Founded in April of 1932, Jackman Automotive Group, otherwise known as “JAG”, is now known for their main four brands: Jackman, Premier, McAllen and Gibbens. However, Jackman started life as a big-time saddle manufacturer, much like how Holden started.
Jackman Saddle Company was founded in 1876 in Houston, Texas by a man named Leo Jackman Harris who had served in the American Civil War. His only son, T.L. Harris, became a partner and effectively managed the finances of the company, while Leo would be making designs for saddles, saddle bags and even blankets. Later down the line, Leo’s grandson, Arthur Jackman, would join the company in 1918, with a keen interest in automobiles and motorcycles alike.
From here on out, Jackman Saddle Company would be renamed to Jackman & Harris LTD and the company would evolve through many partnerships, mainly serving in repairing interior upholstery before becoming moving into producing motorcycles for Harley Davidson and Indian, to name a few companies they worked for. With Arthur Jackman now leading the company, he would finally start moving into the automotive business in 1928, producing car bodies for many customers, including Chevrolet. Finally, in 1931, Jackman would start producing their own vehicles, although these vehicles are all lost to time as they were all scrapped, with the last one being scrapped in 1969, and no photographs other than deteriorated brochures exist anymore.
Now, we move to the Gibbens Motor Company, founded in 1946 by war veteran James Gibbens with the goal of competing against many companies in races, including the likes of Cisalpina. (God, I hope I can even have Cisalpina kind of prominent in my lore…) Gibbens started out with the barn-built Model R-75, custom made to compete in the Gasmean Super Sprint, although James never ended competing in this event himself, his son Cole had subsituted for him, placing a close second, behind what he thought was a Cisalpina, although it was actually some custom made racer with no badging that happened to look similar in the rear to one, ultimately sparking the “fierce” rivalry with them.
Photo of James Gibbens, then CEO of Gibbens Motor Co. driving the first Model R-75 he hand-built in a barn-type building on the main road of Wharton, Texas.
With a podium position secured in the Gasmean Super Sprint, the CEO of Jackman, a now aging Arthur, approached James with an offer.
“I was out in the audience for that race out in Gasmea that you took place in, and I wanted to come to you with a proposal.” Arthur said politely. “I would like to loan you two and a half million so you may fund a factory of your own so you can build your race cars with the most freedom you want, however I would like a majority stake in the stocks of your company.”
James had started pondering the offer. Was it worth it? The money could provide him with a small factory and work force to where he can make the vehicles he pleased, but he had a feeling that he would be giving up the freedom of designing whatever he wanted to, mainly to go against Cisalpina.
Arthur then said in a soft but attention-grabbing tone, “I can assure you that your place in my company will stay as a sports and racing division, being at the very top performance-wise. You have my word, and so will your children who will be the future leaders of your company.”
James would think again, but it seems Arthur is a man of his word. Hell, he somehow kept the saddle-making business alive for his father, even when horses have been out of fashion for what seemed like an eternity.
James would finally say a word. “Y’know what, Mr. Jackman? I think you have a deal, mister. Two and a half million for a factory and some employees to build whatever the hell I please, your words.”
Arthur would smile and shake Jame’s hand firmly, saying; “Yes sir, you have my word, you build whatever you think shall win the hearts of your customer base, and I won’t intervene.”