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

These figures from the Classic Car Database seem to show that by 1913 and 1914 the Havers brothers were honestly trying to realign pricing more in keeping with real production costs and unit volume. (BTW, note, all wheelbases above 120.) But before they could achieve business stability, the factory -- and the business -- literally went up in smoke!


DOES ANYBODY RECOGNIZE THE DISPLACEMENTS ON THESE THREE 6-CYLINDER ENGINES??? I MYSELF WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHO THE MANUFACTURER WAS, though we know electronics were state of the art, down to self-starter. (Was Golden-Belnap-Swartz around that early? Or, maybe Continental? Wisconsin? Beaver? Buda? Sheesh.)


1912 Havers 6-44 Series, 122 in. wheelbase, 331.4-CID L-head six

<TABLE class=museumlist border=2><TBODY><TR id=row1 ondblclick=ShowSpec(4186,1912,10861) onclick=SelectRow(1)><TD>Select </TD><TD width=170>Roadster</TD><TD align=middle width=75></TD><TD align=middle width=75>2 </TD><TD align=right width=75>$1850.00 </TD><TD align=middle width=75></TD></TR><TR id=row2 ondblclick=ShowSpec(4186,1912,10862) onclick=SelectRow(2)><TD>Select </TD><TD width=170>Touring</TD><TD align=middle width=75></TD><TD align=middle width=75>5 </TD><TD align=right width=75>$1850.00 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

1913 Havers 44 Series, 122 in. wheelbase, 331.4-CID L-head six

<TABLE class=museumlist border=2><TBODY><TR id=row1 ondblclick=ShowSpec(3841,1913,10863) onclick=SelectRow(1)><TD>Select </TD><TD width=170>Roadster</TD><TD align=middle width=75></TD><TD align=middle width=75>2 </TD><TD align=right width=75>$1850.00 </TD><TD align=middle width=75></TD></TR><TR id=row2 ondblclick=ShowSpec(3841,1913,10864) onclick=SelectRow(2)><TD>Select </TD><TD width=170>Touring</TD><TD align=middle width=75></TD><TD align=middle width=75>5 </TD><TD align=right width=75>$1850.00 </TD><TD align=middle width=75></TD></TR><TR id=row3 ondblclick=ShowSpec(3841,1913,10865) onclick=SelectRow(3)><TD>Select </TD><TD width=170>Touring</TD><TD align=middle width=75></TD><TD align=middle width=75>4 </TD><TD align=right width=75>$1850.00 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


1913 Havers 55 Series, 128" wheelbase, 376.9 L.head six

<TABLE class=museumlist border=2><TBODY><TR id=row1 ondblclick=ShowSpec(3842,1913,10867) onclick=SelectRow(1)><TD>Select </TD><TD width=170>Roadster</TD><TD align=middle width=75></TD><TD align=middle width=75>2 </TD><TD align=right width=75>$2250.00 </TD><TD align=middle width=75></TD></TR><TR id=row2 ondblclick=ShowSpec(3842,1913,10866) onclick=SelectRow(2)><TD>Select </TD><TD width=170>Touring</TD><TD align=middle width=75></TD><TD align=middle width=75>5 </TD><TD align=right width=75>$2250.00 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


1914 Havers 6-44 Series, 122 in. wheelbase, 331.4-CID L-head six

<TABLE class=museumlist border=2><TBODY><TR id=row1 ondblclick=ShowSpec(3555,1914,10869) onclick=SelectRow(1)><TD>Select </TD><TD width=170>Roadster</TD><TD align=middle width=75></TD><TD align=middle width=75>2 </TD><TD align=right width=75>$1985.00 </TD><TD align=middle width=75></TD></TR><TR id=row2 ondblclick=ShowSpec(3555,1914,10868) onclick=SelectRow(2)><TD>Select </TD><TD width=170>Touring</TD><TD align=middle width=75></TD><TD align=middle width=75>5 </TD><TD align=right width=75>$1985.00 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


