1910 Maytag-Mason Model A

During the early evolution of the automobile, many companies emerged vying for their stake in the rapidly growing market. One such company was the Mason Motor Car Company of Des Moines, Iowa, which was formed in 1906. This company was poised for greatness, as it was the brainchild of Fred S. and August Duesenberg. The name 'Mason' was used in reference to the money source - a local attorney named Edward R. Mason who had provided the necessary capital to build their two-cylinder car. The brothers had intended to name the company 'Marvel' but were quick to change after the financial persuasion. The brothers had opened a garage in 1903 and built their first car a year later.

The Mason slogan for their car was 'The Fastest and Strongest Two-Cylinder car in America,' which was a bold claim, however, with the mechanical genius of the Duesenberg brothers, it was a possibility.

As 1908 was coming to a close, the company was reorganized as the Mason Automobile Company. In June of 1909, F.L. Maytag and his son Elmer H., purchased a controlling interest in the Mason company and moved it to the former plant of the Waterloo Motor Works in Waterloo. A short time later, in 1910, the company was again reorganized as the Maytag-Mason Motor Car Company. The plan was to continue production of the two-cylinder car as the Mason, while a new four-cylinder model would be built and carry the Maytag name. This continued until 1911 when both lines were given the Maytag name.

Slow sales later convinced the Maytags to opt out of the venture, and on January 12th of 1912, the firm was once again re-organized as the Mason Motor Company. Edward R. Mason was again in control, and all cars were once again known as the Mason.

In 1913, the Duesenberg brothers left Iowa to establish their Duesenberg Motor Company in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Although the Mason Company introduced a new Duesenberg-powered four-cylinder model in 1913, the Mason Motor Company had slipped into receivership, and their creditor refused to grant an extension. The company limped along for a little while longer, finally going out of business near the close of 1914. In September of 1914, the Mason factory in Waterloo was sold. While the Mason chapter was closed to history, the Duesenbergs took their lessons learned and would go on to build some of the greatest automobiles the world has ever witnessed.

by Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2017