EMF (United States) - AllCarIndex

The Everitt-Metzger-Flanders Company, commonly known as E.M.F., was an American automobile manufacturer based in Detroit, Michigan, that operated from 1908 to 1912. The company was founded by three individuals with significant experience in the automotive industry: Barney Everitt, a successful carriage and coachbuilder; William E. Metzger, a skilled salesman known for his contributions to Cadillac; and Walter Flanders, who had previously served as Henry Ford's production manager.

E.M.F. utilized the facilities of two former car manufacturers, Northern and Wayne, to produce their vehicles. The company introduced a 30-horsepower, four-cylinder car that was conventional in many respects, except for its combined gearbox and rear axle, which proved to be problematic. This led to some negative perceptions of the brand, with competitors coining phrases such as "Every Morning Fixit" and "Every Mechanical Failure" to describe the vehicles.

Despite these challenges, E.M.F. gained traction in the market, attracting the interest of Studebaker, which sought a more affordable vehicle to complement its lineup. In 1909, Studebaker agreed to purchase half of E.M.F.'s production, which was initially projected at 12,000 units. The actual output for that year reached 8,132 cars, including 172 produced in 1908. E.M.F.'s production increased significantly over the following years, ranking fourth in U.S. automobile production in 1910 with 15,300 units, second in 1911 with 26,827 units, and third in 1912 with 28,032 units.

In May 1909, Everitt and Metzger, dissatisfied with the agreement with Studebaker, departed to create their own vehicle, the Everitt. Flanders remained with E.M.F. for a time and, with Studebaker's assistance, acquired the factory of the defunct De Luxe car to produce a smaller four-cylinder model named after himself. Throughout its four-year existence, the E.M.F. model saw minimal changes, although the initial thermosyphon cooling system was replaced with a water pump due to reliability issues. In 1912, Studebaker fully acquired E.M.F., and subsequent vehicles were marketed under the Studebaker name. The original partners later reunited in the 1920s to manufacture the Rickenbacker.