Eshelman

Eshelman was an American marque and manufacturing business associated with small automobiles and a broad range of light vehicles and equipment. The company was incorporated as the Cheston L. Eshelman Company on January 19, 1942, and operated from premises on Light Street in Baltimore, Maryland. Its founder and president, Cheston Lee Eshelman, pursued several categories of engineering and transportation products rather than concentrating on conventional passenger cars. The business produced light aircraft in Dundalk after the Second World War, experimented with pleasure boats including a distinctive craft made from surplus aircraft wing tanks, and became particularly known for inexpensive garden tractors and implements such as the Kulti-Mower. Other products associated with the marque included motor scooters, golf carts, snowplows, trailers, mail-delivery vehicles, and aircraft. Eshelman entered the miniature automobile market in 1953 with the Sport Car. The initial range comprised a Child's Sport Car, intended for two children and priced at $295, and an Adult Sport Car, a somewhat faster single-occupant vehicle priced at $395. Both were extremely small, air-cooled, single-cylinder vehicles using Briggs & Stratton engines. Their compact dimensions, low operating costs, and unusual appearance made them suitable as children's cars, promotional gifts, advertising premiums, and novelty vehicles, although they were not conventional road cars. Eshelman largely sold them through mail order, small magazine advertisements, and a Baltimore factory showroom. Some customers reportedly returned the vehicles after seeing their actual size, leading the company to adopt a no-return policy. The company expanded the automobile line in 1955 with a larger two-passenger Adult Sport Car. A 1956 revision brought styling and usability changes, while a golf-course utility version extended the concept beyond recreational ownership. The company also promoted accessories such as hauling carts and lawn sweepers. Eshelman's visibility increased through publicity and celebrity associations. In 1955, Richard M. Nixon was photographed using an Eshelman Child's Sport Car in a March of Dimes anti-polio fundraising campaign, and actor Bob Cummings later appeared in advertising and entertainment-related promotion for the brand. Eshelman vehicles were also used in political and commercial promotional activities. A major factory fire on February 10, 1956 caused approximately $500,000 in reported damage. The following year, amid Baltimore taxation of manufacturing inventories and equipment, Eshelman arranged a ten-year production agreement with the Charles D. Briddell Company in Crisfield, Maryland. Production and product strategy then shifted toward more substantial utility and enclosed vehicles. The Sportabout, introduced around 1957, was a larger two-passenger vehicle with electric starting, reverse gear, windshield wiper, directional signals, spring suspension, doors, a roof, upholstery, and other equipment. The company also introduced the battery-powered Model 200 children's car and supplied large numbers of Mailster mail-delivery vehicles, whose form resembled competing Cushman mail carriers. By 1959, under the name Eshelman Motors Corporation, the company announced the fiberglass-bodied Models 902 delivery vehicle, 903 coupe, and 904 pickup truck. These larger three-passenger-abreast vehicles were advertised at $1,395, but only about a dozen are reported to have been built. Eshelman subsequently purchased Chevrolet Corvairs, modified their appearance, and marketed them as Eshelman Golden Eagles. General Motors objected and issued a cease-and-desist demand. Eshelman continued offering the appearance package for owners who wished to apply it to their own cars, rather than continuing the original factory conversion program. Cheston Eshelman later focused on vehicle safety inventions, especially a patented crash absorber made from a spare tire and designed to absorb energy in a low-speed frontal impact. He demonstrated the concept by driving vehicles into retaining walls. Final Golden Eagle Safety Cars, based on 1967 Chevrolets and fitted with front crash absorbers, were sold through several used-car agencies. This marked the end of Eshelman's automotive and broader manufacturing operations. Eshelman continued inventing and patenting ideas for decades and died in Hialeah, Florida, on November 7, 2004. The brand is now primarily of interest to collectors and historians of microcars, promotional vehicles, light utility equipment, and American postwar industrial experimentation.

