Nyberg Automobile Works
Anderson, IN & Chattanooga, TN
After graduating from technical school in Sweden, Henry Nyberg immigrated to the United States. He settled in Chicago and produced a car that was made completely from his own design in 1903. After getting some financial backing he was able to move into a brand new building at the corner of 30th Street and Michigan Ave, Chicago in 1904. The business was primarily a repair shop, but the intention was to produce cars. After several years in the repair business, Nyberg was able to secure enough capital to start building cars.
ABOVE: A Nyberg driven by Harry Endicott in the 1913 Indianapolis 500.
In 1911, Henry Nyberg moved to Anderson, IN and began production on a 4 cylinder car before the end of the year. In 1912 the company introduced a 6 cylinder model and opened a plant in Chattanooga, TN. Work was steady until September of 1913.
Due to being underfunded the Nyberg Company had to declare bankruptcy. Henry blamed the Anderson flood of 1913 for his troubles, but with a factory in Chattanooga, he was just using the flood as an excuse.
After reorganization, and a couple of different owners, the Anderson plant began turning out cars again in March of 1915. The Nyberg name was gone, the cars made there were called Dolly Madisons, but Henry Nyberg was running the plant again. The name was shortened to just Madison in 1916 when they decided that “Dolly” was too cute to be a good name for a car. Madison production lasted until 1919.
By: Chris Breeden
