Cadillac Engine, 1913

01

Artifact Overview

Cadillac introduced the electric starter in 1912. The device eliminated the difficult and sometimes dangerous work of hand-cranking an engine, and it was quickly adopted by other automakers. Charles Kettering, formerly an engineer with National Cash Register, developed the starter working from electric motors used in cash registers. Cadillac's four-cylinder engine and starter were improved for 1913.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Automobile engine

Date Made

1912-1913

Creator Notes

Engine manufactured by Cadillac Motor Car Company in Detroit, Michigan with an electric self-starting ingnition designed by Charles. F. Kettering and produced by Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company in Dayton, Ohio.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

29.2132.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Metal
Brass (Alloy)
Copper alloy
Paint (Coating)

Color

Black (Color)
Copper (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 42 in
Width: 29 in
Depth: 50 in

Inscriptions

Printed on sparkplugs: CHAMPION / REG. U.S. PAT. OFF.