1914 Havers 6-60 Series, 128 in. wheelbase, 420.9-CID L-head

<TABLE class=museumlist border=2><TBODY><TR id=row1 ondblclick=ShowSpec(3556,1914,10871) onclick=SelectRow(1)><TD>Select </TD><TD width=170>Roadster</TD><TD align=middle width=75></TD><TD align=middle width=75>2 </TD><TD align=right width=75>$2485.00 </TD><TD align=middle width=75></TD></TR><TR id=row2 ondblclick=ShowSpec(3556,1914,10870) onclick=SelectRow(2)><TD>Select </TD><TD width=170>Touring</TD><TD align=middle width=75></TD><TD align=middle width=75>5 </TD><TD align=right width=75>$2485.00 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

... looks like a snake either devouring or regurgitating a meal...

 

1905 Compound Model 4

Eisenhuth Horseless Vehicle Company was a manufacturer of Brass Era automobiles in Middletown, Connecticut. Their automobile was an unusual model called the Compound with three cylinders. Two were cooled with high-pressure water, the remaining one with low pressure.
The 1904 Compound was a touring car model. Equipped with a tonneau, it could seat 7 passengers and sold for US$6000 to 8000. The vertical-mounted straight-3, situated at the front of the car, produced 35 hp (26.1 kW). A 3-speed sliding gear transmission was fitted. The car weighed 3100 lb (1406 kg).

BLACKMAIL IS CHARGED; Trouble in a Motor Vehicle Company Results in Arrests. Mr. Eisenhuth Accuses Officers and Stockholders.





June 29, 1900, Wednesday
Page 14, 1506 words
Involved relations existing between different officers and stockholders of the Eisenhuth Horseless Vehicle Company, with offices in the Park Row Buildings resulted yesterday in the arraignment of three of the interested parties in the Centre Street Court on a charge of blackmail preferred against them by John W. Eisenhuth, the President of the concern.



At least one left though.............

what interested me though was the 3 cylinder motor!

 

SWI, hey buddy, you seem to have hit on a real, little treasurer trove of cool info that embodies three defunct -- and two PROBABLY EXTINCT -- automobiles, AS WELL AS one UNIQUE engine!!!


So far, only Compound appears on the lists I regularly check. The Keating and Graham-Fox makes (from which Compound grew) don't appear. SO: The while Compound may be scarce, the Keating and Graham-Fox almost certainly didn't survive. Kinda gives one that suspicion when they don't appear on key lists, doesn't it?


Further, the $6,000 to $8,000 price range in the 1903 - 1907 time frame sound nothing short of jaw-dropping!!!


Lastly, this three-cylinder engine -- WHEREIN only the outer two propelled the car, while the LARGER middle one served to "expand exhaust gases" of the outer two, according to WIKI.


That last fact is amazing, taken by itself!!! Makes it nearly as "out-there" as Carter's TWO-engined car!

 

According to this:
http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z16756/Compound-Model-75.aspx

The Graham-Fox was the prototype. When it went into production, it was the Compound.
It aslso goes on to state that this one is the only one in existence.

 

As for Keating, this article states it went into receivership.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9902E1DC163FE433A25750C0A9619C946197D6CF
No car yet, but plenty of references to the motorcycle and wheels


World's only 1902 Keating, a motorcycle.
They built bicycles and wheels.

 

Good info, SWI! Sound as though we need to add John Eisenhuth to the "characters" list, along with VanZandt and Eshelman, doesn't it? Arrested at least twice for blackmail and grand larceny?

And, per the three sentences below quoted from Wikipedia, WHAT are we to make of early companies that SEEMED to produce automobiles -- but apparently did NOT??? Is it as simple as that they were WANNABE automakers who just couldn't pull it off?


"Originally based in New York City, in 1902 the company purchased The Keating Wheel and Automobile Company and established manufacturing operations in Middletown, Connecticut.

"In 1903, the company merged with the Graham Fox Motor Car Company, absorbing that firm and expanding operations in Middletown.<SUP> </SUP>

"In 1904, the company was sued by Colonel Frank A. Fox of the Graham Fox Motor Car Company, who claimed that he had "invented certain essential features of the motors now being made by the Eisenhuth company," and went bankrupt in 1907."

 

SWI: The Graham-Fox was the prototype. When it went into production, it was the Compound. It also goes on to state that this one is the only one in existence.

