Michigan (1903 automobile)
Encyclopedia
The Michigan was an automobile built in Kalamazoo, Michigan
by the Michigan Automobile Company from 1903 to 1908.
The men behind the company were the Fuller brothers, Charles D., and Frank D. They owned the Fuller Brothers Manufacturing Company that made washboards and other wood products. They negotiated with the Blood brothers, owners of the Kalamazoo Cycle Company and builders of the Blood cycle car
. On December, 30th, 1902, they established together the Michigan Automobile Company with Charles Fuller as chairman, Frank Fuller as secretary and general manager, Maurice E. Blood as treasurer, and Charles C. Blood as superintendent.
, a rather fragile affair that looked as if it had a detachable Tonneau
. It cost $900.
For 1905 the Model C was continued at the same price. The Bloods designed two more 2-cylinder cars that were additionally introduced in the same year: Model D with the same 12 hp engine, a wheelbase of 80 in. and Demi Tonneau body. It had a price tag of $1,100. For $150 more, a larger Model E was offered. It had an engine with 16 hp, and wheelbase was 90 in. A Side Entrance Tonneau was the only body style available.
was identical with the last car they developed for Michigan. Even model designations and prices were the same.
That confusing situation stayed for 1905, then the Bloods quit building automobiles (for a decade). The Michigan lasted longer; Model E remained available through 1907 as the only offering, with a raise of price to $1500 for 1906.
Kalamazoo, Michigan
The area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
by the Michigan Automobile Company from 1903 to 1908.
The men behind the company were the Fuller brothers, Charles D., and Frank D. They owned the Fuller Brothers Manufacturing Company that made washboards and other wood products. They negotiated with the Blood brothers, owners of the Kalamazoo Cycle Company and builders of the Blood cycle car
Blood (automobile)
The Blood was an automobile manufactured in Kalamazoo, Michigan, by the Blood Brothers Auto & Machine Company from 1902-05. They produced a five-seater tonneau with a two-cylinder opposed engine, costing $1,800. The drive system had a four-speed transmission and transferred power to the rear axle...
. On December, 30th, 1902, they established together the Michigan Automobile Company with Charles Fuller as chairman, Frank Fuller as secretary and general manager, Maurice E. Blood as treasurer, and Charles C. Blood as superintendent.
Model A
The Bloods soon presented a tiny "prototype" car, a two-passenger runabout with a wheebase of just 48 in., a steering lever and an air-cooled, single-cylinder engine that delivered 3.5 hp. For production, it got a longer frame with a wheelbase of 54 in. but was left otherwise quite unchanged. It came with rather large wire wheels and was marketed as the Model A runabout, prized at only $450, and weighing only 360 pounds. As it was a nice and well-built car this was a very attractive offering and one of the cheapest "real" cars at the time. About 100 cars were until 1904. Finally, prices went up to $475.Two-Cylinder Cars added
A somewhat larger car, Model C, was added in 1904. It had a 2-cylinder engine that developed 12 hp, a wheelbase of 78 in., a real steering wheel but the engine still placed under the seat. The only available body style was called a Light TouringTouring 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...
, a rather fragile affair that looked as if it had a detachable 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...
. It cost $900.
For 1905 the Model C was continued at the same price. The Bloods designed two more 2-cylinder cars that were additionally introduced in the same year: Model D with the same 12 hp engine, a wheelbase of 80 in. and Demi Tonneau body. It had a price tag of $1,100. For $150 more, a larger Model E was offered. It had an engine with 16 hp, and wheelbase was 90 in. A Side Entrance Tonneau was the only body style available.
Blood Brothers Leave
The Blood brothers left the company at the end of 1904 in dispute - and set up production of their own car. This Blood)Blood (automobile)
The Blood was an automobile manufactured in Kalamazoo, Michigan, by the Blood Brothers Auto & Machine Company from 1902-05. They produced a five-seater tonneau with a two-cylinder opposed engine, costing $1,800. The drive system had a four-speed transmission and transferred power to the rear axle...
was identical with the last car they developed for Michigan. Even model designations and prices were the same.
That confusing situation stayed for 1905, then the Bloods quit building automobiles (for a decade). The Michigan lasted longer; Model E remained available through 1907 as the only offering, with a raise of price to $1500 for 1906.