History We ALL Love a DARE! PIX of TRULY Extinct Makes?

So, Jim, what is your gut feeling? The grille, rear end and top don't look the same. But the wheels, wheelbase and other details do look right. The AMERICAN Douglas, out to prove itself in its initial year, maybe?



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Good job on the quick search, SunRoofCord!

 

Bristol is not in America so I would question the Douglas Cycle Car being an American Douglas?

 

Great Grandparents 1912 Kissel Kar:

 

So, if I follow, you're saying you doubt the Douglas in Post #3336 is the AMERCIAN Douglas car make, correct?

 

Here's my grandads's Mercury speedster in the early 20's

 

I think this is the british one. License tag, no brakes on front and the other one has three lug wheels.

 

Okey-dokey, thanks! And I do have to say that this
'19 Douglas from Omaha is one strange-looking beast!

 

This should get AJ's & SunRoof's blood pumping: '22 Mercer raceabout.
CELEBRITY SIGHTING? Is that Buster Keaton under the straw hat??? LOL

 

We have shown examples of Saxon motor cars before, but I
LOVE vintage photos showing REAL people in period settings
and dress with the original cars! Herewith!!!



1915 Saxon Model 14, Detroit. This GREAT vintage photo was submitted
for ID by a member of the Surrey Vintage Vehicle Society. The pic appears
on the organization's website, and I thank them sincerely for a wonderfully
NOSTALGIC look back into the past!

 

That sure looks like the great stonface hisself !

 

What is amazing to me is he looks the same in 1925 as he did in the 1960s.

 

That is a great picture. What a nice car.

 

Henrys first company from 1899 to 1901 was the Detroit Motor Company. That company made 20 cars then went broke. Do any of these cars exsist? Also of interest, his next effort, The Henry Ford Co., I'm not sure how many cars it made before it also went broke, turned into the Cadillac Motor Co.

 

Detroit Automobile Company
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From Wikipedia

Founded; August 5, 1899

Defunct; November 20, 1901

Fate; Reorganized

Successor; Henry Ford Company

The Detroit Automobile Company (DAC) was an early American automobile manufacturer founded on August 5, 1899, in Detroit, Michigan. It was the first venture of its kind in Detroit. Automotive mechanic Henry Ford attracted the financial backing of three investors; Detroit Mayor William Maybury, William H. Murray, and Senator Thomas W. Palmer. As with many early car ventures, the company floundered and was dissolved in January 1901. Twenty vehicles were built and $86,000 ($2.11 million in 2007) of investment was lost.

The company was founded with a paid-up capital of $15,000 ($369,205 in 2007). Henry Ford managed the manufacturing plant at 1343 Cass Avenue, Amsterdam in Detroit; initially with no pay until he left his job at the Detroit Edison Company, after which he was given a monthly salary of $150 ($3,692 in 2007). He refused to put a car into production until he had perfected it to his satisfaction, infuriating investors who quickly began to lose confidence in Ford's ability to bring a product to market. The company's primary objective was to make a profit for its investors, who had seen the Oldsmobile plant, where the Curved Dash Oldsmobile was built which was profitable for its owner Samuel Smith.

The company's first product was a gasoline-powered delivery truck engineered by Ford and completed in January 1900. It received favorable coverage in a local newspaper, but was not without its flaws; it was slow, heavy, unreliable and complicated to manufacture. Later in life, Ford recalled this period as one that was driven by profit rather than innovation.
A catalog produced by Detroit Automobile Company in 1900 showed, with a cost analysis, that the automobile was cheaper to maintain and operate than a horse and vehicle. Little is known about the company's designs.

A catalog produced by Detroit Automobile Company in 1900 showed, with a cost analysis, that the automobile was cheaper to maintain and operate than a horse and vehicle.<sup id="cite_ref-founding_3-2" class="reference"></sup> Little is known about the company's designs.

