Cameron (United States)

Cameron was an American automobile manufacturer that operated from 1903 to 1920. Founded by brothers Everitt S. and Forrest F. Cameron, the company had a notably transient history, with seven different locations over its 17 years of operation. The brand initially began as United Motor Co. in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, before transitioning through several names and locations, including the James Brown Machine Corporation and Cameron Car Company, with production sites in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

The Cameron brothers had prior experience in the automotive industry, having worked on steam cars such as the Eclipse and Taunton before establishing their own brand. The first Cameron vehicle featured a 6-horsepower single-cylinder air-cooled engine and was distinguished by its shaft drive, a rarity for the time. The initial production occurred in a facility owned by the James W. Brown Textile Machine Company, although the cars were marketed under the Cameron name. Following a change in ownership at the Brown company, the Camerons relocated to Brockton, Massachusetts, where they resumed production with the introduction of their 1907 models, which included 16 and 24-horsepower four-cylinder engines.

In 1908, the company moved to Beverly, Massachusetts, to accommodate growing production needs. By 1909, they introduced their first six-cylinder model, a 30/36 horsepower vehicle. The peak production year for Cameron was 1911, during which they manufactured over 600 cars. However, in 1913, the company faced challenges due to a factory relocation to West Haven, Connecticut, which resulted in no cars being produced that year.

Cameron adopted water-cooling technology in 1914, featuring pointed vee-radiators in their designs. The onset of World War I severely impacted the company, leading to bankruptcy by the end of 1914. A portion of their factory was leased to Euclid Motor Car Company for the production of the Euclid cyclecar, a project in which Everitt Cameron was involved. After a hiatus, the brothers attempted to revive the brand in 1919, producing around 120 cars before ceasing operations in 1920. Following the closure, Forrest Cameron pursued a new venture in Cleveland, while Everitt focused on marine and aeronautical engine design and manufacturing.