"In 1903, a prototype design, dubbed the Graham-Fox, was shown at Madison Square Garden. When it went into production a short time later, it had a new name -- the Compound."


Jimi: Well, from this, it seems clear that there was -- at least for a brief time -- a car officially named the Graham-Fox. Just ONE. I think one can certainly speculate on the probability that the singular Graham-Fox got destroyed, or reworked as a Compound model.

Thoughts???
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Historical photo is THANKS to AutoEvolution on the 'web!


As many times as futurist Buckminster Fuller's DYMAXION demonstrator has been mentioned, I was surprised to realize that we hadn't SHOWN the 1933 car, nor have we kicked around any background info.


Vaguely resembling a very early prototype for the Oscar Meyer Weenermobile, three Dymaxions were actually built. Reports that there was only one are in error, though just one survives today. Restoration of that survivor (particularly the interior for which no illustrations or plans survive) has reportedly been moving steadily, though apparently slowly.


Fuller was a well-known visionary who piloted numerous projects under the visionary "Dymaxion" thematic umbrella -- the failed car being but one such venture. Some argue that the car would have been a long-term success, save for a fatal accident during demonstrations at the Chicago World's Fair. In fact, the crash -- which killed a British auto enthusiast -- was caused by another vehicle pulling into the Dymaxion's path, causing the Brit to over steer. But, the bad publicity -- centering on the single, rear wheel (the only wheel that turned) still served to drive off all those who'd lined up to invest in Fuller's experiment (Including Walt Chrysler!).


The Dymaxion got 30 mpg in spite of being a 20-foot land yacht capable of seating over 10 persons. The rear steering actually made it a dream to park, and Ford power could push the car to 90 mph (Fuller claimed 120). Critics, even today, argue that the Dymaxion was, in fact, of high center-of-gravity, and it's relatively light weight made it a turn-over threat at higher speeds.


Though the photo above makes the Dymaxion look like a van with two flat back tires, it was actually interesting from certain angles. ANYBODY OUT THERE have other photo perspectives on this strange vehicle?

 

I must say that I was quite surprised to learn that Chrysler lent a good
deal of financing and assistance to Fuller in designing and building the
first Dymaxion auto. Naturally, this made me wonder if the episode fed
DIRECTLY into Chrysler's and DeSoto's ill-fated forays into their Airflow
models of '34 to '37. (IMHO, there was a link, fer sur.)


As to whether the failed Dymaxion fathered a design movement all by itself, I have to doubt the singular impication, but I DO believe the Dymaxion was part
of a total (worldwide) probing of more aerodynamic shapes in mass
motoring. I think the proof is only too obvious in the photographic record!



Chrysler Airflow paired with rail Streamliner,
thanks to the WikiMedia Commons project.


1936 Lincoln Zephyr sedan, thanks to the WikiMedia Commons project!


Volvo Carioca PV 36, thanks to WikiMedia Commons


Chech Tatra T97 of 1936 through '39, thanks to WikiMedia Commons project!

 

And some MORE aerodynamics!


'34-'36 "Sad-Eyed" Hupmobile, thanks to SunRoofCord


1934 Studebaker Land Cruiser, thanks to Publications
International. Photo dug up by HJManiac.

 

Okey-dokey, if this were ANY more scarce, it would be EXTINCT, folks! It's the only Frazee automobile ever made, and this is the first gas-powered car made in Iowa. Except for the wheels, all parts -- even locally cast engine parts -- came from Osage, Iowa. This was the home-built brainchild and hobby of Osage jeweler George T. Frazee who drove it around town for many, many years. Frazee made every part he could, and the two-cylinder motor was cast at Osage's Kelly-Morgan Foundry.

Just last month, the car got a hero's welcome-home (it normally stays near Osage anyway), appearing at the grand opening of the new, relocated Mitchell County Historical Museum. The closely cropped pic shown here was widely published by various organizations and media in the region.

Typical of turn-of-the-century horseless carriages, the Frazee steers by a tiller and has buggy springing. The valve-in-head motor propels the car by chain & sprocket drive.


