In 1904, International Harvester built its first gasoline engine, which was used for commercial purposes. Using this model, between 1906 and 1909, the company produced its first tractor and an early version of the classic pickup truck.
The latter was identified when the company realized that farmers were loading heavy equipment into Auto Buggies, whose seats were removed to stow the extra cargo.
International Harvester designed the Auto-Wagon so the second and third seats can be removed to transform the vehicle into a truck.
a wide-track Flareboard Express pickup, 1913, model WMX, that was originally owned by Osterwisch Bros. grocery of Belleville, Illinois and used for delivering milk.
Sold for 19k in 2019 on Bring a Trailer https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1913-international-harvester-autowagon/
In 1916 an International became the first truck to scale the formidable Pikes Peak in Colorado.
I tried to find a photo of the Osterwisch Bros. grocery of Belleville, but nothing came up online. It would have been cool to see a hundred year old photo of the store, or this delivery wagon
Steve heard my cry for HELP! And emailed me this (he is so awesome)
June 1900 is the first reference that it was now a grocery store, owned by George Hippard (he also ran the Vulcan Coal & Mining Co. at the same address - 601 South Illinois Street, Belleville).
Louis W. Osterwisch worked for Hippard for nine years, and in April 1910 Osterwisch bought the store. He advertised 10 times in May, then never again. In August 1912 he sold his "Top buggy delivery wagon" (to buy the high-wheeler?).
Then someone named Miller bought the business, then a guy named Sauzek, then a family named Kassebaum, who kept it at least until the 50s (as far as I have looked so far).
Really interesting read about the lives of the different owners over the years - kids growing up, getting married, etc. Mrs. Hippard hosted monthly luncheons for her fellow members of the WCTU, while Mrs. Kassebaum hosted a monthly bridge party.
All owners of the grocery lived in the apartment above the store.
This would make a great little history.
Oh, yeah, it's a driving school now.
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