Oxford Body Company
July 14, 1917 (OPL) -- The Oxford Body Company is the name of a new company organized for the purpose of taking over and operating the Excelsior Seat Company’s plant, which is located in the suburbs of Oxford, and was operated by the Excelsior Seat Company of Columbus, Ohio, as their Southern branch until the European war interfered with that line of business. Its resumption after a close down of two years means much for Oxford. The members of the new company are: C. W. Bryan and C. S. Garman, of Oxford; the Excelsior Seat Charles O. Mainor, of Cincinnati, Ohio each owning one-fourth of the stock, and is operating with an |
authorized capital of $50,000. The Oxford members of the firm are two of our best business men, and the Excelsior Seat Company is one of the most successful concerns in the country. Mr. Charles O. Mainor, secretary and general manager of the new company, is a native of North Carolina, who learned the trade of body making with the well-known Tyson and Jones Buggy Company, at Carthage, Moore County, with whom he was connected for nineteen years, seven of which he served as draftsman and designer. When the automobile business made it unprofitable to manufacture heavy carriages, Mr. Mainor went west and got into the automobile body game and successfully managed the Carriage Woodstock Company, of Owenboro, Kentucky, but more recently was the factory manager of the Highland Body Company of Cincinnati, the oldest and largest truck and commercial body manufacturers in the world. The new company will build a complete line of buggy bodies and seats for the trade, and later will turn their attention to the manufacture of automobile bodies. Mr. C. S. Garman, the well known wheel man and splendid citizen of Oxford, will sell the output, and Mr. Mainor will have immediate charge of the factory. The officers of the company are: C. W. Bryan, president; W. B. C. Hersey, vice-president; Charles O. Mainor, secretary and general manager, and C. S. Garman, treasurer and sales manager. Mr. Mainor is a splendid gentleman and has already made many friends in Oxford. He is the guest of the Exchange Hotel and Mrs. Mainor will join him there in a few days.
December 31, 1935 (OPL) -- Oxford Body Company is preparing to fit 25 new Chevrolet chassis with new bodies before the machines are placed in service of schools in North Carolina. The machines have been shipped to Oxford for final equipment and will be driven from here to various counties in the state to which they have been allotted. Names of counties to which they will be sent already are painted on the side of the yellow bodies. A total of 150 new buses are being sent to schools this week. Seventy-five Dodge trucks and 50 Chevrolets were sent to Hackney body factory in Wilson.
February 9, 1937 (OPL) -- One of the most luxurious and sturdily constructed house cars ever seen on the streets here has just been completed by Oxford Body Company and demonstrated by C. O. Mainor, manager of that company. Although the Oxford Body company has been building house cars in connection with their school bus and truck body business for several years, this is the most complete and compactly designed machine yet made here, it was said. This machine, custom built for a local tobacco buyer, is 23 feet long, and is constructed on dual wheels. The body is of sheet steel and is insulated to increase its comfort in winter and summer. The interior of the car includes sleeping quarters for four, an abundance of storage space, clothes closet, heat, electric lights, gas stove, water storage tank and pump for filling the large sink, sleeping space on the outside and in the rear of the car for a man servant. The car has air brakes to increase the safety of its operation. On top, a special roller has been installed which enables the easy transportation of a custom built mahogany speed boat, driven by outboard motor. When not in use, the double beds are folded and provide lounges. The sink and stove are concealed beneath nickel copper covered cabinets, which are convenient work tables when the car is in use or when traveling. Mr. Mainor left Monday with the car and will place it in the annual show of the National Tin Can Tourists Association in Sarasota, FL., before delivering it to the purchaser in Florida.
June 29, 1937 (OPL) -- Oxford Body Company, of which C. O. Mainor is the manager, has developed a steel body for bottlers which is meeting widespread favor. The newest pattern of the body is equipped with doors and the body is in particular demand in northern states where the climate is severe in winter. The bottlers beat the bodies to prevent drinks from freezing while being delivered. Mr. Mainor, referred to the general improvement, in business on Monday, saying that his concern had shown an improvement of 50 per cent over last year in volume of business. Boddie Trucking Company yesterday left with a load of bodies for Rochester, NY.
