J.G. Brill Company Streetcar, 1892

01

Artifact Overview

Powering early streetcars was challenging. Horses needed care and feeding, and left messes in the street. Cable systems were complex and costly. Electric streetcars, introduced in 1888, solved these problems and expanded the industry. Soon streetcars connected city centers, neighborhoods, and increasingly distant suburbs. This trolley, built by the J.G. Brill Company of Philadelphia, carried riders in Cleveland from 1892-1903.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Streetcar

Date Made

1892

Creator Notes

Streetcar made by J.G. Brill Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; controller made by Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company; wheels made by Standard Car Wheel Co.

Location

at Henry Ford Museum in Transportation - Streetcars

Object ID

54.5.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Cleveland Transit System.

Material

Wood (Plant material)
Iron (Metal)
Glass (Material)
Mahogany (Wood)

Color

Tan (Color)
Reddish brown
Gray (Color)
Red

Dimensions

Height: 125 in
Width: 92 in
Length: 30 ft

Inscriptions

Next to the door in the front bulkhead is a sliding door/plate marked: J.G.B. / CO./ PHILA Sign front right: SPECIAL Pane in upper glass: WOODLAND Undocumented locations : 0140 / Spitting On The Floor Of This Car Postively Prohibited
J.G. Brill Company Streetcar, 1892