Details
1899 LOCOMOBILE STEAM RUNABOUT
Chassis No. 9
Black and red with black interior
Engine: two-cylinder; Suspension: front, full elliptic leaf springs transversally mounted, rear, full elliptical leaf springs. Centre tiller drive.
At the turn of the century Lorenzo Barber and John Walker wanted to buy the steam car designs 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 Staney twins acted as consultants to both companies.
It was the most popular of 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 petrol 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.
There is an enormous amount of supporting literature with this car, which was acquired by the museum from James Leake in 1978. It had been restored by Antiques Inc. of Oklahoma and was a national First Prize Winner in the Antique Automobile Club of America in 1976. The museum used the Locomobile often in local public displays and it was said to run well. However it has not been run since the mid 1980s and a thorough mechanical examination is recommended. It is eligible for the London to Brighton.
Chassis No. 9
Black and red with black interior
Engine: two-cylinder; Suspension: front, full elliptic leaf springs transversally mounted, rear, full elliptical leaf springs. Centre tiller drive.
At the turn of the century Lorenzo Barber and John Walker wanted to buy the steam car designs 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 Staney twins acted as consultants to both companies.
It was the most popular of 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 petrol 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.
There is an enormous amount of supporting literature with this car, which was acquired by the museum from James Leake in 1978. It had been restored by Antiques Inc. of Oklahoma and was a national First Prize Winner in the Antique Automobile Club of America in 1976. The museum used the Locomobile often in local public displays and it was said to run well. However it has not been run since the mid 1980s and a thorough mechanical examination is recommended. It is eligible for the London to Brighton.