March 15, 1940 (OPL) -- Oxford Body Company, operating at full capacity, this week declined to accept orders for school bus bodies because the capacity of the plant here already is overtaxed. The manager of the fir, C. O. Mainor, and the salesman, Floyd parker, have both recently returned from Wilmington, Del. Where they went to close orders for bottlers’ bodies, which for the present the firm is making to the exclusion of school bus bodies. Oxford Body Company, in the past four or five years, has turned almost entirely from wood iron bound bodies to steel bodies. The firm, during the past three weeks, has purchased 100,000 pounds of steel for use in manufacturing bodies. High-class skilled labor is required for the work in the Oxford factory and it is not possible, Mr. Mainor said, to call in extra help when a larger personnel might be used to advantage for a few days.
June 18, 1940 (OPL) -- Oxford Body Company Monday, June 10, completed its 1940 model all-steel school bus body and early Tuesday the vehicle left Oxford headed for Baltimore and the Southern Baptist Convention. The new bus, designed and produced in the plant of Oxford Body Company, is equipped with tubular frame seats sufficiently large to seat three children. There is a row of seats of each side of a center aisle. Windows in the bus are made under British patents and will stay put at any point. The door, controlled from the driver’s seat, is of split type and is so designed that children’s hands may not be mashed in the door. C. O. Mainor, manager of Oxford Body Company, who explained the construction of the body, said it was by far the finest and best the Oxford firm had ever made. Mr. Mainor and Floyd Parker, salesman for the company, carried the vehicle to Delaware where it was approved for use in the school system of that state. Ministers who were given the free ride to Baltimore with Mr. Mainor and Mr. Parker were Rev. M. L. Banister, Rev. G. Van Stephens, and Rev. W. D. Poe of Oxford, Rev. E. Norfleet Gardner of Henderson and the Baptist pastor at Clarksville, VA. Mr. Mainor and Mr. Parker returned via Baltimore and brought their ministerial party back to their homes here.
January 28, 1941 (OPL) -- Oxford Body Company is now working full time and has on hand sufficient orders to keep the factory busy until April, C. O. Mainor, manager of the firm, stated yesterday. Mid-winter is usually a slack season for Oxford Body Company, Mr. Mainor explained, but the firm is now engaged in manufacturing bodies for bottle drink distributors in many states. Production at the factory has been slowed during the past few days because of illness among members of the personnel.
May 2, 1941 (OPL) -- Part of an order of 13 bottler’s bodies of steel construction has been delivered by Oxford Body Company to the purchaser at Salem Depot, New Hampshire, C. O. Mainor, manager of the company said yesterday. Mr. Mainor, Willis Boddie and a colored man returned the later part of the week after a trip to New Hampshire where they delivered three of the bodies. Floyd Parker and T. G. Powell are now en route to New Hampshire with two more. Mr. Mainor and Mr. Boddie stopped over in Boston and attended a big league ball game en route home by train.
May 20, 1941 (OPL) -- Additional deliveries of bottler’s bodies have been made by Oxford Body Company to purchasers in new England and orders are piling up from other parts of the country, C. O. Mainor, manager of the Oxford industry reported yesterday. Mr. Mainor and J. C. Adcock returned during the past week and D. S. Fuller, Jr. and Thomas Parham returned during the week end from a trip to New England where they delivered trucks and bodies. Floyd Parker and Frank Barnhardt, the latter of Henderson, now are en route to New England. Richmond Coca-Cola Bottling Company, operators of about 40 bottling plants, last Friday mailed to the Oxford firm an order for 12 new bodies, making a total of 50 or 60 which this firm alone has purchased.
