Showing posts with label horseless carriage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label horseless carriage. Show all posts
Saturday, April 04, 2026
Sunday, March 22, 2026
Sunday, January 18, 2026
the first man to buy a car, Robert Allison, a mechanical engineer of Port Carbon, Pennsylvania. Here's the account of the event, from Winton
We did not know where our customers would come from, but we were sure they would come. We started building four machines, and when one was finished, Robert Allison, hearing that I was manufacturing automobiles, came to Cleveland.
He wanted a ride. I told him to hop in, and then proceeded to give the first of many millions of demonstrations that since have preceded the sale of automobiles.
We started out about noon and did not return until after supper. During the afternoon he had me drive to a dozen places where friends of his were working, and from each he sought advice.
After each stop he had a new set of questions, but apparently I answered them satisfactorily, for when we returned to the factory he asked: “How much do you want for this carriage?”
“One thousand dollars.”
“I’ll buy it.”
Within a short time we sold the other three machines, getting $1,000 apiece. Our profit on each was $400.
“One thousand dollars.”
“I’ll buy it.”
Within a short time we sold the other three machines, getting $1,000 apiece. Our profit on each was $400.
The exact date of the sale was March 24, 1898, and about a week later — on April 1, 1898 — payment was received and the car was shipped
Winton bought it back after Allison had used it a few years, and it is now in the Smithsonian Institution
Believe it or not, I think I'm related to Robert Allison. I'll have to dig into the family tree project to find out
Friday, January 16, 2026
Not sure what to make of this, the Greensboro Kiwanis had a tiller steered horseless carriage
The Greensboro Kiwanis of NC, are focused on community service, especially for children, through projects like supporting literacy, sponsoring school clubs (Key Club, Terrific Kids), funding local charities (like the Community Theatre of Greensboro and fire safety education), and running fundraisers
Monday, December 11, 2023
Monday, March 06, 2023
Tuesday, January 17, 2023
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Monday, August 15, 2022
Thursday, November 19, 2020
GM had a surprise unveiling of a California-compliant vehicle. After building anticipation, GM revealed its latest innovation for the West Coast: the 2021 Horse And Buggy. British version ready for export, not doubt
The curiosity started last week when GM's Twitter account dropped a cryptic photo of a lone carrot with the phrase "It's coming." Finally, at a live event this week, officials at the company pulled the cover off a stylish, elegant carriage pulled by a powerful single horse.
"We had to re-think everything," said lead designer Abraham Moses Jehoshaphat from rural Pennsylvania. "With California outlawing gas-powered cars, we had to research new technology for propelling a four-wheeled vehicle forward. After countless hours of research and billions of dollars, this is what we came up with. It's an organic, intelligent engine capable of listening to your voice commands and even reproducing other engines. A true miracle of modern science.Chevy confirmed they plan to release many more exciting new California-compliant models in the future such as the "Chariot," the "Flintstone," and the "100 Giant Helium Balloons Tied To A Harness On Your Back."
Friday, March 15, 2019
Friday, February 22, 2019
Saturday, January 19, 2019
Saturday, September 29, 2018
The 1901 Arrol-Johnston was a popular make of motor cars built and marketed by the Mo-Car Sydicate Ltd of Paisley, Scotland.
George Johnston (1855 - 1945) was a Scottish Locomotive Engineer. In 1894 , Glasgow tramways had awarded him the contract to design a steam tram for them. Unfortunately the steam tram developed by him was destroyed in a fire and the project was dropped.
Johnston, then concentrated on making a motor car powered by internal combustion engine. In 1895, along with Sir William Arrol (1839 - 1913), a famed Bridge Engineer, formed the company Mo-Car Syndicate Ltd.
Despite it's rather ungainly appearance the 'dog cart' was a popular model well into the 1900's. It was not until 1906 that they started to produce more convential looking vehicles that were more successful than this model.
In 1907 , one Arrol-Johnston car participated in the attempt of Ernest Shackleton to reach Antarctica, and was used in the Antarctica base camp
"15hp air-cooled engine, with special anti-freezing arrangements. Foot warmers heated by the exhaust gas. Tank at the side for melting the snow for drinking purposes, heated by exhaust gas. Folding wind shield made of talc. The construction of the driving wheels and of the runners speaks for itself. A Burberry weave cloth is carried in the car and is arranged to cover the whole vehicle, making a sort of tent" The car shown and described is the New Arrol-Johnston taken with Shackleton to the Antarctic for his Nimrod expedition in 1907-1909. The car was supplied by Sir William Beardmore, head of the vast Beardmore empire (which included the Arrol-Johnston company) who was the major sponsor of the Nimrod expedition.
This vehicle, HX 4110, was bought from Arrol-Johnston when they went into liquidation by Richard Shuttleworth in 1931, and he drove it the 250 miles from Dumfries down to Old Warden, Bedfordshire where it is on display today
here's and example of the simple adaptation to a roof
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