American Automobile and Power Company
Encyclopedia
The American Automobile and Power Company was an American
Brass Era car
manufacturer, incorporated in Sanford, Maine
, in 1903. They produced the American Populaire during 1904 and 1905.
Starting with a capital of $500,000, the company incorporated on December 9, 1903. There were eight officers, three from Boston
, Massachusetts
, the rest locals; Bostonian Henry D. Long was treasurer, Sanfordian Ernest M. Goodall president.
With a design from Edward O. Mosher, AEC produced a prototype in a shed in Lawrence, Massachusetts
, debuting it at the Boston Automobile Show in March 1904.
The company offered three models, all with Mosher's 12 hp (8 kW) two-cylinder engine, on the same 84 in (2134 mm) wheelbase: a $850 roadster
, a $950 tonneau
(which had an unusual swing-out split front seat), and a $1000 Cape Cod Tourer
. By contrast, the Yale
side-entrance tourer sold for $1000, the Model S $700, the high-volume Oldsmobile
Runabout
went for $650, Western
's Gale Model A was $500, a Brush Runabout
could be had for $485, the Black
as low as $375, and the Success
hit the amazingly low $250. At the upper end of the AEC range, a Cole 30 or Colt Runabout
was priced at $1500,, while an Enger 40 was $2000.
While Long bragged, "We could sell one thousand cars in three months if we could make them", by April 1905, production had ceased and the Maine Alpaca Company had taken over the factory.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Brass Era car
Brass Era car
The automotive Brass Era is the first period of automotive manufacturing, named for the prominent brass fittings used during this time for such things as lights and radiators. It extends from the first commercial automobiles marketed in the 1890s until about World War I...
manufacturer, incorporated in Sanford, Maine
Sanford, Maine
Sanford is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 20,798 in the 2010 census, the highest of the York County towns, and the 8th largest in the state. Situated on the Mousam River, Sanford includes the village of Springvale...
, in 1903. They produced the American Populaire during 1904 and 1905.
Starting with a capital of $500,000, the company incorporated on December 9, 1903. There were eight officers, three from Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, the rest locals; Bostonian Henry D. Long was treasurer, Sanfordian Ernest M. Goodall president.
With a design from Edward O. Mosher, AEC produced a prototype in a shed in Lawrence, Massachusetts
Lawrence, Massachusetts
Lawrence is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States on the Merrimack River. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a total population of 76,377. Surrounding communities include Methuen to the north, Andover to the southwest, and North Andover to the southeast. It and Salem are...
, debuting it at the Boston Automobile Show in March 1904.
The company offered three models, all with Mosher's 12 hp (8 kW) two-cylinder engine, on the same 84 in (2134 mm) wheelbase: a $850 roadster
Roadster
A roadster is a two-seat open car with emphasis on sporty handling and without a fixed roof or side weather protection. Strictly speaking a roadster with wind-up windows is a convertible but as true roadsters are no longer made the distinction is now irrelevant...
, a $950 tonneau
Tonneau
right|thumb|260px|1903 [[Ford Model A |Ford Model A]] rear-door TonneauTonneau cover , describes a hard or soft cover used to protect unoccupied passenger seats in a convertible, roadster, or for a pickup truck bed. Hard tonneau covers open by a hinging or folding mechanism while soft covers open...
(which had an unusual swing-out split front seat), and a $1000 Cape Cod Tourer
Touring car
A touring car, or tourer, is an open car seating five or more. Touring cars may have two or four doors. Often, the belt line is lowered in the front doors to give the car a more sportive character. They were often fitted with a folding roof and side curtains. Engines on early models were either in...
. By contrast, the Yale
Kirk Manufacturing Company (automobile company)
Kirk Manufacturing Company was a pioneer brass era American automobile company, built at 958 Oakwood Avenue, Toledo, Ohio, from 1902 until 1905....
side-entrance tourer sold for $1000, the Model S $700, the high-volume Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile was a brand of American automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. It was founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. In its 107-year history, it produced 35.2 million cars, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing, Michigan factory...
Runabout
Oldsmobile Curved Dash
The gasoline powered Curved Dash Oldsmobile is credited as being the first mass-produced automobile, meaning that it was built on an assembly line using interchangeable parts. It was introduced by the Oldsmobile company in 1901 and produced through 1907...
went for $650, Western
Western Tool Works (automobile company)
Western Tool Works was a pioneering brass era automobile manufacturer in Galesburg, Illinois.Western in 1905 produced the Gale Model A, an open roadster, for sale at US$500, which was less than high-volume Oldsmobile Runabout, at US$650, the Ford "Doctor's Car" at US$850, or the Holsman high...
's Gale Model A was $500, a Brush Runabout
Brush Motor Car Company
This article is about a USA auto-maker. For the British rail-locomotive company, see Brush TractionBrush Motor Company, or the "Brush Runabout Company," based in Detroit, Michigan, was founded by Alanson Partridge Brush , who designed a light car with a wooden chassis This article is about a USA...
could be had for $485, the Black
Black Motor Company
The Black was a brass era United States automobile, built at 124 East Ohio Street, Chicago, Illinois, in 1906.It was a high wheeler buggy priced at a surprisingly low US$375-$450, when Gale's Model A was US$500, the high-volume Oldsmobile Runabout went for US$650, and the Ford "Doctor's Car" was...
as low as $375, and the Success
Success Automobile Manufacturing Company
Success was a brass era United States automobile, built at 532 De Ballviere Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri, in 1906.It was a high wheeler buggy priced at an exceedingly low US$250...
hit the amazingly low $250. At the upper end of the AEC range, a Cole 30 or Colt Runabout
Colt Runabout
The Colt Runabout was an American brass era automobile, built in Yonkers, New York, in 1907 by a man named William Mason Turner.It was a two-seater, with the long hood and short tail characteristic of the period, and weighing in at only 1800 lb...
was priced at $1500,, while an Enger 40 was $2000.
While Long bragged, "We could sell one thousand cars in three months if we could make them", by April 1905, production had ceased and the Maine Alpaca Company had taken over the factory.
Sources
- Clymer, Floyd. Treasury of Early American Automobiles, 1877-1925. New York: Bonanza Books, 1950.
- Kimes, Beverly Rae. The Standard Catalog of American Cars, 1805-1942. Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications, 1989. ISBN 0-87341-111-0.