St. Louis Motor Carriage Company was a manufacturer of automobiles at 1211–13 North Vandeventer Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri, founded by George Preston Dorris (later credited with developing and patenting the float-carburetor) and John L. French in 1898, with French taking charge of marketing and Dorris heading engineering and production. St. Louis Motor Carriage was the first of many St. Louis automakers and produced automobiles from 1899 to 1907.[1][2]
St. Louis Motor Carriage Company St. Louis Motor Car Company
St. Louis Motor Carriage Company factory, 1211-13 North Vandeventer Avenue
George Dorris was an automotive pioneer who built his first experimental car in 1895 in Nashville. John French also from Nashville, involved his family and Jesse French, Sr. put up most of the money needed to form St. Louis Motor Carriage Company. A new purpose built factory was built in St. Louis.[1]
St. Louis, Missouriedit
The first St. Louis models had single and twin-cylinder engines, chain drive and a steering lever for steering. In 1901 there were five models to choose from; single-cylinder models from 7hp to 10hp and two-cylinder models from 15hp to 25hp. Prices started at $1,000, equivalent to $36,624 in 2023.[1]
In 1900, John French drove a St. Louis on the first automobile trip between St. Louis and Chicago. In 1901 he was one of only three drivers to finish in a New York-to-Buffalo race.[3]
In 1902 a steering wheel was introduced. A new model was a 35hp four-cylinder engine touring car was available for one year only. The single and twin-cylinder engines remained in production. By 1904 there were two models with single-cylinder engines, the runabout and tonneau . A 24hp three-cylinder engine was introduced with a tonneau body.[1][4]
In 1905 the cars consisted of a choice of a 12hp with a single-cylinder engine, 16hp with a two-cylinder engine or 20/24hp with a three-cylinder engine. All models had an 86-inch wheelbase with a side-entrance tonneau body.[1]
Peoria, Illinoisedit
The St. Louis Motor Carriage Company moved to Peoria, Illinois in 1905 and became the St. Louis Motor Car Company. A new three-story factory on 10 acres was constructed. George Dorris started his own car company, the Dorris Motor Car Company, in the former St. Louis Motor Carriage plant in 1906[5]Dorris motor cars were in production until 1926.[6]
From 1906 all St. Louis cars had a four-cylinder engine with a drive-shaft. The models received Roman numerals as designations. The Type XV had an engine rated at 30/34hp and a wheelbase of 104-inches. The Type XVI had a more powerful 32/36hp engine on a longer 108-inch wheelbase. Both were touring cars with five seats.[1]
In 1907 there were three models to choose from; Type XVII had a 35hp engine and was designed as a two-seater runabout. The Type XVIII was identical except for being a five-seat touring car. The Type XIX had an engine with 45/50 hp and a wheelbase of 112-inches. It was available as a touring car with five or seven seats. From 1906 all cars were priced in the $2,000 range with the Tye XIX priced at $3,000, equivalent to $65,400 in 2023.[1]
With the cost of the expansion, in July 1907, Jesse French, Jr. reported the company was financially in trouble. In August, St. Louis Motor Car Company was in Receivership and the Panic of 1907 dried up any rescue financing. By December, the factory was sold for $10,000.[1]
Galleryedit
First automobile built by the St. Louis Motor Carriage Company. The car was completed in late April or early May of 1899 and sold to A.L. Lambrechts of St. Louis.
