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{{for|the lawyer and dean of [[Liberty University School of Law]]|Mathew Staver}}
{{short description|Defunct American motor vehicle manufacturer}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Staver Carriage Company
| logo = 1912 Staver-Chicago emblem from Staver brochure.jpg
| logo_size = 180px
| logo_caption = 1912 Staver-Chicago emblem from brochure
| image = 1905 Staver factory advertisement in The Hub magazine.jpg
| image_size = 280px
| image_caption = Staver factory in 1905 from advertisement
| industry = [[Coachbuilder]], [[Automotive]]
| founded = {{Start date and age|1899}}
| founder = Henry C. Staver
| defunct = {{end date and age|1914}}
| fate = Closed
| hq_location = [[Chicago, Illinois]]
| hq_location_country = [[United States]]
| key_people = Henry C. Staver, Harry B. Staver, Dan C. Teetor
| products = automobiles
| production = 7,092
| production_year = 1906-1914
}}

The '''Staver''' and '''Staver-Chicago''' was an American [[Brass Era car|Brass Era]]  [[automobile]] manufactured at 76th and Wallace Streets in [[Chicago, Illinois]], by the '''Staver Carriage Company''' from 1906 until 1914.<ref name=":0">{{Kimes-USCars3rd}}</ref><ref>{{Georgano-EncAuto3v}}</ref>  

== History ==
'''Staver Carriage Company''' was organized after the 1896 bankruptcy of the Staver-Abbott Carriage Company,  by Henry C. Staver in 1899.  In 1905 Staver began an expansion of their [[carriage]] factory and also began developing a [[High wheeler|high-wheel]] automobile that would be introduced in late 1906.  Henry C. Staver died in 1907 and his son Harry B. Staver became president of Staver Carriage Company.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g-JDcnTuy34C&q=staver |title=The Hub |date=1905 |publisher=Trade News Publishing Company |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Adolphus |first=David Traver |date=September 23, 2018 |title=The Staver Carriage Company |url=https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/the-staver-carriage-company |access-date=2022-11-23 |website=www.hemmings.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XgFGAQAAMAAJ&q=staver |title=The American Vehicle |date=1907 |publisher=Chas. B. Sherron |language=en}}</ref>

The company's initial '''Staver''' automobile was an 18/20-[[Horsepower|hp]] high wheeler, with a [[Stanhope (carriage)|stanhope]] body.  Larger, more powerful and more expensive at $1,000 ({{Inflation|US|1000|1907|fmt=eq}}) than most high-wheelers, it was fully equipped with top, side curtains, storm front, lights and toolbox. As Models C and D, it debuted at the 1907 [[Chicago Auto Show]] and approximately 200 were sold into 1908.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MnTPHt_y9qIC&q=staver |title=Automobile Trade Journal and Motor Age |date=1906 |publisher=Chilton Company |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1RVaAAAAYAAJ&q=staver |title=The Automobile |date=1907 |publisher=Chilton Company |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uzcjAQAAMAAJ&q=staver |title=Motor |date=1907 |publisher=Hearst Corporation |language=en}}</ref>

Production was turned over to conventional automobiles with a two-cylinder 20-hp [[Roadster (automobile)|roadster]] in 1909 and [[Straight-four engine|four-cylinder]] models beginning in 1910.<ref name=":0" />  Staver purchased 500 American & British Manufacturing Company four-cylinder engines designed by [[Charles F. Herreshoff]].  Poor manufacturing resulted in a lawsuit that lasted until 1914.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Court |first=Illinois Appellate |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RhQsAQAAMAAJ&q=%22staver+carriage+company%22 |title=Official Illinois Appellate Court Reports |date=1915 |publisher=Legal Division, Pantagraph Printing |language=en}}</ref>  Teetor engines from the Light Inspection Car Company designed for Staver, were used from 1910.  In 1912, Dan C. Teetor became chief designer for Staver until 1914.<ref name=":1" />
[[File:Harry L. Curran in a Staver automobile in the autodrome at Riverview Exposition, Chicago LCCN2007682337.jpg|thumb|280x280px|Harry L. Curran in a Staver automobile in the autodrome at Riverview Exposition, Chicago]]
With the introduction of the 4-cylinder automobiles, Staver's were advertised as '''Staver-Chicago''' models.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ijQ-AQAAMAAJ&q=staver |title=The Motor World |date=1910 |publisher=Motor World Publishing Company |language=en}}</ref>  Staver became very active in [[Motorsport|motorsports]] and reliability runs and participated in the [[Elgin, Illinois|Elgin]] National Road Races, [[Algonquin, Illinois|Algonquin]] Hill Climb, Chicago's 1,400 mile Reliability Run, many [[Board track racing|board races]] and culminating in the Around Lake Michigan runs in 1911 and 1912.  [[Gus Monckmeier]], Chester Cheney, Emery Knudsen, Harry L. Curran and Ralph Ireland were all drivers for Staver.  Ralph Ireland died in a practice run when his Staver-Chicago burst a tire at Elgin.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xk4Nos_HRZkC&q=staver |title=The Automobile |date=1910 |publisher=Class Journal Company |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U_g_AQAAMAAJ&q=staver |title=The Motor World |date=1910 |publisher=Motor World Publishing Company |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gasAAAAAMAAJ&q=staver |title=Motor Age |date=1910 |publisher=Class Journal Company |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HCMfAQAAMAAJ&q=staver |title=Motor World |date=1911 |publisher=Chilton Company |language=en}}</ref>  Munckmeier had a perfect score for Staver in the 1911 Around Lake Michigan trial, but was later suspended along with Staver from [[American Automobile Association|AAA]] events for a year, when it was found the winning Staver-Chicago car was not stock.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2yYfAQAAMAAJ&q=staver |title=Motor World Wholesale |date=1912 |publisher=Chilton Company |language=en}}</ref>  

