Harry C. Stutz

Harry Stutz was born On September 12, 1876, near Ansonia, Ohio, to farmer Henry J. Stutz and his wife Elizabeth (née Schneider). Upon finishing his schooling, Stutz moved to Dayton, Ohio. He worked for the Davis Sewing Machine Company and National Cash Register before he opened a machine shop and repair business in 1897.Stutz, Harry Clayton, American National Biography, [http://www.anb.org/view/10.1093/anb/9780198606697.001.0001/anb-9780198606697-e-1001609 accessed online September 15, 2018]

Stutz grew up caring for and repairing agricultural machinery on the family farm and was fascinated by automobiles. Stutz built his first car in 1897, and in 1900 he built a second automobile using a gasoline engine of his own design and manufacture. In 1899, Stutz established the Stutz Manufacturing Company in Dayton to produce engines. In 1902, the Lindsay Automobile Parts Company of Indianapolis sought to use his engines at their Indianapolis manufacturing facility. The two companies merged that year, bringing Stutz to Indianapolis.

Upon arrival in Indianapolis, Stutz continued to work within the newly-founded automotive industry. With two other investors he established Central Motor Car Company but moved on to the Schebler Carburetor Company at the end of 1904 to sell their carburetors.Larson, C. (2000, February). Stutz, Harry Clayton (1876-1930), automobile manufacturer. American National Biography. Ed. Retrieved 21 Sep. 2018, from [http://www.anb.org/view/10.1093/anb/9780198606697.001.0001/anb-9780198606697-e-1001609.]

In 1905, Stutz designed a car for the American Motor Car Company. In 1907, Stutz became the chief engineer and factory manager at the Marion Motor Car Company. At Marion, he became one of the company's racing drivers competing in local Indianapolis races.

Stutz formed the Stutz Auto Parts Company in 1910 to manufacture his newly patented transaxle design. Stutz came to the attention of the founders of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, who had formed the Empire Motor Car Company in 1909. Stutz was brought on as the designer of the group's first automobile, the Empire.{{cite news |last1=Miterko |first1=Andrew |title=Stutz: The Rise and Fall of the Early American Sports Car Manufacturer |url=https://rmsothebys.com/all-stories-videos/stutz-the-rise-and-fall-of-the-early-american-sports-car-manufacturer/ |access-date=April 28, 2024 |work=RM Sotheby's |date=April 29, 2019}}

File:Bear Cat Indy500 (cropped).jpg

Building upon his success with the Empire, Stutz sought to enter a car in the upcoming Indianapolis 500-mile race. In a five-week period, Stutz designed and built his own car and entered it in the race. This car was named the Bear Cat, a prototype of what later became the Stutz Bearcat. Stutz's car was driven by Gil Andersen with mechanic Frank Agan and placed 11th in the inaugural Indianapolis 500-mile Race. The Bear Cat suffered no mechanical defects, with Andersen and Agan only stopping for tires and fuel. Stutz immediately set about putting his Bear Cat into production, with the slogan "the car that made good in a day."

Stutz, with financial backing from Henry F. Campbell, founded the Ideal Motor Car Company in June 1911 to begin production of their new automobile. The Ideal Motor Car Company opened a factory on the northwest side of downtown Indianapolis. In 1913, Stutz merged Ideal with the Stutz Auto Parts Company to create the Stutz Motor Car Company.

In the first four years of production Stutz sold over 3,000 vehicles and expanded its operations. By 1920, the manufacturing factory encompassed an entire city block.To find more capital for his prospering business, Stutz fell in with a New York stockbroker, Allan A. Ryan. In 1916, Stutz Motor Car Company of America was listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Ryan now controlled the business, with Stutz staying on as president. Uncomfortable with Ryan's business style, Harry Stutz resigned from the Stutz Motor Car Company in 1919. Ryan lost his controlling interest and was forced to sell the company to an investment group that included Charles M. Schwab. The company remained solvent throughout the 1920s, but various lawsuits and contract disputes, coupled with the weakened automobile market from the Great Depression, caused the company to fold by the end of the 1930s.

Shortly after leaving the Stutz Motor Car Company, Harry Stutz re-entered the automotive industry by founding the H. C. S. Motor Car Company. Stutz reenlisted the help of Henry Campbell, and was able to raise $1,000,000 in capital by late 1919. H. C. S. focused on sportscars and roadsters, and by 1920 had vehicles available for dealers. The first H. C. S. vehicle, named the H. C. S. Special, was advertised beginning in February 1920, with Stutz's cousin, Charles E. Stutz, listed as the sole Indiana distributor.{{cite news |title=H.C.S. Special advertisement |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-news-hcs-special-adv/146235701/ |access-date=April 28, 2024 |work=The Indianapolis News |via=Newspapers.com |date=March 6, 1930}}

