B. Bartholomew started with the Avery Company in Galesburg, Illinois on December 8, 1879 driving a team to haul lumber for a US$1.10 per day.

He had for the prior ten years been in Des Moines, Iowa, managing one of the Avery Co. plants, and where he also built up a small side business, the Bartholomew Company, to manufacture popcorn and peanut roasters and wagons.

They stopped making single- and two-cylinder engines in 1906, and in 1907 they added a 50/60 hp 6-cylinder Model H. This was mounted on a 132 inches (3,400 mm) wheelbase and sold for US$3500.

The cars were sold through dealers in Des Moines, New Orleans, Boston, San Francisco, New York City, Butte (Montana), Washington D.C., Indianapolis, Allegheny (Pennsylvania), Wausau (Wisconsin) and Montreal.

[4] The Model H was made for only two years, and from 1909-1915 the cars featured a 4-cylinder, 45 hp (34 kW) engine, shaft drive, and several bodies including roadster or tourer makes.

[3]: 630 In 1920, as competition from Buick and Studebaker increased,[3]: 630  Bartholomew decided to bring the plant into the Avery Company fold and it was utilized to manufacture trucks.