For 1912 Staver-Chicago was dropped and all cars were again advertised as '''Staver'''.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=56cyAQAAMAAJ&q=staver |title=Cycle and Automobile Trade Journal |date=1912 |publisher=Chilton Company |language=en}}</ref>  Staver's were mid-priced in the $1,650 to $2,250 (between ${{formatprice|{{inflation|US|1,650|1912}}}} and ${{formatprice|{{inflation|US|2,250|1912}}}} in {{inflation/year|US}}{{inflation/fn|US}}) range with [[Limousine|limousines]] priced up to $3,500 ({{inflation|US|3,500|1912|fmt=eq}}).{{inflation/fn|US}}<ref name=":0" />   

1914 Models were introduced early in March 1913 and included the new [[Straight-six engine|six-cylinder]] Staver of 70-hp, priced as a [[touring car]] at $2,750, {{Inflation|US|2,750|1913|fmt=eq}}.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" />  Production for cars ended in June 1914, and carriages later in the year.<ref name=":0" />  Staver Carriage Company continued as a property company for a few years, leasing the Staver factory to [[Partin Manufacturing Company (automobile company)|Partin Manufacturing Company]] and other automobile manufacturers.<ref name=":0" />  The factory and automobile equipment transferred to [[Studebaker]] in 1917 in a property swap.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dcINAQAAMAAJ&dq=%22staver+carriage+company%22&pg=RA37-PA30 |title=Chicago Commerce |date=1916 |language=en}}</ref>

