Conover (United States) - AllCarIndex

Conover Motor Company was an American automobile manufacturer based in Paterson, New Jersey, active from 1907 to 1912. The company was founded by Edwin K. Conover, who designed the vehicles produced by the firm. The cars were built by the Watson Machine Company, also located in Paterson, which specialized in manufacturing machinery.

The Conover automobile was characterized as a large and expensive vehicle, powered by a 35/40 horsepower four-cylinder Rutenber engine. It featured a shaft drive system and a tourer body, which had a unique design allowing the rear section to be removed, transforming it into a high-power runabout. The initial price of the Conover car was set at $3,475, a figure that did not allow for profit, as it was estimated that the Watson Machine Company would have needed to price the vehicles at approximately $9,000 to cover their production costs.

Despite the high-quality design and engineering, the Conover Motor Company faced significant financial challenges, resulting in the production of only about 25 units during its operational years. The Watson Machine Company, which played a crucial role in the manufacturing of Conover vehicles, continued to operate beyond the closure of the automobile division, maintaining its focus on wire rope machinery.