Orient (automobile)

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Orient (automobile)
Former type Automobile Manufacturing
Industry Automotive
Founded 1902
Defunct 1908
Headquarters Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
Area served United States
Products Vehicles
Automotive parts
1905 Orient

Waltham Manufacturing Company was a manufacturer of automobiles in Waltham, Massachusetts between 1902 and 1908.

History

Although the company was founded in 1902, in 1899 the Orient Autogo motorcar was made, but it was a motorized quadricycle (made from two bicycle frames) and was not purpose built.

Their first car was a light model sold as the Orient Buckboard. It seated 2 passengers and sold for just US$425, making it the lowest-priced automobile available. The vertically mounted air-cooled single-cylinder engine, situated at the rear of the car, produced 4 hp (3 kW). A 2-speed transmission was fitted. The car weighed 500 lb (227 kg) and had a 100 mi (161 km) range, though the complete lack of any bodywork made it less than practical for a long journey.

A more conventional car came in 1905 with front-mounted 4-cylinder engine and chain drive. It was made until 1908. In 1909, the company was reorganized as the Metz Company.[1]

See also

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

References

  1. ↑ Kimes, Beverly Rae; Clark Jr, Henry Austin (1996). Standard Catalog of American Cars: 1805–1942. Iola, WI: Krause Publications. p. 1511. ISBN 978-0-87341-428-9. 

Further reading


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