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Table 1. Detroit Automobile Car Costs

<sup id="cite_ref-founding_3-3" class="reference"></sup>​

</th> </tr> <tr> <th colspan="2">

Automobile​

</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Original cost</td> <td>$1,000</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Cost of operating, ¹<big>&#8260;</big>₄ cents per mile, 25 miles per day</td> <td>$114</td> </tr> <tr> <td>New tires</td> <td>$100</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Repairs</td> <td>$50</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Painting vehicle four times</td> <td>$100</td> </tr> <tr> <td>
</td> <td>$1,364

</td> </tr> <tr> <th colspan="2">

Horse and Vehicle

​

</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Original cost, horse, harness and vehicle</td> <td>$500</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Cost of keeping horse five years</td> <td>$1,200</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Shoeing the horse</td> <td>$180</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Repairs on vehicle, including rubber tires</td> <td>$150</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Repairs on harness, $10 per year</td> <td>$50</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Painting vehicle four times</td> <td>$100</td> </tr> <tr> <td>
</td> <td>$2,180

</td> </tr> </tbody></table> The Detroit Automobile Company later became the Cadillac Company under ownership of Henry Leland, who came in subsequently after Ford had left.<sup id="cite_ref-Ford1922_7-1" class="reference"></sup> It was reorganized into the Henry Ford Company on November 20, 1901, after Ford gained further backing from investors because of his racing success.<sup id="cite_ref-founding2_8-1" class="reference"></sup>




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The Henry Ford Company

From Wikipedia

<!-- bodyContent --> <table class="infobox vcard" style="width: 22em; text-align: left; font-size: 88%; line-height: 1.5em;" cellspacing="5"> </table>The Henry Ford Company was the second company for Henry Ford, founded November 3, 1901. It resulted from the reorganization of the Detroit Automobile Company, his first unsuccessful attempt at automobile manufacture a year before. In March 1902, Ford left the company following a dispute with his financial backers, William Murphy and Lemuel Bowen. In a final settlement, Ford left with his name and 900 dollars; he went on to start the Ford Motor Company in 1903.

In August 1902, Henry M. Leland was brought in by the investors to appraise the plant and equipment prior to selling them. Instead, Leland persuaded them to continue in the automobile business. The Henry Ford Company reorganized that year as Cadillac in honor of Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, the founder of Detroit.

Cadillac's first car was completed on October 17, 1902, the 10 horsepower (7 kW) Cadillac. Based on Henry Ford's design (except for the engine, designed by Leland & Faulconer), it was practically identical to the 1903 Ford Model A.

Located in Detroit at the intersection of Clark Street and Michigan Avenue in a triangle of land bounded by the intersection of two railway lines, the original manufacturing plant remained in operation under Cadillac until the early 1990s, referred to as both "Cadillac Main" and "Cadillac Plant #1". During the last decade or so, the plant was gradually closed down—as the freight elevators in its multi-story assembly buildings were the cause of production bottlenecks, especially when one or more were shut down for mechanical failure (despite an outside maintenance contractor having an on-site office and elevator repair and service personnel).

In the late 1990s, Cadillac completely shut down all operations at that plant, and the land was leveled, to be redeveloped as an industrial park.

<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"></sup><sup id="cite_ref-founding_3-0" class="reference"></sup>

 

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="text-header">
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</td></tr></tbody></table>History of the Ford Motor Company

Henry Ford - early years

Henry Ford was born in Dearborn Michigan in 1863 and grew up on the family farm that was located outside of Detroit. At the age of 16 he walked into Detroit and obtained work at the Michigan Car Company Works which built streetcars. His father then arranged for him to train as an apprentice machinist. In 1881 he worked for a brief time for the Detroit Dry Dock Company. In the next year he returned to his father's farm operating a neighbor's steam traction engine and then worked at repairing these types of engines. In 1891 he moved to Detroit and took a position as a night operating engineer at a substation of the Edison Illuminating Company. In the following year he was responsible for the maintenance of the steam engines in the main Edison Illuminating Power Plant.

