Search
- "Columbia Gasoline Cars and Electric Pleasure Vehicles," 1904 - Columbia, built by the Pope Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut, was America's leading bicycle brand in the late 19th century. Founder Albert A. Pope hoped to duplicate that success with automobiles. Both electric and gasoline Columbia motor vehicles were produced in a range of body styles. But high prices hampered sales, and the last Columbia cars were built in 1913.
- 1904
- Collections - Artifact
"Columbia Gasoline Cars and Electric Pleasure Vehicles," 1904
Columbia, built by the Pope Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut, was America's leading bicycle brand in the late 19th century. Founder Albert A. Pope hoped to duplicate that success with automobiles. Both electric and gasoline Columbia motor vehicles were produced in a range of body styles. But high prices hampered sales, and the last Columbia cars were built in 1913.
- Electric Locomotive Pulling Ore Cars, 1911 - Outside of mass transit operations and Amtrak's Boston-New York-Washington corridor, electric locomotives remain unusual in the United States. The locomotives, which draw electricity from overhead wires or electrified third rails, require expensive infrastructure. They can be well suited to small industrial railroads, though, where their lighter weight and high power output are advantageous.
- March 13, 1911
- Collections - Artifact
Electric Locomotive Pulling Ore Cars, 1911
Outside of mass transit operations and Amtrak's Boston-New York-Washington corridor, electric locomotives remain unusual in the United States. The locomotives, which draw electricity from overhead wires or electrified third rails, require expensive infrastructure. They can be well suited to small industrial railroads, though, where their lighter weight and high power output are advantageous.
- Sales Catalog, "Announcing Detroit Electric Cars Deluxe," 1928 - Detroit Electric was the best-known and longest-lived American electric car company. The firm built its first electric vehicles in 1907, promoting them for use in cities where electricity was readily available and range generally wasn't an issue. Detroit Electric moved away from passenger cars in the 1920s to focus on commercial vehicles. The company ended all production in 1939.
- 1928
- Collections - Artifact
Sales Catalog, "Announcing Detroit Electric Cars Deluxe," 1928
Detroit Electric was the best-known and longest-lived American electric car company. The firm built its first electric vehicles in 1907, promoting them for use in cities where electricity was readily available and range generally wasn't an issue. Detroit Electric moved away from passenger cars in the 1920s to focus on commercial vehicles. The company ended all production in 1939.
- Sales Catalog for Detroit Electric, "Society's Town Car," 1914 - This 1914 catalog for the Detroit Electric used vehicle specifications and colorful illustrations to sell the company's automobiles.
- 1914
- Collections - Artifact
Sales Catalog for Detroit Electric, "Society's Town Car," 1914
This 1914 catalog for the Detroit Electric used vehicle specifications and colorful illustrations to sell the company's automobiles.
- 1915 Owen Magnetic Touring Car - The Owen Magnetic had no mechanical connection between its engine and driveshaft. Power was sent from the gasoline engine to the wheels through a magnetic clutch and an electric motor. The result, in effect, was an automatic transmission with no clutch pedal to push and no gears to shift. But the complex system was expensive, and the company fell into receivership in 1920.
- 1915
- Collections - Artifact
1915 Owen Magnetic Touring Car
The Owen Magnetic had no mechanical connection between its engine and driveshaft. Power was sent from the gasoline engine to the wheels through a magnetic clutch and an electric motor. The result, in effect, was an automatic transmission with no clutch pedal to push and no gears to shift. But the complex system was expensive, and the company fell into receivership in 1920.
- 1916 Woods Dual-Power Hybrid Coupe - In 1916, gasoline was cheap, and no one cared about tailpipe emissions. But this hybrid wasn't about fuel prices or pollution. Woods Motor Vehicle Company built it to capture new customers. Sales of the company's electric cars were falling as more people chose gasoline-burning cars. The Dual-Power supposedly combined the best of both, but customers disagreed. The car and the company disappeared in 1918.
