Turtle Deck Speedster by Charles G. Schutte Body Company
Chassis number: 25874
Engine number: A690

John Calvin Schutte was born in Pennsylvania in 1857. He married Stella Selinda Steele (born 1866) of Lancaster County, PA. This union produced four children, Anna M., Charles Edward, Henry Lewis and James Walter. Charles Edward, the second born child, would later form the Charles Schutte Body Company around 1918. The coach-building company employed a staff of around thirty-five mechanics that produced gas tanks, fenders, hoods, disc wheels, bumpers, tire carriers, and various other items for the automobile. Their products were shipped to all parts of the United States, Canada, and other foreign countries.

The Schutte disc wheels were rather popular and provided much of the company's revenue stream. The disc wheels were comprised of 22-gauge steel with large cast-aluminum hubcaps. The discs could fit either wood or wire wheels and sold for $75.00 for a set of four. Additional discs cost $15.00 each. Nickel-plated examples sold for an additional $5 per wheel while painted discs added an additional $10.

Coachwork

The Charles Schutte Body Co. advertised that 'Schutte bodies are built to fit any make of car.' One of the earliest known projects was a recruiting tool for the Marines. The Schutte Company created an attractive yet minimalistic body on a Saxon chassis. The Saxon Scout Car was designed for Sgt. Gandy of the United States Marines

Another early project was an aluminum roadster body for the prototype Argonne automobile which debuted in 1918. The vehicle was built by the Jersey City Machine Company of Jersey City, N.J. The company claimed the car had a top speed in the neighborhood of 70 mph and could achieve 20 mpg. A unique feature of the vehicle was the cycle front fenders which were attached to the wheels, rather than the fame. This allowed the fenders to turn with the wheels. In total, around 24 were produced. Selling for $4,000 each, production continued for only a short time, ending in 1920.

The company catalog illustrated numerous body styles, from roadsters to touring cars. Some were creative while others were uninspiring. One of the companies more memorable designs was the Schutte body T-70, referred to as the 'Turtle Deck Model.' It was shown in catalogs on a 1919 Cadillac Eight chassis and fitted with special radiator and hood. The S-50 'Special Turtle Deck Model Body' was pictured on a Type 57 Cadillac. These 'Special' bodies had the spare wheels (or tires) built into the rear deck. If the buyer did not want the well, the body could be equipped with a folding top and side curtains.

Catering to all wishes, Schutte stated they could, 'if desired, supply a radiator of special design, a new hood, fenders and running boards.' They would also alter the chassis length as well as make changes to other mechanical components to accommodate the needs of their clients.

The company advertised their work in numerous trade journals and the society pages of Vanity Fair. They even issued a full-page color ad in the 1920 New York Salon catalog.

The companies most elegant and expensive ideas were featured in a leather-bound portfolio. On the front cover were the potential customer's and the Schutte Company name highlighted in gold. The contents of the portfolio illustrated ambitious designs for such legendary marques as Hispano-Suiza, Duesenberg, Rolls-Royce, Stevens-Duryea, and Cadillac.

It is believed that Schutte was a catalog builder for several automakers, perhaps one of those being Duesenberg. It is believed that around five Duesenberg Model A's were bodied by Schutte. One of the last Model A vehicle's built was a Schutte Roadster for Augie Duesenberg. He still owned it when he died in 1955.

During their career, Schutte created a small number of bodies for Cadillac, Marmon, Oldsmobile, Franklin and Packard. In 1922, they built a dual cowl tourer body for a very long, 156-inch wheelbase Pierce-Arrow chassis. This very extravagant vehicle had checkered running boards, an altimeter, and an onboard supply of running ice water. Schutte is also known for having bodied a Rolls-Royce Phantom II and a 6½ liter Bentley.

With a prosperous business, clever marketing, a solid product line, and a skilled workforce, the Pennsylvania-based company seemed poised for long-term success. Their location was ideal, as they were in close proximity to several major cities, including New York and Philadelphia. Unfortunately, after a failed attempted merger with the Blue Ribbon Body Company of Bridgeport, Conn., the company entered receivership. A problem arose when four minority stockholders in the Schutte Body Co. stopped the takeover after discovering that the Schutte-Blue Ribbon Body Co. planned on closing the Lancaster plant following the takeover. They feared a loss of their $200,000 investment; through their counsel they petitioned the Pennsylvania Department of Banking who arrested both Schutte and his treasurer, George Fritsch for stock fraud. Apparently, the companies permit to sell stock in PA was revoked the previous year due to a previous sale of the firm's shares through misrepresentation. Thus, the sale of stock to finance the Schutte-Blue Ribbon Body Corp was in violation of Pennsylvania statutes.

At least one known vehicle was produced by Schutte after their demise.

As the 1920s came to a close, a new company surfaced named the 'Schutte-Sefwin, Inc.' organized in New York City. The company was advertised as a design and engineering company for automobile manufacturers of passenger car bodies. Charles Schutte was the technical head of the concern.

The Turtle Deck Speedster

Just a handful of Schutte-bodied vehicles remain (perhaps as few as 6 or 7). One example is this Oldsmobile Turtle Deck Speedster. It has a hand-built aluminum body riding on an ash frame. Inside, there is a cigar holder, windless ashtray, stop watch and matchstick holder mounted on the large steering wheel, and an unusual dash light with cut glass colored crystals.

There are dual spotlights mounted on the running boards. The car rides on 26-inch wheels featuring the company's unique discs. In the back, the body comes to a point, almost as if it had been stretched and now resembles the shape of a canoe. A spare tire is mounted behind the rear of the body but in front of the rear bumper.

It is believed the car may have been used to run moonshine during Prohibition. Later in life it was in a Museum in Fredericksburg, Texas before becoming part of the Al Weisman collection in Florida. The current owner acquired the car before the Al Weisman Collection went to auction.

Sources and additional information

Much of the information pertaining to the Schutte Company has been researched by Bill Rothermel. His work on the subject has appeared in publications such as Automobile Quarterly.

by Dan Vaughan