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- Curved Dash Oldsmobile Carburetor, 1903 - Carburetors mix fuel and air in the correct proportion to make the car's engine operate smoothly. Early carburetors needed frequent adjustment because of inconsistent fuel quality and changing weather conditions. For convenience, some cars had a knob that allowed the driver to adjust the carburetor as they drove -- much easier than climbing out and opening the hood to make the adjustment.
- 1903
- Collections - Artifact
Curved Dash Oldsmobile Carburetor, 1903
Carburetors mix fuel and air in the correct proportion to make the car's engine operate smoothly. Early carburetors needed frequent adjustment because of inconsistent fuel quality and changing weather conditions. For convenience, some cars had a knob that allowed the driver to adjust the carburetor as they drove -- much easier than climbing out and opening the hood to make the adjustment.
- 1903 Oldsmobile Curved Dash Runabout - When it inspires a song, you know it's popular. This Olds was the bestselling car in America from 1902 to 1905. Automobiles had an emotional appeal. A driver in 1901 said that controlling a car satisfied "an almost universal sense, the love of power." Despite the attraction, cars were not a significant player in the transportation world. In 1903 some 4,000 people bought Oldsmobiles, but more than 900,000 bought buggies and carriages.
- 1903
- Collections - Artifact
1903 Oldsmobile Curved Dash Runabout
When it inspires a song, you know it's popular. This Olds was the bestselling car in America from 1902 to 1905. Automobiles had an emotional appeal. A driver in 1901 said that controlling a car satisfied "an almost universal sense, the love of power." Despite the attraction, cars were not a significant player in the transportation world. In 1903 some 4,000 people bought Oldsmobiles, but more than 900,000 bought buggies and carriages.
- Oldsmobile 1-cylinder Engine, circa 1903 - This single-cylinder, four-horsepower engine powered the Oldsmobile Curved Dash runabout. It has one cylinder, one piston, one connecting rod and crank, one balance wheel, and two valves. The complications of larger multi-cylinder engines were eliminated. The engine's simplicity and the vehicle's affordable $650 price made the Curved Dash runabout America's first car produced in large numbers.
- circa 1903
- Collections - Artifact
Oldsmobile 1-cylinder Engine, circa 1903
This single-cylinder, four-horsepower engine powered the Oldsmobile Curved Dash runabout. It has one cylinder, one piston, one connecting rod and crank, one balance wheel, and two valves. The complications of larger multi-cylinder engines were eliminated. The engine's simplicity and the vehicle's affordable $650 price made the Curved Dash runabout America's first car produced in large numbers.
- Sales Brochure for the 1903 Oldsmobile, Olds Motor Works, "The Oldsmobile Ahead" - Olds Motor Works introduced its Curved Dash automobile in 1901. The one-cylinder runabout wasn't particularly powerful or robust, but at $650 it was relatively cheap. The car was a hit and Oldsmobile was building 5,000 units a year by 1904, making the Curved Dash the first mass-produced car in the United States -- if not the world.
- 1903
- Collections - Artifact
Sales Brochure for the 1903 Oldsmobile, Olds Motor Works, "The Oldsmobile Ahead"
Olds Motor Works introduced its Curved Dash automobile in 1901. The one-cylinder runabout wasn't particularly powerful or robust, but at $650 it was relatively cheap. The car was a hit and Oldsmobile was building 5,000 units a year by 1904, making the Curved Dash the first mass-produced car in the United States -- if not the world.
- March 1903 Olds Motor Works Advertisement, "No Accidents with the Oldsmobile" - Advertisements for the Curved Dash Olds, built from 1901 to 1907, often focused on the little car's advantages over horse-drawn transportation. This 1903 ad from <em>Harper's</em> magazine cautioned readers that the horse had an uncertain temperament and, if frightened, it could cause accidents. By contrast, the mechanical Oldsmobile gave drivers "a sense of perfect security."
- March 01, 1903
- Collections - Artifact
March 1903 Olds Motor Works Advertisement, "No Accidents with the Oldsmobile"
Advertisements for the Curved Dash Olds, built from 1901 to 1907, often focused on the little car's advantages over horse-drawn transportation. This 1903 ad from Harper's magazine cautioned readers that the horse had an uncertain temperament and, if frightened, it could cause accidents. By contrast, the mechanical Oldsmobile gave drivers "a sense of perfect security."
