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Baily & Bowne (and its successor, Bowne
& Bowne) was
a small Utica, New York commercial body builder that manufactured small
numbers
of truck bodies for businesses and municipalities located in and around
New
York State's Oneida and Herkimer Counties. The firm was rarely
mentioned in either
the national trades or the local newspapers, although a pair of
attractive
portable salesrooms manufactured for the Union Fork & Hoe Co. of
Columbus,
OH (and Frankfort, NY) in 1935 were used in various advertisements by
the
International Harvester Corp., the manufacturer of the chassis (1935
International D-15). Like most of its
competitors, it survived the Depression doing collision work, remaining
in
business into the late 1950s.
At the time of the firm's founding in
January of 1898, its
two principals, Albert E. Bailey and Edward J. Bowne, had a combined 40
years
of experience in the trade.
Albert Elmer Bailey was born in Utica,
Oneida County, New
York of February 2, 1862 to Charles Henry and Mary J. (Peek) Bailey.
Both his
father and grandfather were natives of Whitesboro, the former born on
the 7th
of April, 1827, in what was called the Pratt Settlement. Samuel Bailey,
the
paternal grandfather of Albert E. Bailey, born in 1794, was an
agriculturist by
occupation, while Charles Henry Bailey was engaged in the foundry
business. Albert's
paternal great-grandfather, Stephen Bailey, was born in Connecticut in
1762,
and served in the Revolutionary War, while on the maternal side of the
house
the great-grandfather was a native of Holland, who had early settled in
Saratoga County, New York where Albert's mother, Mary J. (Peek) Bailey
was born
in 1830.
Albert's father, Charles, moved to Utica in
the early 1850s where
he was engaged in the blacksmith and foundry business. Young Albert
attended
the public schools of Utica, graduating from the Utica Free Academy in
1879. The
1880 US Census lists Albert's occupation as 'bookkeeper', his father's
as
'moulding foreman'. A 1925 biography states "He has spent all but ten
years of his life in Utica and enjoys a wide and favorable acquaintance
here"
but his activities during those ten years (1880s-1890s) are currently
unknown.
He first appears in the 1894 Utica directory
which lists him
as "mgr." Also listed is his wife, Ella M. (Parker, b. 1861 in
Missouri) Bailey and it is assumed he was employed at C.H. Childs
carriage
manufactory, where he was working when he formed Bailey & Bowne in
late
1897. The 1896 Utica directory lists him as "supt."
Far more is known about the working
experience of his
partner, Edward J. Bowne.
Edward J. Bowne was born in April of 1856 in
Edmeston,
Otsego County, NY, to the offspring of one of the county's early
settlers. He
was apprenticed to a vehicle builder and when he reached his majority
chose
carriage painting as his profession. The 1876-1879 Utica, New York
directories
list him as a 'carriage painter', his residence being 90 John St.,
which was
just two blocks away from the carriage works of Chas. H. Childs &
Co., a
well-known Utica builder who is covered elsewhere in this encyclopedia.
He subsequently went into partnership with a
Canadian-born
blacksmith named John F. Atkinson, in the style of Bowne &
Atkinson,
electing to locate their business in Rome, New York, another Oneida
County
canal town. Their listing in the
1883-1889 Rome directories under carriage and wagon manufacturers
follows:
"Bowne & Atkinson (Edward J. Bowne and
John F.
Atkinson) man'fr wagons, 310-312 S. James St. (factory), 145 Whitesboro
St.
(repository); Rome."
John F. Atkinson, born on Aug.18, 1860 in
Northumberland,
Canada to William and Janet Atkinson and trained as a blacksmith,
emigrated to
the US in 1881 with his wife Mary Anne Massie (married Aug. 22 Aug 1883
in
Campbellford, Ontario, Canada).
The October 2, 1885 issue of the Roman
Citizen announced the
partners had won several prizes at the Oneida County Fair:
"Conclusion of the Oneida County Fair.
"The Oneida county fair concluded last
Friday
afternoon. Altogether, the fair was a gratifying success. Following is
the remainder
of the premium list:
"Mechanics Work
"Single carriage, Bowne & Atkinson
1st,
Oneida
Carriage Works 2d; two horse carriage, Oneida Carriage Works 1st;
pleasure wagon and
market wagon, Fitch
Gear Company 1st; farm wagon, George W. Mickle 1st, McDonald &
Clark'
2d; wagon gear.
Fitch Gear Company 1st, Bowne & Atkinson 2d; horse power fire
engine,
Remington Agricultural
Company 1st; farm tell, same; double and single harness Edward Barnard
1st; farm
harness, J. M.
