Details
From the Estate of JOSEPH K. OTT
1907 ROCHET-SCHNEIDER 40/50 DOUBLE CHAIN DRIVE FLYABOUT
Chassis No. 7353
Engine No. 7310
Blue and black with tan interior
Engine: four-cylinder, T-head, bore and stroke 5½ x 7 inches, 674ci, 50hp; Gearbox: four-speed; Brakes: rear drums and on transaxle; Suspension: front, semi-elliptical, rear, three semi-elliptical leaf springs, one transversally mounted. Right hand drive.
Edouard Rochet of Lyons, France began building bicycles, in his father's garage in the 1880's. After joining with Theophile Schneider, in 1894, they built their first automobile. The initial Rochet-Schneider's were a derivation of the Benz Velos. By, 1901, they were building four-cylinder automobiles. Their trademark was "The Car of Quality" and Rochet-Schneider would boost in their promotional literature that quality and not quantity was their main concern. In fact production at its height, was less than 250 cars per year.
The factory felt that it was far more important for its cars to compete in Hillclimbs and stock touring events rather than the big international races. In these early stock events Rochet-Schneider's record was impressive with many victories. This includes two firsts in both the racing and touring car class of the 1906 Mont Ventoux Hillclimb. At the annual speed trials of the Salon, A.C. in Provence, Taddesi won the flying kilometer and the Rothschild Cup in a touring car. His Rochet-Schneider averaged 73mph in the former event and 66mph in the later event! At their zenith, in late 1907, Schneider left to build his own car; the Theophile Schneider.
Leon Spaulding, was an American motoring enthusiast, with an eye for the finest European machinery. He appreciated powerful, fast motorcars, and fortunately Leon was wealthy enough to buy whatever he wanted. Leon wanted Rochet-Schneiders, and as a result he travelled to Lyons in May 1905 where he took delivery of his first example, a 24hp model. In 1907 he again purchased a Rochet-Schneider, this time importing a 40/50hp chassis, No.7353, to the United States. The chassis alone cost nearly $11,000. Shortly after its arrival, the Rochet was fitted with the four seat flyabout body it has today. The exact coachbuilder is unknown, but it is supposedly by a firm in nearby Merrimack, Massachusetts. Later in the same year Leon arranged for the import of two more 40/50 chassis, one for his brother Roland, the other for his second brother Huntley - later Governer of New Hampshire.
Family, friends and local residents recall Leon booming along the roads between New Hampshire and Maine - in the chain driven Rochet - often at 70 plus mph. Apparently, the Rochet was crated and shipped back and forth to Europe on more than one occasion for his use while Leon was on the Continent. There are stories that he may have even entered the car in European competition events.
By 1911, the Rochet was well used with many miles on it and was sold to Mr. Ralph Burroughs. Its third owner, Frank Bedford of Newburyport, Massachusetts purchased the car in about 1919 and it remained in his ownership until it was found and eventually purchased by Joseph Ott in 1962
Noted restorer Ralph Buckley was entrusted with the restoration of the Schneider, which although very complete, the car had travelled many thousands of miles and nearly every moving part was worn. Eventually the Rochet was finished, painstakingly returning it as close to new condition. The original radiator and hood which had been replaced were carefully duplicated at great expense. The extensive research on the cars was undertaken by Joseph Ott.
Since then the Rochet-Schneider has been used on occasion in east coast Hillclimbs and touring events. It has a four-cylinder engine of over 11 litre capacity and a four-speed chain driven gearbox. The 40/50hp claim is conservative as the ratings used did not incorporate measurements of the stroke, (7 inches). The flyabout style body, although light in its design, is beautifully constructed with built in sliding drawer tool boxes and removable rear doors, only, or for real racing the whole rear portion of body can be easily removed to make a two seater.
A thick file containing corresspondence and the extensive article written by Mr. Ott for "The Bulb Horn" on Rochet-Schneider are included with the car.
