King of the Road – The Continental Era
The story of the American automobile is often told through the lens of iconic figures like Henry Ford, David Buick, and Walter Chrysler. But what about the unsung heroes, the individuals who quietly laid the groundwork for these titans of industry? Names like A.W. Tobin and Ross Judson may not be household names, yet their contributions were undeniably pivotal. They built a business that provided a rock-solid foundation for countless manufacturers, both famous and forgotten, and played a crucial role in the burgeoning American aeronautical industry. This is the story of King of the Road – The Continental Era, a period defined by innovation and the engines that powered a nation.
The genesis of the Tobin and Judson automotive empire can be traced back to 1901. Ross Judson, a bright and inquisitive mechanical engineering student, meticulously examined a Mercedes L-head four-cylinder engine. During his careful study, he identified several inherent flaws, sparking a conviction that he could not only resolve these issues but also significantly improve upon the existing design. This ambition became the cornerstone of their future enterprise.
In 1902, armed with a fresh degree from the Armour Institute of Technology, Judson wasted no time in drafting a compelling sales pitch. He presented this vision to his brother-in-law, A.W. Tobin. Judson’s enthusiasm, coupled with the electrifying atmosphere of a rapidly developing auto industry, proved persuasive. Tobin invested $2,000, transforming a humble hayloft in Chicago into a makeshift machine shop. And with that, Autocar, the precursor to Continental, was born. Their journey into the King of the Road – The Continental Era had begun.
Judson understood the importance of visibility. He showcased his first engine at the 1903 Chicago Automobile Show, a prestigious event that served as a launchpad for many automotive pioneers. The move was bold, signaling high expectations for their product. The response, however, exceeded their wildest dreams. The company was inundated with orders, a testament to the quality and innovation of their engine, but also a challenge they were initially unprepared to meet.
To capitalize on this overwhelming demand, Autocar embarked on a simultaneous strategy: launching full-scale production while simultaneously expanding its fledgling facilities. This ambitious undertaking pushed the limits of their resources, but it was a necessary step to fulfill the promises they had made to their eager customers. By 1904, the exponential growth in orders placed Judson and Tobin in the enviable position of needing to find a location suitable for dramatic expansion, a testament to their impact on the King of the Road – The Continental Era.
The allure of the automotive industry was undeniable. Towns and municipalities across the nation recognized the economic potential and actively courted prospective automotive manufacturers, offering a variety of incentives in exchange for establishing manufacturing facilities within their borders. The automotive industry was quickly becoming a cash-creation dynamo, and every town wanted a piece of the action.
Judson and Tobin carefully evaluated several communities, weighing the pros and cons of each offer. Ultimately, they were swayed by the incentive package offered by Muskegon, Michigan. In 1905, Autocar relocated its operations and constructed a state-of-the-art, 16,000-square-foot factory in the city. The following year brought even more dramatic changes. Studebaker increased its order from 100 engines to 1,000, demonstrating the growing trust and reliability of Autocar’s products. The discovery that a company in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, had been using the name Autocar since 1899 necessitated a reorganization under a new banner: Continental. The company also diversified its production to include a wide array of stationary engines, and the number of employees swelled from 25 to almost 600, solidifying its position in the King of the Road – The Continental Era.
In 1907, the company expanded its operations to include an aircraft engine production and development division. This division, like the rest of the company, evolved with the rapidly changing technological innovations spurred by the automobile industry. In 1929, it became a subsidiary of Continental Aircraft Engine, with the A-70, a 170-horsepower radial engine, as the foundation. Continental’s foray into aviation marked a significant step in its diversification and technological advancement.
In late 1910, Hudson, a new automotive manufacturing concern, placed an order for 10,000 engines. This substantial contract provided Continental with the financial foundation to launch an ambitious expansion program. The plan included expanding the Muskegon facility, building a new factory in Detroit, and outfitting both factories with state-of-the-art equipment, ensuring that Continental remained at the forefront of engine manufacturing.
Two years later, Walter Frederick, a former Autocar engineer with extensive experience in truck manufacturing, succeeded Judson as chief engineer. Under Frederick’s leadership, the company expanded its engineering department and launched an innovative program focused on manufacturing standardized engines for catalog sales. These engines were targeted towards automobile manufacturers, companies needing stationary industrial engines, aircraft firms, and tractor manufacturers.
Continental also offered various customization options for these engines. If a client required engine specifications not listed in the catalog, staff engineers would modify existing models accordingly. This flexibility and commitment to customer satisfaction became a hallmark of Continental’s approach to business.
The next two decades represented a golden age for Continental. The company’s engines powered a diverse range of automobiles manufactured by companies like Apperson and Case, Crawford and Jordan, Ace and Vellie, Durant (including Star and Erskine), and dozens of other manufacturers. Numerous companies that manufactured trucks exclusively, including Corbitt, Federal, Schacht, Selden, Sterling, and Reo (derived from the initials of the founder, Ransom E. Olds), also relied on Continental engines. This widespread adoption cemented Continental’s reputation as a reliable and versatile engine supplier.
The 1920s brought another pivotal period of transition for the company. W.R. Angell, a member of the company’s board of directors, finalized an agreement with William Durant, the founder of General Motors, who was building a similar company. Continental would supply engines for Durant’s new line of automobiles: Durant, Star, and Flint. During the same period, tentative merger negotiations initiated between Continental and three manufacturers that utilized the company’s products: Peerless, Moon, and Jordan. This merger had the potential to significantly impact the American automobile industry, but unfortunately, the negotiations collapsed in the initial stage of development.
The dawn of a new decade at Continental began with the retirement of Ross Judson and the rise of W.R. Angell to the company’s presidency. Angell expanded the company’s diesel truck, aircraft, and agricultural engine divisions, which helped keep Continental afloat during the tumultuous years of the Great Depression. However, his decision to launch a Continental-manufactured automobile and purchase a truck manufacturing enterprise, Divco, brought the company to the brink of financial ruin.
The Continental Beacon, Flyer, and Ace were short-lived models that essentially rebadged the equally short-lived De Vaux. The acquisition of Divco in 1932 resulted in the company’s first financial crisis, highlighting the risks associated with venturing outside their core engine manufacturing business.
Despite these challenges, Continental’s diverse legacy did not end with the Great Depression or the post-war era of unprecedented optimism. Continental engines powered the grandfather of the Jeep, the Bantam Reconnaissance and Command Car prototype, and the iconic Checker taxi through early 1964. The contributions of the reincarnated Continental, Ryan Aeronautical, and Teledyne Continental Motors represent a fitting legacy for two forgotten pioneers, Tobin and Judson, and their lasting impact on the King of the Road – The Continental Era.