Childs 1st, buggy wagon, Bowne & Atkinson 1st."
In 1890 the partnership was dissolved with
Atkinson retaining
the Rome facilities and Bowne moving to Utica to take a position with
Chas. H.
Childs as a carriage painter, the 1891-1896 Utica directories listing
his
residence as 761 Genesee St.
Atkinson ultimately purchased the carriage
works of David D.
Williams at 116-118 John St., Rome, which also operated a repository
and sales
room at 121-125 W. Front St., and by 1910 was operating it in the style
of J.F.
Atkinson. His business operated as a blacksmith shop, builder repairer
and
dealer in carriages and sleighs into the teens transitioning into a
successful
Rome automobile sales and repair business which survived until his
death on March
24, 1928.
The January, 1898 issue of The Hub reveals
that Bowne and Albert
E. Bailey, who were both working for Chas. H. Childs & Co., had
decided to
form their own firm:
"Chas. H. Childs & Co.'s carriage
factory at the
corner of Whitesboro and Wiley sts., Utica, NY, will be sold about Jan.
1 to E.A.
Bailey and Edward Bowne who have been employed as its superintendents.
The
factory has done a good business since it was started five years ago
and it
will be continued in its present location."
Although the article is unclear Bailey and
Bowne did not
take over the carriage business of Chas. H. Childs & Co. The small
building
located at Whitesboro and Wiley Sts. was no longer being used, and
Childs
continued to manufacture carriages into 1909 at their main facility,
which was
located at 12-18 Lafayette St., Utica.
Bailey & Bowne's inaugural directory
listing (under
carriage and wagon manufacturers) appeared in the 1899 Utica city
directory:
"Bailey & Bowne (Albert E. Bailey and
Edward J.
Bowne) wagonmakers, cor. Wiley and Whitesboro."
They were also visited by New York State,
whose 1899
Industrial Directory of the State of NY lists the firm as a mfr. of
carriages
and sleighs whose 12 employees worked 59 hrs. per week. The 1902
Industrial Directory
of the State of NY lists the firm as a mfr. of wagons whose 15
employees worked
60 hrs. per week.
Their listing in the 1904 Utica directory
follows:
"Bailey & Bowne (Albert E. Bailey and
Edward J.
Bowne) wagonmakers and harness mfrs., cor. Wiley and Whitesboro – home
phone
380."
They were listed in the 1909 Motor
Cyclopedia as a
manufacturer of automobile tops and the 1909 Utica directory listed
automobiles
in addition to wagons and sleighs:
"Bailey & Bowne (Albert E. Bailey and
Edward J.
Bowne) wagons, sleighs and automobiles, cor. Wiley and W'boro."
Their first mention in a trade publication
appeared in the February
1909 issue of the Hub, which mentioned the factory suffered a small
fire on
January 4, 1909:
"The wagon factory of Bailey & Bowne,
Utica, NY, was
slightly damaged by fire on Jan 4."
The factory was conveniently located across
the street from
Station No. 4 of the Utica Fire Dept., and the blaze was extinguished
before
any major damage took place.
One piece of early Bailey & Bowne fire
apparatus is mentioned in the September 14, 1910, issue of The Clinton
Courier:
"The John Osborn Hose Company has had
added
to its
equipment a new hose wagon, which was received on Monday. It was made
to order
by the Bailey & Bowne Company of Utica and is a very handsome and
substantial vehicle. It will carry 600 feet of hose besides other
equipment and
is rigged to be drawn by either men or horses. It is equipped with two
chemical
fire extinguishers. The wagon cost about $125."
The February 1, 1912 issue of the Automobile
Journal
included the following mention of the firm as a charter member of the
Utica
Auto Trades Association:
"UTICA DEALERS ORGANIZE.
"The dealers in Utica, N. Y., have
organized
the Utica Auto Trades Association with the following
officers:
President, H. D. Gouse; vice president, A. A. Ledermann; secretary, W.
F.
Carroll; treasurer, A. H. Westcott.
"The following firms are represented in
the
membership:
Crist Motor Car Company, Utica Motor Car Company, Ebann &
Berringer, Lederman
Company, Bailey & Bowne, Ford Sales
Company, Westcott Garage Company, Decker Garage Company, Crim Bronner,
Oneida
Square Garage Company, H. A. House, Central Auto Supply
Company, Utica Cycle Company and Utica Auto Supply
Company."
The May 29, 1913 issue of the Municipal
Journal included a
detailed description of a Fire Chief's Car that Bailey & Bowne had
recently
outfitted for the City of Utica:
"Purchase Chief’s Car for Fire Station.