Although he was working with steam engines, Henry became increasingly interested in gasoline internal combustion engines. This led him to experiment with diffierent designs. He successfully operated his first simple one-cylinder gasoline engine in 1893. 1896 - His first automobile - the Quadricycle

In 1896 he built his first automobile. He called this vehicle the Quadricycle as it was a frame fitted with four bicycle wheels. Norman Rockwell later depicted Henry building his quadricycle in a painting he produced to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Ford Motor Company (see image at left). The Quadricycle was built in a shed at the back of the Bagley Street house where Henry and his wife lived. When it was ready to run he found that it was too wide to fit through the door. He was so eager to take it for a test run that he smashed bricks out of the wall to get it out.

Early in the morning of June 4, 1896, Henry took his new automobile for a test drive through the streets of Detroit. Initially it ran smoothly but after a few blocks it stalled due to some ignition problems. Nevertheless he was
pleased - after years of work he had achieved his goal of building a working automobile. This was not the first gasoline automobile to be produced but it was the first of a long line of Ford automobiles and the start of Henry's remarkable career as a automobile manufacturer. The Quadricycle was powered by a four stroke two-cylinder engine. [FONT=arial,helvetica]It was built on a steel frame with no body. The dash was made of wood, and the seat was covered in green cloth with metal arms. It had a very primitive clutch and tiller steering and Henry fitted it with a bicycle lamp and an electric bell. [/FONT][FONT=arial,helvetica]Click here to view the specifications of the Quadricycle.[/FONT]

To view additional photos of the Quadricycle - click here
[FONT=arial,helvetica]
[/FONT] 1899-1901 The Detroit Automobile Company

Shortly after building his Quadricycle Henry had the opportunity to meet Thomas Edison who offered encouragement to Henry in his efforts to develop his gasoline automobile. Henry began working on an improved version of his car and started to consider the possibility of manufacturing gasoline automobiles. He completed his second vehicle in 1898. With the assistance of the Detroit Mayor he met with local businessmen to discuss the financing of this endeavour. Henry took a local lumber merchant named William Murphy on a long drive in his car and convinced him to become a financial backer. With the funding provided by Murphy and his colleagues the Detroit Automobile Company was founded in 1899 with Henry Ford in the position of Superintendent.

The first product that was produced by the Detroit Automobile Company was a delivery wagon. This was completed in January 1900. It was demonstrated through the streets of Detroit and was well received. However Henry had only ever produced one vehicle at a time. This was too slow for the investors who were pushing for a variety of vehicles and were expecting to see profits in the short term. Several vehicles were produced but there were problems with the quality of the vehicles and the selling price proved to be too high. The company was wound up and officially dissolved in January 1901.

1901-1902 Henry's first race cars (Sweepstakes, "999") & The Henry Ford Company

Undaunted by these initial setbacks, Henry had noticed that other automobile pioneers had gained publicity and established their reputation by engaging in early automobile races. He therefore set his sights on building a successful race car. With help from his friends including some of the investors in the Detroit Automobile Company he built a light weight 2-cylinder race car.
The racer, now known as "Sweepstakes" produced 26 horsepower and was completed in mid-1901. Henry drove the racer at the Grosse Pointe equestrian track in a race against another early automotive pioneer Alexander Winton. While Henry drove the racer his friend Ed Huff hung onto the running board and helped to balance the car as it took the curves. Although his car was less powerful than his rival's racer, Henry won the race as Winton had to retire after problems with his car. The reward for winning the race was a cut-glass punch bowl and a $1000.

More importantly the race win brought Henry the attention and publicity he desired. On the back of Henry's enhanced reputation, Murphy and other backers of the Detroit Automobile Company formed a new company called The Henry Ford Company on November 30 1901. Henry was named Chief Engineer. The intial aim was to build a light-weight roadster to be sold at a price of around $1000. However, Henry still retained his interest in racing. Although some of the owners of the new company disapproved, Henry worked with his staff on the design of a new race car.

