1905 Original Factory

Pre-1910 Expansion View

1913 Expanded Factory

All Images Courtesy of George Covey

      New Way was a manufacturer of stationary "Hit and Miss" type gas engines and circular saws for farm use.

      New Way Motor Company was born out of "The Clarkmobile Company" in 1905. The first photo shows the 1905 factory which actually had one end partitioned off as an office {C140 Catalog refers}. Apparently, very small beginnings for a fledgling company with big ideas. They later moved to new premises in Sheridan, Lansing, Michigan which were expanded again c1910 to cope with demand. The second photo shows the plant as it was c1913 and comes from the New Way D16 Catalog.

      The Canadian New Way Motor Co., a branch of the New Way Motor Co., of Lansing, Mich., capitalized at $50,000, is being established at Welland, Ont., and will start with 100 employees (1910).

      The "New-Way" Motor Co., Lansing, Mich., lays great stress on the size and condition of its plant, which reflects a healthy business. The growth of the plant has been very steady, and each year has shown a marked increase in productive efficiency. The plant is fitted with every convenience for the benefit of the employees, with abundance of light, good ventilation, a good up-to-date heating plant, with a model factory system of handling all work with the least possible delay. The first factory was a one-story frame building, 25x125 feet, with a small portion in one end partitioned off for an office. In this limited space the first "New-Way" engine was built, carefully inspected, tested and shipped. The success of the first few engines sent out was so great, and they gave such excellent satisfaction, that it was only a short time before the orders began to come so rapidly that larger quarters had to be leased in order to take care of the trade. The business increased to such an extent that permanent quarters were necessary, and the company built the first reinforced concrete building in Lansing, on Sheridan street, in 1905, with about 24,000 square feet of floor space. Each year since additions have been made and new machinery installed, until at the present time the "New-Way" plant is one of the largest and most efficient gasoline engine factories in existence. The "New-Way" idea of engine construction is considerably along the lines of automobile building. All cylinders are ground; the engine has an enclosed crankcase, which prevents all dust and dirt from getting in and wearing out the bearings. It is air-cooled and of original design. The people in the frozen fields of Alaska use the engine at a temperature of 60 degrees below zero; the people of Australia and South Africa use it in temperatures where the thermometer registers 100 above in the shade. This is ample proof of the quality and efficient cooling of the "New Way" system, backed by the present large output and capacity of an up-to-date factory. The "New-Way" air-cooled engine is sold through dealers only—the "New-Way" Co. having always been loyal to the dealer and opposed to catalogue-house competition. The product is a high-class, reliable article and a specialty, and a line that every dealer can handle with success without fear of competition. The "New-Way" engine is now world-renowned; carload orders are being received from foreign countries and the export shipments increase yearly. Ten years ago the "New-Way" engine was an unheard-of article. Today it makes little difference where the traveler goes, he will be able to find a "New-Way" air-cooled engine doing business to the entire satisfaction of its owner. The "New-Way" Motor Co. is represented by responsible agents in different countries of the world and in every part of America, and any dealer desiring information in regard to the line can obtain it by writing the "New Way" Motor Company, of Lansing, Mich.

Information Sources

• George Covey runs a separate web site devoted to New Way Stationary Engines, which includes a blog, a registry of existing engines as well as several publication reprints that can be downloaded. For more information, visit the New Way Station web site.
• The Complete Guide to Stationary Gas Engines by Mark Meincke, 1996 page 149
• The Implement age, Volume 42, 05 Jul 1913, pg. 26
• The Iron Trade Review, Volume 46, 02 Jun 1910, pg. 1075