What is it? Quiz #491

The last quiz of this six-month competition. Did you enjoy it as much as we did? We have something special for you. Perhaps we can use this pre-war to take all participants in the top 5 on an outing!

A large six-wheeled horseless car. We have not seen a similar vehicle before, and we do not know if it is still around. If it is, please let us know! But we do know cars from the same make that are still driving around. There is even one for sale in our online Marketplace. The original factory building also still exists in Y…, although the company went bankrupt and ceased operations a long time ago.

Tell us everything you know about this car, the story behind the six wheels, the techniques and hopefully some anecdotes. Maybe you are the winner of the last quiz of this period!

The rules

Please send in your answer in a comment, in maximum 100 words. Do this before Monday evening and do not forget to give us your sources so we can check them. See next week if you are the winner of the last quiz in the six-months competition, sponsored by Hans Compter Rare Cars.

Gepubliceerd:

zaterdag maart 23rd, 2019

Neil Beadle

25 Maart 2019, 17:47

This six-wheel horseless carriage is a 1903 Pullman Tourer. Built in York, Pennsylvania, USA by Albert P. Broomell of Broomell, Schmidt and Steacy, manufacturers of steam boilers. Powered by a 2 cylinder engine driving the centre axle, the front and rear axles both steered. The car was not a success, heavy, underpowered and the evenly spaced 3 axle design caused the car to see-saw on large bumps in the road. After it crashed into a telegraph pole it was broken up. In 1905 Broomell started the 'York Motor Car Company' building more conventional vehicles, which were later renamed Pullman.

Sources:
The Complete Encylopedia of Motor Cars 1885 to the Present - G.N. Georgano
https://yorkblog.com/yorkspast/40-broomell-schmidt-birthplace-of-pullman-motor-car/
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2010/01/26/genius-inaction-the-six-wheeled-automobile/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pullman_automobile

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Gerd Klioba

24 Maart 2019, 17:53

This is the 1903 Pullman six-wheeler, designed by Albert P. Broomell and built at the Hardinge Company in York, Pennsylvania. The underpowered two-cylinder engine drove the middle wheels, while the front and rear axle were steerable counterwise, giving a discomforting ride. This one-off was the first car to carry the Pullman name, though there was no connection to George Mortimer Pullman's railway car company. Still in 1903 the six-wheeler crashed into a telegraph pole in York, was dismantled and parts were used for a much more successful new Pullman car whose production started in 1905 by the York Motor Car Company.

Sources:
Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942
http://ydr.inyork.com/ntbf/ci_4336810
http://www.american-automobiles.com/Pullman-1903.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pullman_automobile
https://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=22559572602&searchurl=bi%3D0%26ds%3D30%26sortby%3D20%26tn%3Dyork%2Bpullman%26vci%3D3932854&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp1-_-image1#&gid=1&pid=1

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Piet Geirnaert

24 Maart 2019, 14:42

York Motor Car Co, York, (US) Pasadena bestond van 1905 -1909.
Pullman Motor Car Co, York, (US) Pasadena bestond van 1910-1917.
De York Automobile Co, York Pa bestond van 1905-1907.
Nogal verwarrend, maar deze laatste firma bouwde in 1905 een York tourer 18/20 hp, die bijna de zelfde body lijnen heeft als onze 6 wheeler, alleen met een stukje er voor aan gebouwd

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fritz hegemann

24 Maart 2019, 13:06

Dear prewarcar-team,

find here my solution:

This 1903 Pullman was a built by The Broomel, Schmidt & Stacy Co in York, Pennsylvania, probably a one off. The name is an allusion to the famous, luxurious Pullman-rail-wagons.
Two cylinder-engine, propelled by the middle axle, front- and backwheels where connected by a leverage-system and steered. The car crashed into a telegraph pole in York.
After this failed six-wheeler-adventure the company sold premium four-wheeler-cars (courageously advertised: “Not Only The Best at the Price But the Best at Any Price”) until bankruptcy in 1917; production-numbers overall are estimated between 12.000 and 23.000 cars.
In York the Pullman-building still is existing.

Best regards from the Nahe-valley

Fritz

P.S.
The sources:
http://ydr.inyork.com/ntbf/ci_4336810
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pullman_automobile
http://www.american-automobiles.com/Pullman-1903.html
https://eu.ydr.com/story/news/history/blogs/york-town-square/2012/06/06/part-ii-when-a-york-pa-pullman-automobile-became-a-seesaw/31565519/

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Robbie Marenzi

23 Maart 2019, 14:58

1903 Pullman Six-Wheeler. Designer Albert P. Broomell, made by Hardinge Company York/PA. Two cylinders powered the middle wheels, while the front and rear provided the steering turning in opposite directions. When the center tires hit a high spot, it seesawed. It was a disaster so Broomell tore it apart.
Pullman chosen to take advantage of the railcar prestige.
One crashed into a telegraph pole on York’s South George Street. William Mitzell was thrown against the vehicle’s front. He was stunned, but not injured.
According to autopuzzles: 1903 Broomwell 20HP 6 wheel Pullman, built by Schmidt & Steach from York /PA.

Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942
https://www.ydr.com/story/news/history/blogs/york-town-square/2012/06/06/part-ii-when-a-york-pa-pullman-automobile-became-a-seesaw/31565519/
https://yorkblog.com/yorktownsquare/post-87/
https://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/2014-43/1903-broomwell-20hp-6-wheel-pullman-car-built-by-schmidt-steach-from-york-pa/

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Pierre Alain

23 Maart 2019, 09:59

This car is a 1903 Pullman Broomwell 20HP 6-Wheel Tourer Prototype (Schmidt & Steach, York Motor Car Co).

The information I found says it seems to be "the earliest six-wheeler", and that "it dates to 1903 when Albert P. Broomell of York, Pennsylvania, a manufacturer of steam heating equipment, first designed his Pullman"

Here enclosed is another picture

Have a good week-end

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Anders Svenfelt

23 Maart 2019, 07:41

Albert P. Broomell of York Pennsylvania built a six-wheeler in 1903 and called it Pullman after the famous railway manufacturer. Center axle powered by twin, front and rear stears. Only few were made, but the four-wheeled Pullman were made upto 1917.
Sources:In fact I googled Reeves and six-wheel...
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2010/01/26/genius-inaction-the-six-wheeled-automobile/
https://www.american-automobiles.com/Pullman-1903.html

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What is it? Quiz #491

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