Stearns Steam Carriage Company
Encyclopedia
Stearns Steam Carriage Company (1901–1904) was a manufacturer of steam automobiles
in Syracuse, New York
, founded by Edward C. Stearns
, an industrialist. Stearns built his first automobile in 1899, an electric which sold so few models through 1900 that the firm changed to steam power in 1901 when the company was incorporated. The company was also known as the Stearns Automobile Company.
(later F.B. Stearns Company
) a manufacturer of luxury cars in Cleveland, Ohio
marketed under the brand names Stearns and Stearns-Knight
. The company also had a factory in Syracuse
.
owned a hardware store in Syracuse
. By the early 1890s E. C. Stearns & Company
had branched into bicycle manufacturing with his E. C. Stearns Bicycle Agency
which was founded in 1893.
Stearns moved into automobile production after building his first car in 1899. The prototype was built by J. S. Leggett and Stearn's engineer, F. L. Corey, and was an electric model. It was entered in the New York Automobile Show and won first prize that year. The automobile sold so few models through 1900 that the company changed to steam power in 1901.
The Stearns "Steamer" was designed by George Barnes, of Barnes Cycle Company in 1899. Investors contributed $450,000 and the company incorporated in early 1901. By the end of 1901, they had produced 100 vehicles.
The bodies were manufactured by Currier, Cameron and Company of Amesbury, Massachusetts
.
It was determined that the gasoline vehicle was the most popular on account of its "greater cheapness in fuel consumption, which is but a quarter or a third of that of the steam car." Aside from the matter of economy of operating, the gasoline car was much easier and simpler to run than the steam carriage. The former is also ready to use at any time, while it takes a few minutes to raise steam in the steam car when the boiler is cold. On the other hand, the ignition devices of the gasoline car requires more attention, while in the steam vehicle the batteries and coils are replaced by a small supply of alcohol and some matches.
The Stearns Steam Carriage was in competition in the steam category with White Sewing Machine Company, Grout Brothers, Locomobile Company of America, Prescott Automobile Manufacturing Company, Foster Automobile Manufacturing Company and Lane Motor Vehicle Company.
The Boston Automobile Show opened on October 15, 1901, with 50 carriages on display. Stearns Steam Carriage Company was one of the exhibitors. They also entered the New York Automobile Show in Madison Square Garden
in November 1901.
, president and founder of the Stearns Steam Carriage Company, reported that the company was running at full capacity.
Edward C. Stearns
founded several other manufacturing plants in Syracuse
including E. C. Stearns & Company
(hardware), E. C. Stearns Bicycle Agency
, Wholesale Bi-steam Carriage Company and Stearns Automobile Company or Stearns Steam Carriage Company.
George Mortimer Barnes was vice-president and treasurer of Stearns Steam Carriage Company.
did not have luck with his vehicle. The steam carriages he built were known to strand their passengers "some distance out of town" and it generally took a towing job to bring them back to the repair shop.
One of Stearns business partners, Edward Pennington, was of questionable character and by 1903 the company had gone "downhill" and the assets where sold for US$600. Stearns closed the automobile division in 1904 and returned to the hardware supply business. In later years, he owned an automobile dealership.
Steam car
A steam car is a light car powered by a steam engine.Steam locomotives, steam engines capable of propelling themselves along either road or rails, developed around one hundred years earlier than internal combustion engine cars although their weight restricted them to agricultural and heavy haulage...
in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, founded by Edward C. Stearns
Edward C. Stearns
Edward Carl Stearns was the founder of several companies in the late 19th century in Syracuse, New York including E. C. Stearns & Company, Stearns Automobile Company, Stearns Steam Carriage Company, Stearns Typewriter Company and E. C. Stearns Bicycle Agency.-Biography:Edward C...
, an industrialist. Stearns built his first automobile in 1899, an electric which sold so few models through 1900 that the firm changed to steam power in 1901 when the company was incorporated. The company was also known as the Stearns Automobile Company.
