Novo Factory Lansing

For some reason the management of the brand-new New-Way Motor Co thought they could succeed with the where Lansing's Clarkmobile had already failed. Using leftover bodies New-Way installed its own air-cooled motors and, it seems, sold off the remaining models. Whether or not this was a serious attempt at starting an automobile company is unknown, but is good demonstration of the maverick nature of the automobile industry in its early days. New Way survived automotive failure by continuing to produce gasoline engines of various kinds until going out of business in 1938.

Clarence E. Bement, Lawrence Price, E.F. Peer, Donald Bates and R.H. Scott were all management to Novo at one time or another. Other than Bement (who started in his father's factory), all were ground-floor REO people. Manufacturers of "stationary gasoline engines and gray iron castings," this company's product line expanded throughout the years to include the largest kinds of industrial equipment. Pictured is the shop in 1912, after it moved to Sheridan Ave, along the rail lines of the Michigan Central and next to Auto Wheel. The backbone of the Novo Company in the early days was its Type S, vertical, four cycle hopper that was used mainly for cement and mortar mixing. Over 100,000 of these models were produced and, with increased power added over the years they helped the construction industry in the building up of American cities before the Great Depression in their use as hoists.

Address:
705 East Oakland
Lansing, MI 48906