Pilot (automobile)
Encyclopedia
There were at least three different cars called Pilot. There was a British car built 1909-1914 in London; a US car built 1909-1924 in Richmond, Indiana
; and a German car built 1923-1925 in Werdau
.
engine of 16hp. The following year they displayed another 4-cylinder car, this one with a Hillman
engine and belt and cone-pulley drive. Both of these were probably the only cars produced with these specifications. In 1911, the parent company was reformed as Pilot Works and Friction Cars, Ltd to produce a smaller car. This one had a Coventry-Simplex single-cylinder engine of only 7hp, in addition to friction drive. In 1912-1914, yet another engine was employed in their cars—a Chapuis-Dornier 4-cylinder of 10hp. This car also used friction drive. This appears to be the last car produced.
At first, 4-cylinder Teetor-Hartley engines were the motive force of the cars. In 1913, a 6-cylinder engine was added to the line-up. From 1915 to 1924, only sixes were offered, except for 1916, when a V8 made a one year appearance as an engine choice. In 1913, the six-cylinder car carried a price tag of $2500, as opposed to the $1500–$1800 for the four-cylinder cars. In 1920, a larger Herschell-Spillman six was added. A Sportster model was introduced in the summer of 1922 and was the most dashing car from the firm, with barrel headlights and no running boards.
The firm took over the local Lorraine
, but that could not help it survive long beyond the early 1920s recession. A few Lorraine hearses were produced before that marque was discontinued. The Pilot Motor Car Company was forced into receivership in 1923 by what George Seidel described as "cut-throat tactics of Eastern money interests." The last Pilots were produced in early 1924, and the factory was then sold to a local businessman for $28,500.
Pilots were durable cars, as evidenced by the fact that George Seidel received a letter in the 1940s from a car dealer in South America, where a number of Pilots had been exported. The dealer inquired if any Pilots were still available, and their price. As an aside, George Seidel was proud of his hometown, as evidenced by the cars he drove: first, a Richmond
; then a Pilot (obviously); and finally, a Davis
.
Richmond, Indiana
Richmond is a city largely within Wayne Township, Wayne County, in east central Indiana, United States, which borders Ohio. The city also includes the Richmond Municipal Airport, which is in Boston Township and separated from the rest of the city...
; and a German car built 1923-1925 in Werdau
Werdau
Werdau is a town in Germany, part of the Landkreis Zwickau in the administrative region of Chemnitz, the Free State of Saxony. It is situated on the river Pleiße, 8 km from Zwickau....
.
British car
The company who created this car started out as a driving and maintenance school. In 1909, they displayed a car with a 4-cylinder White and PoppeWhite and Poppe
White and Poppe was a Coventry based proprietary engine and gearbox manufacturer established in 1899 by Alfred James White and Peter August Poppe. White was a watchmaker and Poppe an engineer and together they produced precision parts for the automotive industry...
engine of 16hp. The following year they displayed another 4-cylinder car, this one with a Hillman
Hillman
Hillman is a British automobile marque created by the Hillman Motor Car Company, founded in 1907. The company was based in Ryton-on-Dunsmore, near Coventry, England. Before 1907 the company had built bicycles...
engine and belt and cone-pulley drive. Both of these were probably the only cars produced with these specifications. In 1911, the parent company was reformed as Pilot Works and Friction Cars, Ltd to produce a smaller car. This one had a Coventry-Simplex single-cylinder engine of only 7hp, in addition to friction drive. In 1912-1914, yet another engine was employed in their cars—a Chapuis-Dornier 4-cylinder of 10hp. This car also used friction drive. This appears to be the last car produced.
US car
This car was built by the Pilot Motor Car Company of Richmond, Indiana. For its entire lifespan, the firm was headed by George Seidel, who was also head of the local Seidel Buggy Company. Initially, the cars were built in the Seidel Buggy factory while a stand-alone factory was constructed across town. It has been said that the cars were named Pilot because Seidel had wanted to become a river boat pilot. Pilots were assembled cars that were not particularly noteworthy. Nonetheless, their advertising slogan was "The Car Ahead", doubtless because of the name of the car. The new factory had a capacity of 500 cars per year, though in some later years, production approached 1000. The firm was one of the first in the automotive field to hire women, though mainly for upholstery and curtain work.At first, 4-cylinder Teetor-Hartley engines were the motive force of the cars. In 1913, a 6-cylinder engine was added to the line-up. From 1915 to 1924, only sixes were offered, except for 1916, when a V8 made a one year appearance as an engine choice. In 1913, the six-cylinder car carried a price tag of $2500, as opposed to the $1500–$1800 for the four-cylinder cars. In 1920, a larger Herschell-Spillman six was added. A Sportster model was introduced in the summer of 1922 and was the most dashing car from the firm, with barrel headlights and no running boards.
The firm took over the local Lorraine
Lorraine (automobile)
The Lorraine was an automobile built in both Grand Rapids and Detroit, Michigan by the Lorraine Motors Corporation from 1920-22. The Lorraine was an assembled car that succeeded the Hackett. The vehicle was powered by a four-cylinder Herchell-Spillman engine and was available in both open and...
, but that could not help it survive long beyond the early 1920s recession. A few Lorraine hearses were produced before that marque was discontinued. The Pilot Motor Car Company was forced into receivership in 1923 by what George Seidel described as "cut-throat tactics of Eastern money interests." The last Pilots were produced in early 1924, and the factory was then sold to a local businessman for $28,500.
Pilots were durable cars, as evidenced by the fact that George Seidel received a letter in the 1940s from a car dealer in South America, where a number of Pilots had been exported. The dealer inquired if any Pilots were still available, and their price. As an aside, George Seidel was proud of his hometown, as evidenced by the cars he drove: first, a Richmond
Richmond (automobile)
At least 2 cars named Richmond were produced. The first was a steam car made by the Richmond Automobile Company in Richmond, Indiana from 1902 to 1903. The second was a car built by the Wayne Works in Richmond, Indiana from 1904 to 1917....
; then a Pilot (obviously); and finally, a Davis
George W. Davis Motor Car Company
The George W. Davis Motor Car Company made Davis brand automobiles in Richmond, Indiana from 1908 to 1929.George W. Davis had made wagons for some time by the time he announced in 1908 that he would build a car, named after himself. The earliest cars were motorized buggies...
.