Thomas Motor Company Complex, 1200 Niagara Street, c. 1906. Image source: private collection.
Thomas Motor Company Complex, 1200 Niagara Street, c. 1906. Image source: private collection.
Edwin Ross Thomas (1851-1936) was a Buffalonian who began his career as a bicycle manufacturer just as the
gasoline-engine era began. In the space of a few years he moved from bicycle manufacturing to making
motorcycles, to building a 1-cylinder automobile in 1899.
2006 Google Earth photo of the Thomas plant today, now owned by Rich Products.
2006 Street-level view of the former Thomas plant, 1200 Niagara Street. Now owned by Rich Products.
In his large complex on Niagara Street, Thomas began building expensive, high-powered automobiles he called the
"Thomas Flyer." His main competitor
was contemporary entrepreneur George Pierce, who built the Pierce-Arrow automobile.
2006 Front entrance showing inset "E.R.Thomas"
The Thomas Flyer made its claim to fame when its 1907 model 35 was entered at the last moment in the 1908
New York to Paris Race. The 4-cylinder, 70-horsepower vehicle was one of 5 vehicles to make the trip and the only
American entry. Thomas employee and Springville native George Schuster was the only member of the Thomas crew
to complete the entire 170-day, 12, 427 land mile trip. The Thomas Flyer won the race and Thomas sales increased
as a result of the advertising, from 816 automobiles in 1908 to 1,035 in 1909.
1906 advertisement from the Buffalo Automobile Club Tour Book. Image source: private collection.
E.R. Thomas sold the failing company in 1911 to a financial firm that tried to save it. But by
1913, a bankruptcy sale was held and nearly all that remained of the company was its
factory complex, adaptively re-used in 2006 by the Rich Products Corporation.
Also extant were Thomas Flyers, one of which has been acquired by James &
Mary Ann Sandoro and is on display at their Buffalo Transportation Pierce-Arrow
Museum.