Elmore Manufacturing Company

Elmore Manufacturing Company was a manufacturer of veteran and brass era automobiles and bicycles (1893–97),[1] headquartered at 504 Amanda Street,[2] Clyde, Ohio, from 1893 until 1912. The company took its name from its original place of manufacture, the nearby village of Elmore. Founded by Harmon Von Vechten Becker and his two sons, James and Burton, the Elmore used a two-stroke engine design, in straight twin or single-cylinder versions. They later produced a straight-3 as well.

Elmore Manufacturing Company
TypePrivate (1893–1908)
Division (1908–12)
IndustryAutomotive
FatePurchased by General Motors in 1908, became a division
Founded1893 in Elmore, Ohio
FounderHarmon Von Vechten Becker and his two sons, James & Burton
Defunct1912 (1912)
Headquarters
Clyde, Ohio
,
United States
Area served
United States
ProductsAutomobiles, parts
ParentGeneral Motors

History
1908 Elmore Model 40
1908 Elmore at Crawford museum in Cleveland

The smallest 1904 model was the Elmore Convertible Runabout. Equipped with a tonneau, it could seat four passengers and sold for just US$ 650, making it one of the least-expensive vehicles on the market. The flat-mounted single-cylinder engine, situated at the center of the car, produced 6.5 hp (4.8 kW). A 2-speed transmission was fitted. The car weighed 1050 lb (476 kg).

The Elmore Runabout was next in line. It could seat two passengers and sold for US$ 800. The vertically mounted Straight-twin engine, also situated at the center of the car, produced 8 hp (6 kW). A 3-speed transmission was fitted. The angle iron-framed car weighed 1400 lb (635 kg).

The top model was the Elmore Tonneau. It could seat four passengers and sold for US$1400. The flat-mounted straight-twin was situated at the front of the car, produced 12 hp (8.9 kW). A 3-speed transmission was fitted. The angle iron-framed car weighed 1500 lb (680 kg).

General Motors

In 1908, Elmore's three-cylinder two-stroke caught the attention of William C. Durant, founder of General Motors. He purchased the company the following year, with Elmore becoming one of General Motors' divisions. After Durant was forced out of General Motors in 1910, the Elmore marque was soon cut, along with several other underperforming brands, to help General Motors achieve financial stability.

See also
  • Brass Era car
  • List of defunct United States automobile manufacturers

Bibliography
  • Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly (January, 1904)
  • Clymer, Floyd. Treasury of Early American Automobiles, 1877-1925. New York: Bonanza Books, 1950.

References
  1. "From Bicycles to Automobiles" Archived 2013-03-18 at the Wayback Machine. Sandusky County Scrapbook. Last updated 23 August 2001. Accessed 26 May 2013.
  2. Clymer, Floyd. Treasury of Early American Automobiles, 1877-1925 (New York: Bonanza Books, 1950), p.205.
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