The "Not Just Amish And Whoopie Pies" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Standing in front of a 1924 Oldsmobile that was partially made in Lancaster, PA.  Lancaster is better known for its Lancaster rifles, Conestoga wagons, Hamilton watches and Armstrong cork production, but at one time in history Lancaster manufactured fine automobiles.  

A magazine photograph showing the Duesenberg made by Schutte.

It was in 1910 that the Charles Shutte Body Company was founded, but little is known about the early years of the company.  In 1918 Schutte began building a roadster body Argonne automobile.  In 1920 they were known as "Coach Builders Specializing in Open Type Bodywork for Any Chassis" as they advertised in the 1920 New York Auto Salon catalog.  They also made and distributed their own line of disc wheels and most of their coachwork was pictured with these wheels.  

The beautiful disc wheels for which Schutte was known.  

They were known to be manufac- tures of the Duesenberg body, the Pierce-Arrow body, the Rolls-Royce Phantom II body, the Bently body and a number of Cadaillac, Franklin, Marmon, Packard and Oldsmobile bodies.  Then in 1926 Charles Shutte entered into negotiations to merge with the Blue Ribbon Body Company of Bridgeport, CT whose business was declining after Locomobile went bankrupt.  

Plaque on the body of the Oldsmobile telling who made the body.

When it was found out that Schutte would probably close the Lancaster plant, his investors when to court to stop the merger which eventually caused the company to declare bankruptcy and close.  Well, one of the cars that had been made in Lancaster is in front of me right now at the Lancaster Historical Society, directly next to President James Buchanan's house known as Wheatland.  

Interior of the Oldsmobile.  Notice the
pocket watch placed in the steering wheel.

A Texas man owns the car and loaned it to the historical society so those living in the area can visit and admire the work that was done in Lancaster close to 100 years ago.  The 1924 Olds convertible has a red-painted aluminum skin, wood disc Schutte wheels, 6-cylinder engine which is immense, "fat-boy" steering wheel that rotates to the side to allow large people to get behind the wheel, a recess to fit a lit cigar and a place on the steering wheel for a pocket watch.  The body resembles the flying machines of the era.  There are very few cars in existence today that were made by the Charles Schutte Body Company from Lancaster, PA.  

The 1924 Oldsmobile has a plaque attached with model, serial and engine #.

The company employed about 35 crafts- men and mecha- nics that pro- duced the car bodies, gas tanks, fenders, hoods, disc wheels, bumpers, tire carriers and various other items for the automobile.  Pretty neat to know that Lancaster is famous for more than the Amish and Whoopie Pies!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The rear of the car illustrates airplane lines.

The front emblem of the 1924 Oldsmobile.