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Generous support from the Ellen Browning Scripps Foundation Spring 2019 “The Information Place” Volume 21 # 1 THE WINTON AUTOMOBILE – AN AMERICAN BEAUTY

The articles written for the HCFI Once again in the automobile’s his- newsletter almost always highlight his- tory, necessity becomes the mother of torical automakers, but frequently shed invention – and Winton was responsible light simultaneously on their accomplish- for new ideas that would soon become ments as well – most of which I am not the world standard. Beginning like many aware of before doing the research for others manufacturing bicycles, he was the articles I write. The story of a young soon taken by the new-fangled contrap- Scottish immigrant named Alexander tions called ‘motor carriages,’ and began Winton is yet another automaker whose to use the experiences he had recently innovations and impact on the history of gained to begin his tinkering: first as an the automobile are far-reaching, and his engineer on a steamship at the ripe story highlights his genius, but also his young age of nineteen, an iron worker in vision to use the media to do his adver- New York shortly after his arrival in tising for him to further the legend of the America, and also an engine shop that Winton Automobile across the country catered to marine applications. and eventually the world. With his own patented designs, he

Alexander Winton opened his first bicycle company in 1891 in Cleveland, Ohio with his brother-in-law Thomas Henderson. It was at this time that he was first infatuated with the horseless carriage, and began to work on

Continue on Page 2 Up Coming Events May 25 Saturday American Heritage Car Show, Escondido CA May 26 Sunday Fallbrook Car Show, Pala Mesa Resort June 8-9 San Marino Car Show and Concourse, San Marino, CA August 11 Annual HCCA & Model T Clubs Blood Drive, San Diego Auto Museum and publish another article for the Horse- less Age Magazine – this time touting a vertical two-cylinder engine that was proven on a road test from Cleveland to Elyria at an average speed of twelve mph. The selling points, however, were not it’s speed; although Winton was pleased that his creation still bested the horse and carriage in his opinion. Winton capitalized on public complaints of noise, odors, and difficult maintenance, and boasted a car that was noiseless, odor- less, and did not vibrate. This car was considerably heavier, but had a bigger fuel tank than the first. The ride was much smoother; the body having been rested on springs, and the drive mechanism and brake were operated by a single lever – with some- thing that could be considered the first ‘cruise control,’ which could hold the speed the driver was traveling indefinite- back seats, boasted a five-gallon fuel ly - providing you had enough fuel to do Alexander Winton tank, and pneumatic tires wrapped so. Continued from Page 1 around wooden wheels (the custom tires So confident in this model, Winton were supplied by one B.F. Goodrich). The took his shop superintendent on a trip to engine designs at home in the basement; car could achieve speeds upwards of New York City. It took nine days to com- almost succumbing to carbon monoxide thirty mph. Forgoing the local media, plete the trip, and Horseless Age docu- poisoning on several occasions (having Winton decided to go national, and man- mented the journey. His gamble worked been unaware of the danger). Five years aged to get an article about his new car again, and the following year, Winton later, Winton delivered his first offering – published in The Horseless Age magazine would go on to sell twenty-two cars. His a single-cylinder cycle car. To garner in- in November of 1896. It worked. Two confidence in the vehicle’s performance terest from the public, he debuted his months later, Winton would again write creation to local newspaper reporters – creatively using the media to advertise his product for nothing. It was a genius move, and one that proved effective for him and many others to follow. A Year later, his brother-in-law would become Vice President when young Alexander incorporated the Win- ton Motor Carriage Company. A compli- ment of only sixteen people handmade the first Winton automobiles, and they were built in a section of a manufactur- ing plant that was at the time owned and operated by the Brush Electric Company. Though his first order was for six buses for the city of Cleveland, a trial run of the bus spooked local horses and their own- ers, who promptly threatened legal ac- tion. The stockholders got spooked as well, and the buses were never used. Winton therefore decided to focus on the automobile. The result was Winton’s first two-cylinder car that made 10hp. The car was lightweight, had back to 1989 Single-Cylinder Winton Continue on Page 3 Alexander Winton Continued from Page 2 was tempered by the trip, however – and fearing he couldn’t stand the return trip, shipped the car back as freight and took a train back home to Ohio. Also advertising in Scientific Ameri- can Magazine, Winton’s verbiage caught the attention of one particular buyer, who literally showed up with cash in hand to buy Winton’s latest offering. It became the first American-made, gaso- line-powered, mass-produced car sold to stantly. Fed up with diplomacy, Winton force in the industry for another four a private buyer. He had a choice of the finally tired of Packard’s incessant com- years. four vehicles that Winton had on hand at plaints, challenged him to build a better Despite that rather large oversight, the time of his arrival, and the car he car if he could. Packard responded by 1899 was a watershed year for Winton, chose now resides in the Smithsonian’s stealing away one of Winton’s primary who produced the first U.S. mail truck for automobile collection. The buyer’s name financiers’ as well as his shop superinten- the Cleveland Postmaster, and it man- was Robert Allison Cole. dent, and began manufacturing Packard aged to cut a horse-drawn route that Motor Cars in 1899. It could be said that Out of the twenty-two cars sold that once took six hours to a mere two and a Winton was directly responsible for the year, that one surely was one for the half hours in the middle of a snowstorm. Packard Automobile existing. history books, but lacked the notoriety The Horseless Age once again chronicled that came with the sale of number Having lost his previous shop super the feat, and the U.S. Postmaster General twelve, which was purchased by one to Packard, Winton hired a new one, who took note. Within a couple of years, Win- James Ward Packard. Number twelve did promptly went hunting for new talent to ton Mail delivery trucks were being wide- not perform up to standard, however, add to the Winton manufacturing compa- ly used in the U.S. and ceased to run on the way home from ny. One of the promising young mechan- Interested in capitalizing on the suc- the Winton factory to Packard’s home in ics approached went by the name of Hen- cess of mail distribution, Winton decided Warren – sixty miles away. ry Ford, who upon interviewing with Win- to apply the same principle to delivering ton was quickly dispatched, due to what It had to be pulled by horses to make vehicles. He developed the first auto- Winton perceived as a lack of knowledge it home, and Packard was furious. He hauler (also known as a ‘semi’) truck to and skill. Unbeknown to Winton, the would return the car for servicing repeat- accomplish this – a principle that is still young Ford had already produced his edly, writing angry letters to Winton con- being used to this day. own carriage, but would not become a Another innovation to get people into Winton automobiles was the inven- tion of the auto dealership, the first of its kind featuring only Winton vehicles de- buted in Reading, Pennsylvania in 1899. This allowed potential customers to come in and be shown Winton cars, edu- cated about their features and test- driven. As a result, more than 100 cars Continue on Page 4