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1901 Frazee
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I'm still wondering if the Keating Wheel and Automobile company, actually produced any automobiles.
I haven't found any evidence of that as yet.
But the eveidence, along with any Keating Automobile, may be extinct.

 

Before before we leave the early-'30s roots of the
aerodynamics trend, here's a reprise nod to one
of the most beautiful of the early wind-cheaters!



1933 Pierce-Arrow "Silver Arrow"

 

SWI, I know the frustration. Sort of like a crime investigator -- pretty sure but lacking hard evidence!

Though we HAVE documented evidence there WAS ONE Graham-Fox, neither have I even found Keating on ANY of the regular lists!

Makes it awfully hard to make a case they made any cars at all -- DESPITE their name. Maybe some bicycles is all they could manage before they got subsumed by the bigger Eisenhuth concern.

 

Republic Trucks, showroom , Buffalo NY

The Borst-Damon Company were dealers in Republic Trucks and published this booklet in 1917 as an advertisement for Republic Truck reliability and Borst-Damon's service. The booklet is a compilation of photos of Buffalo companies that own Republic Trucks from Borst-Damon and their accompanying testimonials to the trucks' ability to carry loads without breaking down.
Owner Joseph B. Mang, a dealer in coal and wood, carting and moving services, located at 35 Mang Avenue in Kenmore, wrote in January, 1917: "The 2-ton Republic Truck has given me such good service that I am taking this opportunity to tell you about it.

"I am in the coal and carting business. In the summer time I am busy with long distance hauling. Several times last summer I carried loads almost double the capacity of the truck to points beyond Rochester. I do not think there is a truck on the market built to carry the overload that Republics do. Am well satisfied with the Buda motor. Combined with the internal gear drive, it certainly makes a very powerful truck.

"But, last of all, I am pleased with the small up-keep of this truck. So far, I have had very good service from your company."




Slideshow of more pictures of Republic Trucks can be found here:
http://wnyheritagepress.org/photos_week_2004/republic_trucks/republic_trucks.htm

​

 

SWI, man, you must have been reading my mind on Republic. I've been digging a bit about the fact that they ALSO made automobiles, from 1912 through 1916. They were originally in Hamilton, OH, then shifted ops to New York State.

Duing that time they used a T-head 284-CID four-banger (which I'm now assuming was a Buda engine), plus a huge 426-CID Wisconsin six-cylinder. Not cheap, but priced around $2,000 to $3,000, I suppose they were rather "mid-price" cars for the WWI era. They made roadsters, medium and larger touring cars, plus something called a "toy tonneau." I wish I knew what a toy tonneau was! LOL

I've also been investigating the distinct possibility that Republic and Ahrens-Fox (Cincinnati) COLLABORATED on a car for 1913 only. That should be interesting, as I don't think A-F normally used Buda engines, so . . . . More on that later today.

 

The 1958 GMC Fleet Option pickup. Factory built by GMC this plain Jane stripped down model was built from '55 to '59 only. Double headlights replaced with a single headlight, no dome lamp, Chevy dash and gauge cluster with GMC emblem on the bottom. Last Fleet Option truck built was '59.

The 1948 GMC Campbell: Built in Watervilet, NY (near Albany) and this was an optional body configuration built by an authorized upfitter. When was the last Campbell woody built?

 

OldCarKook, BOTH of those are cool! Hopefully, somebody on the HAMB will know when the last Campbell woody was.

Meantime . . .

Republic - Republic Motor Car Co. Hamilton, OH 1911-1912
Republic - Republic Motor Car Co. Tarrytown, NY 1913-1916

These two 1913 cars (pictured below) were bought by Engine Co. #1, Cincinnati, OH, for fire chiefs and district fire chiefs. They are identified as Republic/Ahrens-Fox(www.cfdhistory.com/
htmls/company.php?name=67). (Interestingly, WIKI also actually shows an Ahrens-Fox car being made in 1913.)