The Cheston L. Eshelman Company was incorporated in Baltimore on January 19, 1942, under the leadership of Cheston Lee Eshelman. Its early activities extended beyond automobiles. After the Second World War, it built light aircraft at Dundalk, Maryland, and later produced pleasure boats, including a boat constructed from surplus military aircraft wing tanks. The company developed a reputation for inexpensive garden tractors and related machinery, including the Kulti-Mower, promoted through small advertisements in mechanical, scientific, and home-crafting magazines. In 1953, Eshelman began making miniature automobiles. The first Sport Car range included the two-child Child's Sport Car and the faster Adult Sport Car. These vehicles used small Briggs & Stratton engines, simple mechanical drivetrains, and highly compact steel-frame construction. Their principal market was recreational and promotional rather than ordinary road transportation. Mail-order sales and small advertisements allowed the company to reach consumers nationally, while the vehicles were also bought as gifts, advertising premiums, and political or commercial novelties. The original drivetrain used a belt and friction-drive arrangement, but this design was soon revised because of tire wear and operating limitations. Later cars used a centrifugal clutch, jackshaft, chain drive, and mechanical tire brakes. A larger two-passenger Adult Sport Car appeared in 1955, followed by revisions in 1956 that improved access, bodywork, and equipment. Eshelman also offered a golf-course utility version and accessories including carts and lawn sweepers. Publicity helped give the obscure manufacturer a national profile: Richard M. Nixon appeared with a Child's Sport Car in a March of Dimes campaign, while actor Bob Cummings promoted the products in advertising and related television exposure. The company suffered a serious setback when fire destroyed its factory on February 10, 1956. The damage was reported at roughly $500,000. Around the same period, Baltimore taxation of manufacturing inventories and equipment encouraged a change in production arrangements. In February 1957, Eshelman signed a ten-year contract with the Charles D. Briddell Company to build cars and other vehicles at Crisfield, Maryland. The company also moved toward more capable vehicles. The Sportabout was a heavier, partially enclosed two-passenger model with a larger engine, electric starting, reverse, lights, windshield wiper, signals, suspension, doors, roof, and improved interior equipment. The battery-powered Model 200 broadened the children's product range, while the Mailster became a recognizable delivery vehicle used by postal services and other operators. Eshelman Motors Corporation introduced the Models 902, 903, and 904 around 1959. These fiberglass-bodied vehicles were respectively a delivery vehicle, coupe, and pickup, but production appears to have been extremely limited. The company then attempted to build a business around modified Chevrolet Corvairs. The Eshelman Golden Eagles received special trim, badges, and appearance changes. General Motors objected to the conversions and directed Eshelman to stop, after which the company continued to sell a styling package that customers could apply to their own cars. Eshelman also pursued automotive safety. Cheston Eshelman patented a crash absorber based on the energy-absorbing characteristics of a spare tire and publicly demonstrated it in impact tests against walls. The final Golden Eagle Safety Cars, based on 1967 Chevrolets and fitted with such front crash absorbers, were distributed through used-car agencies. These vehicles represented the end of the company's automotive program and, broadly, the end of its manufacturing operations under the Eshelman name. Cheston Eshelman remained active as an inventor for many years and died in Hialeah, Florida, on November 7, 2004.

• 1967

  Final automotive production

  [1]Eshelmanen.wikipedia.org

  The final Golden Eagle Safety Cars were based on 1967 Chevrolets and marked the end of Eshelman's automotive efforts.

• 1959

  Eshelman Motors and larger models

  [1]Eshelmanen.wikipedia.org

  The renamed Eshelman Motors Corporation introduced the 902, 903, and 904, with reportedly very limited production.

• 1957

  Crisfield production agreement

  [1]Eshelmanen.wikipedia.org

  Eshelman contracted with Charles D. Briddell Company to manufacture its vehicles in Crisfield.

• 1956

  Factory fire

  [1]Eshelmanen.wikipedia.org

  A major fire destroyed the factory and caused reported damage of about $500,000.

• 1955

  Larger Adult Sport Car added

  [1]Eshelmanen.wikipedia.org

  A larger two-passenger Adult Sport Car expanded the automotive range.

