DURYEAS IN 1898 AND 1899 (3-cyl.)

1898:
Duryeas made or started in1898:

1. Trap 3-wheeled - courtesy Mel Moffitt, Peoria Public Library.
2. Delivery Wagon 3-wheeled - courtesy Mel Moffitt, Bring Home The Duryea.

As of June, 1996 the above Duryea Delivery Wagon was at the Peoria Public Library.

NOTE: For information on the first three 3-cylinder Peoria Duryeas made by Charles - see The First Three(use back arrow to return here.) in section " The 3 Cylinder Duryea Automobile " in article 1.

1899:

NOTE: ref. sales brochure dated 1899, The Horseless Age-vol 4-# 26- Sep.
Material - courtesy Mel Moffitt, Peoria Public Library

An illustration in the 1899 sales brochure reveals the following:

1. The transmission(T) is not partially recessed into the flywheel(F) as it is in the 1901 and later engines used in later cars that I have done research on.
2. Facing the back of the car, the generator(G) is on the left and is between the rear axle and the flywheel(F) (belt driven). This now gives us 3 places to look for magneto/generator mountings.
3. The radiator tank is a single tank and is located behind the seat.
4. Facing the back of the car, the exhaust exits on the right side of the engine and the muffler(M) is in the back right corner and is parallel to the axle. On the 1902 and later cars that I have done research on, the exhaust chamber/manifold is on the bottom of the engine and the exhaust exits to the left.

General:
In The Horseless Age, volume 4 number 26 (Sep. 1899), it is clearly stated that there were 4 Four-Wheeled styles ready for delivery in 1899. This with the information provided in the sales brochure dated August 15, 1901 and the survival ratio of 3-wheeled to 4-wheeled cars; I think we can put to rest the myth that Charles only made 3-wheeled cars and tinkered with 4-wheeled cars.

Some of the styles offered in 1899:

1. Trap 4-wheeled
2. Trap 3-wheeled....wheels 30" and 36" - courtesy Henry Ford Museum
3. Phaeton 4-wheeled
4. Surrey ( high probability)
5. Delivery Wagon
6. Van 3-wheeled courtesy Mel Moffitt, Peoria Public Library.

Generator - yes
Generator belt driven - yes
Self-Oiling Drive Chain - yes
Muffler - yes
Drive sprocket: 7, 9 or 11 teeth
Front wheels 30" - rear wheels 36"
Painting (3-wheeled Trap) - dark green with carmine running gear
Upholstered (3-wheeled Trap) in dark green

EXTRAS (3-wheeled Trap):
Different color upholstering and electric lights

QUOTE FROM SALES BROCHURE DATED MAY 15, 1899:

In order to meet the demand we have licensed the Peoria Rubber & Mfg. Co., of this place, to make certain lines of these goods in their large and well equipped factory and will turn over to them such correspondence and orders as will be facilitated by so doing. Our Mr. Duryea is a director and stockholder in that company and gives personal supervision to their work.

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DURYEAS IN 1900 (3-cyl.)

NOTE: ref. 1900 sales brochure (not dated)
Material - courtesy David Berckmueller.....David believes the sales brochure is 1900 and your site host agrees. The brochure refers to the use of a generator and two of the featured pictures are not used in either the 1899 or 1901 brochures. Also, I have seen two of the other pictures in 1900 magazine articles.

NOTE: ref. Cycle And Automobile Trade Journal (January 1900)
Material - courtesy Ralph Dunwoodie

QUOTE FROM THE CYCLE AND TRADE JOURNAL (1/00):

Duryea delivery wagon.....It is fitted with their regular motor, using the same mechanism as their motor trap, except that it uses primary batteries for ignition instead of small generators.

Some of the styles offered in 1900:

1. Phaeton 3-wheeled
2. Trap 4-wheeled....
3. Light Delivery Wagon, 3-wheeled

We know that the Planetary transmission featured in the 1901 Reading sales brochure is different than the planetary transmission featured in the Peoria 1899 sales brochure, but I still can not determine when this change took place. The 1900 sales brochure (not dated) does not help in this matter.

NOTE:
According to Mel Moffitt, Peoria Public Library, a few Duryeas were produced at the Peoria Heights Site in 1900, but to his knowledge there are no documented pictures of these vehicles.

Generator - yes
Battery Ignition on some vehicles - very high probability
Self-Oiling Chain - yes
Muffler - yes

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DURYEAS IN 1901 (3-cyl.)

First Prize, Gasoline Class, Eagle Rock Hill,
November 5, 1901

General information:
Charles advocated the three-wheeled vehicle for various reasons but it is clearly stated in the sales brochure dated August 15, 1901 that most of the 3 Cylinder Duryeas being built had four wheels.

According to the sales brochure dated August 15, 1901 a Duryea three-wheeler made the fastest time of the day on Decoration Day, 1901 at the Point Breeze track, Philadelphia and won the five-mile open race.

Research at this time indicates that all Duryeas produced in 1901 were produced at the Reading, Pennsylvania site.

There is a section on the 1901 engine ( image or image and text ) in article 3.