Notably, Republic (Hamilton, OH) was a car company but also built commercial trucks and is known to have supplied truck chassis to nearby fire-apparatus maker Ahrens-Fox of Cincinnati (including after Republic shifted to New York). In the 1913-14 range, Republic used a four-cyl of about 283 (possibly Buda) and a large 427-CID Wisconsin SIX in big tourers. In that era, Ahrens-Fox (1911-1951) is known to have used Herschell-Spillman motors for their larger fire engines through 1914 when they switched to an engine of their own manufacture. [Note: After about 1927, A-F used Hercules, Continental and Wausheka, as well as building upon chassis of established truck-builders. But that is not germane here, really.]

It's also interesting to examine details here, as to the onboard equipment!!! THEN, read the following:

In 1913, Ahrens-Fox introduced a booster car, a small apparatus equipped with a light-duty pump, water tank and hose. This type of apparatus replaced the individual chemical units, but had a relatively short life. This booster equipment was eventually incorporated as standard equipment on newly constructed triple combination pumpers, eliminating the need for separate booster rigs. (hpvfd53.com/apparatushistory2)

So, is it possible that these 1913 "cars/fire-apps" were actually a joint effort by BOTH Republic and Ahrens-Fox ??? Surely sounds as though A-F -- famous for innovation -- invented this separate booster car, THEN rapidly made it obsolete by integrating the boost equipment into the larger pumper units thereafter!!!


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1913 Republic/Ahrens-Fox District 4
This view shows the District Marshal and his driver parked along side quarters on Copeland Avenue.
Photo Steve Hagy Collection

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1913 Republic/Ahrens-Fox
A pair of these vehicles were purchased and assigned to Districts 3 and 4. Note the chemical tank, canvas top, and an Ahrens-Fox lantern mounted on the cowl.
Photo Steve Hagy Collection

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LOVE the Silver Arrow!...

too bad it wasn't a gravity-cheater- those things were HEAVY!!!

 

Mac, YEAH! And as I recall, the skin was aluminum, too!

 

This 1920 is thought to be the only '20 Carroll still in
existence. Though the company was in business for
a decade or so, little information seems to be available
about it. Carroll's were built in Strasburg, PA, between
1913 and 1922, then shifted ops to Lorraine, OH, closing
doors after 1922. With large four-cylinder engines and
long wheelbases usually, the Carroll roadsters and
tourers carried a steep pricetag, sometimes approach-
ing $4,000.


1920 Carroll touring car, thanks to Royal Feltner's great site,
EarlyAmericanAutomobiles.com.

 

Mac, BTW, don't you think that the Brit BENTLEY designers sort of "borrowed" a bit from the Silver Arrow styling?

 

THE LITTLE FOUR
The Classiest of All Roadsters
For two Passengers

The Car You Want and at a Price
You Can Afford to Pay
"The product of Experience"
Absolutely Well Built -- Easy Riding and Comfortable -- So Stylish and
Well Finished that owners of High priced large cars
are proud to use The LITTLE FOUR
for their runabout work​

<HR SIZE=4 width=200>

The Price $690.00 Equipped
F.O.B. FLINT, MICH​

<HR SIZE=4 width=200>

THE REPUBLIC MOTOR COMPANY
OF MICHIGAN
DETROIT, MICHIGAN, U.S.A.





And a "Republic" motor company of Michigan!
​

 

1924 Model 75 Republic Stake Truck produced by The Republic Motor Truck Co. The Republic Motor Truck Company was a manufacturer of commercial trucks from 1913 to 1929 in Alma, Michigan.

 

Yup, SWI, I've started to see that there were OTHER Republics than the one I was looking for. AND, it sounds as though YOU are onto them!

IMPORTANT thing is thta they ALL seem to be VERY scarce.!!!

 

Good point- never thought about that!

 

Gosh-darn, this has been fun. Since SWI mention the term LITTLE, I think there was an actual MAKE called Little. Maybe that's my next mission!!! LOL

Folks, with at least a couple of thousand early makes, looks as though we have a LONG way to go!

 

You got that right...........a LOOOOOONG way to go.
Then there are model variations as wel.
Plus stillborn concepts too.
Trucks, buses, never know where this will lead.

 

Yeah, SWI. As Dan Aykroyd said in "Ghost Busters":

"THE POSSIBIITIES ARE UNLIMITLESS"!!! lol