Benjamin Briscoe was born on May 1, 1867, in Detroit, Michigan. He grew up during a time of rapid industrialization in the United States, which would later shape his career. Details about his early education are not extensively documented, but his upbringing in Detroit, a burgeoning hub for industry and innovation, played a significant role in his future endeavors.
Briscoe entered the business world at a young age, initially working in the family business, which was involved in sheet metal manufacturing. This experience provided him with practical business skills and an understanding of manufacturing processes. His entrepreneurial spirit soon led him to explore opportunities in the rapidly developing automotive industry.
In 1903, Benjamin Briscoe co-founded the Maxwell-Briscoe Company with Jonathan Dixon Maxwell. The company quickly became one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the United States, known for producing affordable and reliable vehicles. Briscoe’s business acumen and Maxwell’s engineering expertise complemented each other, contributing to the company’s success.
The Maxwell-Briscoe Company played a significant role in making automobiles accessible to the American public. Under Briscoe’s leadership, the company expanded its production capabilities and introduced several innovative manufacturing techniques. By 1909, Maxwell-Briscoe was producing thousands of vehicles annually, making it one of the leading car manufacturers in the country.
In 1910, Briscoe attempted to create a large automotive conglomerate called the United States Motor Company by merging several automobile manufacturers, including Maxwell-Briscoe. However, this ambitious venture faced significant financial difficulties and ultimately failed, leading to the dissolution of the United States Motor Company in 1913. Despite this setback, Briscoe’s efforts highlighted his vision of a consolidated automotive industry.
After the failure of the United States Motor Company, Briscoe continued his involvement in the automotive industry. He moved to France and founded the Briscoe Frères company, which produced cars primarily for the European market. He returned to the United States and launched the Briscoe Motor Corporation in 1913.
By late 1921, Briscoe decided to retire.
After the war, Briscoe and a group of others developed a new process for refining crude oil. He then went to Montreal, Quebec, Canada, as an executive in an oil company later taken over by the Texas Company (Texaco). Later he was involved in gold mining in Colorado. About 1940 he retired to a 3,000-acre plantation in Marion County, Florida, where he experimented in growing tung trees. Briscoe died in 1928 at age 78 in his home near Dunnellon, Florida.
Benjamin Briscoe married Minnie Bronson and had a family. His personal life, much like his professional life, was marked by his entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to take risks.
Benjamin Briscoe passed away on June 26, 1945, in Detroit, Michigan. His life was characterized by his significant contributions to the early automotive industry and his relentless pursuit of innovation and business growth.
Briscoe’s impact on the automotive industry is significant, despite the challenges he faced. He was a pioneering figure whose ventures helped shape the early landscape of automobile manufacturing in the United States. His efforts to innovate and consolidate the industry paved the way for future advancements and set a precedent for the large-scale automotive enterprises that would follow.
Briscoe Motors Corporation
A few months after his departure from the United States Motor Company in 1913, Briscoe established Briscoe Freres, a manufacturing plant in Billancourt, France to design and manufacture the first automobile in France built by American methods, The Ajax was the result and built between 1913 and 1919. It was a 12hp cyclecar with 980 cc 4-cylinder engine with friction drive. It sold for ₤78. Production there was cut short when his factory was used for shell manufacturing during World War I.
In 1914, production continued after the Briscoe returned to the United States and built the Argo car, which was similar to the Ajax. The company made its debut near its corporate office at the New York Automobile Show in January 1914. The 1914 and 1915 Briscoe automobiles had a four-cylinder engine and a lightweight body made of a compostion papier-mache material. Their most unusual feature was a single “cyclops” headlight set in the radiator shell, but this was soon abandoned because it was illegal in a number of states. The seating arrangement in the 1915 Briscoe Roadster utilized a “cloverleaf” arrangement making it possible to carry three passengers.
In 1915, Briscoe offered what he called “The First French Car at an American Price.” Briscoe claimed that the car had been designed by a French design studio. It featured a single headlamp in the front, faired into the radiator shell. The auto was priced at US$750.00 but this price did not include a top, windshield, or starter. The company also produced the Argo, the Hackett, and the Lorraine.
Briscoe automobiles sales figures increased each year of production until 1920.
Briscoe Motors Corporation was based in New York City on Broadway and 59th Street. The manufacturing plant was located in Jackson, Michigan and made between 1914 and 1921. The marque was discontinued in 1923.