This time it was a substantial 4-cylinder racer - the famous 999 racing car. Tom Cooper contacted Ford and requested that he build him a racing car. On March 10th of 1902 Ford left the company. When he departed, Murphy and the other backers took charge. With the assistance of Henry Leland they reorganised the company under a new name, the Cadillac Automobile Company.

Henry arranged with Cooper to build two racers - the "999" for Ford and the "Arrow" for Cooper. Both of these cars were named after fast express trains of the period. When the 999 was ready to race, neither Ford or his colleagues wanted to take on the onerous task of driving it. It was a big and powerful racer for its time - it developed around 80 horsepower. Barney Oldfield was recruited to drive the car and won the Manufacturer's Challenge Cup that was held at Grosse Point on October 25, 1902. This success further enhanced Ford's reputation. The race was the beginning of a successful motor racing career for Oldfield who had easily beaten his competition which had again included Alexander Winton. Oldfield went on to become the most famous American race car driver of his generation.

1903 Formation of the Ford Motor Company & Production of the Model A Ford

In 1902 the well known Detroit coal dealer Alexander Malcomson had discussions with Henry about the manufacture of a lightweight vehicle of simple design. They entered an agreement to build this automobile with Henry effectively working as an employee. The first example of the automobile that Malcomson called the "Fordmobile" was designed and built before the end of the year. This first model produced by the Ford Motor Company became known as the Model A Ford and was a 2 cylinder car of simple design. It was manufactured by assembling a variety of parts purchased from various suppliers. This was a common practice at the time and many automobiles of this period shared common parts.

The operation was shifted into a building on Mack Avenue in Detroit in May 1903. They entered an agreement with various component suppliers including the Dodge brothers. After running into some difficulties with raising sufficient funds additional backers invested in this new enterprise. During a meeting on June 15 of 1903, at the suggestion of Malcomson, the name of the company officially became the "Ford Motor Company". On June 16th Articles of Association were filed. At the time there were twelve stockholders.

With this third automobile company Henry Ford finally achieved the success he was seeking. He was now 40 years of age. At first the new company struggled as it began operations with a subscribed capital barely sufficient to purchase the parts to begin operations. At the start the company would purchase parts and components on a 30 day cash basis and then build as many cars as possible in that time and sell them as quickly as possible. Through this practice the company was able to raise the working capital to meet the 30 day bills, pay the rent and staff and even realise some profit which could be reinvested in order to grow the business.

The Model A was powered by a two-cylinder engine. Final drive was by a single chain to the rear wheel and it featured a steering wheel - a rarity at the time when most vehicles were still fitted with tiller steering. It was a basic two-seater that could be converted to a four-seater tonneau model by adding a rear seat. The engine was fitted under the front bench and produced 8 hp. By producing this little car the Ford Motor Company was able to build a profitable business and compete successfully with the other automobile companies for marketshare. Within 3 months the fledgling company was on its feet and by the end of the year it was firmly established.

1904 The introduction of the Model B and Model C Ford

The Model C of 1904 was an updated version of the Model A. It had more modern styling and a slightly larger 2 cylinder engine that delivered 10 hp. The wheelbase of the Model C Ford was 6 inches longer than the Model A. The Model A had a hood/bonnet at the front but this was purely ornamental as the engine was still located beneath the front bench. The Models A and C were produced next to each other for a period and the Model A could be purchased with the Model C engine making it a Model AC. The Model C sold for the same price as the Model A - $850 as a two-seater and $950 as the four seater tonneau model. From 1904 to 1905 approximately 800 Model C Ford cars were produced.

The company produced a new type of automobile in 1904. Designated the Model B it was designed as a more luxurious touring car. At this time Ford produced 2 types of vehicles - the smaller car (the Model A then its successor the Model C) and the larger Model B. The Model B was the first Ford car to have a front-engine layout. The 4-cylinder engine produced 24 hp. The price was $2000, more than double that of the smaller Ford. The last of the Model B cars was sold in 1906 and during that time a total of 500 were produced. Sales were predictably slower than the smaller, cheaper Ford car. The successor to the Model B was the Model K.

