Edward J. Powers, Sr.  joined the company in 1898 as a new employee and a year later bought a substantial share in the firm.  Mr. McCabe retired in 1923, his partner, Edward J. Powers, Sr., bought his stock and became president of the company.  

In the next few years, vehicle bodies were built for many uses and for all types of motor powered chassis.  Many vehicles were horse drawn.  The electric and the steamers came and went. Gasoline buggies took over.  In 1928 and 1929, Edward J. Powers, Sr.. brought his two sons into the firm to learn the business in the traditional way, working up through various jobs in manufacturing, marketing, and administration.

See a sample of correspondence from Edward J. Powers, Sr. to James H. McCabe. This letter discusses purchases and a hope to keep costs down in the new sale. PDF or JPG.

In 1930 the company began making all-steel, all-welded commercial type truck bodies.   The earliest were general use vehicles but at the end of Prohibition, the company began building fleets of beer delivery trucks.  Mr. Powers, Sr., had turned the company from wagons and carriages to gasoline powered vehicle bodies.  The new focus became specialized truck bodies for installation and maintenance of electric, power, gas, telephone, and water companies.