Monday, December 07, 2020

the little-known coachbuilding efforts of Pettingell Machine


In the 1920s and 1930s, every self-respecting American coachbuilder and autobody manufacturer used metal-forming tools made by Pettingell. The Pettingell Machine Co. of Amesbury, Massachusetts, supplied large power hammers, bead formers, metal rollers and panel trimmers to customers like Fisher Body, Briggs, Murray, Biddle & Smart, Judkins, Fleetwood, Locke and Derham.Pettingell enjoyed great success and became famous for its machine tools, and that aspect of the company’s history is well documented. 

What’s forgotten is the fact that, from 1913 through 1916, Pettingell was also a coachbuilder. The bodies that Pettingell constructed have remained largely unknown for decades. It wasn’t until Seattle photo dealer Darrin Stouffer recently came upon an old photo album that some of these wonderfully sporty, advanced designs have come to light.

2 comments:

  1. Just spotted this on the BBC Website, Looks like Hydrogen may be a viable alternative to Electric powered vehicles and they can be filled like a Petrol / Diesel vehicle. (sorry still not sure how else to contact you)
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55218573

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    1. thanks! My email is on the upper right side column, under "About Just A Car Guy"
      jbohjkl@yahoo.com

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