- Advertisement for Olds Motor Works, "Oldsmobile, the Best Thing on Wheels," 1903 - Many would-be customers balked at the high price of an automobile. Oldsmobile offered a popular counterargument in this 1903 advertisement. The car required $35 in gasoline for a year of operation, while a horse needed $180 in food. What's more, the car only used gas when it ran, while a horse had to be fed whether it worked or not.
- May 01, 1903
- Collections - Artifact
Advertisement for Olds Motor Works, "Oldsmobile, the Best Thing on Wheels," 1903
Many would-be customers balked at the high price of an automobile. Oldsmobile offered a popular counterargument in this 1903 advertisement. The car required $35 in gasoline for a year of operation, while a horse needed $180 in food. What's more, the car only used gas when it ran, while a horse had to be fed whether it worked or not.
- Olds Motor Works Advertisement from June 1903, "The Oldsmobile All Over the World" - The Curved Dash Oldsmobile arguably was the world's first mass-produced automobile. By 1904, Olds Motor Works built 5,000 cars a year. At just $650, the little runabout was within the means of middle-class buyers. This 1903 advertisement promotes the Oldsmobile's wide use and availability. It also hints at the car's dependability: "Nothing to watch but the road."
- June 01, 1903
- Collections - Artifact
Olds Motor Works Advertisement from June 1903, "The Oldsmobile All Over the World"
The Curved Dash Oldsmobile arguably was the world's first mass-produced automobile. By 1904, Olds Motor Works built 5,000 cars a year. At just $650, the little runabout was within the means of middle-class buyers. This 1903 advertisement promotes the Oldsmobile's wide use and availability. It also hints at the car's dependability: "Nothing to watch but the road."
- Advertisement, "It Costs 3/8 of a Cent to Travel in the Oldsmobile," 1903 - Ransom E. Olds wanted to manufacture inexpensive automobiles. This 1903 advertisement touts the curved dash Olds as the "cheapest reliable automobile in the world." His creation was the bestselling car in America from 1902 to 1905.
- July 01, 1903
- Collections - Artifact
Advertisement, "It Costs 3/8 of a Cent to Travel in the Oldsmobile," 1903
Ransom E. Olds wanted to manufacture inexpensive automobiles. This 1903 advertisement touts the curved dash Olds as the "cheapest reliable automobile in the world." His creation was the bestselling car in America from 1902 to 1905.
- "Oldsmobile Runabout - 1900" - This postcard, featuring an illustration of a 1900 Oldsmobile runabout, was published by the Autoprints company of New York. Postcards like this were sold to visitors at Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village in the 1950s. Ransom Olds established Olds Motor Works in 1897. The company's little Curved Dash Oldsmobile pioneered the concept of an inexpensive mass-produced car.
- 1900
- Collections - Artifact
"Oldsmobile Runabout - 1900"
This postcard, featuring an illustration of a 1900 Oldsmobile runabout, was published by the Autoprints company of New York. Postcards like this were sold to visitors at Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village in the 1950s. Ransom Olds established Olds Motor Works in 1897. The company's little Curved Dash Oldsmobile pioneered the concept of an inexpensive mass-produced car.
- Sales Brochure, "1986 Oldsmobile" - Oldsmobile showcased its Cutlass and Calais lines in this sales brochure. Cutlass included five models for 1986, ranging from the two-door S coupe to the Cruiser station wagon. Calais, introduced as a coupe for 1985, added a four-door sedan for 1986. GT and ES packages, available on both lines, added larger engines, additional trim, and special bucket seats.
- 1985-1986
- Collections - Artifact
Sales Brochure, "1986 Oldsmobile"
Oldsmobile showcased its Cutlass and Calais lines in this sales brochure. Cutlass included five models for 1986, ranging from the two-door S coupe to the Cruiser station wagon. Calais, introduced as a coupe for 1985, added a four-door sedan for 1986. GT and ES packages, available on both lines, added larger engines, additional trim, and special bucket seats.