1905 The launch of the Model F Ford.

The Model F Ford was introduced in 1905. It continued the model line that began with the Model A but was a larger and more luxurious car than the Model A or C. It had a four seater body with running boards and a 4 cylinder engine. The engine was still located under the front seat and the wheelbase was some 6 inches longer than the Model C. It was sold for $1000-1200 and was continued in production until 1906. A total of approx 1000 were produced. The demise of the Model F ended Ford's first model cycle that had commenced with the Model A.

1906 Model K Ford and the Model N Ford


The year 1906 saw the introduction of the 6 cylinder Model K Ford - the automobile that many regard as Ford's first failure. The car targeted the luxury market. The car was equipped with a large 6 cylinder engine and a two speed planetary transmission. The chassis had a 114 inch wheel base and could be ordered with a two seater (roadster) body or four seater touring body. The car did not sell as expected. It was expensive (priced at $2500 to $3000) yet it fell short of the quality expected for a car in this price range and there were ongoing problems with the engine and transmission. The Model K was produced from 1906 to 1908 and around 900 were produced.

The problems that the company suffered with this car were such that Henry swore never to attempt to produce another 6 cylinder car. Indeed when the company finally did adopt an alternative to the 4 cylinder engine in 1932 it turned to the V8 as the new engine. The technical problems with the car also influenced Henry's thinking about the type of automobile that they were producing. While most US companies were trying to match the European producers by producing expensive and complicated luxury cars, Henry became convinced that a simple automobile for the masses would be the key to success for his company. As a result of the failure of the Model K, Alexander Malcomson who had been a champion of producing luxury cars, left the company. This opened the way for Henry Ford to become the major shareholder and president of the company in 1906. He was then free to pursue his idea of producing a reliable and affordable car for the masses - the strategy that culminated in the design of the Model T Ford.

The other Model introduced in 1906 was the Model N. This car provided evidence of the direction that Ford was to follow in subsequent years. It was a relatively small and affordable car that was priced at less than half the price of the Model F. It featured an inline 4 cylinder engine that was located at the front of the car and was far more modern that the old flat twin engines that Ford had been using in the smaller models. It produced 15 hp. The car was reliable, easy to drive and proved very popular. A total of 7000 were produced between 1906 and 1908. Most were sold with a two-seater body. The success of this car helped to establish the reputation of the company as a manufacturer of inexpensive yet reliable automobiles.

1907 The Model R and S Ford

The Model R and S Ford cars were updated versions of the Model N. The Model R had the same engine and chassis as the Model N with minor changes. The body was somewhat larger. The Model R was produced for a short period in 1907 - from April to October and around 2500 were produced. The Model S Ford was also essentially an updated version of the Model N. It featured bodywork that was somewhat more elaborate than that featured on the Model N and R. The Model S was sold from 1907 to 1909, with a total of around 3750 produced in this period.

 

ASSEMBLING ROOM CADILLAC PLANT



This is the interior of a great automobile factory. Row after row of chassis are here to be seen. On the left hand, differentials and rear axles are being assembled. When this assembling is done, the chassis are equipped with the motors and the machine is set running while the wheels are off the floor. Then each chassis is equipped with the tester's seat and is given a trial drive before the body is put into place.

Not every automobile factory makes all its parts. In some plants these parts are merely assembled. That is, the ball bearings may be made in Philadelphia, the steel frame work in Pittsburgh, the tires in Akron, and so on. Each of these special factories may supply a number of automobile manufactories with its specialty, made according to certain specifications. The automobile factory puts these together, and so turns out a finished car.

Our output of these machines is increasing rapidly. In 1916 we made about 70% more than in 1915. In 1915 we produced 75% more than the year before. Most of our importations of rubber are for automobile tires. In 1915 we shipped into this country $159,000,000 worth of rubber. Gasoline by millions of gallons is needed to furnish motive power. Our whole industrial development has been changed by the automobile.

