The 1920's marked the decline of many streetcars in service. The slow and noisy beasts had hard wooden seats, erratic coal stoves, and poor interior lighting. People began deserting the trolleys and buying automobiles.

But the streetcar companies had invested heavily in the archaic system and needed find a way to retain riders. In 1929 the presidents of leading streetcar companies formed the Electrlc Railway Presidents' Conference Committee, which was soon shortened to President's Conference Committee, or PCC. This group had one purpose: develop a streetcar that people wanted to ride.

Design engineers and staff were hired and they went to work to create the streetcar of tomorrow. In 1934 the first concept cars were ready for field testing. That same year the transit Industry's convention was held In Cleveland. Three experimental PCC cars were on display, and later operated over the local streetcar system.