Framed or unframed, desk size to sofa size, printed by us in Arizona and Alabama since 2007. Explore now.
Shorpy is funded by you. Patreon contributors get an ad-free experience.
Learn more.
Circa 1916. "Hackett Motor Car Co., Jackson, Michigan." Part of the Hackett assembly plant. National Photo Company glass negative. View full size.
I moved to Jackson in late '05 wanting to return to Michigan. As the years have passed I've learned lots about its rich history, this is new to me. Thank you for sharing.
Mansell Hackett was the actress Mary Tyler Moore's grandfather. Mary's mother Marge was born in Jackson in 1916. She had five siblings.
Before the Hackett Motor Car Company was established, a car called the Argo was produced in this factory. Late in 1916 everything was sold to Mansell Hackett, who continued to assemble the Argos from parts on hand and also introduced his own new Hackett cars. This raises the question of how many cars we see in this photo that are the smaller Argos and how many that are the longer-wheelbased Hacketts. I suspect that the big filthy touring car on the far right might be something else entirely.
Production moved to Grand Rapids in 1918 and ended in 1919. Total Hackett output has been estimated at only 118 cars, so it's quite possible that none exist today.
A wrench lying in the middle of the floor just won't do.
This shop reminds me of the place I worked as a mechanic in the 80-90's. It used to be a Ford dealership garage in the 1920s. It looked just like this inside. Are those gas fired overhead lights? They don't look electric. I wonder how many Hacketts are still around?
[Yes, they are gaslights. - Dave]
On Shorpy:
Today’s Top 5