May 17, 1942 (OPL) -- A substantial block of stock of Oxford Body Company has been sold by C. O. Mainor, manager of the business for 25 years, to Benjamin K. Lassiter, prominent Oxford attorney, it was revealed here yesterday. Mr. Mainor is continuing in his former capacity as secretary, treasurer and manager of the business. Mr. Lassiter was not in the city Monday and could not be reached for a statement. The possibility loomed, however, that transfer of the stock might mean that the firm would be operated in the future on a larger scale, possibly entering the field of defense production, with new capitalization. Mr. Mainor, now nearly 70 years of age, came to Oxford 25 years ago and since that time has been managing the business, which first produced buggies, then truck bodies and more recently has engaged in the construction of school bus and bottler’s bodies. “My advancing age and many new and perplexing situations in the business world brought about my decision to dispose of my interest in Oxford Body Company,” Mr. Mainor commented yesterday. “The firm has made money and the past year was one of the best we’ve had in ten years, but at the present time the difficulties in getting materials and curtailment of supplies of soft drinks and truck chasis has cut seriously into our business, although we have some work on hand at the present time,” he added. Other stockholders of the firm are C. W. Bryan, H. B. Bryan and Floyd Parker. Parker for a number of years has been actively identified with the operation of the business.
December 31, 1935 (OPL) -- Oxford Body Company is preparing to fit 25 new Chevrolet chassis with new bodies before the machines are placed in service of schools in North Carolina. The machines have been shipped to Oxford for final equipment and will be driven from here to various counties in the state to which they have been allotted. Names of counties to which they will be sent already are painted on the side of the yellow bodies. A total of 150 new buses are being sent to schools this week. Seventy-five Dodge trucks and 50 Chevrolets were sent to Hackney body factory in Wilson.
February 9, 1937 (OPL) -- One of the most luxurious and sturdily constructed house cars ever seen on the streets here has just been completed by Oxford Body Company and demonstrated by C. O. Mainor, manager of that company. Although the Oxford Body company has been building house cars in connection with their school bus and truck body business for several years, this is the most complete and compactly designed machine yet made here, it was said. This machine, custom built for a local tobacco buyer, is 23 feet long, and is constructed on dual wheels. The body is of sheet steel and is insulated to increase its comfort in winter and summer. The interior of the car includes sleeping quarters for four, an abundance of storage space, clothes closet, heat, electric lights, gas stove, water storage tank and pump for filling the large sink, sleeping space on the outside and in the rear of the car for a man servant. The car has air brakes to increase the safety of its operation. On top, a special roller has been installed which enables the easy transportation of a custom built mahogany speed boat, driven by outboard motor. When not in use, the double beds are folded and provide lounges. The sink and stove are concealed beneath nickel copper covered cabinets, which are convenient work tables when the car is in use or when traveling. Mr. Mainor left Monday with the car and will place it in the annual show of the National Tin Can Tourists Association in Sarasota, FL., before delivering it to the purchaser in Florida.
June 29, 1937 (OPL) -- Oxford Body Company, of which C. O. Mainor is the manager, has developed a steel body for bottlers which is meeting widespread favor. The newest pattern of the body is equipped with doors and the body is in particular demand in northern states where the climate is severe in winter. The bottlers beat the bodies to prevent drinks from freezing while being delivered. Mr. Mainor, referred to the general improvement, in business on Monday, saying that his concern had shown an improvement of 50 per cent over last year in volume of business. Boddie Trucking Company yesterday left with a load of bodies for Rochester, NY.
March 15, 1940 (OPL) -- Oxford Body Company, operating at full capacity, this week declined to accept orders for school bus bodies because the capacity of the plant here already is overtaxed. The manager of the fir, C. O. Mainor, and the salesman, Floyd parker, have both recently returned from Wilmington, Del. Where they went to close orders for bottlers’ bodies, which for the present the firm is making to the exclusion of school bus bodies. Oxford Body Company, in the past four or five years, has turned almost entirely from wood iron bound bodies to steel bodies. The firm, during the past three weeks, has purchased 100,000 pounds of steel for use in manufacturing bodies. High-class skilled labor is required for the work in the Oxford factory and it is not possible, Mr. Mainor said, to call in extra help when a larger personnel might be used to advantage for a few days.