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Alexander Winton ‘s first car, a “dos-a-dos” Alexander Winton Continued from Page 3 were delivered that year, making Winton the largest automaker in the U.S. In 1900, Winton automobiles were also the first to The Winton driven by Horatio Nelson Jackson who drove, on a bet of $50 that an sport a steering wheel in place of the tra- automobile from San Francisco to New York. On May 23, 1903 Started his trip. He ditional tiller. arrived in New Your July 26, 1903. Winton’s proclivities to using the press would sometimes backfire on him when he made statements like the one he wheel. tentious for their purposes. They contin- gave to the magazine “The Wheel” that Winton noticed the experimental ued to sell well until after WWI. By this same year. He stated that any speed over units that were being utilized in Ireland by time, having weathered the financial 25mph was excessive and dangerous, and Napier, and decided to follow suit upon storm of the Kaiser War, Winton had been anyone wishing to reach or exceed those returning home. In 1908, using three newly infatuated with the diesel engine, kinds of speeds might just as well “take banks of two cylinders, the car that would and shareholders were dubious. Winton the Empire State Express.” Sidestepping be known as the “Six-Teen-Six” was intro- went his own way, setting up and building his hypocrisy, Winton immersed himself in duced (Winton’s sixes were known as the diesel engines. The Winton Car was quick- building Winton cars to enter and win “American Beauties.”) It should be noted ly becoming an afterthought, and rather speed competitions – also a first in the that Winton was the first American auto- than going further into debt (having bor- industry to do so. In three-years’ time, he mobile manufacturer to build both four rowed ferociously during the war years to would be setting records. The Winton Bul- and six-cylinder automobile engines; he stay afloat), management decided to let would push almost seventy mph, and held over one hundred patents on auto- throw in the towel. whilst driving the car himself managed to mobiles and allowed the industry as a Like most of the heavy-hitters in the break the Ormond Beach speed record. whole to use his innovations without roy- golden age of the automobile, Winton was The second Bullet was designed spe- alties. not without his idiosyncrasies; and like cifically for his aspirations to enter and It should also be noted that Winton many other titans of the industry, he was win international competitions. Bullet was partial to using a compressed air sys- an engineer first, and a businessman sec- Two, a straight-eight with dual four- tem to start his large straight-eights, and ond – one with a very short attention cylinder banks, as well as a four-cylinder this system was also used for the sixes. span. It seemed to many as though he car were accepted as American entries The system used an air compressor to fill a drifted from one predilection to the next, into the 1909 Gordon Bennett Race in Ire- small tank, which released the pressurized giving little thought to what would be- land. The Bullet was rife with problems, air by pedal into the cylinders to force the come of his previous endeavor. including not wanting to start; it ended up start. It was a confounding system; for As a result, The Winton Motor Car overheating and falling out of the race most times the air would run out before Company was dismantled, liquidated, and after a mere 190 miles. The four did not obtaining a start. dissolved. The diesel engines that Winton fare much better, quitting after only five Despite this, they sold like hotcakes at was building would be absorbed into the laps. It was this car, however, that would $3000 – particularly to those that thought new monster conglomerate of General find success the following year with a driv- the Winton’s competitors’ were too pre- Motors, and the last Winton car built er named Barney Oldfield behind the Continue on Page 5 Alexander Winton dealership; from the development of the YOUR DONATIONS Continued from Page \4 semi and the steering wheel, and the keen observations of developing the four and ARE THE rolled off the line in 1924. By 