Pontiac Spring & Wagon Works (Made 1st Pontiac Car - Early GM Company) - Pontiac, Michigan 1905

Beautifully engraved RARE historic certificate from the Pontiac Spring & Wagon Works dated 1905. This historic document has an ornate border around it with a vignette of an eagle. This item has the signatures of the Company’s President ( Albert North ) and Secretary ( Harry Hamilton ) and is over 104 years old.


Certificate Vignette



PONTIAC — Pontiac, Michigan — (1907-1908) — The Pontiac Spring and Wagon Works was incorporated in July of 1899 by Albert G. North and Harry G. Hamilton. By 1905 they had taken over the manufacturing of the Rapid Truck (from the Rapid Motor Vehicle Co.) that had been introduced by Max Grabowsky in Detroit two years earlier. And in 1907 they decided to produce an automobile, too.

Pontiac Spring & Wagon Works made the first Pontiac Car every built. It was introduced that fall, and was a highwheeler weighing 1,000 pounds and powered by a two-cylinder water-cooled 12 hp engine. The prototype was displayed in October at an exhibition sponsored by the Carriage Dealers' Association in New York City's Grand Central Palace. In December several of the new Pontiacs were exhibited at the Chicago Automobile Show. Well received by the press, the car featured final drive by double chain and a friction transmission. The wheelbase was 70 inches, front wheels 38, with 4Os in the rear, and solid tires all-around. The first deliveries were probably made in early 1908, but after about 30 to 40 units were dispatched to new owners, "The Car That's Built to Get There," as the slogan put it, went no Co further.

On Aug. 28, 1907, Walter M. Murphy, incorporated the Oakland Motor Co. Murphy is said to have chosen the Oakland name for his car venture, located in the Oakland County, MI, city of Pontiac, because crosstown rival Pontiac Spring & Wagon Works already was making a high-wheel motor wagon under the Pontiac name. Both the Oakland Motor Company and Pontiac Spring & Wagon Works Company decided to merge together in November 1908 under the name of the Oakland Motor Car Company. The operations of both companies were joined together in Pontiac, Michigan to build the Cartercar

In January 1909, General Motors Corp. President, William C. Durant, purchased a 50% interest in the Oakland Motor Car Company. Later that year GM, bought out the other 50% after the unexpected death of Walter M. Murphy at the age of 45. Also in 1909, GM also purchased the Rapid Motor Vehicle Co.

This was the beginning of the General Motors Company.