The Cortland Cart & Carriage Company is remembered for the debut of the 1916 Hatfield Suburban, the very first station wagon offered as a regular production model by an American Automobile manufacturer.

The firm was founded by Hjalmar Malmberg, a Swedish immigrant who embarked upon the manufacture of wagons and buggies in Cortland, New York sometime during the early 1880s. Joining Malmberg in the enterprise was Frank A. Begent, a partner in Begent & Crittenden, whose listing in the 1892 Tompkins County Directory follows:

"Begent & Crittenden (F. A. Begent. & F. W. Crittenden), lumber, shingles, sash, blinds, planning and matching, coal, phosphate, brick, lime, and agricultural implements, Mill."

Malmberg served as president; Begent, vice-president; and Louis I. Hatfield general manager.

Born in Sweden in 1845, Hjalmar Malmberg was already an accomplished wagon builder by the time he emigrated to the United States in 1877. His partner Frank Alton Begent (b. 1857 in Holland Patent, NY) was a prosperous lumber and coal dealer whose main operation was located in Groton, Tompkins County, New York.  Louis I. Hatfield was born in 1862/1863 to farmers Ira and Kate Hatfield in Cortlandville, Cortland County, New York.

The firm's listing in the 1889 Cortland County Directory follows:

"Cortland Cart and Carriage Co. Hjalmar Malmberg Pres.; Frank A. Begent vice-pres; Louis I. Hatfield; manager, manufs of road wagons carts and buggies 32 Port Watson (St.)"

On May 1, 1888 Malmberg was awarded US Patent No. 382,175 for a two-wheeled vehicle that he filed on September 16, 1887. On February 4, 1890 US Patent number 420,905 was issued to Louis I. Hatfield and Edwin A. Chubb (b. 1854) for a vehicle spring. A half interest in the patent was assigned Hjalmar Malmberg and Horace H. Robbins, a commercial banker located in Cortland. Edwin A. Chubb had previously received US Patent No. 396,071 for a side spring for carriages in 1889.

An 1890 listing puts the firm's capital at $10,000, its staff, 35. An 1893 listing reveals an upswing in business as the firm now employed 50 hands.

Little more was heard from the firm until the following news item was published in the March 11, 1895 New York World:

"Cortland (N.Y.) Carriage Works Burned.

(Special to The World.) CORTLAND, N.Y., March 10,- The Cortland Cart and Carriage Company's works burned here this morning; loss about $75,000."

The July 19, 1895 issue of the Middletown Daily Argus reported the firm had accepted an offer to relocate 10 miles north of Cortland to Sidney, New York:

"The Cortland Cart and Carriage Co., whose works in Cortland were destroyed by fire in March, has accepted an offer from the village of Sidney and will locate its factory there, occupying the sash and blind factory building."

Most of the firm's fifty employees relocated from Cortland to Sidney when the firm moved in to the wooden structures bordering Union and Delaware Sts., formerly occupied by the Blinds & Sash Co. Its board of directors were anxious to take advantage of access to the New York, Ontario and Western and Delaware and Hudson railroads, two large railways which provided them with direct access to the emerging national marketplace.

By the early teens Louis I. Hatfield had succeeded Malmberg as president with Sidney resident Winfield T. Sherwood (1866-1924) becoming vice-president. Sherwood was instrumental in attracting the firm to Sidney and eventually became its largest shareholder.

For a number of years Hatfield had quarreled with the firm's directors, particularly Winfield T. Sherwood, on the matter of whether to produce an automobile. To test the waters a limited production light commercial vehicle, the Hatfield Light Express, was produced between 1912 and 1913.

During 1912 it was known as Model G and in 1913 it was known as Model J. The original price was $850 at the factory and the weight of the Model G is given as 1000 lb. with 1700 lb. given as the weight of the Model J. Both trucks utilized an 88-inch wheelbase chassis with 34x2 solid rubber tires. The engine was a three cylinder, two cycle, air cooled job, with a bore of 4.13 inches and a stroke 4.00 inches. Piston displacement was 160.5 cu. inches. The engine was a single ignition job with a Bosch Magneto and used a Holley carburetor. Both used a friction-type transmission with chain drive to the dead rear axle, the drive reaction being taken through the radius rods.

(Despite sharing a similar name and place of manufacture, the Hatfield automobiles produced in Cortland, New York (and later Miamisburg, Ohio) between 1906 and 1908 by Charles B. Hatfield Jr. & Sr. are totally unrelated to the Hatfield motor vehicles produced a decade later in Sidney, New York. Charles B. Hatfield and son hailed from Rochester, Monroe County, New York and shared no common ancestors with Cortlandville's Louis I. Hatfield).

