Auto-Wheel Coaster Company
Dublin Core
Title
Auto-Wheel Coaster Company
Description
Employees of the Auto-Wheel Coaster Company's North Tonawanda plant. PHOTO: North Tonawanda History Museum Organized as the Buffalo Sled Co. in 1905 by John J. Schneider and Henry J, Tiedt, though one article says they were in business as early as 1899. Moved to North Tonawanda in 1909. Originally made sleds and shovels; added coasters (wagons) in 1912, and enjoyed national success, advertising aggressively in many publications, and marketing their boys' toys ingenuously with clubs and giveaways. The North Tonawanda plant was located at foot of Schenck Street, west of Oliver and south of Schenck, though they at times also had operations in Buffalo, on Ellicott Creek in the old A. B. Williams plant, and in Preston, Ontario. The NT site had formerly (1908) been occupied by the Orient Mfg. Co. Fred Paschen lived just east. The concern wen into bankruptcy in July 1964, but was bought by area men to resume production. This did not seem to be successful, as the plant was in the process of being converted to a palette factory when it was completely destroyed in a spectacular fire on Memorial Day (May 29), 1972, taking at least seven nearby homes with it.
