Search
- "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.
- Sales Catalog, "The Detroit Electric," 1920 - 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.
- 1920
- Collections - Artifact
Sales Catalog, "The Detroit Electric," 1920
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.
- Anderson Carriage Company Letter to Customer Henry Ford about His Detroit Electric Car, 1910 - Anderson Carriage Company sent this letter to Henry Ford summarizing the operating costs of his Detroit Electric for the year 1909. Henry Ford purchased three Detroit Electrics, the first in 1908.
- January 21, 1910
- Collections - Artifact
Anderson Carriage Company Letter to Customer Henry Ford about His Detroit Electric Car, 1910
Anderson Carriage Company sent this letter to Henry Ford summarizing the operating costs of his Detroit Electric for the year 1909. Henry Ford purchased three Detroit Electrics, the first in 1908.
- 1919 Detroit Electric at Old Car Festival in Greenfield Village, September 1958 - Held annually since 1951, The Henry Ford's Old Car Festival is the longest-running antique automobile show in the United States. While its specific events, activities and featured time periods have evolved over the decades, Old Car Festival's enthusiastic celebration of early American motoring remains unchanged.
- September 07, 1958
- Collections - Artifact
1919 Detroit Electric at Old Car Festival in Greenfield Village, September 1958
Held annually since 1951, The Henry Ford's Old Car Festival is the longest-running antique automobile show in the United States. While its specific events, activities and featured time periods have evolved over the decades, Old Car Festival's enthusiastic celebration of early American motoring remains unchanged.
- Advertisement from LIFE Magazine for 1910 Detroit Electric Car, "This Battery Will Outwear Your Car" - Detroit Electrics used Edison batteries. Many advertisements, like this one from 1910, used the famous inventor's image and reputation to boost confidence in the car's reliability.
- June 16, 1910
- Collections - Artifact
Advertisement from LIFE Magazine for 1910 Detroit Electric Car, "This Battery Will Outwear Your Car"
Detroit Electrics used Edison batteries. Many advertisements, like this one from 1910, used the famous inventor's image and reputation to boost confidence in the car's reliability.
- Detroit Electric Automobile Chassis, circa 1935 - 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.
- circa 1935
- Collections - Artifact
Detroit Electric Automobile Chassis, circa 1935
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.
- 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.
- Advertisement for Anderson Carriage Company, Detroit Electric Automobiles, February 17, 1910 - 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.
- February 17, 1910
- Collections - Artifact
Advertisement for Anderson Carriage Company, Detroit Electric Automobiles, February 17, 1910
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.
- 1919 Detroit Electric at Old Car Festival in Greenfield Village, September 1958 - Held annually since 1951, The Henry Ford's Old Car Festival is the longest-running antique automobile show in the United States. While its specific events, activities and featured time periods have evolved over the decades, Old Car Festival's enthusiastic celebration of early American motoring remains unchanged.
- September 07, 1958
- Collections - Artifact
1919 Detroit Electric at Old Car Festival in Greenfield Village, September 1958
Held annually since 1951, The Henry Ford's Old Car Festival is the longest-running antique automobile show in the United States. While its specific events, activities and featured time periods have evolved over the decades, Old Car Festival's enthusiastic celebration of early American motoring remains unchanged.