Knox Automobile Company

Last updated
Knox Automobile Company
Industry Automotive industry
Founded1900;124 years ago (1900)
Defunct1915;109 years ago (1915), 1924;100 years ago (1924)
FateBankruptcy
SuccessorKnox Motor Company
Headquarters Springfield, Massachusetts, United States
Key people
Harry A. Knox, Elihu H. Cutler
Products Automobiles
Production output
10,835

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. They are notable for building the very first modern fire engine in 1905, and the first American vehicle with hydraulic brakes, in 1915. [1]

Contents

History

Harry Austin Knox built three experimental gasoline cars at Overman Wheel Company between 1895 and 1898. He left Overman when they decided to build a steam car. Knox joined with his former employer, Elihu H. Cutler of the Elektron Company to form the Knox Automobile Company in Springfield Massachusetts in 1900. [2] The Waltham Watch Company factory was purchased and Knox built 15 cars in their first year. [3]

The Knox Model A was a three-wheel runabout with a 5-hp one-cylinder air-cooled engine. In 1902 a four-wheel runabout and a 8-hp two-cylinder engine joined the model line-up. Early cars were called Knoxmobile with the Waterless Knox being used from 1903. A slogan used was "The Car That Never Drinks". [3] In some models, passengers rode up front over the front axle while the driver and another passenger sat in the back over the engine. [4]

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 316 inch (4.8 mm) 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. [5] [6] This engine was situated at the center of the car and produced 8 hp (6.0 kW). It was also called a "hedgehog". The one-cylinder engine was used until 1905. In 1902 a two-cylinder version was added that was used up to 1907. [3]

Growth

Knox pricing for the one-cylinder and two-cylinder models went for a low price in 1900 of $750, (equivalent to $27,468in 2023) to medium-priced by 1904. A 1904 Knox Tuxedo Touring model, equipped with a straight-twin engine producing 16 hp (12 kW), was priced at $2,200, equivalent to $74,604in 2023. [3]

In late 1904 Knox left the company over a disagreement on policy with Elihu Cutler. Knox set-up a new business across town to build the Atlas air-cooled car. [3]

In 1906 Knox Automobile Company introduced the Model G, a 40-hp air-cooled four-cylinder engine on a 112-inch wheelbase. With a limousine body priced at $5,000 (equivalent to $169,556in 2023), Knox had entered the luxury car market. The two-cylinder models were phased out in 1907 and all Knox's became mid-priced to high-priced cars. [2] Knox progressively improved their models, moving the engine from under the seat to up front under a hood and going from chain-driven to shaft-drive. [3] [2]

In 1908 a water-cooled four-cylinder engine was introduced and customers could choose air-cooled or pay $100 more for water-cooled models. [2] A six-cylinder engine became available in 1910 and all Knox's became water-cooled. Only luxury-priced Knox's were offered after 1910. [2]

#32 Knox (USA) driven by Fred Belcher in the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup race A Vanderbilt Cup, start.jpg
#32 Knox (USA) driven by Fred Belcher in the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup race
1911 Knox Model R Raceabout Springfield Massachusetts Knox Automobile Company, 1911 Knox Type R, right front view pic8.JPG
1911 Knox Model R Raceabout

Racing

The Knox was raced by William Bourque in the 1909 AAA Championship Car race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In 1910 a Knox was driven by Fred Belcher in the Vanderbilt Cup race. [7]

Fate

By 1912 Knox sales were slipping and a receiver was called in. The last Knox automobiles were built in 1914 and Knox was declared bankrupt in 1915. Knox reorganized as the Knox Motors Corporation and continued to build tractors and trucks until 1924. [3] [2]

Afterwards Harry Knox moved on to design tanks for the US Army Ordnance Department; his T1 Light Tank wasn't adopted, but his Vertical volute spring suspension and his track design were used on almost all American tanks of the WWII, and he designed its replacement HVSS, which served until 1980s in some countries, as well.

Knox tractor-trailer, Salt Lake City, 1915. Note chain drive, common in this era. Knox tractor-trailer.jpg
Knox tractor-trailer, Salt Lake City, 1915. Note chain drive, common in this era.

Models

Model [3] YearCylindersHorsepowerWheelbase
A1900–190215 bhp (3.7 kW)
Two Cylinder190228 bhp (6.0 kW)
B190218 bhp (6.0 kW)69 in (1,800 mm)
C190318 bhp (6.0 kW)72 in (1,800 mm)
Two Cylinder1904218 bhp (13 kW)84 in (2,100 mm)
One Cylinder1904110 bhp (7.5 kW)72 in (1,800 mm)
E1905110 bhp (7.5 kW)72 in (1,800 mm)
F-31905–1906216 bhp (12 kW)87 in (2,200 mm)
F-11905–1906216 bhp (12 kW)81 in (2,100 mm)
F1905–1906216 bhp (12 kW)90 in (2,300 mm)
F-41906–1907216 bhp (12 kW)81 in (2,100 mm)
G1906–1908440 bhp (30 kW)112 in (2,800 mm)
H1907–1909430 bhp (22 kW)102 in (2,600 mm)
L1908430 bhp (22 kW)102 in (2,600 mm)
O1909438 bhp (28 kW)102–114 in (2,600–2,900 mm)
M1909–1910448 bhp (36 kW)127 in (3,200 mm)
S1910–1912660 bhp (45 kW)134 in (3,400 mm)
R1910–1912440 bhp (30 kW)117–122 in (3,000–3,100 mm)
R-451912440 bhp (30 kW)126 in (3,200 mm)
661913660 bhp (45 kW)134 in (3,400 mm)
461913–1914646 bhp (34 kW)130–134 in (3,300–3,400 mm)
451913–1914440 bhp (30 kW)126 in (3,200 mm)
441913–1914440 bhp (30 kW)117–122 in (3,000–3,100 mm)

Production

Year [3] Automobiles
190015
1901100
1902250
1903500
1904553
1905572
1906753
19071,000
19081,215
19091,317
19101,412
19111,215
1912877
1913673
1914383
Total10,835

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References

  1. "Motor Age". 1915.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Georgano, Nick (2001). The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile (3 vol. ed.). Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers. ISBN   1-57958-293-1.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 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.
  4. 100 Years of the American Auto Millennium Edition, page 24, Copyright 1999 Publications International, Ltd.
  5. Clymer, Floyd. Treasury of Early American Automobiles, 1877-1925 (New York: Bonanza Books, 1950), p.170-1.
  6. David LaChance (January 2007) "Old Porcupine – Knox", Hemmings Classic Car .
  7. "History of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway".

See also