History
The Stearns Steam Carriage Company, established in 1901, should not be confused with the F. B. Stearns and CompanyStearns (automobile)
F. B. Stearns and Company was a manufacturer of luxury cars in Cleveland, Ohio marketed under the brand names Stearns and Stearns-Knight.-History:...
(later F.B. Stearns Company
Stearns (automobile)
F. B. Stearns and Company was a manufacturer of luxury cars in Cleveland, Ohio marketed under the brand names Stearns and Stearns-Knight.-History:...
) a manufacturer of luxury cars in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
marketed under the brand names Stearns and Stearns-Knight
Stearns-Knight
Stearns-Knight was a luxury automobile produced in Cleveland, Ohio first by the F.B. Stearns Company from 1900 to 1925, and then under ownership by WillysOverland Company of Toledo, Ohio until 1929....
. The company also had a factory in Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
.
Stearns electric
Edward C. StearnsEdward C. Stearns
Edward Carl Stearns was the founder of several companies in the late 19th century in Syracuse, New York including E. C. Stearns & Company, Stearns Automobile Company, Stearns Steam Carriage Company, Stearns Typewriter Company and E. C. Stearns Bicycle Agency.-Biography:Edward C...
owned a hardware store in Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
. By the early 1890s E. C. Stearns & Company
E. C. Stearns & Company
E. C. Stearns & Company was a manufacturer of tools and hardware in Syracuse, New York and was organized in 1864 as George N. Stearns Company by George N. Stearns, a wagon maker. During the early years, the company was principally involved in the production of hollow iron tools and specialties,...
had branched into bicycle manufacturing with his E. C. Stearns Bicycle Agency
E. C. Stearns Bicycle Agency
E. C. Stearns Bicycle Agency was established in 1893 by industrialist, Edward C. Stearns who began business as a hardware manufacturer and branched into bicycle production from 1893 through 1899.Stearns manufactured the popular model, Yellow Fellow by 1895...
which was founded in 1893.
Stearns moved into automobile production after building his first car in 1899. The prototype was built by J. S. Leggett and Stearn's engineer, F. L. Corey, and was an electric model. It was entered in the New York Automobile Show and won first prize that year. The automobile sold so few models through 1900 that the company changed to steam power in 1901.
Stearns steamer
By early February 1901, Herbert E. Maslin, treasurer, announced the company would have steam carriages on the market for the spring trade. He noted that the new factory was operating "with a large force of men." The work of "setting the vehicles ready for the trade" was progressing rapidly. A number of automobile dealers had recently visited the factory and were pleased with the equipment and goods manufactured at the plant. The company extensively remodeled the building formerly occupied by The Frontenac Company, a bicycle manufacturer of which George M. Barnes and Austin M. Dickinson were affiliated.The Stearns "Steamer" was designed by George Barnes, of Barnes Cycle Company in 1899. Investors contributed $450,000 and the company incorporated in early 1901. By the end of 1901, they had produced 100 vehicles.
The bodies were manufactured by Currier, Cameron and Company of Amesbury, Massachusetts
Amesbury, Massachusetts
Amesbury is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. Though it officially became a city in 1996, its formal name remains "The Town of Amesbury." In 1890, 9798 people lived in Amesbury; in 1900, 9473; in 1910, 9894; in 1920, 10,036; and in 1940, 10,862. The population was 16,283 at...
.
