A round Pontiac Buggy Co. watch fob I've seen shows an Indian chief's head with the phrase "Western Amesbury Vehicles". Perhaps the firm had a relationship with Amesbury, or were they advertising their quality?

A bracelet charm in the shape of an Indian, states, Western Amesbury Vehicles. The rev. has, Manufactured by Pontiac Buggy Co. Pontiac, Michigan. It is approx. 3/4 inch by 1 3/8 inches and is in Near Mint condition.

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General Motors purchases a half interest in Oakland Motor Car Co. on January 20, 1909. When its founder, Edward Murphy, passes away the following summer, his company comes under the full control of General Motors. In 1932, the Oakland name is dropped from the vehicle line and Pontiac becomes the name of the division.

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In the early 1900's, Murphy decided to build the smoking, sputtering, horseless carriages that appeared every once in a while on the streets. Called impractical and a temporary novelty, the automobile became very interesting to Edward Murphy. He equipped a section of his buggy works for production of a car, and with $200,000 he began production of what was named the Oakland, on August 28, 1907.

In 1909, the Oakland Motor Company joined General Motors and took its place along side Buick and Oldsmobile.

In 1925 Oakland featured a new "companion car" at the New York Auto Show, " Pontiac, the Chief of the Sixes." Considered " as aggressive and powerful" as its namesake, "Chief Pontiac", it was a big hit at the show. Pontiac immediately captured the publics' favor, as Pontiac offered as many features as the high priced cars, yet cost little more than the least expensive lines.

In 1926, a total of 76,742 Pontiacs were built and it became evident that the Oakland would be superceded by its new cousin, the Pontiac, and that its days were numbered. The Oakland was last produced in 1931. From its inception, the Pontiac has been consistant in sales, and has enjoyed a number 3 ranking for many years. The Oakland and Pontiac atuomobiles are a definate part of American history.

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1907 Frank Briscoe (one of the Briscoe brothers) provides financial backing for a light car designed by Alanson P. Brush. The company is called the Brush Motor Car Co., Detroit, MI, and is noted for its one cylinder engine, chain drive, wooden frame and wooden axles. Another of Brush's designs is built by the former Pontiac Buggy Co. - the Oakland - which in 1926 introduces a companion car Pontiac.

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Emerson-Brantingham was on a buying spree during 1912 and purchased the Pontiac Buggy Company in August, 1912. They also purchased the Newton Wagon Manufacturing Co. of Batavia, Illinois at the same time. The Emerson-Brantingham Company of Rockford, Illinois produced a complete line of farm implements and associated equipment and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

By the 1920s, Emerson-Brantingham had added automobile bodies and fenders to the products built by the former Pontiac Buggy Company. During the depression, Emerson-Brantingham ran into difficulties and was purchased by J.I. Case of Racine, Wisconsin in November of 1928.

For more information please read:

Oakland County Pioneer & Historical Society - 405 Oakland Ave, Pontiac, Michigan

A Few Leading Carriage Centers - The Hub, October 1897

Biographies of Prominent Carriage Draftsmen - Carriage Monthly, April 1904

Marian Suman-Hreblay - Dictionary of World Coachbuilders and Car Stylists ISBN 8096897403

Daniel D. Hutchins - Wheels Across America: Carriage Art & Craftsmanship

Beverly Rae Kimes, Henry Austin Clark Jr. - Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942