• 1953

  Sport Car introduced

  [1]Eshelmanen.wikipedia.org

  Eshelman entered miniature automobile production with Child's and Adult Sport Car models.

• 1942

  Company incorporated

  [1]Eshelmanen.wikipedia.org

  The Cheston L. Eshelman Company was incorporated on January 19 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Low-cost, compact, multipurpose transportation and equipment, marketed particularly through mail order, magazine advertising, promotional uses, and specialty utility applications.

• Miniature automobile · 1953

  Child's Sport Car

  Introduced in 1953, the Child's Sport Car was a two-child microcar powered by a small Briggs & Stratton engine. It was marketed as a novelty, gift, and recreational vehicle rather than as a normal highway automobile. Early examples used a simple belt and friction-drive system, while later versions adopted revised chain-drive and braking arrangements.

• Miniature automobile · 1953

  Adult Sport Car

  The Adult Sport Car was offered first as a single-occupant microcar and later, from 1955, as a larger two-passenger model. It used air-cooled Briggs & Stratton engines and emphasized low fuel consumption, simple construction, and recreational or utility use. Options included lighting, hauling carts, and lawn equipment.

• Enclosed utility vehicle · 1957

  Sportabout

  Introduced after the 1957 production transition, the Sportabout was a more substantial two-passenger Eshelman with an enclosed body, roof, doors, spring suspension, electric starting, reverse gear, windshield wiper, signals, upholstery, and a horn. It represented an attempt to make the company's small-car concept more practical and road-capable.

• Mail-delivery vehicle

  Mailster

  The Eshelman Mailster was a compact delivery vehicle associated with the company's later utility-vehicle program. Thousands were reportedly seen on American streets, and its configuration closely resembled the contemporary Cushman mail carrier.

• Light commercial vehicles · 1959

  Models 902, 903 and 904

  Announced around 1959, these fiberglass-bodied vehicles comprised a delivery vehicle, coupe, and pickup truck. They were advertised as three-passenger vehicles, but reported production was very small, at approximately a dozen units in total.

• Modified automobile · 1959

  Golden Eagle

  Eshelman purchased Chevrolet Corvairs in fleet quantities, added special trim and gold-colored insignia, and marketed them as Golden Eagles. After General Motors objected, Eshelman continued to offer the styling treatment as a package for customer application.

• Garden equipment

  Garden tractors and Kulti-Mower

  Before and alongside its automobiles, Eshelman was known for inexpensive light garden tractors and implements, including the Kulti-Mower. These products were promoted through small advertisements in technical and hobby publications.

• 1955March of Dimes “Fill 'Er Up for Polio”

  United States

  Richard M. Nixon was photographed beside an Eshelman Child's Sport Car while participating in a March of Dimes publicity campaign supporting anti-polio fundraising.

  Outcome. The image provided national publicity for the small vehicle and associated the marque with a prominent public campaign.

  Source
• 1954Francis E. Dorn campaign vehicle

  United States

  U.S. Congressman Francis E. Dorn used a specially lettered Eshelman Child's Sport Car in his reelection campaign.

  Outcome. The vehicle functioned as a political promotional novelty; broader campaign results are not specified.

  Source

• 1959

  Pursuit of Chevrolet Corvair conversionsStrategy

  Background

  Eshelman sought a larger automotive opportunity after limited-volume production of its own small vehicles.

  Action taken

  The company bought Chevrolet Corvairs, modified their appearance, and marketed them as Eshelman Golden Eagles.

  Aftermath

  General Motors demanded that the operation cease. Eshelman continued selling a styling package for customer-installed use.

  • General Motors — General Motors issued a cease-and-desist demand concerning the Corvair conversions.

  Source

• 1957

  Move production to CrisfieldStrategy

  Background

  A factory fire and Baltimore taxation of manufacturing inventories and equipment created pressure to alter the company's production base.

  Action taken

  Eshelman signed a ten-year manufacturing agreement with Charles D. Briddell Company in Crisfield, Maryland.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement supported a shift toward the larger Sportabout and other utility vehicles.

  Source

1. 1Eshelmanen.wikipedia.org