June 18, 1940 (OPL) -- Oxford Body Company Monday, June 10, completed its 1940 model all-steel school bus body and early Tuesday the vehicle left Oxford headed for Baltimore and the Southern Baptist Convention. The new bus, designed and produced in the plant of Oxford Body Company, is equipped with tubular frame seats sufficiently large to seat three children. There is a row of seats of each side of a center aisle. Windows in the bus are made under British patents and will stay put at any point. The door, controlled from the driver’s seat, is of split type and is so designed that children’s hands may not be mashed in the door. C. O. Mainor, manager of Oxford Body Company, who explained the construction of the body, said it was by far the finest and best the Oxford firm had ever made. Mr. Mainor and Floyd Parker, salesman for the company, carried the vehicle to Delaware where it was approved for use in the school system of that state. Ministers who were given the free ride to Baltimore with Mr. Mainor and Mr. Parker were Rev. M. L. Banister, Rev. G. Van Stephens, and Rev. W. D. Poe of Oxford, Rev. E. Norfleet Gardner of Henderson and the Baptist pastor at Clarksville, VA. Mr. Mainor and Mr. Parker returned via Baltimore and brought their ministerial party back to their homes here.
January 28, 1941 (OPL) -- Oxford Body Company is now working full time and has on hand sufficient orders to keep the factory busy until April, C. O. Mainor, manager of the firm, stated yesterday. Mid-winter is usually a slack season for Oxford Body Company, Mr. Mainor explained, but the firm is now engaged in manufacturing bodies for bottle drink distributors in many states. Production at the factory has been slowed during the past few days because of illness among members of the personnel.
May 2, 1941 (OPL) -- Part of an order of 13 bottler’s bodies of steel construction has been delivered by Oxford Body Company to the purchaser at Salem Depot, New Hampshire, C. O. Mainor, manager of the company said yesterday. Mr. Mainor, Willis Boddie and a colored man returned the later part of the week after a trip to New Hampshire where they delivered three of the bodies. Floyd Parker and T. G. Powell are now en route to New Hampshire with two more. Mr. Mainor and Mr. Boddie stopped over in Boston and attended a big league ball game en route home by train.
May 20, 1941 (OPL) -- Additional deliveries of bottler’s bodies have been made by Oxford Body Company to purchasers in new England and orders are piling up from other parts of the country, C. O. Mainor, manager of the Oxford industry reported yesterday. Mr. Mainor and J. C. Adcock returned during the past week and D. S. Fuller, Jr. and Thomas Parham returned during the week end from a trip to New England where they delivered trucks and bodies. Floyd Parker and Frank Barnhardt, the latter of Henderson, now are en route to New England. Richmond Coca-Cola Bottling Company, operators of about 40 bottling plants, last Friday mailed to the Oxford firm an order for 12 new bodies, making a total of 50 or 60 which this firm alone has purchased.
May 17, 1942 (OPL) -- A substantial block of stock of Oxford Body Company has been sold by C. O. Mainor, manager of the business for 25 years, to Benjamin K. Lassiter, prominent Oxford attorney, it was revealed here yesterday. Mr. Mainor is continuing in his former capacity as secretary, treasurer and manager of the business. Mr. Lassiter was not in the city Monday and could not be reached for a statement. The possibility loomed, however, that transfer of the stock might mean that the firm would be operated in the future on a larger scale, possibly entering the field of defense production, with new capitalization. Mr. Mainor, now nearly 70 years of age, came to Oxford 25 years ago and since that time has been managing the business, which first produced buggies, then truck bodies and more recently has engaged in the construction of school bus and bottler’s bodies. “My advancing age and many new and perplexing situations in the business world brought about my decision to dispose of my interest in Oxford Body Company,” Mr. Mainor commented yesterday. “The firm has made money and the past year was one of the best we’ve had in ten years, but at the present time the difficulties in getting materials and curtailment of supplies of soft drinks and truck chasis has cut seriously into our business, although we have some work on hand at the present time,” he added. Other stockholders of the firm are C. W. Bryan, H. B. Bryan and Floyd Parker. Parker for a number of years has been actively identified with the operation of the business.