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1900 Locomobile Steam Runabout [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-04-12
Welcome to the Street Prophets Coffee Hour cleverly hidden at the intersection of religion, art, science, food, and politics. This is an open thread where we can share our thoughts and comments about the day. We’re going to start today by looking at a 1900 Locomobile Steam Runabout which was on display in the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum (WAAAM) in Hood River, Oregon.
Freelan Oscar Stanley and Francis Edgar Stanley, twin brothers who had created a successful business in manufacturing photographic plates, began to tinker with some possible automobile designs and produced their first steam powered automobile in 1897. In November 1898, they opened an automobile business. Their new vehicle caught the attention of John Brisben Walker, publisher of Cosmopolitan magazine, who inquired about buying the business. The brothers set a ridiculously high price--$250,000—and, much to their surprise, Walker bought the business. Walker’s partner in the new business was Amzi Lorenzo Barber, commonly known as “The Asphalt King” as he had made a fortune in paving U.S. cities.
The name Locomobile came from “locomotive” and “automobile.” The partnership between Walker and Barber did not last long (two weeks according to some sources). Barber took the Locomobile name and moved the production of the new cars to Watertown, Massachusetts. The Stanley twins stayed with the Locomobile Company of America as general managers.
Notice that this early automobile uses a steering tiller rather than a steering wheel.
Open Thread
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