Some of the styles offered in 1901:

1. Phaeton Three-Wheeler
2. Phaeton Four-Wheeler courtesy Boyertown Museum and Erminie Shaeffer Hafer author of " A Century Of Vehicle Craftsmanship ". This car is the best example I know of at this time that shows the transition from the Peoria Period to the Reading Period. It has a little of Reading and a little of Peoria including a rare Peoria or Peoria type engine. This car is a must-see for anyone doing research on the 3 Cylinder Duryeas.
   • Tread: front-43" actual measurement, rear-52", actual measurement.
   • Wheel base - 61'' actual measurement.
   • Ring gear (rear drive sprocket) - 31 teeth, actual count.
   • Engine - note exhaust chamber/manifold on top of cylinders (black) - courtesy Martha Minges.
   • Front axle - Note narrow tread (43") and the absence of a globe-joint-axle-apex triangle axle support (see section below for information) - courtesy Martha Minges.
   • Step plate - courtesy Martha Minges.
3. Surrey for six people
4. Trap Four-Wheeler This could be a 1899 Peoria heights car.
5. Tonneau
6. Delivery Wagon

Magneto - yes (1901 sales brochure)
Magneto belt driven - yes (1901 sales brochure)
Muffler - yes (1901 sales brochure)
Water Pump - no (1901 sales brochure)
Self-Oiling Drive Chain - yes (1901 sales brochure)

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1902 Duryea vis-a-dos (3-cyl.)

This Duryea with its carriage lamps and other remnants of the horse and buggy days is truly one of the rare pioneers still around today. When you first approach this automobile you look for the horse, but with one quick pull of the crank you forget all about horses and wonder how fast it will go.

• Measurements:
  • Tread - 54"
  • Wheel Base- app. 66"
  • Rear Wheel with tire- 36"
  • Front Wheel with tire- 30"
  • Rear Seat (drivers seat)- 38"
  • Front Seat (passengers)- 35 1/2"
  • Rear Step Plate (2)- 4"
  • Front Step Plate (2)- 4 1/2"
• Specifications and capacities:
  • Engine: 3-cylinder , 4-cycle , water-cooled
  • Intake valves - naturally aspirated (intake valves are keep shut during power cycle by the expanding gases.
  • Ignition - make and break
  • Engine coolant capacity - app. 13 US gallons
  • Engine bore - 4 1/2"
  • Engine stroke - 4 1/2"
  • Engine horsepower 6 to 10
• Markings and Physical Properties:
  • Finders are leather
  • Numerous engine parts stamped - 64
  • Flywheel spokes - two unused threaded holes per spoke.
  • Magneto bracket and/or mounting holes - none
  • Transmission recessed into flywheel - no
  • Transmission drums - smooth
  • Transmission drum markings - Pat March 4 1902, CHAMPI?? MFG. Co.
  • Self-oiling drive chain - no
  • Radiating cooling coils - yes (single layer) - under floor board (fits contour of frame).
  • Drive Sprocket - 9 teeth
  • Ring Gear (rear chain sprocket) - 37 teeth
  • Artillery Wheels - yes
  • Front Spring, top leaf markings - J. Palmer, Boston
  • Front Radius Arm markings - The word SWEDEN and what appears to be the initials (TH) of the blacksmith inside a little square house with a v-roof. This part as well as most other parts in the front and rear suspension are hand forged and hammer welded.
  • Rear Spring, top leaf - J. Palmer Boston and ?(C) Turton & Sons.
  • 5 inch bell - New Departure Bell Co. Pat P. Bristol Conn. USA
  • Muffler - remnants of a brass tag which would have been (based on the location of two brass rivets) about 3" x 3/4". About 3/4 of an inch of the right side is in tact. There are two chacaters visible. One is a half of an "A" on one line and the last chacater of the last line of text is the number "1" that has been over-struck with the number "4".
  • Brake Band markings - Raymond Brake, Pat'd 1902
  • Rear Spring Shackle - on one side what appears to be a part number (2255c) and on the other side a little circle around the letter E.
  • Side Lamp - Coach Lamp Mfg. Co. Newark, N.J. (see article 3 for information).
  • Throttle and speed control separate from tiller - yes - For more information on separate controls see "Duryea Furnishes Two-Lever-Control" in Article 1 ( use your back arrow to return here ).

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Other Duryeas in 1902 (3-cyl.)

General information:
There were apparently eight body styles offered by mid year (1902) and several of the styles could be ordered in different variations. Considering all possible variations, there could have been well over a dozen different designs to choose from in 1902. The Tonneau could be ordered to carry 6 to 10 people (or even more) and the trap (dos-a-dos) could be ordered to carry 4 to 6 people. As was often the case back then, vehicles were made to order; Thus, we may never realize which of the above styles(designs) were actually built. I have not been able to locate any sales brochures that have pictures of the utility type bodies available in 1902. Prices ranged from $1250.00 for the Three Wheeled Phaeton with Top to $2000.00 for the Tonneau.

The chassis and engine in the 1902 sales brochure look the same to me as the chassis and engine in the 1903 sales brochure; therefore, I use the same image (1903) for both years. The transmission is slightly recessed into the flywheel and the magneto is mounted in front of engine on the center cross member. The exhaust chamber/manifold (not visible) is on the bottom of the engine and the exhaust exits to the left (facing back of car).

