Checker Car Club of America

In 1919, Commonwealth Motors of Joliet, Illinois starts to sell their nickel-alloy steel cars to a few taxi companies. It uses the Commonwealth frame and a body by the Lomberg Auto Body Manufacturing Company.

 

Later that year, Morris Markin loans $15,000 to Commonwealth to allow for the production of the Mogul Taxi.

 

In 1920, Checker Taxi Cab Company of Chicago orders taxis from Commonwealth. These cabs now use bodies built by Markin Auto Body Corp.

 

By 1921, Commonwealth enters bankruptcy and is taken over by Markin. In July 1922, Markin announces that the company is now called the Checker Cab Manufacturing Company.

 

He decides to move the company from Joliet to Kalamazoo, Michigan.