Orient buckboard

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Orient Runabout Buckboard (1904) with simple steering and already with a sprung front axle. The manufacturer advertised it as "the cheapest car in the world".
Orient Runabout Buckboard (1905) with front storage compartment.
Waltham Orient Runabout Buckboard (1906) at the Retro Classics 2011 in Stuttgart

The Orient Buckboard (later also: Waltham Orient Buckboard ) is an extremely simply designed and constructed lightweight automobile, built from 1902 to 1907 by an American manufacturer of bicycles and motorcycles .

The buckboard

The name "Buckboard" is derived from the construction. It consists of a frame made of wood or, more rarely, of tubular steel. In a simple board (ger .:'s Board ) mounted on the driver's seat is attached. These light vehicles have minimal suspension and no body . They are powered by a small petrol or electric motor in the rear. The power is transmitted either via a chain or. a belt on one of the rear wheels (sometimes on both), using a friction gear or, as with the well-known Smith Flyer , on an attached fifth wheel.

Waltham Manufacturing

The Orient Buckboard was produced in several versions and different "structures". The producer was the Waltham Manufacturing Company in Waltham (Massachusetts) , at that time mainly known for two-wheelers. Orient was their brand name, from around 1906 motor vehicles were advertised more and more often as "Waltham-Orient" and "Waltham", with "Orient" becoming part of the model name in the latter case. Preparatory work was done indirectly by Charles Herman Metz (1863–1937), a co-founder of the company and its technical director. He received various bicycle patents, had from 1898 the import of French -cylinder - four-stroke engines of Ateliers de Construction Mecanique l'Aster (3 hp) and De Dion-Bouton (5 HP) initiated and with the Orient-Aster Pacer one of the first motorcycles built in the USA. By 1902 he developed his own single-cylinder engines with 4 and 8 hp. In addition, the De-Dion-Bouton motor tricycle and its four-wheeled version were sold or. copied under license. In 1902 a lightweight automobile that he had designed was released, which sold around 400 times. After leaving the company in May 1902, Leonard B. Gaylor succeeded him as managing director and chief engineer. Gaylor came from the Pennsylvania Bicycle Factory Tribune . Initially, a light automobile with the new, in-house 8 hp engine and a wheelbase of 2032 mm (the same as for the later buckboard) was included. It sold about 400 times at a price of US $ 875.

The Buckboard and the Hapless Runabout Model No. 9 appeared in 1902 for the 1903 model year. The latter was discontinued at the end of 1903 after only around 50 copies had been sold. The buckboard, on the other hand, was successful. It was continuously developed and offered in 1904 as a two-seater for US $ 425, three-seater for US $ 450 and "Delivery" with a flatbed in the rear for US $ 443. The greatest variety of models existed from 1905 to 1907 with four versions at prices between US $ 375 and 525. In addition, from around 1906 there was an optional V-Twin with 8 hp.

John Robbins , who has been the works manager since the company was founded in 1893, was replaced at the end of 1904 by Leo Melanowski , of Russian descent , who enjoyed a very good reputation in the industry. In 1906 the Orient Buckboard was the first motor vehicle to receive official approval for postal service from the US Post Office .

While the automobiles were manufactured in the company's own plant on Seyon Street , the buckboards were made in the main plant on Rumford Avenue . In total, Waltham Manufacturing sold between 2,500 and 3,250 buckboards, but very few cars. The distribution took place worldwide. The buckboard remained in the program until 1907.

technology

The Orient and Waltham-Orient Buckboards can be divided into the following versions (approximate production time in brackets):

  • without suspension, belt drive on left rear wheel (1902–1903)
  • Front axle suspension, belt drive on left rear wheel (1904–1905)
  • Front and rear axle suspension, drive with two chains (1905–1906)
  • Front and rear axle suspension, drive with two chains and kingpin steering with steering wheel (model ER, 1907)

construction

Gaylor did without anything that was not absolutely necessary, initially even a suspension . Instead of an actual chassis there is a platform made of hickory wood , which forms the floor. A bench for two is only attached in the middle; directly behind it is a tubular tank at right angles to the direction of travel. The engine is mounted upright on the rear axle. Later versions also received a small storage space in the bow. Four fenders had to be enough to protect against the worst splashing water. From 1904 at the latest, makeshift weather protection was available for a surcharge. It cost US $ 22.00 for two and US $ 25.00 for four-seat versions.

