Model Gas Engine Works

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Model Gas & Gasoline Company
1900-1904
Model Gas Engine Company
1904-1909
Model Automobile Company
1906-1909
legal form Corporation
founding 1900
resolution 1909
Reason for dissolution Reorganization as Great Western Automobile Co.
Seat Auburn , DeKalb County
Peru , Miami County , Indiana

Pittsburgh , Allegheny County , Pennsylvania , USA

management EA Myers
Branch Internal combustion engines , automobiles , traction engines

The Model Gas Engine Company was an American engine, automobile, and tractor manufacturer. The automobiles were sold under the brand names Model and Star . In 1910 the automobile production was separated as a subsidiary Great Western Automobile Company and became independent after the sale of the Model Gas Engine Company . In its early days in Auburn, Indiana , the company also referred to itself as Model Gas Engine Works .

Company history

Advertisement of the Model Gas Engine Works (1906).

Model Gas Engine Company

In the available sources, the history of the company is presented in different details. The roots go back to the 1890s, as in Garrett ( Indiana a mechanical workshop was established), which probably combustion engines produced. The company was formally founded on October 11, 1900. Just a month later, the Model Gas Engine Company moved to Auburn, Indiana . The domicile was at the intersection of South Main Street and Ensley Street . According to one account, the company passed into the possession of the young attorney Edward A. Myers as early as 1901 , who, according to a source, ran it as the Model Gas & Gasoline Engine Company . Model initially offered a growing range of internal combustion engines, primarily in a variety of stationary and vehicle engines . Automobile production followed as early as 1902 or 1903.

The company belonged to the Auburn Automobile Company , the WH Kiblinger Company (from which the WH McIntyre Company emerged) and the Zimmerman Manufacturing Company to the most important industrial enterprises in Auburn. All four were (also) automobile manufacturers; Kiblinger and Zimmerman only built highwheelers . Of these four companies, Model was the only one that did not have its roots in coach and wagon construction.

Crisis, relocation and reorganization

Advert from Model Automobile Co. (1907).

Despite the good business development, bankruptcy in Auburn in the second half of 1904 threatened bankruptcy. Myers was able to reorganize the company as Model Gas Engine Works with clever negotiations and new investors . It appears that the move to Peru (Indiana) was related to this. The former Auburn facilities were taken over by the Auburn Commercial Club , founded in 1903 , a forerunner of the local Chamber of Commerce . This later rented it to the Auburn Automobile Company .

According to another source, Myers only appeared in the course of the bankruptcy proceedings. Accordingly, he bought the plants from the liquidation and then established the Model Gas Engine Works .

The move to Peru was accompanied by a reorganization in which automobile production was transferred to a newly founded company. Engines and, from 1906, also transmissions and clutches remained at the Model Gas Engine Works . In 1906 the company offered single-cylinder , stationary gas engines as drives for pumps or as generators . There were versions from 2 to 100 bhp and later possibly up to 125 bhp. Four-cylinder engines were available as both stationary and boat engines in power ratings from 15 to 500 bhp.

Model developed two-cylinder engines with 12, 16 or 24 bhp output for automobiles, utility vehicles and tractors, as well as a four-cylinder engine that was produced with air cooling and 20 bhp or with water cooling and 25 to 60 bhp.

In addition to clutches , various transmissions were also produced: an unusual three-speed variant with two reverse gears, a conventional three-speed transmission with one reverse gear for chain or cardan drive, and planetary gear with two or three forward and one reverse gears.

Motor vehicle construction

Model advert from 1905.
Model 1906

The first model automobile, the 12 HP, was created in 1902 for the model year 1903. Until 1906, only large-volume two-cylinder models were produced.

It is interesting to note in an advertisement from 1906 that Model not only offered four "standard" automobiles - obviously the vehicles described here - but could also supply custom-made vehicles ("special cars") and utility vehicles "from $ 1,000 to $ 10,000".

The production of locomotives is documented in Peru from 1906. The devices were sold as Model Gasoline & Kerosene Traction Engines [sic]. Accordingly, they could be operated with both gasoline and kerosene. Traction engines are mobile power sources that have been used to power devices on site. Typical applications were as power generators, in agriculture, in road construction and for driving carousels and rides at fairs and fairgrounds. Details on the versions of Model are missing, but outputs between 16 and 60 bhp are mentioned, which at least indicates a wide range of models. A picture also shows gears in the rear axles, so there were also self-propelled versions; such were also used as tugs.

Model Automobile Company and the Star

Two-cylinder model with open body (1905).

