Thursday, July 25, 2019

Erney Tire Company



From about 1921 to 1931, the Erney Tire Company sold and serviced tires for automobile owners in the Sandusky area. Norbert G. Erney was the president and general manager.  In the early 1920s, the business was at 163-165 Jackson Street. In 1921, they sold Miller tires, especially for Ford cars. Staff from the company would deliver and install new tires to any automobile within a fifteen mile radius of the store. 

In April of 1927, the company moved to a new building at 919 West Washington Street. A special newspaper supplement devoted to the Erney Tire Company appeared in the April 8, 1927 issue of the Sandusky Star Journal.


Ackley’s Band provided music for the grand opening of “Sandusky’s Finest Automobile Service Station.” Services offered there included tires, road service, vulcanizing, tubes, washing, greasing, gasoline, oils, and brake service. By 1929, the company also sold and serviced radios for automobiles. It was felt that having a radio in one’s automobile helped prevent boredom on a long road trip, and provided a diversion from the roar of the motor and the rumble of the tires.


In 1931 the Erney Tire Company began selling Firestone tires and batteries. By the summer of 1931 a Firestone Service Store took over the business. Below is a portion of the large advertisement from the July 25, 1931 issue of the Sandusky Register.



Mr. Norbert G. Erney went on to work as an accountant at Farrell Cheek for several years, but he was long remembered for his excellent leadership and service at the Erney Tire Company when the automobile era was still in its infancy.

1 comment:

  1. Outstanding article about Erney Tire Co, and it's owner Norbert Erney. My dad's mother was an Erney, and Norbert was either an uncle or a cousin of ours. My dad played the drums in Ackley's band until he married in 1924, so I'm sure Dad played at the opening of the first Erney Tire store. Norbert and his wife Silvani attended a reception at our house in 1962 when my wife and I returned from our wedding in Connecticut. Norbert's daughter (or niece??) Silvia was in my class at St. Mary's school.

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