me and my automobile page 6

me and my automobile page 6 by ric Gustafson


Ransom Eli Olds was a pioneer American car maker. In 1892, Olds was selling gasoline engines to customers in the US and Britain. His first buggy powered by one of his engines was so popular that Samuel L Smith invested in Olds new Motor Company. In 1902, the company produced a 4 hp vehicle with a curved dashboard. Olds began calling his cars Oldsmobiles and became part of Durant's General Motors in 1908. Olds died in 1950 and four years later his company declared bankruptcy.
Across the Atlantic, there were British auto pioneers. Frederick Lanchester's cars were a cut above everyone else. His cars rode smoothly, were well built and were more reliable. They were spacious. Lanchester was no businessman. His first car company went bankrupt in 1905. In 1913, he produced aircraft engines during WWI.
Herbert Austin developed a three wheel 2hp vehicle which was one of the first cars in Britain. Austin built a plant in Birmingham England. He was becoming a household name as far as small cars.
F H Royce and Charles Rolls met on May 4 1904 and became partners. Their first car design was unveiled in December 1904. It was built for lightness, speed and quality. In 1908, their factory was built in Derby. Rolls loved flying and died in a crash in July 1910.
After the Model T, the most famous car in the world before WWI was the Rolls Royce Silver Ghost.


research help: ' The Life of the Automobile' by Steven Parissien


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric