1901 Baker Electric Runabout

Summary

An engineer from Cleveland, Ohio, named Walter C. Baker, along with F. Philip Dorn, built an electrically powered automobile in 1897 and organized the Baker Motor Vehicle Company in 1899. The company specialized in electric vehicles and, by 1905, its annual production was approximately 400 cars. Electricity competed against gasoline and steam as a popular power option for early automobiles.

An engineer from Cleveland, Ohio, named Walter C. Baker, along with F. Philip Dorn, built an electrically powered automobile in 1897 and organized the Baker Motor Vehicle Company in 1899. The company specialized in electric vehicles and, by 1905, its annual production was approximately 400 cars. Electricity competed against gasoline and steam as a popular power option for early automobiles.

Artifact

Automobile

Date Made

1901

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

35.213.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Walter C. Baker.

Material

Steel (Alloy)
Metal
Wood (Plant material)
Leather

Color

Green
Black (Color)
Red
Tan (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 62 in

Width: 56.5 in

Length: 97 in

Inscriptions

Mounting pedals on each side: BAKER Plate on motor: ELWELL-PARKER ELECTRIC CO. / CLEVELAND, OHIO U.S.A. / CLASS G.--SIZE S.P.E. / -PATENTED-- / MOTOR NO. 286 VOLTS 24