| Company type | Automobile manufacturer |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1899 |
| Founder | Max Hertel |
| Defunct | 1900 |
| Fate | Closed |
| Products | Automobiles |
Hertel or Oakman-Hertel was an American veteran automobile company in Greenfield, Massachusetts started in 1899 and closing in 1900. [1] [2]
Max Hertel was an engineer for the American Biscuit Company and entered the 1895 Chicago Times-Herald Race. His small two-cylinder gasoline car, built between two bicycle frames, broke the steering gear on the way to the starting line and he could not compete. [2]
In 1897, Australian businessman John Pender commissioned a car. Hertel manufactured the car and shipped it to Melbourne. The Pender-Hertel is believed to be the first automobile imported into Australia. [3]
In 1899 Hertel established the Oakman Motor Vehicle Company in Greenfield, Massachusetts. The company produced a two-seat, two-cylinder (581 cc; 2,5 HP), [4] tiller steered runabout which sold for $750 (equivalent to $28,347in 2024), that was very similar to his Times-Herald car. [2] The vehicle weight was 214 kg. The fuel tank was designed for a range of 120 km. According to this source the displacement of the two-cylinder engine was 1607 cc with a bore of 92.075 mm and a stroke of 120.65 mm. [5]
With very few cars selling, creditors closed Hertel's factory in November 1900. [2]