I once heard that in the early 1900’s that you could name an automobile manufacturer with every letter in the alphabet. Early car manufacturers were scattered across America in many small towns. The early part of the twentieth century was a great time of invention and innovation, especially for the automotive world. I enjoy reading stories about early car makes and manufacturing, there were so many that are now defunct for reasons of the early economy, war, mergers, buy outs, and I’m sure a hundred other reasons. This is a story about the Geronimo Motor Company that I ran across and had to share.

Image source www.enidbuzz.com

Published: July 27, 2009
By Robert Barron, Staff Writer

In 1917, Enid hoped to be the second Detroit

Enid was once home to a successful car manufacturer along local hopes of being the second Detroit, according to automobile historian Bud Smith.

Smith, who is president of Liberty Federal Bank, told Enid Rotary Club Monday about the Geronimo, which was manufactured in Enid from 1917 until 1920.

It was a successful company until the factory was destroyed by fire in 1920, which put the company out of business.

William C. Allen formed the company in 1917 and initially sold $500,000 in stock, a fortune for that time. They began production of the car at 409 S. Grand and the building still has the Geronimo name on it.