Recently, Eberhardt Motors in Egypt, Whitehall Township, observed its 90th anniversary, a milestone for a family-owned and operated business.

As a customer for more than 50 years, this writer stopped in to speak to current owner, Eric Eberhardt, and a number of customers, many oldtimers, who shared their memories of the past, especially the trusty Plymouth, no longer manufactured by the Chrysler Corporation.

The Chrysler Corporation was founded by Walter Percy Chrysler who, as a young man, worked in a locomotive machine shop.

A man with mechanical talent, he would enter the automobile industry. He worked for General Motors at a Buick plant and later took over the Maxwell Motor Company, producing the first Chrysler in 1924.

When he saw Henry Ford phase out his Model T for a new Model A, Chrysler decided to meet the competition and produce a low-priced economy automobile.

He named it Plymouth. When you view an early logo of Plymouth, there it is the Mayflower, sailing to Plymouth through high seas and stormy weather, bringing the Pilgrims to a new land of opportunity.

The Plymouth would be a trailblazer in the relatively new automobile industry and the Eberhardt family would proudly sell and service the trusty vehicle to thousands of loyal and satisfied customers, including this writer's family.

The Plymouth was formally presented to the public in 1928 in Madison Square Garden in New York City, a spectacular viewing, indeed.

The new automobile made its entrance bearing a famous American whose name has been forgotten by many.

There she was, with a warm and radiant smile, Amelia Earhart, who had just completed a successful transatlantic airplane flight.

She was probably the best known and most popular lady of the era. Amelia spoke on Plymouth's behalf.

Later, 30,000 people came to see the new car when it was presented at the Chicago Coliseum.

What were some facts about the new Plymouth?

Well, it was a four-cylinder, a common feature of many current cars. The price was a real bargain at $670.

It possessed a number of new features, including four-wheel hydraulic brakes, independent hand brakes and aluminum alloy pistons.

Soon folks were visiting Theodore F. Eberhardt's Egypt garage to purchase the new automobile.

Chrysler representatives would visit the dealers dressed like Pilgrims. No one ever heard of a bad Pilgrim.

Many skeptics wagered Plymouth would fail. They were wrong. In five years, Plymouth moved into second place, much to the chagrin of Henry Ford.

The Great Depression caused many automobile companies to close their doors.

The Plymouth survived the Depression because the few dollars consumers had saved were spent on this less-expensive automobile.

In 1932, Plymouth was the only car in the shaken industry to improve sales from 1931.

Theodore F. Eberhardt faced the Depression with hope and determination.

When the Depression ended, Eberhardt's business survived but soon the clouds of conflict hung over a frightened and confused world.

World War II was on the horizon and as with all good Americans, the Eberhardts answered their nation's call.

***

Next, World War II changes America.