1914 Westcott Model 6-50

Burton J Westcott was born in 1868 in Richmond, Indiana. His father, John W. Westcott, was the president and founder of the Hoosier Drill Company, a business that produced farm equipment. In 1896 John Westcott formed the Westcott Carriage Company.

In 1903, after a merger between the Westcott Drilling Company and other Drill Companies, Burton moved to Springfield, Ohio where he worked as treasurer of the merged companies, named American Seeding Company.

In 1909, the Westcott Carriage Company was reorganized and named the Westcott Motor Car Company.

The Westcott Carriage Company continued in Richmond, Indiana well into the 1920s. John Westcott disliked motor cars due to the competition they had created for the carriage business. The Westcott Motor Car Company was moved to Springfield, Ohio in 1916 with Burton as President, a position he would hold until 1924. The company focused on building hand-built luxury touring cars and flourished after the end of World War I. Many of the vehicles featured a headline dimmer switch, walnut instrument board, rear gas tank, quality leather, and a newly designed camshaft.

The Westcott automobiles were powered by both four-cylinder and six-cylinder automobiles. The early Westcotts boasted a top speed of 35 mph, not bad for the early 1900s. Many were entered into various races.

In 1923, his wife passed away. In 1925, Burton sold the Motor Car Company to three individuals. In 1926, after a serious illness, Burton passed away.

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2005