C.R. Patterson, sons, and grandsons: Black pioneer car builders | Hagerty Media

[Hagerty]

Charles Richard Patterson, born a slave on a Virginia plantation in 1833, became patriarch of the first and last automobile manufacturing enterprise organized by Black Americans. At age eight, Patterson escaped bondage in Virginia with his parents and a dozen siblings and traveled via the underground railroad to Greenfield, Ohio, a small town between Cincinnati and Columbus.
https://www.hagerty.com/media/people/c-r-patterson-sons-and-grandsons-black-pioneer-car-builders/

[GRP_Photo]

Looks like the first photo has been flipped. Unless they were making right-hand drive cars.

[HASCpres2019]

Many early American cars were RH drive, although always driven on the right side of the road. Pierce-Arrow built RH drive cars until 1920.

[DAdams]

The (circa) 1915 advertisement appears to show righthand drive. While most manufacturers had standardized on lefthand drive around 1910, it appears the Patterson's were holdouts for righthand drive.

[Flashman]

An appropriate topic for Black History Month; thanks.

[67Firebird]

Imagine the value of just one genuine example existed. Or just recreate a "tribute" version .

[roadio55]

The article states, "none of which survive intact today." Does that mean there are one or more partial examples somewhere? Do any of the Greenfield bus bodies remain?

[GoFast]

To our knowledge, no traces remain of either the cars or bus bodies manufactured by the Pattersons.

[MoparMan]

It is ALWAYS interesting to discover these "hidden" nuggets of history! It's a shame that the Great Depression spelled the end of the company!...what if....? 🙂

[jaysalserVW]

What a great generational story of a family which made the best of every opportunity. I wonder why we did not hear about this during Black History Month? Please keep these invigorating historical stories coming!

[GoFast]

Check your calendar! Black History month runs until March 1.