Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
Marshall Cohen—researcher and producer, CNN
Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
REO SALES COMPANY SHOWROOM
REO SALES COMPANY SHOWROOM.
Ransome Eli Olds established the Olds Motor Works in 1899 but left the company in 1904 over his disagreement to phase out the curved dash Oldsmobile. He immediately set up a new company called the R.E. Olds Company, but the Oldsmobile company objected. Olds then renamed his business the Reo Motor Car Company. Olds completed his first Reo motor car in late 1904. It was introduced at the New York Automobile Show in January 1905. (1)
REO produced a variety of cars and trucks (Speedwagons) until 1936 when car production ceased due to the effects of the GREAT DEPRESSION. Through a series of mergers, etc., REO trucks (under names like Diamond REO, REO Giant, etc.) continued to be produced until the 1990s. (2)
This automobile sales location was at 420 Central Avenue.
The 1929 Dubuque City Directory listed 414-30 Central.
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Source:
1. "History of the Reo," Reo Club of America, Online: https://reoclub.org/history/
2. "American Auto Emblems," Online: http://www.americanautoemblems.com/2019/01/reo.html