Lot 1028: Circa 1899 Locomobile Steam Carriage

Founded in 1899, Locomobile began by building steam-powered cars - essentially re-badged Stanleys - before switching to gasoline-powered automobiles in 1904. The Stanley brothers had sold out to John Brisben Walker who, together with business partner Amzi Lorenzo Barber, continued production under the Locomobile name at the existing plant in Watertown, Massachusetts. The partnership soon dissolved however, Barber retaining Locomobile while Walker went off to build the same car as the Mobile. By early 1901 Barber had relocated production to Bridgeport, Connecticut and by May 1902 more than 4,000 Locomobiles had been sold. These early Locomobiles were among the fastest road transport of their day - in 1902 S T Davis Jr. drove a specially prepared racer over the measured mile at an average speed of 48mph. For all its speed, the writing was on the wall for the Locomobile; gasoline-powered automobiles had become increasingly refined and the steamer could not match them for range. In 1904 the company bowed to the inevitable and the Locomobile steamer was discontinued.

Dating from approximately the first year of Locomobile production, a time when the internal combustion engine’s universal hegemony had yet to be established, this steam carriage’s known history dates back to the 1950s when it was the property of Stanley Tarniple, a well-known member of the AACA. A resident of upstate New York subsequently owned this vehicle for 20-30 years before selling it to its current owner. Cosmetically the car would benefit from minor cosmetic attention. The vendor describes the car, which was in running order when stored some twenty years ago, as a good original car not assembled from parts as was often the case with these cars. Over its lifetime only relatively minor modifications have been made – linkages, tubes, etc – as one might well expect with a vehicle of this vintage. An older repaint, this Locomobile may be described as very good and intact, and being a 107-year-old veteran motor car is eligible for any number of prestigious touring events around the world.