- 1916
- Collections - Artifact
1916 Woods Dual-Power Hybrid Coupe
In 1916, gasoline was cheap, and no one cared about tailpipe emissions. But this hybrid wasn't about fuel prices or pollution. Woods Motor Vehicle Company built it to capture new customers. Sales of the company's electric cars were falling as more people chose gasoline-burning cars. The Dual-Power supposedly combined the best of both, but customers disagreed. The car and the company disappeared in 1918.
- Sales Catalog for the 1913 Detroit Electric Car, "Society's Town Car" - Detroit Electric was the best-known and longest-lived American electric car company, producing automobiles from 1907-1939. The company marketed its cars to well-to-do customers -- particularly women -- looking for a clean, quiet car in which to take short trips in cities, where electricity was readily available and range wasn't an issue. Detroit Electric buyers included Henry Ford and Thomas Edison.
- 1913
- Collections - Artifact
Sales Catalog for the 1913 Detroit Electric Car, "Society's Town Car"
Detroit Electric was the best-known and longest-lived American electric car company, producing automobiles from 1907-1939. The company marketed its cars to well-to-do customers -- particularly women -- looking for a clean, quiet car in which to take short trips in cities, where electricity was readily available and range wasn't an issue. Detroit Electric buyers included Henry Ford and Thomas Edison.
- 1922 Detroit Electric Coupe - Detroit Electric was the best-known and longest-lived American electric car company. Detroit Electric built cars from 1907 to 1939, although after 1930 production was limited to custom orders. This elegant four-passenger Model 90 coupe was in regular use from 1922 to 1934. A large battery provided electricity for the vehicle's electric motor. The car had a driving range of 70 to 100 miles between charges and a top speed of about 25 miles per hour.
- 1922
- Collections - Artifact
1922 Detroit Electric Coupe
Detroit Electric was the best-known and longest-lived American electric car company. Detroit Electric built cars from 1907 to 1939, although after 1930 production was limited to custom orders. This elegant four-passenger Model 90 coupe was in regular use from 1922 to 1934. A large battery provided electricity for the vehicle's electric motor. The car had a driving range of 70 to 100 miles between charges and a top speed of about 25 miles per hour.
- 1914 Detroit Electric Model 47 Brougham, Personal Car of Clara Ford - Clara Ford, wife of Henry Ford, drove this Detroit Electric. In the years before World War I many women chose electric cars because they started instantly without hand cranking and had no difficult-to-shift transmission. The superintendent of the Detroit Electric factory employed his daughter, Lillian Reynolds, to sell to women -- including Clara Ford, who drove this car into the 1930s.
- 1914
- Collections - Artifact
1914 Detroit Electric Model 47 Brougham, Personal Car of Clara Ford
Clara Ford, wife of Henry Ford, drove this Detroit Electric. In the years before World War I many women chose electric cars because they started instantly without hand cranking and had no difficult-to-shift transmission. The superintendent of the Detroit Electric factory employed his daughter, Lillian Reynolds, to sell to women -- including Clara Ford, who drove this car into the 1930s.
- "Henry Ford and Thomas A. Edison Buy the Detroit Electric," 1914 - Detroit Electric was the best-known and longest-lived American electric car company, producing automobiles from 1907-1939. The company marketed its cars to well-to-do customers -- particularly women -- looking for a clean, quiet car in which to take short trips in cities, where electricity was readily available and range wasn't an issue. Detroit Electric buyers included Henry Ford and Thomas Edison.
- March 28, 1914
- Collections - Artifact
"Henry Ford and Thomas A. Edison Buy the Detroit Electric," 1914
Detroit Electric was the best-known and longest-lived American electric car company, producing automobiles from 1907-1939. The company marketed its cars to well-to-do customers -- particularly women -- looking for a clean, quiet car in which to take short trips in cities, where electricity was readily available and range wasn't an issue. Detroit Electric buyers included Henry Ford and Thomas Edison.