Motor trucks haul grain and livestock to market. They transport great loads or raw materials and finished goods in our cities. Traffic on our city streets has been completely changed. It moves far more swiftly than previously. Farmers are no longer several hours travel from cities. Distance has been shortened, and time gained by the introduction of this modern machine.

 

EXPERTS TESTING AUTOMOBILE ENGINES IN A DETROIT PLANT



In this room of a Detroit automobile factory the motors are tested before they are placed in the chassis. This is the last operation in assembling the motors. It is called the block test. You can see that the motor in front of the inspector is hitched to an electric motor. If the engine works all right it is approved, and then is installed in the chassis.

The view suggests the hundreds of parts that have to be brought together in the motor of an automobile. If you are skilled enough, you can tell the make of the machine.

Detroit is the center of the world's automobile manufacture. Far more "cars" are made in this city than any other. In fact, the industry has largely centered in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and New York. Detroit, Flint, Jackson, Lansing, Cleveland, Toledo, Indianapolis, Buffalo and New York are important centers of the industry.

Perhaps the greatest single change wrought by the automobile is in the country. The farmer is no longer out of touch with the city. To run his machine, he has built better roads. In some of our Middle Western States, automobile trucks do the hauling. The housewife does her shopping at a city fifteen miles away, after supper. Mail is daily delivered at the door by an automobile. In Iowa, one person out of every 13 owns a "car"; in Nebraska, one out of 16.

The Great War in Europe was a battle of motor trucks, delivering ammunition and shifting men. The "tanks" used by the British were huge steel-clad tractors that laid their own tracks ahead of the wheels. They could clamber over the deepest shell holes and wide trenches. They were equipped with machine guns.

 

BUILDING UP AUTOMOBILE TIRES - AKRON OH



In the crude rubber received at the factory are sticks, dirt, bits of leaves, and beetles. These are removed by grinding the rubber in a water bath. The particles of dirt are thus washed away. The rubber is now pure enough for the first process of manufacture.

The next step is to mix the rubber with chemicals. This is called compounding. In the factory here shown four or five hundred different chemicals are used to compound with rubber. Some of these are to give strength and toughness, others to give color to the rubber. It is possible to make rubber that is tougher than steel.

The rubber is now ready for manufacturing purposes. What next happens to it depends on the uses to which it is to be put. For example, if it is to be made into the bandages that dentists stretch across the mouth of patients, it must be rolled very thin. This process is called sheeting.

One of the greatest uses for rubber today is in the manufacture of automobile tires. You see here an automobile tire being built up. The framework of a tire is its body of fabric or tough cloth. On an iron core, the shape of the tire, this fabric is first wound in several thicknesses. This is what the men here are doing. It is a work that demands care and skill. To become an expert workman in this department a man must have a steady hand, deft fingers, a clear eye, and good judgment.

There is another way of building up tires. This is by using two crossed layers of heavy cords instead of fabric to wrap about the iron core. These cords have been filled with a rubber solution under high pressure. They are laid on the core by a machine. A tire so built up is called a Silvertown.

 

23-year-old steam car mystery solved!

In 1987, Old Cars Weekly featured its first of many references to a vintage photograph of a mysterious mid-1930s coupe. What made this car so mysterious was its engine - the car was powered by a Stanley steamer engine. The initial mystery photo from May 1987 elicited responses throughout the year, and then readers' pens and typewriters cooled with no solid answers. In 2000, interest picked up again when the car was pictured at the 2000 fall Hershey meet. Still, no one could explain the strange combination.

It turns out that, in 1987, the late Lado Peroutka penned a letter intended for Old Cars Weekly to explain the history of this unique car, but he never sent it. Lado died in 2000 and his son, Roger, found the letter. Roger is also an Old Cars Weekly subscriber and knew of this mystery Oldsmobile-Stanley hybrid. He recently submitted his own memories, and the nearly forgotten letter his father wrote. Now, this mystery has been solved. Check out the June 24 General Motors-themed issue to read all about it.