The wheelbase was very modest at 80 inches (2032 mm). A "chassis" in the true sense only developed over time. From around 1904 there were at least leaf springs at the front, and the last buckboards (from around 1906) also got a pair of leaf springs for the rear axle, which was by no means a matter of course in this category. It was steered with the "cow tail" lever, which was also common for larger cars at the time . A four-seat Surrey was also available. This otherwise structurally identical version received a vertical steering lever positioned to the side of the driver because of the front bench seat that was moved to the front.

engine

Orient Runabout Buckboard (1904) with in-house 4 HP single cylinder engine. The drive to the left rear wheel by means of a belt is visible.

All buckboards built by Waltham Manufacturing received the in-house single - cylinder engine as standard . Little was changed about this during its construction period, the output remained at 4 HP (about 3 kW). It had a displacement of 584 cm³ ( bore  ×  stroke = 83 × 108 mm) and one side-controlled inlet and outlet valve .

Both the one-cylinder and the optional two-cylinder engine, introduced around 1906, are air-cooled and, on all models, are placed lengthways in the rear. There is no cover at all, just a minimal guard plate is attached around the fan.

drive

Drive technology of the Waltham Orient Runabout Model ER (1907). The power is transmitted by means of a friction gear ; the friction wheel is visible in the open compartment. This model has the optional two-cylinder engine.

The power is transmitted via a friction gear of very simple construction. This steplessly adjustable special form of a friction gear is light and requires only a few moving parts. The motor's flywheel also serves as a friction disc, from which the friction wheel receives the power. In the early buckboards, a belt was run from the friction wheel shaft to the left rear wheel; later versions have a chain for each rear wheel.

Waltham Manufacturing and its successor Metz Company used this power transmission out of conviction for many years; it was only used for a short time in the auto industry. The main disadvantage is the great loss of power due to slippage .

The best for last

The pinnacle of development was the Waltham BR (runabout) and DC (delivery van with longer wheelbase). They were constructed much more elaborately than their predecessors and had a real chassis (albeit made of wood), suspension on both axles and a drive chain per rear wheel. They cost US $ 400 respectively. 450 only slightly less than the aforementioned Oldsmobile Curved Dash, which was also in its final year of production and still had a list price of US $ 650.

The slightly shorter runabout ER was derived from these buckboards. Waltham Manufacturing offered it for the first time with a stub axle steering , steering wheel and indicated body. In this form it was almost passed as a light car , but was very expensive at US $ 1275.

These vehicles were of course very light, but there are different information about them: 400, 500, respectively. 600 lbs (approx. 180, 227 or 272 kg) are named depending on the source - and could therefore achieve a respectable speed of 30 to 35 mph (48–56 km / h), provided the unpaved roads and courage allowed this . The tank held 3.5 gal. (13.25 liters) and is said to have lasted about 100 miles (160 km) according to a contemporary source. She states a consumption of 35 MPG, which corresponds to 6.7 liters per 100 km.

Orient and Waltham Buckboards (overview)

Construction year brand model body Cyl. power
 wheelbase New price
US $		 Remarks
1903 Orient Runabout Buckboard 2 pl. 1 4 hp 80  in (2,032  mm ) 375
1904 Orient Runabout Buckboard 2 pl. 1 4 hp 80  in (2,032  mm ) 425
1904 Orient Runabout Buckboard 3 pl. 1 4 hp 80  in (2,032  mm ) 450
1904 Orient Delivery Small delivery vans 1 4 hp 80  in (2,032  mm ) 443
1905-1907 Waltham Orient Buckboard 1 4 hp 80  in (2,032  mm ) 375
1904-1907 Orient Surrey Surrey 1 4 hp 80  in (2,032  mm ) 450
1905-1907 Orient Buckboard Runabout 1 4 hp 80  in (2,032  mm ) 475
1905-1907 Orient Buckboard Tonneau 1 4 hp 80  in (2,032  mm ) 525
1907 Waltham Orient Buckboard Model BR Runabout 1 4 hp 80  in (2,032  mm ) 400
1907 Waltham Delivery car Model DC Small delivery vans 1 4 hp 89  in (2,260.6  mm ) 450
1907 Waltham Orient Model ER Runabout 1 4 hp 73  in (1,854.2  mm ) 1275 with body

Positioning in the market

At US $ 375, a buckboard initially cost less than half as much as the Orient Model No. also introduced in 1903 . 9 . The latter was also a two-seater, had the same wheelbase, the larger of the two in-house single-cylinder engines with 8 hp and a decent body. It belongs to the smallest car category at the time, the so-called light cars , the forerunners of the cycle cars . Already at the end of 1903 and after only about 50 copies had been sold, it was discontinued. Probably the retail price of US $ 950 for the car with the same wheelbase as the buckboard at US $ 375 was simply too high; besides, it was competing with the immensely successful Oldsmobile Curved Dash , the only US $ cost 650th

In the commercial

After all, Waltham Manufacturing was able to advertise with the somewhat legitimate slogan "The cheapest car in the world". Another was not awkward either: "Everyone should have one."