"Utica, N. Y. — A new automobile for the
use of fire
chiefs has been placed in the station. The machine is a Cadillac, 40
horse-power, with an engine capable of drawing it 60 miles an hour. The
machine
is painted a pretty red and is fitted in an elegant manner. On the
front, near
the mud guards, are two powerful electric searchlights, while a third
is placed
on the dashboard. Lanterns are also placed in standards at the front
and rear.
The drive is a right hand one and it has an electric self-starter. On
each side
of the hood is the word “Chief” in neat letters, while on each side of
the
front seat are the letters U. F. D. in monogram. The machine carries
two
Child's hand fire extinguishers, an axe, crowbar and tool box.
Nonskidding
Goodyear tires are fitted to the wheels, and two extra ones are
fastened at the
rear in case of emergency. The car is a four-cylinder and will carry
four
persons. A large electric gong is attached to the side nearest the
chief's
seat. The body of the car was designed by Thomas V. Church,
Commissioner of
Public Safety, and was built from his design
by Bailey & Bowne."
The 1913 Industrial Directory of the State
of NY lists the
firm as a mfr. of auto bodies and wagons with 20 employees.
1915 Chilton's Directory lists the firm as a
manufacturer of
automobile tops and wooden automobile bodies.
His 1918 draft registration lists Norman as
supt. Bailey &
Bowne.
Edward Bowne's son Norman spearheaded a move
into new
automobile sales and for several years after the First World War the
firm was
listed as authorized distributors of Paterson and Dixie Flyer
automobiles.
The June 22, 1926 issue of the Utica Daily
Press announced
the June 1, 1926 dissolution of the partnership with Norman L. Bowne
taking
over Bailey's half of the business, which was continued in the style of
Bowne
& Bowne. The 1926-1929 Utica directories listed both firm's names,
as
follows:
"Baily & Bowne (see Bowne & Bowne)
"Bowne & Bowne (Edward J. Bowne &
Norman L.
Bowne) repairing, 801-803 Whitesboro St."
A paid insertion in the August 11, 1927
issue of the Utica
Daily Press follows:
"Bowne & Bowne Make Truck and Van
Bodies
"Shapes and Sizes to Meet Needs of Patrons
"The body building and automobile repair
shop of Bowne
& Bowne, Whitesboro and Wiley Sts., reports exceptionally brisk
business in
recent weeks, especially in the commercial body building department.
Many large
trucks and van bodies have been turned out, the patrons including large
corporations and business houses which need bodies of special types and
demand
the best in quality and workmanship.
The various repair departments have also
been busy. The Bowne
& Bowne establishment is one of the oldest and best equipped
automobile
repair shops in Central New York, and they often accomplish surprising
results
in transforming wrecked and smashed cars into serviceable machines.
Bodies,
doors, fenders, springs and axles are repaired and decks are renewed
and
recovered; running boards, linoleum and slip covers are replaced and
upholstering in all the branches is taken care of, as well as painting
and
lettering.
"In the painting department they are well
prepared to give
good service to patrons and all types of paint, varnish and lacquer
finish,
giving the old car the appearance of freshness so much appreciated in
pleasure
vehicles."
1930 census list both father and sons as
employees of
'general auto shop'.
1932-1938 Utica directories:
"Bowne & Bowne (Norman L. Bowne) gen
auto shop,
801-803 Whitesboro cor Wiley."
"Bowne & Bowne (Norman L. Bowne) auto
bodies,
801-803 Whitesboro cor Wiley."
1935 International Trail:
"Sales representatives of the Union Fork
& Hoe Co.
are also spending less time in thumbing the catalog and more in showing
dealers
the actual products with the result that sales have tripled by men
equipped
with these travelling showrooms. The Union Fork & Hoe Co. units are
Model
D-15 Internationals with special bodies. They contain a complete
assortment of
current items in the line of farm and garden tolls neatly and
systematically
arranged for exhibiting. The bodies of the two units recently purchased
are
identical, and they were built by Bowne & Bowne of Utica,
N. Y.
Exhibits are contained in cabinets, drawers, and racks on both sides of
a wide
center aisle. The inner surfaces of the rear doors arc also utilized
for
display purposes. Glass -covered doors and display cabinets contain
exhibits
that come into view when the doors are opened."
1935 International Harvester Press Photo
caption:
"Salesman delivering farm and garden goods
to the
Wolff-Kubly & Hirsig Hardware store, 21 South Pinckney Street on
the
Madison capitol square, with an International D-15 truck. The truck was
owned
by Union Fork and Hoe Company, and was equipped with a special body
built by
Bowne & Bowne of Utica, New York. The Wisconsin State Capitol
building is
reflected in the glass above the storefront."
