Charles H. Metz took over the failing Waltham Manufacturing Company in 1908. The company had built bicycles and a few 3 and 4-wheeled cars since 1893. To revive sales, Metz decided to offer cars as kits. From 1908-1911, a customer could order 14 crates of parts ($25 each) and assemble a car worth $600 for only $350.

The kit sales faded and Metz sold fully-assembled cars until 1921. In 1914, a Metz Model 22 Roadster was the first car driven to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. The trip of 1,400 miles was made by the Metz distributor in Los Angeles, with no major repairs needed.