Paige automobile

Paige was a Detroit, United States-based automobile company, selling luxury cars between 1908 and 1927.

Paige
TypeAutomobile Manufacturing
IndustryAutomotive
FateAcquired by The Graham Brothers in 1927
SuccessorGraham-Paige Motors Corporation
Founded1908
FounderFredrick Osgood Paige
Defunct1928
HeadquartersDetroit, Michigan

History

1911 Paige-Detroit Roadster - Syracuse Herald, October 22, 1911
A new Paige model, the Fleetwood 6-38, in the journal Horseless Age, 1916.

Paige first began producing automobiles in 1908. The company's first car was a two-seat model powered by a 2.2-liter three-cylinder, two-stroke engine.[1] This model continued until 1910, when a four-stroke, four-cylinder engine design took over.[1] In 1911, the company's namesake was shortened to Paige. A six-cylinder model was added to the range in 1914. Four-cylinder models were dropped in 1916, leaving a choice of 3.7- or 4.9-liter sixes. Another name change occurred in 1919, when models fitted with a Duesenberg engine were known as Paige-Linwood, and models fitted with a Continental engine were listed as Paige-Larchmont. A straight-eight engine was added to the sixes in 1927.

On January 21st, 1921, a Paige 6-66 broke an American stock car speed record by covering a mile in 35.01 seconds at a speed of 102.8 miles per hour.[2]

Paige advertising, circa 1916.

The most notable Paige produced was the 1922-1926 Daytona, a 3-seat sports roadster with a 6-cylinder engine. The vehicle was a traditional coupe, with the novel third seat extending from the side of the car over the near side running board.[1] Paige advertised the Daytona as being "The most beautiful car in America."

Paige also produced less-expensive range of cars between 1923-1926. These were sold as Jewetts and were named for the Paige company president H. M. Jewett. For 1927, the Jewett name changed to Junior Paige.

1922 Paige 6-66 Daytona Speedster.

Graham ownership

The Graham Brothers bought the company on June 10, 1927. Joseph Graham became the new president, his brothers Robert and Ray serving as vice-president and secretary-treasurer, respectively.[3] The three, together with their father, also became directors of the company. The corporate name soon changed to Graham-Paige Motors Corporation.[3] The market agreed, and automobile production rose from 21,881 in 1927 to 73,195 for the following year, when the cars became known as Graham-Paiges.

When the second series of 1930 cars was released (bringing out two series for a model year was widely practiced at the time), the name for the product (but not for the corporate name) changed to just Graham.[3][4]

See also

  • List of defunct United States automobile manufacturers

References

  1. Georgano, G. N. (ed.). Encyclopedia of American Automobiles (2nd ed.). London: Rainbird Reference Books. p. 151. ISBN 0-525-097929.
  2. "1922 Paige 6-66 Daytona Speedster". www.simeonemuseum.org. Retrieved 2018-10-17.
  3. Odin, L.C. A concise guide to Graham-Paige. Belvedere Publishing, 2016. ASIN: B01G8X5Z34.
  4. “The Graham Brothers and Their Car” by Jeffery I. Godshall; Automobile Quarterly Volume 13 No.1
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