped. The properties were sold to A. C. Barley, who was building Halladay cars in Streator, Illinois. Barley did not restart Nyberg production. Henry Nyberg reacquired the Anderson factory in February 1915 and soon partnered with Cecil Gibson, formerly associated with the Empire automobile, to establish Madison Motors. That enterprise produced a light six-cylinder automobile, first associated with the Dolly Madison name and later shortened to Madison, but inadequate funding ultimately led to its takeover by Bull Tractor Company in 1919. Nyberg also participated in Regal automobile assembly in Berlin, Ontario, until component supplies from Regal's Detroit operation ended in 1917. Surviving Nyberg cars include two displayed at the Coker Museum at Honest Charley Speed Shop in Chattanooga.

• 1915

  Henry Nyberg reacquires the Anderson factory

  [1]Nyberg Automobileen.wikipedia.org

  After the former Nyberg branches were sold to A. C. Barley, Henry Nyberg purchased the Anderson factory and redirected it toward the Madison automobile venture.

• 1914

  Production ends after receivership

  [1]Nyberg Automobileen.wikipedia.org

  The Anderson and Chattanooga operations entered receivership, and Nyberg automobile production ceased.

• 1913

  Nyberg competes at Indianapolis

  [1]Nyberg Automobileen.wikipedia.org

  A Nyberg racing car driven by Harry Endicott entered the Indianapolis 500 and retired after transmission failure.

• 1912

  Six-cylinder model and Chattanooga plant introduced

  [1]Nyberg Automobileen.wikipedia.org

  Nyberg expanded its range with a six-cylinder car and established a separately organized manufacturing plant in Chattanooga.

• 1911

  Anderson production begins

  [1]Nyberg Automobileen.wikipedia.org

  The first Nyberg automobile left the former Rider-Lewis factory in Anderson on March 30.

• 1907

  Nyberg Automobile Works is incorporated

  [1]Nyberg Automobileen.wikipedia.org

  With H. E. Jennings as an investor, the business was incorporated and expanded its rebuilding and resale activities.

• 1903

  Workshop moves to Chicago

  [1]Nyberg Automobileen.wikipedia.org

  Nyberg relocated his workshop to East 18th Street in Chicago and began working with investor Waller on a runabout.

• 1899

  Nyberg Automobile Works is established

  [1]Nyberg Automobileen.wikipedia.org

  Henry Nyberg established the enterprise that later developed into the Nyberg automobile manufacturing operation.

• 1898

  Nyberg builds his first automobile

  [1]Nyberg Automobileen.wikipedia.org

  Henry Nyberg completed his first automobile before establishing his own automobile works.

A small, assembly-oriented American brass-era automobile maker offering touring cars, roadsters, and higher-capacity six-cylinder models, with a regional manufacturing presence and ambitions for broader production.

• single-cylinder runabout · 1903

  Nyberg-Waller Runabout

  A small single-cylinder automobile developed by Henry Nyberg with investor Waller in Chicago. It was sold for one season before the business shifted much of its activity toward automobile repair, rebuilding, and resale.

• four-cylinder touring car · 1911

  Nyberg Four

  The first principal Anderson-era Nyberg production model was a four-cylinder touring car. It represented the company's move from workshop and rebuilding activities into limited-volume manufacture using an assembly-oriented production approach.

• six-cylinder automobile · 1912

  Nyberg Six

  Introduced during the 1912 expansion, the six-cylinder Nyberg broadened the marque's range beyond its earlier four-cylinder offering. Nyberg cars using six-cylinder power were offered in body styles including touring cars and tourabouts.

• six-cylinder tourabout · 1912

  Nyberg Six-45 Tourabout

  The Six-45 Tourabout was a Chattanooga-built Nyberg model that participated in the 1912 Indiana Four-States Tour. The event provided a public demonstration of the car's long-distance touring capability across several states.

• luxury automobile · 1911

  Nyberg Limousine

  Limousine bodies were available within the Nyberg range alongside the company's more common roadster and touring-car configurations. The limousine was part of the marque's attempt to serve multiple body-style segments during the brass era.

• racing car · 1913

  Nyberg racing car

  Nyberg built a competition car that qualified for the 1913 Indianapolis 500. Harry Endicott drove the entry, which finished 21st after retiring because of a transmission problem.

• 1914

  Cease Nyberg automobile productionOther

  Background

  The Anderson and Chattanooga branches were underfunded and unable to continue as operating automobile manufacturers.

  Action taken

  Both branches entered receivership and production stopped.

  Aftermath

  The properties were sold to A. C. Barley, who did not resume Nyberg production. Henry Nyberg later repurchased the Anderson factory for a new automobile venture.

  Source

• 1913

  Enter the Indianapolis 500Other

  Background

  Participation in major motor races offered small automobile manufacturers publicity and an opportunity to demonstrate engineering credibility.

  Action taken

  Nyberg built a racing car and entered it in the 1913 Indianapolis 500, with Harry Endicott as driver.

  Aftermath

  The car finished 21st after retiring because of transmission failure.

  Source

• 1912

  Expand manufacturing to ChattanoogaStrategy

  Background

  Nyberg sought to increase production capacity and geographic reach beyond the Anderson operation during a period when American automobile makers were expanding through regional factories.

  Action taken

  A separately organized Chattanooga plant was established with local investors, approximately 100 employees, and a stated production expectation of ten cars per week.

  Aftermath

  The expansion did not overcome the company's funding constraints, and the Chattanooga operation later entered receivership with the Anderson branch.

  Source

1. 1Nyberg Automobileen.wikipedia.org