Trivia

For the racing driver Ralph DePalma (1884–1956), a Buckboard from the Waltham Manufacturing Company was the first motor vehicle of his own. It still exists.

The Orient Buckboard today

Very few buckboards from the Waltham Manufacturing Company survived. The Waltham Museum has researched that 57 buckboards still exist, 45 of which are in the United States. The museum owns one of them. With the chassis no. 495B it is probably the second oldest preserved. Others are in automobile museums as well as in private hands, including in Europe. At least two take part in the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run every now and then , which takes place on the first weekend in November. RM Auctions auctioned a drivable copy for US $ 11,000 in 2009 and an example from 1906 was exhibited at the Retro Classics 2011 in Stuttgart (see image above in the article).

gallery

  • Waltham Orient Runabout Buckboard (1906). The wooden body was not painted during the restoration, but sealed with a colorless varnish.

  • Waltham Orient Model ER Runabout (1907): Almost too complete for a buckboard.

  • Orient Runabout Buckboard (1904) at the London to Brighton veteran car run 2011

  • Another Orient Runabout Buckboard (1904) at the London to Brighton veteran car run 2011

Remarks

  1. ↑ According to the calculation method at that time

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Kimes (1996), p. 1090.
  2. ↑ a b c Kimes (1985), p. 1018.
  3. ↑ Kimes (1985), p. 1090.
  4. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Kimes (1985), p. 1049.
  5. ↑ Holbrook (1986), p. 77.
  6. ↑ Waltham Museum: History (timeline)
  7. ^ Waltham Museum: Waltham Automobiles
  8. ↑ a b c d conceptcarz.com: Waltham Orient Runabout Buckboard (1903)
  9. ↑ a b c A.LAM: Handbook of Gasoline Automobiles 1904 , p. 78
  10. ↑ a b c A.LAM: Handbook of Gasoline Automobiles 1904 , p. 79
  11. ↑ a b c d carfolio.com: Specifications 1906 Waltham Orient Buckboard 1906
  12. ↑ trombinoscar.com: Waltham Buckboard Model BR (1907)
  13. ↑ a b c d Kimes (1996), p. 1511.
  14. ^ Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly; "Automobiles of 1904" special edition (January 1904)
  15. ↑ oldcarbrochures.com: Automobiles of 1904; Orient Buckboard (1904), p. 11
  16. ↑ conceptcarz.com: Waltham Orient Runabout Buckboard (1906)
  17. ↑ a b c d e f g h Kimes (1985), p. 1463.

literature

  • Beverly Rae Kimes (eds.) And Henry Austin Clark, jr .: The Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805–1942 , 2nd edition, Krause Publications, Iola WI 54990, USA (1985), ISBN 0-87341-111-0 ( English)
  • Beverly Rae Kimes (Eds.) And Henry Austin Clark Jr.: The Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805–1942. 3. Edition. Krause Publications, Iola WI (1996), ISBN 978-0-87341-428-9 ISBN 0-87341-428-4 . (English)
  • GN Georgano (Ed.): Complete Encyclopedia of Motorcars, 1885 to the Present ; Dutton Press, New York, 2nd edition (hardcover) 1973, ISBN 0-525-08351-0 (English)
  • Beverly Rae Kimes: Pioneers, Engineers, and Scoundrels: The Dawn of the Automobile in America. Published by SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) Permissions, Warrendale PA 2005, ISBN 0-7680-1431-X (hardcover). (English)
  • Madsen, Axel: The Deal Maker: How William C. Durant made General Motors , John Wiley & Sons, Inc., ISBN 0-4713-9523-4 (pbck) (English)
  • Sloan, Alfred P .: My Years with General Motors , 2nd edition (Sept. 1965), Verlag Moderne Industrie (German licensed edition of My Years With General Motors , Doubleday & Co., Garden City NY (USA))
  • Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers (ALAM) (Editor): Handbook of Gasoline Automobiles / 1904–1905–1906 ; Reprint with an introduction by Clarence P. Hornung, Dover Publications, New York (January 1, 1969)

Web links

Commons : Orient and Waltham-Orient Buckboards  - Collection of images, videos and audio files