File:1920 HCS Series 2 Roadster (9295764283).jpg

In 1924, Stutz expanded the H. C. S. business, introducing the new H. C. S. taxicab. Stutz sought to corner the market on wholesale buying of taxis as their demand grew in the 1920s.{{cite news |title=H. C. S. Cab Plans Outlined by Stutz |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-h-c-s-cab-plans/146236593/ |access-date=April 28, 2024 |work=The Indianapolis Star |via=Newspapers.com |date=November 9, 1924}} The H. C. S. Motor Car Company was purchased by the newly-formed H. C. S. Cab Manufacturing Company. Stutz and Campbell continued to run the operation from their North Capitol Avenue manufacturing plant, manufacturing both taxicabs and automobiles.{{cite news |title=H. C. S. Changes Hands |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-times-h-c-s-changes/146236922/ |access-date=April 28, 2024 |work=The Indianapolis Times |via=Newspapers.com |date=October 10, 1924}} The H. C. S. taxicabs were met with positive reception and Stutz showcased the newly-designed vehicles in New York City.{{cite news |title=New H.C.S. Taxicab meets high favor in large cities |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-new-hcs-taxicab/146237432/ |access-date=April 28, 2024 |work=The Indianapolis Star |via=Newspapers.com |date=September 21, 1924}}

In 1926, Stutz closed H. C. S. Motor Car Company and moved to Florida.

Stutz began manufacturing fire engines with the Stutz Fire Engine Company in 1920. The Stutz Fire Engine Company ran concurrently with the H. C. S. Motor Car Company, occupying two buildings in the same complex on North Capitol Avenue in Indianapolis. Stutz sold the fire engines to several fire departments in Indiana and the coasts as municipal firefighting services began to switch to motorized vehicles in the 1920s.{{cite news |title=Stutz pumper tests witnessed by firemen |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-stutz-pumper-tests/146238693/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 28, 2024 |work=The Indianapolis Star |date=May 17, 1920}} Stutz sold his interest in the fire engine company in 1926.

In 1929, Stutz designed a four-cylinder engine for the Stutz-Bellanca Airplane Company.

In 1898, Stutz married Clara Marie Dietz (1880-1956). Clara and Harry had one daughter, Emma (1901-1992). Harry and Clara followed Indiana automotive pioneer Carl G. Fisher by moving to Florida, where they settled in Miami.{{cite news |last1=Zeigler |first1=Connie |title=Harry C. Stutz left his mark on automotive industry |url=https://urbantimesonline.com/2022/09/29/harry-c-stutz-left-his-mark-on-automotive-industry/ |access-date=April 28, 2024 |work=The Urban Times |date=September 29, 2022}} They maintained a residence in Indianapolis, a sprawling 10-bedroom mansion at 3172 North Meridian Street (now 3190 North Meridian Street).{{cite news |last1=Dollase |first1=Mark |title=Stutz House History |url=https://www.indymidtownmagazine.com/stutz-house-history/ |access-date=April 28, 2024 |work=Indy Midtown Magazine |date=October 27, 2017}} Harry and Clara divorced in 1925.

Stutz re-married to Blanche Clark Miller in 1926, and they subsequently moved to Orlando, Florida. Their marriage was the subject of national news, as Blanche's former husband sued Stutz for "alienation of affection," seeking $50,000 in damages.

Stutz was an active member of Indianapolis society. He belonged to the Indianapolis Athletic Club, and was elected its vice-president in 1920 and again in 1925.{{cite news |title=Athletic Club Votes on Officers for 1920 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/indiana-daily-times-athletic-club-votes/146235471/ |access-date=April 28, 2024 |work=Indiana Daily Times |via=Newspapers.com |date=January 21, 1920}}

Stutz suffered an inflamed appendix during a June 1930 car trip from Orlando to Indianapolis. Upon arrival in Indianapolis, Stutz was admitted to Methodist Hospital where he underwent surgery to remove his appendix. The surgery was initially reported as successful, and Stutz was listed in fair condition.{{cite news |title=Harry Stutz in Hospital Here; Operation Success |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/20038063/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 28, 2024 |work=The Indianapolis Star |date=June 26, 1930}} Despite the initial report, Stutz died the following day, June 26, 1930.{{cite news |title=H.C. STUTZ DIES |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1930/06/27/archives/hc-stutz-dies-designer-of-autos-builder-of-racing-and-pleasure.html |access-date=April 28, 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=June 27, 1930}} Stutz is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.{{cite news|url=http://www.crownhillhf.org/docs/IndianapolisAutoGreatsHandout.pdf|title=Indianapolis Auto greats|publisher=Crown Hill Cemetery|work=Celebrating Automotive Heritage at Crown Hill Cemetery|date=2011|access-date=2012-09-10|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913203018/http://crownhillhf.org/docs/IndianapolisAutoGreatsHandout.pdf|archive-date=2012-09-13}}

Stutz was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 1993.{{cite web |title=Harry C. Stutz |url=https://www.automotivehalloffame.org/honoree/harry-c-stutz/ |website=The Automotive Hall of Fame |access-date=April 28, 2024}}

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Category:1876 births

Category:1930 deaths

Category:People from Darke County, Ohio

Category:American people of German descent

Category:American founders of automobile manufacturers

Category:American automotive pioneers

Category:American automotive engineers

Category:American automobile designers

Category:Businesspeople from Indianapolis

Category:Burials at Crown Hill Cemetery