Automobile Agents

John Keller:

When bicycles first came into existence Keller began manufacturing them in 1891.

His company is known as Keller Cyclery Company. His wooden framed bicycles were known as the “Nap”. He quit making bicycles when concerns about mass production increased. When progress was made and some concerns went into building them in great numbers, he quit making them.

He opened a bicycle livery in 1895 and people were able to rent bicycles if they so wished to. After he quit making the Nap, he started to sell the Ariel Bicycle and had a repair shop. In 1892, he made a round trip on his bicycle from Nappanee to Columbiana County, Ohio. The total miles he rode was 750. It was said that he had favorable roads and weather for his trip. He participated in many bicycle races.

Once Nappanee had paved roads it is thought that he started to manufacture the Nap once again. The Nappanee News mentions a 1910 model. Several times from 1908 to 1912, he is mentioned as the manufacturer of the Nap. Keller was an agent for Cadillac Automobile. He sold 7 Cadillacs, including his own, which was more than any other make in the town.

Marvin Coppes:

Marvin was the son of John and Malinda Coppes. He was connected with Coppes Brothers for many years since his father was one of the founding members. After college, he came back to Nappanee and became an automobile agent. He was also the proprietor of Coppes Pharmacy.

He had cars and motorcycles to be seen at both Yoder Garage and Keller Garage. He was a seller of Indian Motorcycles and he sold Chalmers-Detroit and Hudson automobiles. He called his agency Chalmers, Hudson Automobile Company.

George Lamb:

Mr. Lamb came to Nappanee in 1900 on the solicitation of citizens. He had a business making scrubbing brushes and held the patent for it while in Goshen.

When he came to Nappanee in 1900, he went into business for himself; the manufacture of screens, easels, book cabinets, brushes, and novelties in furniture.

He was an agent of Pierce-Racine automobiles. In 1905, there were 4 Pierce-Racine cars all sold by Mr. Lamb and that number includes his own car.

Chas Volkman:

Conrad Volkman is known for a few firsts in Nappanee. He was the first to build a home in Nappanee after dismantling his home in New Paris and rebuilding it on the corner of Market and Madison Streets.

Conrad also was the first one to have an automobile in Nappanee. His horseless carriage was a 1902 Oldsmobile. The car had turned up on the town’s 75th anniversary. The car had gone to the Fieldhouse Museum in Elkhart upon Mr. Volkman’s death in 1911. When that collection was dispersed, the automobile was purchased by a Pennsylvania collector for $4500.

Even though Mr. Volkman could claim a few firsts in Nappanee, he couldn’t claim to be the first to equip his car with the balloon or air cushion tires. That honor goes to Lowell Blosser and his Hudson super six automobiles.