American Simplex Company-Mishawaka
Location: 400 S. Byrkit St., Mishawaka
The American Simplex Motor Car Company erected the earliest buildings on the site from 1907 to 1910 to manufacture high-powered two-cycle automobiles. The name of the car became “Amplex” in 1910 because “Simplex” was being used by another automobile manufacturer.
When the attempt at quadrupling its quota in 1912 failed, M.W. Mix bought the car company. Mix, then sold it to Adolph Kamm, who produced hand-built cars of Amplex’s design. The King Gillette Company bought the complex of buildings during W.W. I to produce munitions for the U.S. government; and in 1926 the American Foundry Equipment Company (read more), formerly the American Sand Mixing Machine Company, purchased the plant. They constructed a foundry.
One of the Amplex cars took part in the first Indianapolis 500-mile race. The number 44 Amplex car was driven by Arthur Greiner with mechanic Sam Dickson. During the midpoint of the race, Greiner’s Amplex lost a tire. After the wooden wheel rim hit the track’s bricks, the car swerved wildly. The car began somersaulting, eventually coming to rest vertically on the radiator. The 27-year-old Greiner remained holding the steering wheel as the car threw him from the cockpit. Sam Dickson was still in the mechanic’s seat of the race car, which began rocking back and forth, eventually falling forward, crushing the life out of the seasoned mechanic. At least 66 people have died because of auto racing since 1909 at the site occupied by Indianapolis Motor Speedway, including 40 drivers, 14 mechanics and nine spectators.
For more information about historical Mishawaka, visit: Mishawaka Museum | The Princess City
For more information about historical Mishawaka, visit: Mishawaka Museum | The Princess City
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