Belmont Motors Corporation
| Belmont Motors Corporation | |
|---|---|
| legal form | Corporation |
| founding | 1918 |
| resolution | 1924 |
| Reason for dissolution | takeover |
| Seat | Allentown , Pennsylvania ( USA ) |
| management | HF Harris |
| Branch | Commercial vehicle manufacturer |
The Belmont Motors Corporation was an American commercial vehicle manufacturers .
The company was founded in Allentown (Pennsylvania) in 1918 to manufacture trucks from purchased components (so-called assembled trucks ). Production ran in 1919 with commercial vehicles between 0.5 and 3.5 tons. sh. (454 to 3175 kg). The smaller models with a payload of up to 1.5 tn. sh. (1361 kg) received a four-cylinder engine with 26 bhp (19.39 kW) from Continental .
Company history
Takeover of Dile
In the fall of 1918, Belmont took over the disused Dile Motor Car Company in Reading (Berks County, Pennsylvania) from bankruptcy proceedings . Whose only product was a lightweight roadster called Dile Model A was. As a result of this takeover, Belmont's trademark rights, patents, construction plans and stocks went to Belmont, which led to speculation that the truck manufacturer could also diversify into passenger car manufacturing.
Setbacks
In March 1920 Belmont was looking for additional capital; apparently an expansion of production was envisaged. That did not happen, however. Vehicles that had already been started were completed and as many more were assembled from the existing components as there were open orders. After that, however, the company did not pursue plans for car production any further. It can no longer be determined whether prototypes for a Dile successor were made at Belmont.
A few months after this decision, the plant was struck by a devastating fire. Truck production could not be resumed until the summer of 1922. Previously, the facilities of the former North American Tannery tannery in Lewistown had been converted for commercial vehicle production.
Model D two-ton truck
The small plant now offered no less than six series with payloads between 0.5 and 3.5 tn. sh. on. Belmont had great expectations of the new Model D series , a 2 ton truck. sh. Payload. For the first time, no Continental engine was planned, but a four-cylinder from Buda . This, in combination with a new type of guide for the cardan shaft , promised more smoothness under load. It was not yet a matter of course that electric lighting and starters were included in the basic price. The larger models received a "special" cast iron cooler.
Takeover by Kearns-Dughie
However, there was no success in the market. In 1923 the company was sold to competitor Kearns-Dughie Motor Company . The new owners stopped truck production at Belmont and operated the company as a Kearns subsidiary from the beginning of 1924 at the latest.
Remarks
- ↑ note (wording); The Evening News of January 7, 1922, p. 5: Belmont Announces New Model Two-Ton Chassis The Belmont Motors Corporation, whose executive office Is In Harrisburg, and- plant at Lewistown, has enlarged its line to Include six different models of trucks , ranging from a half ton to three and one-half tons. This includes a new type, model "D," two- "ton chassis. An official 'Of the Belmont said that on these trucks the starting and lighting is furnished as regular equipment. One of the principal features is a straight line drive shaft under load. Vibration is said to be reduced to a minimum through the use of the Buda motor, -mounted on a three point suspension. Speed on the heavier trucks is controlled automatically by a governor. The cooling system on the heavier cars includes a heavy cast Iron type specially designed tubular radiator.
literature
- GN Georgano (Ed.), G. Marshall Naul: Complete Encyclopedia of Commercial Vehicles. MBI Motor Books International, Osceola WI 1979, ISBN 0-87341-024-6 . (English)
- Albert Mroz: Illustrated Encyclopedia of American Trucks and Commercial Vehicles. Krause Publications, Iola WI 1996, ISBN 0-87341-368-7 . (English)
- Walter MP McCall: Illustrated Encyclopedia of American Fire Engine Manufacturers. Iconografix, Hudson WI 2009, ISBN 978-1-58388-252-8 . (English)
- Fred Crismon: Fire Engines. (= Crestline series). MBI Motor Books International, Osceola WI 1997, ISBN 0-7603-0381-9 . (English)
Web links
- trombinoscar.com: US truck (French) (accessed April 19, 2012)
- Newspaper note in The Evening News. January 7, 1922, p. 5. (accessed April 19, 2012)