1930, Win- eight cylinder engines stateside, Winton ton was no more. The Creditors had been will indeed be remembered as a titan of BACKBONE FOR THE paid in full, the factories locked tight, and the industry. Winton’s name, though any evidence of the Winton had disap- prominent in the annals of the automo- PRESERVATION OF peared. bile’s history, could have been one of the biggest names in business had he chosen For all the innovations that occurred AUTOMOTIVE to capitalize on his patents. Alas, Winton during the production of the Winton auto- was apparently not as profit-minded as mobile, its claim to fame was a result of a most of his contemporaries (such as Ford, HISTORICAL bet made in a bar in San Francisco in 1903. one of his cast-offs, who became one of if It was arguably one of the most famous not the biggest names in history). Even so, INFORMATION wagers ever made, and made the plywood Alexander Winton was a titan of the in- -adorned Winton a celebrity in its own dustry, and rightfully resides in the hall of right. Going to car shows fame today. - Kevin J Parker One particularly obnoxious and bellig- erent member of San Francisco’s Universi- or events? ty Club was loudly prophesizing the de- mise of the noisy, clumsy automobile and You can help support the Li- its shortcomings, claiming they’d never Bibliography: last on long trips. He promptly bet anyone brary by “Famous but Forgotten: The Story of Alexan- within earshot $50 that one could not der Winton, Automotive Pioneer and Indus- distributing Brochures and/ make a trans-continental trip. Dr. Horatio trialist,” Saal/Golias GPI Publishing, 1997 Nelson Jackson, visiting from Vermont, “American Automobile Manufacturers: A or took the bet, quietly taking $50 from his History of the First Forty Years,” Rae, John Newsletter at you booth, car, pocket and placing it on the bar. B. / Chilton Books 1959 Jackson procured a two-day old Win- “Treasury of Early American Automobiles,” or provide for goodie bags. Clymer, Floyd / McGraw/Hill 1950 ton for $500 more than it was worth, and Email—[email protected] employed a 22-year old named Sewall K. “Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805- 1942 (3rd Edition),” Kimes/Clarke / Krause Crocker as his mechanic and co-driver. Publications 1996 Call the Library Four days later, their journey began. The “American Automobile, The,” Stein, Ralph / Winton was retrofitted with an auxiliary and we will supply them. Ridge Press 1978 twenty-gallon fuel tank that proved to be “American Automobile: A Centenary 1893- 619-464-0301 difficult to fill due to many an unscrupu- 1993, The,” Georgano, Nick / Smithmark; lous store keeper’s intent on price-fixing. 1992 [email protected] They decided to forgo the desert south- “100 Years of the American Auto,” The Edi- west and headed north instead. From Ore- tors of Consumer Guide® / Publications In- gon through Idaho (where a third passen- ternational 2003 The Library has ger – a be-goggled bulldog joined the trek) and beyond, the challengers dealt with PHOTO CREDITS: multiple adversities and delays. Upon “Famous but Forgotten: The Story of reaching Ohio, Winton offered to overhaul over Alexander Winton, Automotive Pioneer the car, but the team refused, wanting to and Industrialist,” Saal/Golias GPI Pub- keep the run – and his status as an ama- lishing, 1997; Cover; p.48 teur - pure. “100 Years of the American Auto,” The Sixty-four days later, at the Holland 2500 Editors of Consumer Guide® / Publica- House Hotel in New York, the Winton tions International 2003 pg.26 Duplicate Books came to a stop. Eleven states, eight thou- “American Automobile: A Centenary sand miles and eight thousand dollars 1893-1993, The,” Georgano, Nick / for SALE later, Jackson won the bet. The journey Smithmark; 1992 pg. 20 would be chronicled decades later in print “American Automobile, The,” Stein, Call or email and on video for PBS under the banner of Ralph / Ridge Press 1978 pg.71 “Horatio’s Drive.” to get your list. “American Automobile Manufacturers: From his prowess using the press to A History of the First Forty Years,” Rae, do his advertising for him to the Auto John B. / Chilton Books 1959 pg. 151 Listing of Pre War Automotive documents in the Library’s Archive

