American Electric (1899 automobile)

1900 American Electric Dos-A-Dos

The American Electric was an American automobile manufactured in Chicago from 1899 to 1902 and Hoboken, New Jersey in 1902. The company was incorporated by Clinton Edgar Woods in 1895[1] as American Electric Vehicle Co. Chicago, and merged with Indiana Bicycle Co. to become Waverly in 1898[2] and later Pope-Waverley.[2][3]

The company built a wide range of electric carriages - some bodied as high, ungainly-looking dos-a-dos four-seaters - these were claimed to be capable of running from 35 miles (56 km) to 50 miles (80 km). Perhaps optimistically, the manufacturer claimed that "very few private carriages would ever be subjected to such a test". The company moved to New Jersey in 1902, according to a company statement, “to find more wealthy customers,” but they shutdown operations within the year.

See also

References

  1. Halliday Witherspoon (1902) Men of Illinois p. 52
  2. 2.0 2.1 Car Companies on earlyelectric.com. Accessed May 7, 2013
  3. The Waverley Company on earlyelectric.com. Accessed May 7, 2013