Name/Title
Locomobile 1908Description
This automobile was part of the mid 60's purchase from the Dr. Scher collection and described by him as a "Gentleman's Roadster." Research indicates that the fabric and plastic windshield provided by Dr. Scher is not correct, nor is the eagle radiator cap which should be a simple flat cap; the dash plaque is also thought to be incorrect.
1908 Locomobile
V.M.C.C.A. First Place National Meet winner.
Manufactured by the Locomobile Company of America in Bridgeport, CT.
Model I, 4-cyl., 40 hp, 123" wb.
Production number 2018
3 Passenger Runabout - The single third seat in the rear of the car is often referred to as a "mother-in-law seat." (Passengers were essentially seated out in the elements, and received little or no protection from the regular passenger compartment top.)
Chain drive - Locomobiles had chain drives until the Model L was introduced in 1909.
Right hand drive - Locomobile models had right hand drive until Henry Ford forced the market to shift to left hand drive in 1915. (A few custom built cars had left hand drive in 1913 and some with right hand steering through 1917.)
Cost in 1908 - $4,500 (Well over $115,000 in 2014 dollars)
Locomobile's competition was Pierce-Arrow, Peerless, and Packard with Locomobile being the most expensive.
Locomobile became one of the most expensive and best built cars in America, owned by social elites the likes of Melon, Gould, and Vanderbilt, as well as celebrities like Chaplin, DeMille, and Tom Mix.
Production was limited to four cars a day. Locomobile forged their own parts using steel, bronze, and aluminum. A team of mechanics gathered all the parts required to assemble the car and built the car to order, with the lead mechanic stamping his initials in the engine's main bearing cap. Bridgeport Body Works or Blue Ribbon Body supplied the built-to-order coach work.
Owned by the Richard C. Paine Jr., Automobile Charitable Trust and exhibited at the Seal Cove Auto Museum. Provenance, acquired by Richard C. Paine Jr., in 1965 from Dr. Samuel L. Scher.
LOCOMOBILE - 1899 - 1922
The Locomobile Company of America was founded in 1899 by Cosmopolitan magazine editor and publisher John B. Walker and paving contractor Amzi L. Barber. This followed Walker's purchase of plans and patents from the Stanley brothers to manufacture a steam car.
this is an open three passenger runabout with a :mother-in-law seat and a green over black body with white pinstriping. It has yellow Wheels, chassis, and exposed drive gears with black accents; the interior is black leather with brown battleship linoleum floor covering. it has brass lighting, horn, radiator and a large brass eagle radiator mascot.