In 1906, the company was split into two independent companies, which probably remained linked through Myers and were based in Peru. The Model Gas Engine Company continued to manufacture stationary and vehicle engines and expanded its range to include transmissions and clutches. The automobile production was outsourced to an independent company, the Model Automobile Company founded for this purpose . It produced the previous two-cylinder model in a slightly modified form. In 1907 it was replaced by a very expensive four-cylinder.

From 1908 the brand name of the vehicles was changed to Star . The reason for this may still have been that customers did not like to use components from a supplier who used the same parts in their own vehicle and this in turn was competing with them. Myers only tried to make an obvious conflict of interest less obvious with the brand change. The engines and components continued to be sold under the established name.

A special technical feature of the Model and later the Star two-cylinder car was the way in which the body was attached to the chassis. For maintenance work on the engine, it could be folded up completely using hinges at the rear, similar to the driver's cab that can be tilted forwards in modern trucks. This was a very practical facility because the space in the engine compartment under and in the driver's bench was very tight. The usual access was far less convenient via the side doors and above all with the bench removed. An advertisement from 1905 suggests that this system applied to all two-cylinder engines.

Model overview automobiles

brand model construction time engine
Cubic capacity c.i. / cm³		 power Wheelbase
inches / mm		 body Prices
US $
Model 12 HP 1903-1904 B2 12 72/1829 Runabout 900.-
Model 12 HP 1903-1904 B2 12 72/18290 Detachable tonneau 1000.-
Model 16 HP 1904 B2 196.4 / 3218 16 78/1981 Side entrance tonneau 1800.-
Model 16 HP 1904 B2 196.4 / 3218 16 78/1981 Canopy Top Touring 2000.-
Model 12 HP Style C 1905 B2 12 86/2184 Rear entrance tonneau 1100.-
Model 12 HP Style C 1905 B2 12 86/2184 Side entrance tonneau 1200.-
Model 15 HP Style B 1905 B2 15th 86/2184 Rear entrance tonneau 1500.-
Model 15 HP Style B 1905 B2 15th 86/2184 Side entrance tonneau 1600.-
Model 20 HP Style A 1905 B2 20th 92/2337 Rear entrance tonneau 1800.-
Model 20 HP Style A 1905 B2 12 92/2337 Side entrance tonneau 2000.-
Model 16/18 HP 1906 B2 196.4 / 3218 16 72/1829 Runabout, 2 pl. 900.-
Model 16/18 HP 1906 B2 196.4 / 3218 16 88/2235 Touring, 5 pl. 1150.-
Model 24 HP 1906 B2 274.9 / 4505 24 92/2337 Touring, 5 pl. 1250.-
Model 24 HP Style 10 1907 B2 274.9 / 4505 24 100/2540 Touring, 5 pl.
Model 45 HP Style 15 1907 B4 432.0 / 7079 45 92/2337 Touring, 5 pl. 3600.-
star Model 12 1908 B2 274.9 / 4505 24 100/2540 Touring 1250.-
star Model 14 1908 B2 274.9 / 4505 24 104/2642 Roadster 1350.-
star Model 14 1908 B2 274.9 / 4505 24 104/2642 Touring 1350.-
star Model 18 1908 4th 318.1 / 5212 35 108/2743 Touring 2500.-
star Model 16 1908 4th 274.9 / 4505 50 122/3099 Roadster 4000.-
star Model 16 1908 4th 432.0 / 7079 50 122/3099 Touring 4000.-
star Model 24 1909 B2 274.9 / 4505 24 100/2540 Touring 1600.-
star Model 30 1909 4th 251.3 / 4118 30th 107/2718 Runabout 2/3 pl. 1600.-
star Model 40 1909 4th 349.9 / 5734 40 114/2896 Touring 3000.-
star Model 50 1909 4th 471,2,0 / 7079 50 122/3099 Touring 4000.-

The table above was compiled from various sources. It is based on the composition after Beverly Rae Kimes and Henry Austin Clark, Jr. in the Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 . and technical data according to Robert D. Dluhy.

Production figures for passenger cars

Model year number of pieces Remarks
1903 50 Model
1904 100 Model
1905 100 Model
1906 100 Model
1907 200 star
1908 275 star
Total 825 Model and star

The production figures by model year opposite are estimates by automotive historians Beverly Rae Kimes and Henry Austin Clark, Jr. in the Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 . According to the same source, production began as early as 1902, so these vehicles were assigned to model year 1903. In 1907 and 1908, more star automobiles were built than models in the previous four years.

Commercial vehicles are also mentioned in the Model brand literature and an advertisement from 1906 explicitly mentions this. Nevertheless, these are not mentioned in the commercial vehicle sources available, so that there were probably only a few delivery vans on car chassis. The construction of tractors is also documented, but not only are technical data missing, but also quantities.