While traveling on a business trip James A. Haskell, chief salesman of the Cortland Cart & Carriage Co., was amongst those killed when the USS Monroe of the old Dominion Steamship Line was accidentally rammed and sunk by the USS Nantucket of the Merchants and Miners Steamship line just off the coast of Virginia in a dense fog on January 30, 1914. For a number of years his father, Albert Haskell Sr., served in the same capacity for the firm in addition to working for the better known Cortland Wagon Company.

The loss of their star salesman put production of the motor vehicle on hold for the next 18 months, however on September 15, 1915 the Cortland Cart & Carriage Co. filed notice with the State of New York of an increase in capital stock from $75,000 to $225,000.

The October 14, 1915 issue of the Automobile reported:

"Carriage Co. to Make Automobiles— The Cortland Cart & Carriage Co., Sidney, N. Y., increased its capitalization from $75,000 to $225,000 to take up the manufacture of automobiles. It expects to continue its carriage business as usual."

First available with a Golden, Belknap & Swartz (B.G. & S.) or Herschell-Spillman 4-cylinder engine the medium-priced Hatfield was offered as a light truck in addition to the standard roadster and touring.

For 1917 they introduced the Hatfield Model I Suburban, the nation's first production wood-bodied station wagon. Also introduced that year was the Model B Roadster-Speedster, a stylish two-seater with 2 custom-built suitcases mounted behind the gasoline tank.

Specifications for the 1917 Hatfield car and light truck follow:

1917 – Hatfield Automobile – 2 Models; a 5-passenger touring 115" wheelbase ($950) and 2-passenger roadster, 106" wheelbase ($875) - 4cyl. Engine, bevel gear drive, full floating rear axle. 32"x4" & 34" x 4" tires, vacuum fuel feed, Disco electrics

1917 – Hatfield Truck, 3 models, 1,000 lbs. (½ ton) capacity with bevel gear drive and 4 cyl. Engine - priced from $765 to $830, complete.

Equipped with wire wheels, the Hatfield roadster continued to appeal to the sporting crowd into the early twenties with individual step-plates replacing the running boards.

The 1921 edition of the Auto Data Book included the following specifications:

1921 HATFIELD

Mfg.: Cortland Cart & Carriage Co„ Sidney, N. Y.
5-pass Touring   $1,395
4-pass Roadster  $1,395
5-pass  Sedan      $2,250
Limousine, Coupe, Brougham ???
Engine Herschel-Spellman
Cylinders 4
Bore and Stroke 3¼" x 5"
Rated H. P 19.6
Brake H. P 42
Shape of Cylinder..L-head
Cast Block
Valve Lift ...5/16"
Camshaft Drive ....Helical gear
Cooling System ...Thermo-syphon
Oiling System Force feed-splash
Carburetor Zenith 1 1/4"
Fed By Vacuum
Ignition Connecticut
Start and Light .... Dyneto
Spark Plugs 7/8"
Battery Willard 6 volt
Clutch Plate
Rear Axle Make Columbia
Type Full floating
Gear Raito (H) ....5.00
Car Drives Thru Springs
Torque Taken By..Springs
Wheelbase 115"
Tread 56"
Tires 32 x 4" Firestone
Rims Firestone
Rear Springs Semi-elliptic (Sheldon)
Weight 2670 lbs.
Equipment all usual equipment, also spare tire and tube, bumper, eight-day clock and scuff mats on running board; Moto-meter.

 

Year	Model	Type	Price	Horsepower
1917-1918	1	Suburban	$800	12
	B	Speedster-Roadster	$875	22
	H	Roadster	$875	22
	A	Touring	$950	22
	I	Suburban	$875	22
	H	2-pass Roadster	$950	22
	B	Speedster-Roadster	$950	22
	A	5-pass Touring	$1080	22
	C	4-pass Roadster	$1090	22
1919	I-4	Suburban	$950	22
	H-4	2-pass Roadster	$1050	19.6
	B-4	Speedster	$1050	19.6
	A-4	5-pass Touring	$1180	19.6
	C-4	4-pass Roadster	$1190	19.6
1920	A-42	5-pass Touring	$1695	19.6
	C-42	4-pass Roadster	$1695	19.6
1921		2-pass Roadster	$1125	19.6
		5-pass Touring	$1395	19.6
		4-pass Chummy Roadster	$1395	19.6
		5-pass Sedan	$2250	19.6

Yearly production was typically 100 to 200 units with a 55 h.p. six-cylinder debuting in late 1923.

The debut of the new powerplant coincided with a recapitalization of the firm which was announced in the April 12, 1923 Oneonta Daily Star:

"Sidney Industry Prospering; Manufacturers of Hatfield Cars Increase Capital Stock to $1,000,000.

