Automobiles were first developed in Germany in the late nineteenth century. During the first decade of the twentieth century, automobile manufacturing began moving from hand-made cars to mass production and mass marketing. As with most innovations, the early automobiles relied on what had come before: carriages and wagons which had once been pulled by horses were now powered by engines.
There were a number of concerns and competing ideas at this time about how to power the new vehicles: gasoline engines or steam engines or electric motors. Borrowing from marine technology, many of the early cars were steered with a tiller while some used a steering wheel. There were also different ideas about where the driver should sit: on the right or on the left, or, in some cases, in the rear.
In 1906, fifteen states had speed limits of 20 miles per hour; nine had speed limits of 15 miles per hour; and two had speed limits of less than 10 miles per hour.
Shown below are some 1906 automobiles.
1906 Ford Model N Runabout
This vehicle was in the LeMay—America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington. The Model N is a two-person, lightweight runabout with a front-mounted 15-hp engine, producing a top speed of 45 mph. According to the Museum:
“One of Henry Ford’s first automobiles, the Model N predates the Model T by two years. It was an important step forward by Ford in his quest for a low-priced car for the mass market.”
1906 Ford Model N
This vehicle was on display in the LeMay Family Collection in Tacoma, Washington. The Model N was considered less luxurious than the Model K and was built prior to the use of an assembly line. It had a new price of $500. A total of 13,250 were produced.
1906 Ford Model N Roadster Boat-tail
This vehicle was on display in the LeMay—America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington.
1906 Cadillac Model M, Tulip Tourer, 5-Passenger
The Cadillac Automobile Company was founded in 1902 by Henry Leland. The car was named after Antoine de la Mothe, sieur de Cadillac (1658-1730), the founder of Detroit, Michigan. The crest used on Cadillac automobiles is based on Cadillac’s coat of arms.
In 1905, Cadillac merged with Leland & Faulconer Manufacturing to form the Cadillac Motor Company.
This vehicle was in the LeMay—America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington. This car has a 1-cylinder, 98.2 cubic inch, 10 horsepower engine with a 2-speed planetary transmission.
More automobiles
Museums 201: 1910 automobiles (photo diary)
Museums 201: 1909 automobiles (photo diary)
Museums 201: 1908 Automobiles (photo diary)
Museums 201: 1907 Automobiles (photo diary)
Museums 201: Some nineteenth-century automobiles (photo diary)
Museums 201: Early electric cars (photo diary)
Museums 201: Early steam cars (photo diary)
Museums 201: The Ford Model T Speedster (photo diary)