George Dorris and his wife in a 1901 St. Louis runabout
Workers assembling transmissions at St. Louis Motor Carriage Company factory
George Dorris and John French in a 1903 St. Louis tonneau
louis, motor, company, louis, motor, carriage, company, manufacturer, automobiles, 1211, north, vandeventer, avenue, louis, missouri, founded, george, preston, dorris, later, credited, with, developing, patenting, float, carburetor, john, french, 1898, with, f. St Louis Motor Carriage Company was a manufacturer of automobiles at 1211 13 North Vandeventer Avenue in St Louis Missouri founded by George Preston Dorris later credited with developing and patenting the float carburetor and John L French in 1898 with French taking charge of marketing and Dorris heading engineering and production St Louis Motor Carriage was the first of many St Louis automakers and produced automobiles from 1899 to 1907 1 2 St Louis Motor Carriage CompanySt Louis Motor Car CompanySt Louis Motor Carriage Company factory 1211 13 North Vandeventer AvenueIndustryAutomotiveFounded1898 126 years ago 1898 FounderGeorge Preston Dorris and John L FrenchDefunct1907 117 years ago 1907 FateBankruptcyHeadquartersSt Louis Missouri and later Peoria Illinois United StatesArea servedUnited StatesKey peopleGeorge Dorris John French Jesse French Sr Jesse French Jr ProductsVehiclesProduction output1 793 1899 1907 1901 St Louis at National Museum of Transportation Contents 1 History 1 1 St Louis Missouri 1 2 Peoria Illinois 2 Gallery 3 See also 4 External links 5 ReferencesHistory editGeorge Dorris was an automotive pioneer who built his first experimental car in 1895 in Nashville John French also from Nashville involved his family and Jesse French Sr put up most of the money needed to form St Louis Motor Carriage Company A new purpose built factory was built in St Louis 1 St Louis Missouri edit The first St Louis models had single and twin cylinder engines chain drive and a steering lever for steering In 1901 there were five models to choose from single cylinder models from 7hp to 10hp and two cylinder models from 15hp to 25hp Prices started at 1 000 equivalent to 36 624 in 2023 1 In 1900 John French drove a St Louis on the first automobile trip between St Louis and Chicago In 1901 he was one of only three drivers to finish in a New York to Buffalo race 3 In 1902 a steering wheel was introduced A new model was a 35hp four cylinder engine touring car was available for one year only The single and twin cylinder engines remained in production By 1904 there were two models with single cylinder engines the runabout and tonneau A 24hp three cylinder engine was introduced with a tonneau body 1 4 In 1905 the cars consisted of a choice of a 12hp with a single cylinder engine 16hp with a two cylinder engine or 20 24hp with a three cylinder engine All models had an 86 inch wheelbase with a side entrance tonneau body 1 Peoria Illinois edit The St Louis Motor Carriage Company moved to Peoria Illinois in 1905 and became the St Louis Motor Car Company A new three story factory on 10 acres was constructed George Dorris started his own car company the Dorris Motor Car Company in the former St Louis Motor Carriage plant in 1906 5 Dorris motor cars were in production until 1926 6 From 1906 all St Louis cars had a four cylinder engine with a drive shaft The models received Roman numerals as designations The Type XV had an engine rated at 30 34hp and a wheelbase of 104 inches The Type XVI had a more powerful 32 36hp engine on a longer 108 inch wheelbase Both were touring cars with five seats 1 In 1907 there were three models to choose from Type XVII had a 35hp engine and was designed as a two seater runabout The Type XVIII was identical except for being a five seat touring car The Type XIX had an engine with 45 50 hp and a wheelbase of 112 inches It was available as a touring car with five or seven seats From 1906 all cars were priced in the 2 000 range with the Tye XIX priced at 3 000 equivalent to 65 400 in 2023 1 With the cost of the expansion in July 1907 Jesse French Jr reported the company was financially in trouble In August St Louis Motor Car Company was in Receivership and the Panic of 1907 dried up any rescue financing By December the factory was sold for 10 000 1 Gallery edit nbsp First automobile built by the St Louis Motor Carriage Company The car was completed in late April or early May of 1899 and sold to A L Lambrechts of St Louis nbsp George Dorris and his wife in a 1901 St Louis runabout nbsp Workers assembling transmissions at St Louis Motor Carriage Company factory nbsp George Dorris and John French in a 1903 St Louis tonneau nbsp Jesse French Sr at the wheel of a 1904 St LouisSee also editDorris Motors CorporationExternal links edit1904 St Louis at ConceptCarz 1904 St Louis at National Park Service The Best of the Little Three Saint Louis Runabout Hemmings article nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to St Louis Motor Car Company References edit a b c d e f g h Kimes Beverly Rae Clark Jr Henry Austin 1996 Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805 1942 3rd ed Krause Publications ISBN 978 0 87341 428 9 St Louis Post Dispatch January 13 2004 St Louis Post Dispatch January 13 2004 Frank Leslie s Popular Monthly January 1904 Coachbuilt com St Louis Post Dispatch January 13 2004 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title St Louis Motor Company amp oldid 1148005943, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