 

Jim,
That photo is not very old judging by the cars in the background - is that Hershey 2000? I take it the car still exists?

 

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1907 Ford Model K Touring ​

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1909 Ford Model T Touring ​

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

What did Lado reveal about the Stanley-powered car?

in 1987, the late Lado Peroutka penned a letter intended for Old Cars Weekly to explain the history of this unique car, but he never sent it. Lado died in 2000 and his son, Roger, found the letter. Roger is also an Old Cars Weekly subscriber and knew of this mystery Oldsmobile-Stanley hybrid. He recently submitted his own memories, and the nearly forgotten letter his father wrote. Now, this mystery has been solved. Check out the June 24 General Motors-themed issue to read all about it.

 

The original 1899 Knox "Porcupine," a three-wheeler. Photo is
thanks to the great site of Royal Feltner, Amesbury. MA.

Knox of Springfield, MA was not only among the first mass-produced U.S. cars, it was also the first AIR-COOLED U.S. car practical and efficient enough to garner a loyal clientele. Knox was a surprisingly potent market force early on, until the worthy Knox air-cooled technology was simply overtaken -- and supplanted -- by better stuff!

In the five years from 1899 through 1903, Knox was, on average, the sixth best-selling American car. This in spite of the fact that less than 900 Knox cars were built in those years!
In '04, Knox began making four-wheel cars like the one shown here, instead of the earlier three-wheelers. Knox stopped auto production about 1914 or '15 but kept making trucks and tractors through about 1924.





This detail shot of a prickly, heat-dispersing cylinder in a 1904 Knox
"Porcupine" is from an article by David LaChance from 2007 for
Hemmings Motor Classics. We thank David and Hemmings for this
rare, informative look into auto history!





Photo by David LaChance



And the Knox grows up! 1914 Knox runabout, again thanks
to Royal Feltner of Amesbury, MA.

 

Posted by T-Head on the History Auto racing 1894-1944 Thread

A very interesting car to read about and a great VIDEO. Check to two links below.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halford_Special

http://www.classicandperformancecar....d_special.html
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www.roadinosaur.com
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1908 Black

<!--END Page Title --> <!--BEGIN Content Body //--> May 25, 2010



By Brian Earnest

Bob Benz keeps his 1908 Black high-wheeler stored just the way it should be – nice and cozy in his garage, surrounded by a bunch of other beloved old cars from Benz’s eclectic fleet.

But even if Benz parked the Black out on the street in front of his house with a sign on it that said “Steal Me,” it’s not likely any car thieves would make off with the venerable orphan — at least not under its own power.

“Well, it’s not that hard to start, I guess,” said Benz, a car buff from Lebanon, Pa. “You have to turn the kill botton off … And then all you have to do is choke her a little bit and give it a couple pulls and it should fire right off. But you have to retard the spark, of course, and set the gas … And you have to stand beside it to crank it.”

“Then you have to let it warm up a little bit, and hopefully you can drive it a little bit before it fouls!” he adds with a laugh.

No, it’s not likely Benz’s rare high-wheeler will be walking off on its own, but it does occasionally roll around his yard a bit and make a few appearances as a conversation piece at old car hobby events, and that’s a pretty good life for any centenarian.

“I’ve never had it out on the road, but I’ve driven it around the lawn,” said Benz. “I’d love to get it out on the road, but it’s got a little oil problem that I need to get corrected first. Basically, it’s got a ring problem, but I know exactly what it is.”



Benz isn’t in a hurry to get the Black in perfect running order because he has a bunch of other old vehicles that need his attention, including a Maxwell, a couple of Kaiser Darrins, a 1954 Kaiser Manhattan he’s had since 1962 that he’d like to get back in running condition, an Isetta with a similar story, and a 1933 Harley-Davidson that he’s restoring. His garage is also home to a 1972 Monte Carlo and a 1987 Oldsmobile GT four-door sedan. “There aren’t many of those around!” he says of the Olds.

