Capable Motors Co.
is dedicated to bringing quality, powerful utility trucks and cars to the workers of the USA. You know how capable our Capable cars are, featuring the latest capabilities in off-road driving, heavy delivery, and safety. Capable cars have been serving farmers getting their crops to market, for construction workers hauling bulk materials to new building developments, and families who wish the safest for their children. With every Capable car, our capable workers put pride into their craft to bring the highest capability vehicles to you.
But how did Capable Motors Co. get here, building the most capable vehicles on the roads today? Keep reading and find out as we dive into the founding of the most capable vehicle company on the market.
Capable Motors Co. was founded on March 12th, 1924 by Idaho farmer Edwin Brummer. Edwin, born 1895, who had grown up on his family’s farm outside of Nampa, had seen the struggles of everyday farmers and workers in the Northwest. Farmers relied almost entirely on horse pulled wagons to transport crops to the city market. Workers couldn’t move to find better jobs, and were stuck in low-wage jobs. In 1916, Edwin enlisted in the US Army and travelled to Portland, to Los Angeles, and took the train to New York to take the ferry to France a year later. The Capable founder served as a chef behind the front lines, providing meals to the soldiers. After the armistice was signed in November 1918, Edwin decided to stay in Paris for a while. Paris was a bustling metropolis, completely different to his rural home town of Nampa. Within the years after the end of the war, automobiles became big in France, with cutting edge race cars being built there. Edwin studied these cars, learning the knowledge necessary to build his own cars in Boise. In 1921, Edwin moved back to Nampa. For the next few years, he worked in mechanic shops to gain the funds necessary to start up and build his own company. This was achieved on March 12th, 1924, when Capable Motors Co. was founded.
For the first four years after Capable was founded, Capable Motors Co. performed mechanical and repair work for a variety of cars. This made a small amount of money, however to due to the small amount of automobiles in the state of Idaho, Capable Motors Co. did not achieve the funds necessary to begin commercial vehicle production. In May of 1926, Capable Motors Co. negotiated a loan of $5,000 and bought a small plot of land in Seattle. A factory and repair shop was built on the plot, and machining tools were soon brought in. At this point in time, Capable Motors Co. consisted of 30 workers, including 20 mechanics, 6 engineers, 2 janitors, and 2 executives. Plans were drawn up for Capable’s first commercial vehicle: the Capable Carrier. With this truck, the workers and farmers of America would have a cheap, reliable, and capable vehicle.
The first Carrier rolled off the assembly line on September 2nd, 1928. Over its 8 year production run, 9,604 Carriers were built. Due to the market crash and recession that started in 1929, sales were below expectations. Because Capable Motors Co. was such a small company with little investments of its own, the company was able to survive the recession without many losses, due in part to its mechanical repair shops. Over the decade, many new engineers and mechanics were hired to build more Carriers, as well more machining tools and another plot of land.
While the Carrier was the first Capable vehicle, it was surpassed in the pick-up truck market by most other vehicles. It was an adequate vehicle capable of moving from one place to another, but its suspension was stiff, the interior lacked any comforts outside the seat, which was made with cheap materials, the sound insulation was poor, and the quality could only be described as adequate. Small improvements were made to the vehicle over the next 8 years, such as more finely tuned suspension, more detailed body panel cuts, and improving the shape of the seats.
Fun fact: The cost of the first Capable Carrier was $440. This was dropped to $420 in 1930. Due to the increased cost of the improvements made to the model in the 30’s, in 1933 the price had risen to $425. The last Carriers were built in 1937, when it sold for $370.
In 1934, it was decided to start the engineering process of a new pick-up truck. Much like the Carrier, it was a pick-up truck designed for farmers and workers to carry goods around. The new truck, called the Capable Pusher, was larger, more reliable, faster, and more capable than the Carrier in every way. It didn’t posses the stiff suspension of the Carrier, the uncomfortable seats, or the poor sound insulation.*
The first Pusher rolled off the assembly line on September 3rd, 1936. Carrier production was converted to the Pusher in quick manner. It was received by the public in a warmer light than the Carrier. It could carrier a good amount of cargo and could travel on dirt well enough. It still wasn’t as comfortable as other trucks though, part of which is due to cost-saving measures. The seats were lined with the cheapest linen money could be, the steering well was rough, but the gearbox was easy to shift.
Things took a turn for the worse in 1939 when Germany invaded Poland. War had started in Europe, and with the United States’s allies the United Kingdom and France declaring war on Germany, the government shipped large amounts of materiel to the United Kingdom and France. The United States government deployed many military contracts for vehicle manufacturers, and Capable Motors Co. secured a $4,000,000 contract to produce a light truck for use in military logistics and transportation. This new truck which was to serve on the front lines transporting military hardware, medical supplies, ammunition, and food would need to far outshine the Carrier and Pusher. Soldiers’ lives depended on this.
20 new engineers, most of which had a military hardware background, were hired. The planning and design of this new Capable truck was overseen with the greatest precision and enormity. During this time, new land near the Seattle factory was purchased, as well as upgrading the original Capable repair shop in Boise to produce spare parts and tools necessary for the war effort.
On November 13th, 1940, the Capable Puller debuted. It featured room for 3 in the front and 6 on the cargo bed, thick wheels, a 1.5 ton cargo capacity, and a powerful 45 horsepower engine. All construction of the Pusher was converted to the new military truck, and by December 1941, 3,500 were built. Until June 1941, 1,000 were sent to the United Kingdom. Following the German invasion of the Soviet Union, most of the Pullers were sent to the Soviet Union via the Pacific Ocean.
The trucks were only somewhat enthusiastically received. The Pullers were extremely uncomfortable, even more so than the Jeep, and there were reports of soldiers complaining of piles and back pain. In March of 1942, after receiving complaints from soldiers, the Puller was upgraded with softer seats. This increased the price per vehicle, and the Puller went over budget due to this. Overall it was adequate and capable of hauling military hardware and cargo. It was mostly used for hauling ammunition, guns, and uniforms from the factories in the Urals to the frontlines. It also pulled artillery pieces.
President of Capable Motors Co., Edwin Brummer, served in meetings with the War Production Board. As a trusted industry manager, he was consulted and gave out advice to the War Production Board in regards to automobile manufacturing for the war effort. During the war, 24,135 Pullers were produced. Many Capable Pullers assisted the Red Army in the siege of Berlin. Throughout the war, 12,000 Capable Pullers were sent to the Soviet Union. 11,135 were used by the United States Army and Navy, and served in North Africa and the Pacific Campaign.
With peace came a great feeling of joy to all people of the world. With the ending of the military contracts Capable Motors Co. had signed and the high cost of production of the Puller compared to civilian trucks, production of the Puller was stopped in November 1945. A cheaper version of the Puller, called the Puller C, was made from November 1945 to May, 1948.
In May 1948, three vehicles were introduced at the same time… The Capable Cruiser, Capable Heaver, and Capable Hauler.
*sound insulation guidelines vary by company.