"Sidney, April 11 – Coincident with the announcement by L. I. Hatfield, President of the Cortland Cart and Carriage company of Sidney, of the increased activities in the development of the new Hatfield Six cylinder, comes the action of the stockholders at today's meeting, of the increase of capital stock of the company to $1,000,000.

"At the recent meeting of the directors of the company it was decided that the time is now opportune for an expansion in the company’s business due to the favorable reception given to the new six-cylinder by the public at the various automobile show where the carious models had been exhibited.

"The increased capital authorized by the stockholders will provide for a larger production of Hatfield cars and at the same time permit a more active sales propaganda throughout the United States.

"Plans for the sales campaign are no being formulated by Harry T. Clinton, who has recently joined the Hatfield forces as assistant general manager, and whose experience for many years in the automobile industry should be of material assistance in placing Hatfield Cars."

The ill-timed introduction of the Hatfield Six did little to boost the firm's faltering sales and on May 30, 1924 the Syracuse Herald announced the firm's pending bankruptcy:

"RECEIVER WILL CONDUCT PLANT; Carriage Company at Sidney Is in Bankruptcy.

Utica, May 30. — The board of directors of the Cortland Cart and Carnage Company of Sidney are willing that the firm be declared bankrupt, according to a petition in bankruptcy filed in Federal Court here against the firm by employees and Attorneys Hinman, Howard & Kattell of Binghamton, creditors for $895. The other petitioners are Charick P. DeWitt, $2,833, and Louis I. Hatfleld, $2,219. Judge Frank Cooper appointed Howard W. Siver of Sidney receiver under bond for $20,000 and authorized him to borrow $5,000 with which to operate the plant for 90 days."

Jun 13, 1924 Catskill Mountain News:

"HATFIELD MOTOR CO. IN RECEIVER'S HANDS

"Sidney Concern Goes - Investors Will Lose.

"The Cortland Cart & Carriage Company of Sidney, manufacturers of the Hatfield automobile, is in the hands of a receiver. The present difficulty is due, it is stated, to lack of capital and an insufficient output to keep down overhead charges.

"A voluntary petition in bankruptcy was filed in federal court Thursday of last week and Judge Cooper appointed Robert W. Siver of Sidney as receiver and authorized him to borrow $5,000 to complete current business. The appraisers named arc C.L. Wheeler of Hancock, F.A. Bartley and F.F. Goodrich of Sidney.

"The three accounts named in the petition in bankruptcy are C. P. Hewitt, a sales representative, with a claim of $2,833; L.I. Hatfield, president of the company, $2,249; and Hinman, Howard & Kattell, Binghamton, $865 for legal services.

"For some time it, has been known that the company was having difficulties in meeting its obligations and is behind in its payroll. The concern employed about thirty men.

"The Cortland Cart and Carriage company was organized In 1894 and for years did a flourishing business. The coming of the automobile brought a change and business fell off greatly. The company began the manufacture of the Hatfield automobile about 1916. The Hatfield is an assembled car, the company buying the engines and parts and making the bodies.

"The company put out a good car but from the first has been handicapped by lack of capital. Recently it was announced that the concern would enter into the manufacture of taxicab bodies when the reorganization is completed. It is probable that when the reorganization is completed this will be the line of business continued.

"The company has $400,000 stock outstanding - much of which is held in Sidney and within a radius of a few miles. The stockholders will probably suffer a total loss. The liabilities are about $100,000 and the assets may be sufficient to meet these claims."

In 1924, Sidney businessmen raised $5,000 for Winfield T. Sherwood to go out and seek a new tenant for the empty 30,000 sq. ft. factory. Just prior to his untimely death in September of 1924, Sherwood initiated a deal whereby the Scintilla Magneto Co. would take over the now-vacant Cart & Carriage works in order to manufacture its products in North America. They purchased the plant including a 86 acre plot south of the D&H railroad in December, 1924 for $51,000.

Based in Soleure, Switzerland, Societe Anonyme Scintella hoped the US-based plant would allow it to reduce prices on its popular line of magneto-dynamos which had recently found a new market in the country's fledgling aeroplane manufacturing sector.

The firm began operations in the old Hatfield building in early 1925. After its 1929 purchase by the US-based Bendix Corp. the former Cart & Carriage works remained in use producing Scintella-Bendix magnetos until the end of World War II when operations were transferred to a newer facility located on another part of the 86-acre property. In 1972 Bendix merged with the larger Allied Corp. and its plant at 40-60 Delaware Ave., Sidney now houses the Aerospace Division of Amphenol.

© 2004 Mark Theobald - Coachbuilt.com

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