Great Western

Great Western Automobile Company logo (1912).
Great Western Forty with a touring body by Abresch (1914)

It is unclear whether the introduction of the Star brand was only intended as a temporary solution or whether the name change did not affect the customers. On September 8, 1909, the Model Automobile Company was reorganized as the Great Western Automobile Company . Milton Kraus was in charge . Star's program continued under the name Great Western , initially with a few changes. The Star four-cylinder introduced in 1909 was of increasing importance and was available in three price ranges as the Great Western . Myers was later forced to take over management again. The Great Western Automobile Company stayed in business until 1916. One of the reasons that led to its closure are, of all things, quality problems with the model six-cylinder engine that was last used .

The Great Western Automobile Company is the only known automobile manufacturer to have used this brand on a production car. There is no known connection to the Great Western Railway , nor to the Great Western Mfg bicycle manufacturer . Company in La Porte, Indiana , which had introduced the prototype of a light steam car with that name in 1902 . Which was also built as a prototype two-stroke - four-cylinder of the Great Western Motor Car Company in San Diego , its funding in 1908 did not materialize.

Pittsburgh Model Gas Engine Company

The decoupling of automobile production could have had another good reason. Myers sold in 1912 its Model Gas Engine Works to investors in Pittsburgh ( Pennsylvania ) that they there as Pittsburgh Model Gas Engine Company further led. Myers also moved to Pittsburgh and took care of the company in an unknown capacity. At the same time he also worked for Great Westerns .

Izzer

Dr. HH Bissell, a customer from Watseka (Illinois) came to Myers in 1911 with the desire to have an automobile built for them that would contain all the technical innovations available at the time. It is not known what these were in detail. Obviously pneumatic tires were not included. Myers was so impressed with the idea that he commissioned two more in addition to the customer's vehicle. The vehicles called Izzer received the drive technology including a four-cylinder engine from Great Western in a chassis shortened to 99 inches (2516 mm) wheelbase. That year Great Western used a 40 bhp Model engine with a displacement of 283.7 ci (4649 cc). It is at least obvious that this engine, valued at 28.9 HP , was used in the Izzer . The three-seater roadster body was also derived from Great Western . The conversion was carried out at the Model Gas Engine Company in Peru. Myers took over one of the vehicles himself. It was destroyed in an accident in 1912. Model manager James Littlejohn bought the third vehicle . It is preserved.

Car brands with model engines

Other early U.S. vehicle engine manufacturers (selection)

literature

Web links

Commons : Model Gas Engine Works  - Collection of Images, Videos and Audio Files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Grace's Guide: Advertisement Model Style A, B and C (1905).
  2. ↑ a b c d e American Automobiles: Model Gas Engine Works (advertisement, 1906).
  3. ↑ a b c d Wendel: Standard Catalog of Farm Tractors 1890–1980. 2005, p. 552 (Model).
  4. ↑ a b c d e f Eckhart Public Library: The Model Gas Engine Company in the JM Smith Collection
  5. ↑ a b c d e f g h Kimes, Cark: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 , 1996, p. 984 (Model).
  6. ↑ a b c d Smith: Auburn: The Classic City. , 2002, p. 67
  7. ↑ Linz, Schrader: The international automobile encyclopedia , 2008 (Kiblinger).
  8. ↑ Linz, Schrader: The international automobile encyclopedia , 2008 (McIntyre).
  9. ^ Smith: Auburn: The Classic City. , 2002, p. 68
  10. ^ Butler: Auburn Cord Duesenberg. 1992, p. 14.
  11. ↑ american-automobiles.com: The Model Automobile & The Model Automobile Co.
  12. ^ A b Kimes, Cark: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942. 1996, p. 409 (Cutting).
  13. ^ Smith: Auburn: The Classic City. , 2002, p. 71
  14. ↑ Carfolio: Model Style 10 24 hp, 1907 MY.
  15. ^ Dluhy: American Automobiles of the Brass Era. 2013, p. 100 (model).
  16. ^ Dluhy: American Automobiles of the Brass Era. 2013, p. 120 (Star, Great Western).
  17. ↑ a b c d Kimes, Cark: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942. 1996, pp. 657-658 (Great Western).
  18. ^ Kimes, Cark: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942. 1996, pp. 657-658 (Great Western Steamer).
  19. ^ Dluhy: American Automobiles of the Brass Era. 2013, p. 82 (Great Western).
  20. ↑ a b Kimes, Cark: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 , 1996, p. 774 (Izzer).
  21. ↑ Kimes, Clark: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 , 1996, p. 1383 (Star).
  22. ^ American Automobiles: The Zimmerman Automobile & The Zimmerman Manufacturing Company.