Sale 2204 Lot 177

FIRST BLACK AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER (BUSINESS.) The Patterson-Greenfield Automobile. Printed pictorial poster on heavy cardstock, 12x10 inches; evenly darkened; archival restoration to one corner; paper de-acidified. Greenfield, Ohio, circa 1916-1920
Estimate $3,500-5,000

a rare poster for the only african-american auto manufacturer in united states history. Charles Richard Patterson was born into slavery in Virginia in 1833. In 1863, as a free man, Patterson moved to Ohio where he set up business as blacksmith, and later coach and buggy-maker. By the turn of the century he was a successful carriage-maker. One of his three sons, Frederick Douglass Patterson, a graduate of Ohio State University, was largely responsible for moving the company into the "horseless carriage" business. In 1916, the first Patterson was rolled out, a 30 horsepower automobile with cantilevered springs and full-floating rear axle. The Patterson was available on order and one could choose from two models, touring car and roadster. The company continued to produce cars until the mid-thirties when the Depression finally put them out of business. We tried in vain to locate a museum where an example might be found.