| Standard, Standard Eight | |
|---|---|
 1917 Standard Eight Touring Car | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Standard Steel Car Company |
| Production | 1914–1923 |
| Assembly | Butler, Pennsylvania |
The Standard was an American automobile manufactured in Butler, Pennsylvania from 1914 until 1923 by the Standard Steel Car Company. [1] [2]
Standard Steel Car Company, whose primary business was railroad rolling stock, announced in the summer of 1913 that a new $2,000,000 factory was nearing completion for the production of automobiles. The first Standard was a six-cylinder which began limited production in early 1914. This was joined by an eight-cylinder in 1915. [3] This was a 29-hp engine of 4.6-liters and was joined by a 34-hp V-8 in 1917. [4] In 1918 both engines were replaced by a larger 5.2-liter V-8 of 70-hp. [5] "Monarch of the Mountains" became a company slogan, later replaced with the tagline "A Powerful Car". [2] [1]
From 1917, only the 70-hp eight-cylinder cars were produced. All cars were given a twenty-five mile road test in the Butler area before distribution. [2] In 1916 Standard Steel purchased the Model Gas Engine Company factory and assets to expand production. [6]
Standard's best year was 1917 when about 2,300 cars were built. The standard Eight was initially a mid-priced car growing annually until by 1920, the lowest priced Standard Eight Touring Car was $3,000, (equivalent to $45,628in 2023) with the limousine model luxury car priced at $4,300, equivalent to $65,400in 2023. [2]
The Post-World War I recession and Depression of 1920-21 hurt Standard Steel Car Company and in January 1921, bankers from New York joined Standard Steel, which included Don C. McCurd, formerly with American Mercedes, Flanders and Willys. In 1923 Standard Steel Car Company divested itself of any interest in the Standard automobile and McCurd reorganized the automobile division as the Standard Motor Car Company. McCurd announced the Standard Eight and a new lower priced four-cylinder model would be produced, but the four-cylinder never arrived, and the Standard Eight production ceased by year's end. [2]
The factory in which Standard cars had been built was sold six years later and a new car called the American Austin was built there. [2] [1]
Annual automobile production [2]
| Year | Production |
|---|---|
| 1915 | 1,133 |
| 1916 | 1,536 |
| 1917 | 2,318 |
| 1918 | 2,123 |
| 1919 | 1,115 |
| 1920 | 2,128 |
| 1921 | 2,210 |
| 1922 | 1,216 |
| 1923 | 483 |
| Total | 14,262 |
The Chalmers Motor Company was an American automobile manufacturer headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. Founded in 1908 by Hugh Chalmers, the company was known for producing high-end vehicles. Chalmers automobiles gained recognition for their toughness, durability, and engineering receiving particular praise for their performance in touring events. The company reached its peak in 1911, becoming the eighth-largest auto producer in the United States. Despite initial success, the company faced challenges with increasing competition in the auto industry, and sales began to decline in the following years. In 1923, Chalmers Motor Company merged with Maxwell Motor, ultimately forming the basis for the Chrysler Corporation.
The Saxon Motor Car Company was located in Detroit, Michigan, from 1914 to 1922. In 1917, 28,000 cars were made, making it the seventh largest car maker in the United States.
Stevens-Duryea was an American manufacturer of Veteran and Brass Era automobiles in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts, between 1901 and 1915 and Vintage Cars from 1919 to 1927.
The Premier Motor Manufacturing Company built the brass era and vintage Premier luxury automobile in Indianapolis, Indiana, from 1903 to 1925.
The Lexington was an automobile manufactured in Connersville, Indiana, from 1910 to 1927. From the beginning, Lexingtons, like most other Indiana-built automobiles, were assembled cars, built with components from many different suppliers. The Thoroughbred Six and Minute Man Six were popular Lexington models.
The Westcott was an automobile produced in Richmond, Indiana, and Springfield, Ohio, in the United States between 1909 and 1925 by the Westcott Motor Car Company. The car company was named for its founder, John Westcott.
Crane-Simplex was the common name of the Simplex Crane Model 5 luxury automobile, produced by the Simplex Automobile Company in New Brunswick, New Jersey, from 1915 to 1918.
Barley Motor Car Co. was a manufacturer of luxury automobiles in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and Streator, Illinois. It manufactured the Roamer automobile (1916–29) and briefly, the Barley (1922–24), and the Pennant (1924–25).
The Staver and Staver-Chicago was an American Brass Era automobile manufactured at 76th and Wallace Streets in Chicago, Illinois, by the Staver Carriage Company from 1906 until 1914.
The Moline Automobile Company, was an American brass era automobile manufacturer in East Moline, Illinois known for the Moline, Dreadnought Moline,Moline-Knight and R & V Knight marques.
The Monarch was an automobile built in Detroit, Michigan by the Monarch Motor Car Company from 1913 to 1916.
E. A. Nelson Automobile Company, from 1917 to 1920 known as E. A. Nelson Motor Car Company, was an automobile manufacturer company, based in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It operated from 1917 to 1921.
The Pullman was an American automobile that was manufactured in York, Pennsylvania by the York Motor Car Company from 1905 to 1909 and the Pullman Motor Car Company from 1909 to 1917.
The Model Automobile Company was a brass era American automobile manufacturer located in Peru, Indiana from 1902 to 1909.
Daniels Motor Company was a pioneer brass era American automobile company, founded in 1915 by George E. Daniels with Neff E. Parish. George Daniels was a known lawyer, engineer, and mechanic. He was considered the best motorcar designer in the United States. Neff Parish had his own automobile parts and framing manufacturing company. Neff was the creator of the time's highest-grade heat-treated alloy steel frames, respected in the steel industry. Daniels Motor Company produced 1,500 high-quality automobiles between 1916 and 1924, branding themselves as “the distinguished car with just a little more power than you will ever need”, and “The aristocrat of American cars”.
The Pilot Motor Car Company of Richmond, Indiana, was an American automobile manufacturer founded in 1909 and headed by George Seidel, of the Seidel Buggy Company.
Mitchell was a major brass-era automobile marque in Racine, Wisconsin, from 1903 to 1923.
The Ogren Motor Car Company was a vintage era luxury automobile manufacturer based in Chicago, Illinois from 1915 to 1917 and in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1920 to 1923.
The Simplex Automobile Company was formed in 1907 to take over the manufacturer of the S & M Simplex. The Simplex was an American luxury Brass Era automobile manufactured from 1907 to 1918. Headquartered with a manufacturing plant in New York City, manufacturing from 1912 was in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The Simplex Crane Model 5 was commonly called Simplex-Crane and Crane-Simplex. The Crane-Simplex Company of Long Island, New York, was an attempt in 1922 to revive the brand but closed after only a few chassis were built.
Newey, Newey-Aster, Gordon Newey, Gordon Newey Ltd, G.N.L. (GNL), (1907-1920) was a British automobile manufacturer from Birmingham.