== Models ==
<gallery widths="220" heights="200">
File:1906 Staver 18-20hp Cycle and Automobile Trade Journal article.jpg|1906 Staver 18/20-hp Model D
File:1911Staver-Chicago.jpg|1911 Staver-Chicago 30-hp Model T
File:1913 Staver article in Automobile Topics.jpg|1913 Staver 35-hp Inglewood Touring Car
File:1914 Staver Model 65 - Official Handbook of Automobiles.jpg|1914 Staver 70-hp Model 65 Touring car
</gallery>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year
!model
!style
!cylinder
!Power (hp)
!Wheelbase (in)
!Body
|-
|1907-1908
|Model D
|
|2
|18/20
|78
|Stanhope buggy 2 seater
|-
|1909
|Style 20
|
|2
|24
|86
|Runabout 2-seater
|-
|1910
|30 HP
|Model H
|4
|30
|112
|Touring car 5-seater
|-
|1910
|30 HP
|Model I
|4
|30
|112
|Torpedo 5 seater
|-
|1910
|30 HP
|Model J
|4
|30
|112
|Surrey 4 seater
|-
|1910
|30 HP
|Model K
|4
|30
|112
|Baby tonneau 4-seater
|-
|1910
|45 HP
|Model L
|4
|45
|116
|runabout
|-
|1910
|45 HP
|Model M
|4
|45
|117
|touring car
|-
|1911
|30 HP
|Model B
|4
|30
|112
|Baby tonneau 4-seater
|-
|1911
|30 HP
|Model F
|4
|30
|112
|Fore-Door Touring Car 5 seater
|-
|1911
|30 HP
|Model R
|4
|30
|112
|Torpedo Roadster 5 seater
|-
|1911
|30 HP
|Model RR
|4
|30
|112
|Racing roadster 2 seater
|-
|1911
|30 HP
|Model T
|4
|30
|112
|Touring car 5-seater
|-
|1911
|35 HP
|Model I
|4
|35
|112
|roadster
|-
|1911
|35 HP
|Model I
|4
|35
|117
|5-seater touring car, 5-seater fore-door touring car
|-
|1911
|40 HP
|Model R
|4
|40
|124
|7-seater touring car, 7-seater fore-door touring car, coupé , sedan
|-
|1912
|35 HP
|Model B
|4
|35
|112
|Fore-Door Touring Car 5 seater
|-
|1912
|35 HP
|Model B.T
|4
|35
|112
|Baby tonneau 4-seater
|-
|1912
|35 HP
|Model C
|4
|35
|112
|Coupe
|-
|1912
|35 HP
|Model D
|4
|35
|112
|limousine
|-
|1912
|35 HP
|Model F
|4
|35
|120
|Fore-Door Touring Car, Special
|-
|1912
|35 HP
|Model R
|4
|35
|112
|Torpedo Roadster 5 seats
|-
|1912
|35 HP
|Model RR
|4
|35
|112
|Racing roadster 2 seater
|-
|1912
|40 HP
|Model F
|4
|40
|124
|Fore Door Touring Car
|-
|1912
|40 HP
|Model L
|4
|40
|124
|limousine
|-
|1912
|40 HP
|Model RR
|4
|40
|124
|Racing roadster 2 seater
|-
|1912
|40 HP
|Model T
|4
|40
|124
|Touring cars 5-seater and 7-seater
|-
|1913
|30 HP
|
|4
|30
|120
|Algonquin Speed Roadster
|-
|1913
|35 HP
|
|4
|35
|124
|Englewood Touring Car 5-seat, Englewood Limited Touring Car 5-seat, Edgewater Touring Car 5-seat, Newport Touring Car 5-seat, Greyhound Speed Roadster 4-seat, Beverly Touring Car 5-seat, Berkley Tonneau 4-seat, Lakeport Roadster, South Shore Colonial Coupe, North Shore Sedan
|-
|1913
|40 HP
|
|4
|40
|124
|Dictator touring car 5-seater
|-
|1914
|45 HP
|Model 45
|4
|45
|118
|5-seater touring car, 2-seater roadster
|-
|1914
|55 HP
|Model 55
|4
|55
|120
|Touring car 5-seater, Speedster 2-seater
|-
|1914
|65 HP
|Model 65
|6
|70
|138
|Touring cars 5-seater and 7-seater
|}

== Production ==
Production figures total 7,092 vehicles.<ref name=":0" /> 
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year
!production
|-
|1907
|213
|-
|1908
|374
|-
|1909
|426
|-
|1910
|816
|-
|1911
|1,110
|-
|1912
|1,316
|-
|1913
|1,410
|-
|1914
|1,427
|-
|total
|7,092
|}
About five Staver vehicles still exist.  

== Advertisements ==
<gallery widths="180" heights="220">
File:1910 Staver-Chicago advertisement in Cycle and Automobile Trade Journal.jpg|1910 Staver-Chicago advertisement in Cycle and Automobile Trade Journal
File:1911 Staver-Chicago advertisement with Harry B. Staver in the Motor World.jpg|1911 Staver-Chicago advertisement with Harry B. Staver in Motor World
File:1912 Staver advertisement in Motor Field.jpg|1912 Staver advertisement in Motor Field
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/hf14/hershey/lots/r244-1909-staver-model-er-roadster/182058 1909 Staver Model ER RM Southbys]
* [https://digitalcollections.detroitpubliclibrary.org/islandora/search?f%5B0%5D=mods_subject_topic_ms%3A%22Staver%20Carriage%20Company%22 DPL Digital Collection - Staver Carriage Company]
* [https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/the-staver-carriage-company Hemmings article - The Staver Carriage Company]
{{Commons category|Staver vehicles}}

[[Category:1900s cars]]
[[Category:1910s cars]]
[[Category:Brass Era vehicles]]
[[Category:Highwheeler]]
[[Category:Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Illinois]]
[[Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States]]
[[Category:History of Chicago]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in Chicago]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in Illinois]]
[[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1906]]
[[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1914]]
[[Category:1899 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:1914 disestablishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:Cars introduced in 1906]]
[[Category:Cars discontinued in 1914]]