Fred Allison Driving an Experimental Electric Automobile at the Ford Motor Company Highland Park Plant, circa 1914

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Artifact Overview

Henry Ford and Thomas Edison collaborated on two experimental electric automobiles using Edison's nickel-iron batteries. The first car, seen here, was finished in late 1913. It featured an underslung frame, tiller steering, and batteries placed under the seat. Fred Allison designed the motor. After some talk of forming a new company to build electric cars, the project was canceled.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Photographic print

Subject Date

circa 1914

Creator Notes

Photographer is not identfied. Copied by Ford Motor Company Archives, Dearborn, Michigan

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

84.1.1660.865

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Gelatin silver process

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 7.125 in
Width: 9 in