Penn (automobile)
Encyclopedia
Penn was the name of three American
automobile
s of the pioneer era:
The Penn Auto Company of Philadelphia was the first company with the purpose of manufacturing automobiles enregistered in Pennsylvania. It was founded with a capital stock of 5,000$. The make is mentioned in the summer 1901 issue of the "Horseless Age", but actual production is doubted
Dr. Shakespeare Penn was a poet and preacher. In 1908, he built a minuscule automobile with a canopy for his own use in Washington, D.C.
. There is no information about the power source of this car.
The most important automobile wearing the Penn name was built by the Penn Motor Car Company, located at 7510 Thomas Boulevard in Pittsburgh. It was established in November, 1910, with a capital stock of 150,000$, and immediately started production.
For 1911, one model was available, the Thirty. This was a 4 cylinder, 30 hp car with a wheelbase of 105 in. Customers could choose from two body styles, the Model R 2-passenger Roadster, and the Model T 5-passenger Touring. At 975$, or 1075$ respectively, they were remarkably competitive.
Following the industry's trend, 1912 Penn cars saw body improvements that incorporated doors for all body styles, including front doors for the touring. At 1,200$, a new roadster called the Comet was the most expensive Thirty. The Model R-F Fore-Door Runabout for 2 passengers cost 1,000$. The Model T-4 5-passenger Touring was listed at 1,100$.
Completely new for 1912 was a 45 hp car, appropriately called the Forty-Five. Another 4-cylinder, this car had a wheelspan of 115 in. Three body styles were available: The Model T-R Fore-Door Runabout for 2 passengers (1,350$), Model T-4 5-passenger Touring (1,400$), and another Comet roadster (1,600$). In a time when many 40 or 50 hp cars sold for prices in exceed of 3,000$, these automobiles, too, were real bargains.
The end of the make came when Penn built a 90,000$ factory in New Castle, Pennsylvania
which was locally financed. As the backers withdrew immediately after completion, Penn went into bancrupty. On January, 21st, 1913, the plant was sold at auction for 54,000$. Not a single car was built in the new location. It is doubtful that any 1913 Penn was constructed.
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Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
s of the pioneer era:
The Penn Auto Company of Philadelphia was the first company with the purpose of manufacturing automobiles enregistered in Pennsylvania. It was founded with a capital stock of 5,000$. The make is mentioned in the summer 1901 issue of the "Horseless Age", but actual production is doubted
Dr. Shakespeare Penn was a poet and preacher. In 1908, he built a minuscule automobile with a canopy for his own use in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. There is no information about the power source of this car.
For 1911, one model was available, the Thirty. This was a 4 cylinder, 30 hp car with a wheelbase of 105 in. Customers could choose from two body styles, the Model R 2-passenger Roadster, and the Model T 5-passenger Touring. At 975$, or 1075$ respectively, they were remarkably competitive.
Following the industry's trend, 1912 Penn cars saw body improvements that incorporated doors for all body styles, including front doors for the touring. At 1,200$, a new roadster called the Comet was the most expensive Thirty. The Model R-F Fore-Door Runabout for 2 passengers cost 1,000$. The Model T-4 5-passenger Touring was listed at 1,100$.
Completely new for 1912 was a 45 hp car, appropriately called the Forty-Five. Another 4-cylinder, this car had a wheelspan of 115 in. Three body styles were available: The Model T-R Fore-Door Runabout for 2 passengers (1,350$), Model T-4 5-passenger Touring (1,400$), and another Comet roadster (1,600$). In a time when many 40 or 50 hp cars sold for prices in exceed of 3,000$, these automobiles, too, were real bargains.
The end of the make came when Penn built a 90,000$ factory in New Castle, Pennsylvania
New Castle, Pennsylvania
New Castle is a city in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, United States, northwest of Pittsburgh and near the Pennsylvania-Ohio border just east of Youngstown, Ohio; in 1910, the total population was 36,280; in 1920, 44,938; and in 1940, 47,638. The population has fallen to 26,309 according to the...
which was locally financed. As the backers withdrew immediately after completion, Penn went into bancrupty. On January, 21st, 1913, the plant was sold at auction for 54,000$. Not a single car was built in the new location. It is doubtful that any 1913 Penn was constructed.
External links
- Frick's Car and Carriage Museum exhibits the above shown car
- conzeptcarz.com has more pictures of the above shown 1911 Penn Thirty
Sources
- David Burgess Wise, The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Automobiles
- Kimes, Beverly Rae (editor) and Clark, Henry Austin, jr., The Standard Catalogue of American Cars 1805-1942 , 2nd edition, Krause Publications (1989), ISBN 0-87341-111-0