Details
C.1899 LOCOMOBILE FOUR PASSENGER STEAM RUNABOUT
Chassis No. 1935
Black and red with red leather interior.
Engine: two cylinder; Suspension: front, full-elliptic leaf springs transversally mounted, rear, full-elliptical leaf springs. Center tiller drive.
At the turn of the century Lorenzo Barber and John Walker wanted to buy the steam car design of the Stanley Brothers, who were not keen on selling. However, they could not resist an offer of $250,000. Shortly after this Barber and Walker split up, the latter forming the Mobile Company of America, Barber keeping the name of the Locomobile. By 1901 his factory was said to be the largest of its kind in America. By 1903 he had produced 5,400 of these cars and then sold the rights back to the Stanleys. It was not surprising that the Mobile and the Locomobile cars were very similar in design, as the Stanley twins acted as consultants to both companies.
The Locomobile was the most popular steam car of the 30 makes being built in America, accounting for 25 of all cars being registered. Estimated top speed is 40mph. An excerpt from the driver's manual says: "When anything happens and you are in doubt as to the nature of the difficulty, PUT OUT THE FIRE AT ONCE. You may then investigate the trouble at your leisure." By 1904 the total production of steam cars in America had shrunk to under 3,000, whereas in 1899 steam and electric vehicles had accounted for sales of over 3,200, divided roughly 50:50, against 963 gasoline engined cars. By 1904 over 18,500 of the latter were sold, mainly because the 30 minutes wait to get up steam was no longer acceptable, due to the advent of electric starting.
This car was purchased in 1985 from the Estate of Dean Spenser, a Seattle collector and restorer of antique cars who had a particular fondness for steam powered cars. As an 1899 vehicle, this four passenger would be an excellent entry for the London to Brighton run.
WITHOUT RESERVE
Chassis No. 1935
Black and red with red leather interior.
Engine: two cylinder; Suspension: front, full-elliptic leaf springs transversally mounted, rear, full-elliptical leaf springs. Center tiller drive.
At the turn of the century Lorenzo Barber and John Walker wanted to buy the steam car design of the Stanley Brothers, who were not keen on selling. However, they could not resist an offer of $250,000. Shortly after this Barber and Walker split up, the latter forming the Mobile Company of America, Barber keeping the name of the Locomobile. By 1901 his factory was said to be the largest of its kind in America. By 1903 he had produced 5,400 of these cars and then sold the rights back to the Stanleys. It was not surprising that the Mobile and the Locomobile cars were very similar in design, as the Stanley twins acted as consultants to both companies.
The Locomobile was the most popular steam car of the 30 makes being built in America, accounting for 25 of all cars being registered. Estimated top speed is 40mph. An excerpt from the driver's manual says: "When anything happens and you are in doubt as to the nature of the difficulty, PUT OUT THE FIRE AT ONCE. You may then investigate the trouble at your leisure." By 1904 the total production of steam cars in America had shrunk to under 3,000, whereas in 1899 steam and electric vehicles had accounted for sales of over 3,200, divided roughly 50:50, against 963 gasoline engined cars. By 1904 over 18,500 of the latter were sold, mainly because the 30 minutes wait to get up steam was no longer acceptable, due to the advent of electric starting.
This car was purchased in 1985 from the Estate of Dean Spenser, a Seattle collector and restorer of antique cars who had a particular fondness for steam powered cars. As an 1899 vehicle, this four passenger would be an excellent entry for the London to Brighton run.
WITHOUT RESERVE