The Bethlehem Motors Corporation was a manufacturer of tractors, automobiles and trucks in Allentown, Pennsylvania, between 1917 and 1926. [1]
The Bethlehem Motors Corporation was a manufacturer of tractors, automobiles and trucks in Allentown, Pennsylvania, between 1917 and 1926. [1]
In 1918 and 1919, the Corporation built the Model 18-36 tractor, which weighed three tons, and was powered by a Beaver 4-cylinder engine with two forward speeds. [1] Standard equipment included a Stromberg carburettor, Bosch magneto and Fedders radiator. [1] The tractor was not a success, probably due to the poor financial position of the company, the crowded tractor market in the United States, and the 1920 agricultural depression. [1]
In 1920, the Bethlehem Motors Corporation built the 'Ideal' automobile, which was to be sold only outside the United States. [2] The Ideal was a four-seater sedan with a 40 hp engine built by Bethlehem, Timken axles, and was priced at $3,000. [2] The company went into receivership later that year, and all plans to further produce and sell the car were discontinued. [2] New management disposed of the unsold cars for approximately $1,000 each in 1921. [2]
Truck manufacture began in 1917, with 1+1⁄4-ton trucks (Type A1 [3] [4] ) powered by Golden, Belknap and Swartz engines, and a 2+1⁄4-ton vehicle (Type B1) using a North American engine. [1] The smaller models cost $1,245; the larger models $1,775. Speeds were between 12 and 18 mph, depending on the engine governor used. [1] Production in 1919 was approximately 3,500. [5] By 1920, all Bethlehem trucks came with electric starter and lights, with the company motto at this time being "Trucks bought today without electric lights will be out of date tomorrow". [1] Despite these new features, business decreased, with the company going into receivership. [5] The last Bethlehem trucks, and the last vehicles of any type manufactured by the Bethlehem Motors Corporation were assembled in 1926. [1] The factory was bought by Hahn and Company in 1927. [5] Bethlehem was also one of the manufacturers of Liberty Trucks for the United States Army during World War I. [6]
The pre-assigned serial numbers only indicate the maximum possible production quantity.
| Year | Production figures | Model | Load capacity | Serial Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1917 | ~ 1000 | A | 1,25 to | 5000 to 6000 |
| 1917 | ~ 1000 | B | 2,25 to | 1000 to 2000 |
| 1918 | ~ 1475 | D | 1,5 to | 6500 to 7975 |
| 1918 | ~ 1350 | E | 2,5 to | 2500 to 3850 |
| 1918 | ~ 410 | F | 3,5 to | 9000 to 9410 |
| 1919 | ↑ | D | 1,5 to | ↑ |
| 1919 | ↑ | E | 2,5 to | ↑ |
| 1919 | ↑ | F | 3,5 to | ↑ |
| 1920 | ~ | K | 1 to | 10000 to ? |
| 1920 | ~ 175 | D-G | 1,5 to | 7976 to 8150 |
| 1920 | ~ 200 | E-H | 2,5 to | 3851 to 4050 |
| 1920 | ~ 90 | F-J | 3,5 to | 9412 to 9501 |
| 1921 | ~ 3000 | G | 2 to | 15000 to 17999 |
| 1921 | ~ 3000 | H | 3 to | 18000 to 20999 |
| 1921 | ~ 3750 | K | 1 to | 10000 to 13750 |
| 1922 | ~ 5000 | K-N | 1 to | 20000 to 24999 |
| 1922 | ~ 5000 | G-N | 2 to | 25000 to 29999 |
| 1922 | ~ 5000 | H-N | 3 to | 30000 to 34999 |
| 1923 | K-N | 1 to | 35000 to | |
| 1923 | G-N | 2 to | ||
| 1923 | H-N | 3 to | ||
| 1924 | K-N | 1 to | ||
| 1924 | G-N | 2 to | ||
| 1924 | L [7] | to | ||
| Sum [8] |