But the Black is a unique machine even by Benz’s standards. There were several early automakers that used the Black name, and the Black Manufacturing Co. of Chicago built cars from 1908-1910. Production figures for those three combined years are not known, but the “Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942” claims that 1,410 Blacks were built for 1910 — the company’s last year.

Benz bought his high-wheeler in 1996 from a friend and says he has done very little to the car. “I got it running, and it needed a couple little parts I had to pick up, and I messed with the timing and did the normal screwing around with it,” he said. “It’s my first high-wheeler. The only other high-wheeler I had ever been in was one of those 1890s Mercedes things — it was a replica. But this car, you’re about 3 ½ feet off the ground. You’re WAY up in the air. It has a totally different feel than the Maxwell has.”



Benz’s car is a Model 112, which was an open, two-cylinder runabout. The air-cooled engine has opposed cylinders, produces about 12 hp, and has removable heads and overhead valves. It was center-mounted beneath the single seat, and supplied motivation through a two-speed (plus reverse) planetary transmission with dual chain drive on the rear wheels.

The standard wheels were actually steel, but for $25 you could upgrade to hard rubber. Base price of the Model 112, with leather upholstery, was about $450, and options included two oil burning lamps ($10), a horn ($2.50) and Timkin roller bearing axles ($25).

The top speed was estimated at about 25 mph, according to Benz. “Trust me, that 25 mph sitting on top of what is essentially a horse-drawn buggy without a horse can be pretty exciting. It seems like you’re going a whole lot faster.”



“It’s a very basic car,” Benz added. “No top, no fenders, no running boards, no lights. Behind the seat, instead of having an open box like most of them had, it had a locking trunk, kind of like a modern car. It was only eight inches deep, but it was kind of neat and you could keep stuff back there.

“It has nothing in the front. It looks like a buggy. You could hang a couple lights off the front of the frame. I’ve got pictures from auto shows from the time that show them.”

Benz has been able to dig up some history on the car — some of it he is certain about, while other details he admits might be more lore than fact. Either way, we’ll let him relate what he knows about the car’s past:

“This particular car was purchased new by Miss Jessie Fullerton, the daughter of a prominent minister in the Ringoes, N.J. area. It was delivered by rail, crated with the wheels off as was typical at the time. At the rail station, it was uncrated and the wheels assembled. Miss Fullerton and a friend then took it for its first ride. They met a team of horses, which were frightened causing her to turn the car into the ditch. Her friend was thrown over the front, broke her neck, and died. The car was put into a garage and Miss Fullerton never drove it again! The car came into the hands of John Scott, [Scotty] the local blacksmith in Flemington N.J., sometime thereafter. No record has yet been found as to the timing of this transfer. What is known, is that George Vocke purchased it from Scotty in 1928.

“At the time Scotty sold it, the 10-inch-high portion of the body between the top of the frame rails and the bottom of the seat had been replaced. It also had been widened 8 inches, and the original leather dash had been replaced with wood. The original seat was still retained. Judging from the pictures taken in 1929, these modifications had been part of the car for a long time. There have been comments that the body was widened early on in an attempt to make the vehicle more stable. It certainly has made the seating position more comfortable, as the driver and passenger can now sit with their feet directly in front of them, rather than towards the center of the car as required by the original narrower body configuration. The timing and logic of these changes has been lost in the fog of passing time. Possibly it was damaged in the first day accident, but no one knows. Miss Fullerton passed away in the 1960s, leaving no family members who might be able to clarify any of this.

“George Vocke had it restored in the late ‘60s or early ‘70s to basically the condition it is in today. The car passed on to his son Carmine, from whom I purchased it in 1996. Its ownership has remained in Hunterdon County, NJ since new! “

 

Here's a couple of "what is it ?" the red one looks like an Isetta....sorry if these have been posted already.

 

Definitely a BMW-Isetta, and an Austin Atlantic.