Compound engine
The compound engine used on the Stearns Steam Carriage was one of the most typical and efficient of its class. The high pressure cylinder is 2.5 inches (63.5 mm) in diameter, by 3.5 inches (88.9 mm) stroke, and the low pressure cylinder 3 inches (76.2 mm) in diameter by 3.5 inches (88.9 mm) stroke. Each cylinder develops 2 horsepower when running compound, and about double that when running simple. The engine is built on the usual plan of the double-cylinder steam carriage engine, each cylinder being controlled by piston valves of the usual construction. The valve chest also contains inserts or liners, which increase the accuracy of the parts and permit ready adjustment when the old liners are worn by use.Hickory wood frame
The car was equipped with a "compound" engine, however; the Stearns carriages contained several excellent features in addition to the engine, among which was a strong and simple under frame, which, instead of the usual tubular construction had the front and rear axle connected with reach rods made of hickory wood. This permitted a degree of flexibility the manufacturers considered impossible with any steel construction, while at the same time, dispensing with the complicated swivel joints used on most other carriages.Road contest
Stearns entered a 1500 pounds (680.4 kg) model with a 8-horsepower engine in the "reliability contest" of the Automobile Club of America. The contest took place on October 9, 1902, with a total of 72 entries. Stearns was one of 17 steam vehicles in the contest.It was determined that the gasoline vehicle was the most popular on account of its "greater cheapness in fuel consumption, which is but a quarter or a third of that of the steam car." Aside from the matter of economy of operating, the gasoline car was much easier and simpler to run than the steam carriage. The former is also ready to use at any time, while it takes a few minutes to raise steam in the steam car when the boiler is cold. On the other hand, the ignition devices of the gasoline car requires more attention, while in the steam vehicle the batteries and coils are replaced by a small supply of alcohol and some matches.
The Stearns Steam Carriage was in competition in the steam category with White Sewing Machine Company, Grout Brothers, Locomobile Company of America, Prescott Automobile Manufacturing Company, Foster Automobile Manufacturing Company and Lane Motor Vehicle Company.
Auto shows
The company turned out a large number of machines in 1901 and its exhibit at the Pan-American exposition was successful.The Boston Automobile Show opened on October 15, 1901, with 50 carriages on display. Stearns Steam Carriage Company was one of the exhibitors. They also entered the New York Automobile Show in Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
in November 1901.
Company officers
By February 1903, Edward Carl StearnsEdward C. Stearns
Edward Carl Stearns was the founder of several companies in the late 19th century in Syracuse, New York including E. C. Stearns & Company, Stearns Automobile Company, Stearns Steam Carriage Company, Stearns Typewriter Company and E. C. Stearns Bicycle Agency.-Biography:Edward C...
, president and founder of the Stearns Steam Carriage Company, reported that the company was running at full capacity.
Edward C. Stearns
Edward C. Stearns
Edward Carl Stearns was the founder of several companies in the late 19th century in Syracuse, New York including E. C. Stearns & Company, Stearns Automobile Company, Stearns Steam Carriage Company, Stearns Typewriter Company and E. C. Stearns Bicycle Agency.-Biography:Edward C...
founded several other manufacturing plants in Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
including E. C. Stearns & Company
E. C. Stearns & Company
E. C. Stearns & Company was a manufacturer of tools and hardware in Syracuse, New York and was organized in 1864 as George N. Stearns Company by George N. Stearns, a wagon maker. During the early years, the company was principally involved in the production of hollow iron tools and specialties,...
(hardware), E. C. Stearns Bicycle Agency
E. C. Stearns Bicycle Agency
E. C. Stearns Bicycle Agency was established in 1893 by industrialist, Edward C. Stearns who began business as a hardware manufacturer and branched into bicycle production from 1893 through 1899.Stearns manufactured the popular model, Yellow Fellow by 1895...
, Wholesale Bi-steam Carriage Company and Stearns Automobile Company or Stearns Steam Carriage Company.
George Mortimer Barnes was vice-president and treasurer of Stearns Steam Carriage Company.
Company failure
During its short life, Stearns Steam Carriage Company only built a total of 15 or 20 cars with steam generators. Edward C. StearnsEdward C. Stearns
Edward Carl Stearns was the founder of several companies in the late 19th century in Syracuse, New York including E. C. Stearns & Company, Stearns Automobile Company, Stearns Steam Carriage Company, Stearns Typewriter Company and E. C. Stearns Bicycle Agency.-Biography:Edward C...
did not have luck with his vehicle. The steam carriages he built were known to strand their passengers "some distance out of town" and it generally took a towing job to bring them back to the repair shop.
One of Stearns business partners, Edward Pennington, was of questionable character and by 1903 the company had gone "downhill" and the assets where sold for US$600. Stearns closed the automobile division in 1904 and returned to the hardware supply business. In later years, he owned an automobile dealership.