1907 ROCHET-SCHNEIDER 40/50 DOUBLE CHAIN DRIVE FLYABOUT
Chassis No. 7353
Engine No. 7310
Blue and black with tan interior
Engine: four-cylinder, T-head, bore and stroke 5½ x 7 inches, 674ci, 50hp; Gearbox: four-speed; Brakes: rear drums and on transaxle; Suspension: front, semi-elliptical, rear, three semi-elliptical leaf springs, one transversally mounted. Right hand drive.
Edouard Rochet of Lyons, France began building bicycles, in his father's garage in the 1880's. After joining with Theophile Schneider, in 1894, they built their first automobile. The initial Rochet-Schneider's were a derivation of the Benz Velos. By, 1901, they were building four-cylinder automobiles. Their trademark was "The Car of Quality" and Rochet-Schneider would boost in their promotional literature that quality and not quantity was their main concern. In fact production at its height, was less than 250 cars per year.
The factory felt that it was far more important for its cars to compete in Hillclimbs and stock touring events rather than the big international races. In these early stock events Rochet-Schneider's record was impressive with many victories. This includes two firsts in both the racing and touring car class of the 1906 Mont Ventoux Hillclimb. At the annual speed trials of the Salon, A.C. in Provence, Taddesi won the flying kilometer and the Rothschild Cup in a touring car. His Rochet-Schneider averaged 73mph in the former event and 66mph in the later event! At their zenith, in late 1907, Schneider left to build his own car; the Theophile Schneider.
Leon Spaulding, was an American motoring enthusiast, with an eye for the finest European machinery. He appreciated powerful, fast motorcars, and fortunately Leon was wealthy enough to buy whatever he wanted. Leon wanted Rochet-Schneiders, and as a result he travelled to Lyons in May 1905 where he took delivery of his first example, a 24hp model. In 1907 he again purchased a Rochet-Schneider, this time importing a 40/50hp chassis, No.7353, to the United States. The chassis alone cost nearly $11,000. Shortly after its arrival, the Rochet was fitted with the four seat flyabout body it has today. The exact coachbuilder is unknown, but it is supposedly by a firm in nearby Merrimack, Massachusetts. Later in the same year Leon arranged for the import of two more 40/50 chassis, one for his brother Roland, the other for his second brother Huntley - later Governer of New Hampshire.
Family, friends and local residents recall Leon booming along the roads between New Hampshire and Maine - in the chain driven Rochet - often at 70 plus mph. Apparently, the Rochet was crated and shipped back and forth to Europe on more than one occasion for his use while Leon was on the Continent. There are stories that he may have even entered the car in European competition events.
By 1911, the Rochet was well used with many miles on it and was sold to Mr. Ralph Burroughs. Its third owner, Frank Bedford of Newburyport, Massachusetts purchased the car in about 1919 and it remained in his ownership until it was found and eventually purchased by Joseph Ott in 1962
Noted restorer Ralph Buckley was entrusted with the restoration of the Schneider, which although very complete, the car had travelled many thousands of miles and nearly every moving part was worn. Eventually the Rochet was finished, painstakingly returning it as close to new condition. The original radiator and hood which had been replaced were carefully duplicated at great expense. The extensive research on the cars was undertaken by Joseph Ott.
Since then the Rochet-Schneider has been used on occasion in east coast Hillclimbs and touring events. It has a four-cylinder engine of over 11 litre capacity and a four-speed chain driven gearbox. The 40/50hp claim is conservative as the ratings used did not incorporate measurements of the stroke, (7 inches). The flyabout style body, although light in its design, is beautifully constructed with built in sliding drawer tool boxes and removable rear doors, only, or for real racing the whole rear portion of body can be easily removed to make a two seater.
A thick file containing corresspondence and the extensive article written by Mr. Ott for "The Bulb Horn" on Rochet-Schneider are included with the car.