Speedometer, 1908

01

Artifact Overview

This early 20th-century speedometer calculated the motorist's speed as they drove American roads. It registered speeds up to 50 miles per hour while the odometer recorded mileage up to 10,000 miles. Vehicles today easily surpass these limits as highway drivers usually cruise past 55 miles per hour and today's commuters can well exceed 10,000 miles in a year.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Speedometer

Date Made

1908

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

35.130.9

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of the Stewart-Warner Corporation.

Material

Brass (Alloy)
Glass (Material)
Metal

Dimensions

Height: 2.75 in
Diameter: 3.125 in

Inscriptions

On face: MILES PER HOUR/ TRADE MARK/ SPEEDOMETER/ JOS. W. JONES/ NEW YORK/ USA/ 111709
Speedometer, 1908