FLUCKIGER, Albert

FLUCKIGER, Albert. (Huttwil, Canton Bern, Switzerland, April 27, 1880--Dubuque, IA, Nov. 4, 1954). Fluckiger came to the United States at the age of fourteen and settled in Dubuque. He began his automobile business in 1914 at 2912 Central. (1) He chose to represent the Velle Agency because cars and parts were available in Moline, Illinois. Fluckiger erected a building at 450-498 Central in 1917 and established the FLUCKIGER MOTOR COMPANY. (2) He also owned and operated several farms and raised Palomino horses. (3)

In 1916 he relocated the business to the corner of Clay (Central Avenue) and 5th just south of the DUBUQUE COUNTY COURTHOUSE. The business then represented Mitchel, Franklin, Metz, National, Studebaker, Buick, Dodge, and Plymouth automobiles. It is believed he offered the first conditional sales contract in Dubuque--before any of the the national finance companies were formed. (4)

The company sold the City of Dubuque its first street washer--a cleaning machine which was capable of washing horse droppings off the roadways. During the teamsters strike of 1917, the company motorized the City of Dubuque with Republic Trucks. At one time, the company sold 42% of all trucks registered in Dubuque County. He sold a record of 700 new vehicles in one year. (5)

Locally, Fluckiger was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and served on the highway committee. (6)

---

Source:

1. "Fall Injuries Prove Fatal to Fluckiger, 74," Telegraph Herald November 15, 1954, p. 1

2. "Fluckiger Motor Company," Telegraph Herald, June 17, 1951, p. 8

3. "Fall Injuries..."

4. "Fluckiger Motor..."

5. Ibid.

6. "Fall Injuries..."