Knox Automobile Company
The Knox Automobile Company was a manufacturer of automobiles in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, between 1900 and 1914. Knox also built trucks and farm tractors until 1924.
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| Industry | Automobile |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1900 |
| Defunct | 1924 |
| Headquarters | Springfield, Massachusetts, United States |
| Products | automobiles trucks tractors |
History
The Knox Automobile Company was established in 1900 and built 15 cars their first year.[1]
The 1904 Knox was a runabout model. The angle iron-framed car weighed 1850 lb (839 kg) and used side springs. It could seat 2 passengers.
3 or 4 wheels
Initially, only three-wheelers were offered. Four-wheeled runabouts soon followed.[1]
Back seat driver
In some models, passengers rode up front over the front axle while the driver and another passenger sat in the back over the engine.[1]
The "Old Porcupine" engine
The flat-mounted single-cylinder engine was air-cooled. Rather than flanges to improve the efficiency of cooling, 1,750 threaded 3/16 inch (5mm) diameter rods were screwed into the cylinder casing as projecting studs, which led to the engine sometimes being referred to as "Old Porcupine". A 2-speed planetary transmission was fitted.[2][3] This engine was situated at the center of the car and produced 8 hp (6 kW). It was also called a "hedgehog".[4]
Competitive pricing
The "Knoxmobile" sold for US$1350. By contrast, the Ford Model F was US$2000, the FAL US$1750,[5] the Cole 30 US$1500[5] and Colt Runabout each US$1500,[6] the Oakland 40, US$1600,[7] and the Enger 40 US$2000,[5] while the high-volume Oldsmobile Runabout[8] ran US$650, Western's Gale Model A US$500[9] and the Brush Runabout was US$485.[5]
A larger Knox tonneau model, equipped with a straight-twin engine producing 16 hp (11.9 kW), was also produced, for US$2000.
Racing
The Knox was raced by Billy Bourque in the 1909 AAA Championship Car race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.[10]
References
- 100 Years of the American Auto Millennium Edition, page 24, Copyright 1999 Publications International, Ltd.
- Clymer, Floyd. Treasury of Early American Automobiles, 1877-1925 (New York: Bonanza Books, 1950), p.170-1.
- David LaChance (January 2007) "Old Porcupine – Knox", Hemmings Classic Car.
- 100 Years of the American Auto Millennium Edition, page 19, Copyright 1999 Publications International, Ltd.
- Clymer, p.104.
- Clymer, p.63.
- Clymer, p.84.
- Clymer, p.32.
- Clymer, p.51.
- http://www.indymotorspeedway.com/500hist.html
Notes
- Clymer, Floyd. Treasury of Early American Automobiles, 1877-1925. New York: Bonanza Books, 1950.
- Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly (January, 1904)
See also
- Brass Era car
- List of defunct United States automobile manufacturers
- List of car makes
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