A Tale of Two (or Three?) Inter-State Automobiles
1909 advertisement
The Inter-State Automobile Company got its start in 1908 when a committee of the Commercial Club, the Muncie Industrial Association, organized to bring additional manufacturing businesses to town, specifically automobile companies. At the time, auto manufacturers were popping up everywhere and the committee thought Muncie should be part of this evolving new transportation trend. When attempts to bring a company to town were unsuccessful, the group decided to build its own factory and produce automobiles themselves.
Land was secured on West Willard Street and the factory building was constructed and outfitted to begin production. The goal was to have cars ready for the auto shows in New York and Chicago in 1909. While the factory was being built a contest was held to select the name for the company and “Inter-State” was chosen, suggested by two entrants who each won ten dollars.
Stockholders consisted of several local businessmen to include the Ball brothers. Initial orders were good and for the next couple of years the company produced several models but sales did not meet expectations. In 1913 the company went into receivership and was purchased by Frank C. Ball and J. M. Maring and renamed the Inter-State Motor Company. Production resumed in 1914.
During WWI the company acquired a government contract to build tractors. In 1918 after the war, the plant was not retooled to produce cars again. All the spare parts and machinery were moved and stored at Ball Brothers in one of the factory warehouses on 12th Street. The Inter-State factory building eventually became part of the Delco Remy battery plant. Overall, the company had built about 10,000 cars during its existence.
Many of you have probably seen Edmund F. Ball’s 1916 Inter-State motorcar that is in the Minnetrista Heritage Collection. This vehicle was on display for many years at the Muncie Children’s Museum and then for a time in the Minnetrista Orchard Shop building. Mr. Ball had willed the car to Minnetrista with the understanding that when the children’s museum did not want to display it anymore it would return to Minnetrista. That occurred about eight years ago when the new hotel was constructed and connected to the Children’s Museum and Convention Center.
There are two dates for Mr. Ball’s Inter-State car: newspaper articles indicate it is a 1915 model but his will says it is a 1916. The car is a five-passenger touring Series T model, meaning it has a four cylinder T-head Beaver engine (made by Beaver Manufacturing Co., Milwaukee, Wisconsin). It is finished in dark Inter-State blue, and uses 33x4 tires.
Mr. Ball bought the car from Larry Hart in Dallas, Texas. Larry was a relative of Thomas F. Hart who was the president and general manager of the company when it was incorporated in 1909. At the time of his purchase it was believed to be the only Inter-State in existence with all of the original parts and no restoration work. It was this car that several Ball executives used for a ceremonial drive from the old Ball Corporation main office on Macedonia to the new headquarters building downtown in 1976. Mr. Ball had noted in an interview that the first time he drove to Leland, Michigan (where much of the family vacationed) it was in an Inter-State and the trip took two and a half days!
Recently, some additional research revealed that George A. Ball had also owned an Inter-State automobile, a 1917 Series T roadster. In the July/August 1952 Ball Line newsletter, an article stated that his roadster would be part of the Delaware County Fair centennial celebration parade. Guy Dickason, superintendent of the Ball Brothers Company main garage, had serviced the car so it could be driven but was having trouble locating 33x4 size tires. If no tires could be found the car would only be on display. A set was located, though, and the car was driven in the parade.
A 1950 Star Press article mentions George’s Inter-State being stored in the garage on the F.C. Ball property, along with his Baker R&L electric car. After George’s death in 1955 the car was sold. However, a 1959 Star Press article indicated that the car was shown in New Castle but was “a combination of two models” purchased from his estate. That poses the question: did he own two Inter-State automobiles?
It is probable that Frank C. and Edmund B. also owned Inter-States since they were stockholders in the company. It is interesting that this postcard advertisement depicts the “Bull Dog” model parked in front of Edmund’s house. The Ball family owned many different automobiles over the years but the Inter-State’s stand out because of the personal interest the brothers had in the company as stockholders and owners.