Abbot Detroit Bailey Chadwick De Deietrich Fiat HCS Kline Kar ABC Automo- Baker Challenger De Dion Bouton Findlay Henderson Knight biles Baker R&L Chalmers De Soto Firestone Henny Knox ACE Baker Steamer Chalmers- Decauville Flanders Henry Koehler ACME Ballot Detroit Deere Flint Herreshoff Krit Adams-Farwell Bantam Chandler Delahaye Ford Hertel La Salle Aerocar Barley-Roamer Chase Delauney- Fordson Hillman Lafayette Aetna Bates Chevrolet Belleville Four-Wheel Hispano-Suiza Lagonda Alco Bay State Chicago Delling Drive Holderman Lambert Allen Beardsley Christie Demot Fox Holley Lanchester Allen-Kingston Benner Chrysler Denby Framo Hollier Lane Alpena Bentley Church Detamble Franklin Holmes LaVigne Alvis Benz Citroen Detroit Electric Frayer-Miller Holsman Le Gui American Berg Clement-Bayard Detroiter Frontenac Horch Leach American Austin Bergdoll Cleveland DeVaux Frontmobile Hotchkiss Leader American Dar- Berliet Clyno Diamond T Fuller Huber Lenox racq Bernardi Coates-Goshen Diana G.V. Electric Hudford Leon-Bollee American Elec- Bershire Coats Dixi Gadabout Hudson Lewis tric Bianchi Coey Dixie Flyer Gaeth Hudson-Essex Lexington Vehicle Compa- Biddle Cole DKW Gale Humber Liberty ny Black Colonial Doble Galloway Hunt Lincoln American Gas Blair Colt Doble Detroit Gardener Hupmobile Lion American Mors Blomstrom Columbia Dodge Garford Hupp Lippard-Stewart American Motor Borland Comet Dolson Gasaulec Ideal Little American Sim- Boss Compound Dorris Gasmobile Imperia Liege Little Giant plex Boston Conrad Dort Gearless Steam- Imperial Lloyd American Bozier Continental Au- Dragon er Indiana Locomobile Steamer Brasier to Drexel General Motors International Logan American- Breese Corbin Duer Georges Richard International Lozier Berliet Breese Motor Cord Duesenberg GJG Inter-State Lyons-Knight American-La Buggy Correja Durable Dayton Gladiator Irosengart Macdonald Anderson Brewster Cortland Durant Glide Isotta Mack Apperson Briggs Courier Durocar Glover Italia Marathon Arbenz Briscoe Craig-Toledo Duryea Gotfredson Jackson Marion Argo Broc Crawford Eagle Gove Jeffery Marmon Argo Electric Brooks Crestmobile Earl Grabowsky Jewel Marquette Aries Brush Croce Elcar Graham Jewett Maryland Arrol Johnston BSA Crosley Eldredge Graham-Paige Johnson Matheson Atlantic Electric Buffalo Crossland Elgin Gramm Jones-Corbin Mathis Atlas Buffum Crow-Elkhart Elmore Gramm- Jonz Maxwell Atlas Truck Bugatti Crown EMF Bernstien Jordan Maytag Atterbury, Buick Croxton-Keeton Empire Grant Jowett McCue George C,G,V Cunningham Enger Gray Kearns Mcfarlan Auburn Cadillac Cutting Essex Great Western Keeton McIntyre Aurora Cameron D.A.C Euclid Grout Kelly-Springfield McLaughlin- Austin Canda Mfg Dagmar Evans Hal Kenmore Buick Austin British Car Deluxe Daimler Everitt Halladay Kensington Mercedes Autocar Car-Nation Daimler-Benz Fageol Harder Kentucky Mercedes-Benz Autocar-Navy Carroserie Daniels F-A-L Car Harrison Kidder Mercer Available Carter Darracq Falcon Harroun King Mercury Avery Cartercar Davis Falcon-Knight Havers Kissel Merlin B.L.M Case Dawson Fanning Haynes Kissel Truck Mershon Babcock Cass Day Utility Federal Haynes- Kisselkar Merz Badger Caterpillar Dayton Federal Motor Apperson Kisselkar Truck Metallurgique Listing of Pre War Automotive documents in the Library’s Archive

