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CHAMPION - Owego, New York - (c. 1902) - The Champion
Wagon Company of Owego was born in 1888 following a fire that destroyed the
buildings and equipment - and.apparently the enthusiasm - of Gere, Truman
Platt and Company. On McMaster Street near the railroad line, Champion got
to work. J.C. Dwelle was president, W.S. Truman vice-president, E.L:
Ringrove secretary, and Theodore Gere (of the former firm) treasurer and
plant manager. Economic reverses came in 1911, bankruptcy in 1913, but
outside capital arrived via A.C. Barker of New York City in 1919 - and the
firm soldiered on until its ultimate demise in 1921. Although commercial
vehicles had been the Champion principal product, there was a projected
sideline of dual-purpose automobiles that resulted in three prototypes - one
of which is currently under restoration by James Mead whose great
-grandfather was foreman at the company. The number of Champion commercial
vehicles built is unknown, but electric versions were known to have been
produced for the United States Express Company that used them at terminal
locations in major cities. Later Champion produced custom coachwork and
truck bodies for Model T Fords and other chassis
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