In 1885, Byron Carter established the Steam Job Printing and Rubber Stamp Manufacturing business in at 167 Main St., Jackson.

Responding to the problem of other friction-drive cars failing in wet conditions, he developed an aluminum friction disc with a cardboard traverse wheel lining.

[4] In 1905, Carter found financial backing from Detroit for the Cartercar and relocated the company to Pontiac, Michigan.

Durant liked the car's friction drive, and thought Cartercar would have a great future, and so General Motors bought the company on October 26, 1909.

[7] Carter's death was the impetus for Charles Kettering and Henry M. Leland to develop the electric self-starter.