This cul of the Wizard, Jr., appeared on Ihe front page of the circular sent out to promote stock sales.
Do You Remember the Wizard?
и
was a now automobile, with a big factor*
located just outside of Charlotte. But. like
many other auto ventures off thirty years
or so ago. it didn't pan out.
WONDER how many of our
readers recall the Wizard
automobile?
So far as some of them are con¬
cerned, this probably is a rather
sore subject. Quite a number of
North Carolinians invested their
money in the proposition but the
investment didn’t pan out so well.
The other day, Mr. M. H. Thomp¬
son of Elizabethtown found an old
circular which was issued by the
Wizard Automobile Company of
Charlotte in 1920. The company
was capitalized at $1,000,000 and
issued $500,000 guaranteed seven
per cent cumulative and $500,000
common voting stock at par value
of ten dollars per share.
"Our plant," says the circular,
"is located at Wizard, N. C.. four
and one-half miles west of Char¬
lotte, where we will establish a
modern housing and cooperative
working system for our employ¬
ees. We have the necessary talent
and skilled labor. Also the raw
material and every facility for the
building of one " of the largest
THE STATE. March 11. 1950
plants in the United States. The
Wizards specifications and low
price will make it the most popu¬
lar car on the market. The Wizard,
Jr., (our first product) is a standard
two-passenger roadster weighing
800 pounds, with a two-cylinder,
four-cycle, air-cooled 15 h.p.
motor, with an attachable delivery
body, meets every requirement for
service at the lowest possible cost
and upkeep. The Wizard. Sr., a
five-passenger touring car, with a
four-cylinder, air-cooled motor,
the most complete car of its class
ever produced for the price, will
make its debut in 1921."
The price of the Wizard, Jr.,
was $395.
Maybe you'll be interested in
some of the specifications of the
Wizard. Jr.
Bodies - Our own design and
construction. Frame of seasoned
oak and ashe, sawed to shape and
counter-braced, covered with ham¬
mer shaped steel. Free from
metallic rattle; enamel finish.
Wheel Base — 100 inches.
Lighting — 6-vote storage battery
and electric lights.
Wheels — Wood, artillery type,
plain clincher rims.
Tires- 30x3. plain clincher type.
Starting — Hand crank, regular
equipment.
Gasoline — 42 miles per gallon.
Speed — Up to 35 miles per hour.
Construction — This car is so
simple in construction that it will
never require the services of an
expert in making repairs. Any
novice can do the work. Worn
parts can always be secured from
our stock room.
Extras — Top, $26.00. Wind¬
shield, $9.00. Delivery body.
$31.00. Pull starter. $12.00. Elec¬
tric starter. $65.00. Generator.
$40.00.
The circular goes on to say:
"When the public knows that they
can get an $800.00 value for
$395.00 f.o.b. factory, the demand
will be unlimited. By the elimi¬
nation of distributors — dealing di¬
rect through county agents— and
( Continued on page 16 1
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