4 encased cents, reverse of indian head, off center, horseshoe and a vulcanite encased

Anderson Carriage

Obverse reads: GOOD LUCK / KEEP ME / AND PROSPER - (Hover for larger image)

Reverse reads: ANDERSON CARRIAGE M'F'G CO. / ANDERSON / INDIANA (Hover for larger image)

Anderson Carriage Manufacturing Company was started by George B. Wheelock. He came to Anderson, Indiana at 18 years of age. He had previous to this been a salesman for the Union City Carriage Company, in Union City, Indiana. In 1889 he started the Anderson Carriage Manufacturing Company at the corner of 25th and Walton Streets. He had a workforce of 40 employees and produced 900 vehicles in his first year of production. Anderson produced surreys, buggies, phaetons and stanhopes.

Envelope Reads: Wm. Seitz Jr Sons, Mt Carmel, Ill.

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Seitz Letter Seeking to have Seitz sell Anderson Buggies

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The Wm. Seitz Jr Sons, of Mt Carmel, Ill, apparently were retailers of buggies and carriages. I can find no additional information on the company. It is interesting to have an encased coins that relates to the documents that are shown here. I gives a little meaning to the token. The letter says:

We are determined to interest you in our line of work one way or another. The months of June, July and August are the big surrey months and we know you will need some surreys.

We enclose cut and description of our #508 surrey, which has been our largest seller. Our regular price on this job is $80.00 Net 30 days, F O B Anderson, Ind, and it is worth every cent of it. To get some of our work on your floor we will make you the following special price.

#508 Surrey, Leather quarter-, Freight Prepaid to your city.

This job is first class in every respect and is exactly as described in circular. It is built of the very best of material and is elegantly trimmed and finished and we know will please both you and your trade.

We have a large stock on hand and can fill almost any order promptly on receipt of same. We enclose order blank and will look for a sample order.

If this style does not suit you pick one in our catalog that does and we will quote you a special price on it.

Remember the above price is delivered to your city.

Yours very respectfully,
Anderson Carriage Mfg. Co.

Anderson Carriage Mfg Company factory Anderson, IN. Photos are from the Historic American Engineering Record of the National Park Service. (Anderson Carriage, HAER IN-37.

The company was successful and in 1908 George Wheelock became chairman of the Factory Committee of Anderson's Commercial Club. In the fall of 1908 Anderson began making gasoline powered automobiles. This was when every buggy or carriage manufacturer was making the transition to automobiles. Anderson Carriage Manufacturing Company eventually failed and went into receivership. The factory they built in 1909 was destroyed in a fire in 1935.