Meteor Panhard & Rickenbacker Talbot New HCFI Members: Metz Paragon Rider-Lewis Templar MG Parenti Riker Thomas Mark Wilcox, La Mesa, CA Michigan Parry R-O Thomas Flyer Mark Palmer, West Malling, Kent UK Middleby Paterson Roamer Toledo Edward Hilbush, West Chester, PA Midland Pathfinder Rochet-Schneider Touraine Robert Spencer, North Little Rock, AR Millburn Peerless Rockne Tourist James Lackey, Huntington, WV Miller, Harry Penn Rollin Toyota Milwaukee Pennsylvania Rolls-Royce Triumph PLATINUM LIFE MEMBERS Minerva Perfex Ross Trojan Minnesota Made Petrel Rothweiler Trumbull Don & Becky Sable Mitchell Peugeot Royal Tourist Twombly Nicholas Fintzelberg Ph. D. Mobile Phelps Rumely Union Gordon & Carolyn McGregor Model Pierce-Arrow Russell Upton Gail Garrison Modern Pierce-Racine Ruston-Hornsby US Long Distance Art & Gail Wilson Moline Pilain Rutenber Valentine Stan Lucas Moline-Knight Pilot S.P.A Van Monarch Pittsburgh Sampson Vauxhall LIFE MEMBERS Monroe Plymouth San Giorgio Genoa Velie Dr. Merl* & Joy* Ledford Moon Pontiac Sandusky Victor Philip* & Joy Reed Moore Pope-Hartford Saurer Viking Mora Pope-Robinson Saxon Volvo Steve & Blanche Gordon Moreland Pope-Toledo Schact Waddington Paul* & Dorothy* Kettenburg Morgan Pope-Tribune Scott Walker Thomas* & Kris Kettenburg Morris Pope-Waverley Scripps-Booth Waltham George & Frances Sherman Mors Porsche Seagrave Waltham-Orient Jack* & Gail Garrison Morse Porter Searchmont Ward Edward* & Jean Johnson Motorette Pratt Sears Warren Don & Becky Sable Moyer Pratt Elkhart Sebring Warren Detroit Nicholas Fintzelberg Multiplex Premier Selden Warwick Charles Test Munson Prescott Sellers Wasp Edward Meanley*, Murray Princeton SGV Waverley Ellen Browning Scripps Foundation Nag Pullford Simplex Waverley Electric * deceased Napier Pullman Simplicity Wayne Nash Pungs-Finch Smith Welch HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS National Queen Speedwell Wescott Philip & Joy Reed Nelson Quimby Spoerer Westfield Marian Teague New Era Tri-Car R&S St. Louis Whippet Jeanne Deringer Northern R&V Standard White Peggie Eccles* Northwestern Rainier Standard Tourist Whiting Bill & Loraine Cuthbert Norwalk Rambler Stanley Whitney Paul* & Dorothy* Kettenburg Jack* & Gail Garrison Nyberg Rapid Star Wills Sainte Claire Mr. & Mrs. Ross Bewley Oakland Rauch & Lang Staver Willys David & Sondra Gast Octoauto RCH Stearns Willys-Knight Donald & Margaret Miller Ohio Reading Stearns-Knight Willys-Overland *deceased Oldsmobile Real Stephens Windsor Opel Regal Sterling Winton Next Board Meeting Orient Regas Stevens-Duryea Wolfe Otto Reliable Dayton Stienmetz Wolseley The next Board Meeting will be on Overland Reliance Stoddard-Dayton Wolverine May 23, 2019 Owen Renault Stoddard-Dayton- Woods Electric Packard REO Studebaker Worth 9:00AM Paige-Detroit Republic Sturtevant Yale at the Library Office: Pak-Age-Car Rex Stutz 8186 Center Street, Suite F Palmer-Singer Rexette Sun La Mesa, CA 91942 Pan American Richmond Sunbeam LIBRARY INFORMATION Chronicles of the Automotive Industry in America, For 1919 Production this Year: 1,657,652 passenger cars, 275,94350 trucks and buses. Horseless Carriage Foundation 8186 Center Street, Suite F The flat rate system of repairs is being tried out. La Mesa, CA 91942 Ford sell 700,000 Cars. Correspond to: PO Box 369, Harold Wills, who pioneered the use of many alloy in motor vehicles manu- La Mesa CA 91944-0369 facture, leave Ford to organize his own company.