1940 census lists Norman as "com. body
builder"
A paid insertion in a 1941 issue of the
Utica Daily Press
follows:
"Have Cars Repaired Now At Bowne &
Bowne Shop
"This midwinter season is an opportune
time
to have
automobile repair work done. The car can be spared for a few days now
easier
than at other seasons.. It will not take long to have bodies and
fenders
restored to good condition, dents taken out, windows tightened, glass
replaced,
upholstery cleaned, wheel aligned, axles and frames straightened, and
the whole
operation completed with a new refinishing job.
"Equipped for Work
"The Bowne & Bowne repair shop,
Whitesboro and
Wiley Sts., a pioneer in automobile repairing, is equipped for all
these
classes of work and has expert mechanics in each department. Cars which
have
been driven over ice and snow probably have had a bumpy time of it.
Those sharp
bumps frequently force the wheels out of alignment, wear the tires
excessively
and make steering difficult. Axles and frames should be straightened by
the
Bear system cold process which does not weaken the metal or destroy its
temper,
and defective wheels should be made strong and sturdy.
"In the steering of an automobile, what
might be termed
'the geometry of wheels' has to be considered. Old fashioned
two-wheeled carts
had wheels which leaned out at the top. This was done to make each
wheel
vertical to the high crowned road. The same, principle is followed in
the motor
car. The professionals call it 'camber.' The front wheels of a car are
designed
to be 'toed-in' - turned in a little at the front - to the point where
the
tires do not side slip on the road as they travel along. Wheels a half
inch out
of alignment will drag the tires sideways 87 feet during each mile of
travel.
"Have Faults Corrected
"Often the front wheels of a car are
jolted
out of
alignment. Repairmen who thoroughly understand the mechanics of wheels
should
be employed to correct faults.
"A checkup and detailed estimate by Bowne
& Bowne
will show that your car can be made safe and road worthy, as well as
having its
appearance restored at reasonable cost."
The following paid insertion appeared in the
June 22, 1942 issue
of the Utica Daily Press:
"Bowne Firm Offers Quick Truck Repairs
"A large part of the country's
transportation is being
handled by trucks. These big, powerful machines, running in all
directions and
at all hours of the day and night, with sharply limited time schedules,
need
the services of a dependable repair shop where they are sure of prompt
expert
service. The Bowne & Bowne shop, Whitesboro and Wiley, is bending
every
energy to serve this type of trade as its contribution to the success
of the
war effort. The shop is well prepared to meet this demand with its
roomy building
and adequate machinery for all types of wood and metal work, wheel
repairing
and alignment, glass replacement, upholstering and refinishing.
"The firm builds trucks and trailer bodies
to order.
Business firms often need a special type of body and some are used as
travelling offices and display rooms. Refrigerator bodies for
perishable,
products and many other types are turned out. The firm does an artistic
job of
lettering, reproducing trademarks and other special designs. A neat
well
painted truck is recognized as a big asset by successful business
concerns.
"The Bowne shop, a pioneer in the
automobile
repair
field, has long been noted for its skill in rebuilding wrecked cars.
This is a
first aid station for cars after an accident and no matter how bad the
smashup,
it is best to get an estimate of a repair job before abandoning the car
for
junk. Many cars wrecked, battered or weatherworn after long usage can
have
their good appearance and serviceability restored at comparatively
small cost.
This firm has the Bear equipment for straightening bent frames and
axles and
aligning wheels.
"Much precious rubber is wasted and tires
which cannot
be replaced are needlessly worn out because of faulty wheel alignment.
Have
these faults corrected if you want your tires to last through the
emergency."
During the 1940s and 1950s Norman L. Bowne
served as
president of the Central New York Harness Horse Racing Association and
as a
sideline to his truck body business he manufactured small numbers of
jog carts and sulkies for harness racing
participants .
Bowne & Bowne was one of four North American firms known to
manufacture
harness racing vehicles after the Second World War.
Normal L. Bowne retired in 1958 at which
time the former
C.H. Childs factory building was taken over by Whitesboro Collision
which
abandoned the property soon after at which time it was razed. The
property
remains vacant today and is located across the street from the old No.
4 Utica
firehouse which is currently the home of the Boscar Electric Co., a
local
electric sign manufacturer. Norman L. Bowne passed away on December 1,
1963 at
the age of 78.
©
2014 Mark
Theobald for Coachbuilt.com - with special thanks to Sharry and Lance
Whitney. Some pictures courtesy of Oneida County Historical Society.
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