Rollin Motors

Last updated
Rollin Motors Company
Industry Automotive
Founded1923;100 years ago (1923)
FounderRollin H. White
Defunct1925;98 years ago (1925)
FateBankruptcy
Headquarters Cleveland, Ohio,
Key people
Henry Rollins, James G. Heaslet, E. E. Allyne
Products Automobiles
Production output
5,750 (1924-1925)
1924 Rollin at Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum 1924 Rollin.jpg
1924 Rollin at Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum

The Rollin Motors Company was an American automobile manufacturer from 1923 until 1925 and founded by Rollin Henry White. [1] The company was based in Cleveland, Ohio. [2]

Contents

History

The Rollin automobile [3] had advanced technology, brakes on all four wheels (mechanical internal expanding type), pistons and connecting rods of special aluminum, lubrication oil through a pump and a four-bearing crankshaft. [4] There were four models: Touring ($995, equivalent to $16,990in 2022), Brougham, Sedan and a three-passenger Coupe($1,175). Cars were sold in the US, Australia and a very few in Europe. The cars were designed and built by Rollin H. White, formerly chief engineer of the White Motor Company. [5]

The car was planned as an economical automobile to capture a share of the lower price market. Its engine was similar to that of the Cletrac tractor, a White subsidiary. The chairman was Rollin Henry White. His father, Thomas White, was chairman of the White Sewing Machine Company, and the White Motor Company. The Rollin was too high-priced for the market for which it had been intended. In its most successful year, 1924, approximately 3,622 units were produced. [5] By the end of 1925 the factory was closed due to bankruptcy. [6]

In December 1924 the car carrier SS Lakeland transported on Lake Michigan several new automobiles. The Lakeland sank with at least twenty-two model-year vehicles aboard from Nash Motors, Kissel Motor Car Company, and a Rollin. Recreational divers recovered the Rollin automobile in 1979 but it was too damaged to save. [7]

As of 2018, there are several Rollin automobiles in the US and in Australia, as well as a few in Europe, at least one in the Netherlands and two in Sweden.

In 2023 the Rollin Preservation Society (NL) presented a documentary about a unique Rollin still registered for use on public roads. [8]

Bibliography

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References

  1. "WHITE, ROLLIN HENRY | Encyclopedia of Cleveland History". Encyclopedia of Cleveland History | Case Western Reserve University.
  2. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Automobiles. By David Burgess Wise. Published 1979 - ISBN   0600303799 page 286, 125, 339
  3. The Complete Encyclopedia of Motorcars. Edited by G.N. Georgano. Second edition 1973. ISBN   0852230486 - page 593
  4. original brochure Rollin - page with technical specifications
  5. 1 2 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.
  6. "In re Rollin Motors Co. | 23 F.2d 110 (1927) | 23f2d110299". Leagle.
  7. Wisconsinshipwrecks
  8. Keep Rollin - the documentary