Phone/Fax: 619-464-0301 General Motors Acceptance Corporation is formed. E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.hcfi.org Ralph DePalma sets world’s speed record of 149.8 MPH in a Packard.

HCFI 2018 Board of Directors Studebaker discontinues carriage making to devote entire attention to manu-

President Roberta Watkins facture of automobiles. Vice-Pres John Wilkinson G. A. Schacht perfects a “two-range” transmission. Treasurer Gordon McGregor A $6.00 a day wage scale is established at the Ford Motor Company, an in- Secretary John Adams crease of $1.00 a day over previous rates. Director Gail Garrison Director Nick Fintzelberg Ph. D. Henry Ford and family become sole owners of the Ford Motor Company by Director Greg Long buying out his stockholders for more than $100,000,000. Director Terri Cuthbert Proffer General Motors buys an interest in the Fisher Company and Nash buys an Director James Nicoloff interest in Seaman body Company.

Director Emeritus David Gast Ed. D. Many in the industry are worried by coal shortages, freight car shortage, strikes, unbalanced inventories and an inability to meet the unexpected Executive Director D. A. “Mac” MacPherson demand for cars. But in spite of these handicaps the automotive industry

establishes a record-breaking high in production volume. Newsletter Editors D. A. “Mac” MacPherson Indirect lighting of instruments on dash appears as standard equipment on some makes of cars. Established 1984 From: A Chronicle of the Automotive Industry in America, Published 1949.

Automotive Research Library of the HCFI PO Box 369, La Mesa, CA 91944-0369

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