Barley Motor Car Co.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1916 |
| Founder | Albert C. Barley, Cloyd Y. Kenworthy, Karl H. Martin |
| Defunct | 1929 |
| Headquarters | Streator, Illinois; later Kalamazoo, Michigan , United States |
| Products | Roamer, Barley, Pennant automobiles |
Barley Motor Car Company operated as a producer of luxury vehicles, headquartered initially in Streator, Illinois before relocating to Kalamazoo, Michigan. The company manufactured the Roamer model from 1916 to 1929, the short-lived Barley between 1922 and 1924, and the Pennant during 1924–25.
History
In 1913, businessman Albert C. Barley took control of the assets from Streator Motor Car Company, the successor to Erie Motor Carriage Company, which had been manufacturing the Halladay since 1905. Barley Manufacturing Company continued producing Halladay vehicles at the Streator facility.
Roamer Motor Car
Seeking to transition from electric to gasoline automobiles, New York auto dealer Cloyd Y. Kenworthy joined forces with Barley and automotive designer Karl H. Martin to establish a premium car brand. In September 1916, they founded Barley Motor Car Company in New York with an initial capital of $50,000, later increasing it by $760,000 to acquire the assets of Barley Manufacturing.
Following the sale of the Halladay factory, production was shifted in 1917 to Kalamazoo’s former Michigan Buggy plant, a site previously utilized for manufacturing Michigan and Greyhound cars.
The Roamer, crafted by Martin and named after a famed racehorse, launched in 1916 as a sophisticated luxury automobile. It featured a nickel-plated grille inspired by Rolls-Royce designs. The first Roamer Six was a four-door touring model equipped with a 24-horsepower Continental six-cylinder engine.
Promoted as "America’s Smartest Car," Roamer earned acclaim through its racing achievements. Notably, in 1921, a Roamer fitted with a Rochester-Duesenberg engine set six speed records at Daytona Beach, driven by chief engineer L. F. Godspeed alongside racer Eddie Hearne.
By 1918, the Model C6 offered an enhanced 54-horsepower Continental engine available in eight body configurations, with prices ranging from $2,200 to $4,900 (adjusted for inflation). Customers could select from custom paint options. The 1920 Model D4 Touring featured a robust 75-horsepower four-cylinder Duesenberg engine and was priced up to $5,400. By 1922, production focused solely on the Model 6-54.
A corporate restructuring in 1924 established Roamer Motor Car Company in Toronto under George P. Wigginton's leadership, aiming to move manufacturing operations to Ontario. Despite this plan, Barley maintained ownership of the Kalamazoo plant and continued as a board member; production remained at Kalamazoo.
In 1925, Roamer transitioned from Continental engines to an 88-horsepower Lycoming eight-cylinder powerplant in the Model 8-88 offered across seven body styles; however, sales did not meet expectations. By 1926, with difficulties faced by Rochester-Duesenberg and unavailability of Lycoming engines, Barley—serving as Roamer's president—acquired Rutenber Motor Company along with its Logansport manufacturing facility; the Barley family held substantial ownership stakes.
As market dynamics shifted away from assembled luxury automobiles, Roamer's production ended in early 1929.
Barley Motor Car
In 1922, the firm introduced the Barley, an affordable vehicle line named in honor of the company’s president. The initial Barley Model 6-50 was unveiled in September, featuring a Continental six-cylinder engine producing 50 horsepower and a 118-inch wheelbase. It was available in both torpedo and sedan body styles. By 1923, the lineup expanded to include Sport and Touring Sedan variants, with prices ranging between $1,395 and $2,250.
Facing modest sales, the Barley was subsequently renamed the Pennant and fitted with a Buda four-cylinder engine, targeting the taxi industry. Its primary rival in this segment was the Checker, also headquartered in Kalamazoo. The Pennant stood out with its unique maroon and ivory paint scheme. Production of both the Barley and Pennant ceased by 1925.