According to the April, 1905 Cycle And Automotive Trade Journal, the globe-joint-apex triangle axle support began to be used in the spring of 1902. The third point of the triangular axle support (steel tubing) fits into a socket fixed to the mid cross-girt of the car body. A 4-wheeled Phaeton was used in the illustration.

Some of the styles offered in 1902:

1. Three Wheeled Phaeton
2. Four-Wheeled Phaeton.... wheel base 69" - tread 56" - wheels 30" & 36"
3. Rumble Seat (detachable) Phaeton 4-wheeled
4. Surrey for four to six people
5. Trap
6. Tonneau
7. Delivery Wagons
8. Cabs and Coupes with Glass Fronts

1902 Phaeton 4-wheeled ID No.164, unrestored - courtesy A.J. Gallagher.

Folding front seat on 4-wheeled Phaeton - optional $100.00 (1902 sales brochure)
Magneto - yes (1902 sales brochure)
Magneto driven by friction pulley against fly wheel - very high Probability
Self-Oiling Drive Chain - yes (1902 sales brochure)
Muffler - yes (1902 sales brochure)
Water Pump - no (1902 sales brochure)
Rear Sprocket - 33 teeth (1902 sales brochure)
Tires 3" Dunlop (1902 sales brochure)

NOTE: For additional information on engine block and exhaust manifold changes - see Engine Block And Exhaust Changes(use back arrow to return here) in section " The 3 Cylinder Duryea Automobile " in article 1.

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DURYEAS IN 1903 AND 1904 (3-cyl.)

First Prize, Gasoline Class, Boston Auto, Club Hill contest,
won by O. B. Cole, April 20, 1903

1903:

At this time there does not appear to be enough difference (based on sales brochures and other information) between the late 1902 cars and the 1903 cars to warrant extensive research in this area.

The transition from the Peoria Period to the Reading Period was evident in the 1901 cars but before the end of 1902, the Reading Period cars had their own identity.

Image of 1903 chassis and engine (sales brochure dated August 15, 1903).

SOME OF THE STYLES OFFERED IN 1903:

1. Phaeton 4-wheeled ID No. 251 - courtesy of Peter C. Kesling.
2. Phaeton 4-wheeled, with Mercedes Front (long hood) - ref: The Horseless Age (May 6, 1903) - material, courtesy Ralph Dunwoodie.
3. Phaeton 4-wheeled with Rear Folding Seat. - ref: The Horseless Age (August 5, 1903) - material, courtesy Ralph Dunwoodie.
4. Six Passenger Park Wagon, built to fill a Japanese order - The Horseless Age (Vol 12, No. 17, October 21, 1903) - material, courtesy Ralph Dunwoodie.

Magneto driven by friction pulley against fly wheel - high Probability

1903 Coventry cars (Coventry Sales Brochure dated 1903):
Material courtesy A. J. Gallagher of England.

5 of 8 cars (models) available as described in the Coventry brochure:

1. Phaeton, three seated or rumble
2. Phaeton, with folding front seat to seat four
3. Phaeton with covered top, resembles miniature Brougham
4. Tonneau, French pattern
5. Surrey

Interesting excerts from 1903 Coventry sales brochure:

The changes in Duryea cars since a year ago deserving of mention are the new condensing tank, with projecting ears, the new detachable exhaust valve seating, and the improved silencer.

Van Raden's woven glass accumulators are now fitted instead of dry batteries for starting and reverse-a marked improvement.

The cars will be finished in England, thus leaving nothing to be desired in their coach work; Dunlop tyres will be fitted as a standard tyre, and futher novelty will be found in the fitting-as an "extra"-of a handle to start the engine from the seat.

1904:

There are noticeable changes in the 1904 cars and research will be conducted in this area.

A Phaeton with a straight-frame/line design was offered in 1904.

All the pictures of 1904 Phaetons (4-wheeled) that I am familiar with have out-front cooling coils (radiator) on the front of the car and Kenneth D. Wells, II, Boyertown Museum, told me in a note that the water pump on his 1904 Phaeton appears to have been factory installed.

A picture of Kenneth's 1904 car also shows the magneto being gear driven. All of the pictures I have of 1902 and 1903 engines (sales brochures) show the magneto in front of the engine like the one in Kenneth's car but I can not see how the magneto shaft is turned.

UPDATE: The probability, of the 1902 magnetos being driven by friction pulley off the flywheel, is very high. The probability, of the 1903 magnetos being driven by friction pulley off the flywheel, is high.

SOME OF THE STYLES OFFERED IN 1904:

1. Phaeton (Waterloo Site) 4-wheeled, with hood front - ref: Cycle And Automobile Trade Journal (January, 1904) - material, courtesy Ralph Dunwoodie. The picture of this car looks just like the picture of the 1903 long-hooded car.
2. Phaeton 4-wheeled courtesy Boyertown Museum and Erminie Shaeffer Hafer author of " A Century Of Vehicle Craftsmanship ".
   • Tread: front-53", rear-54" actual measurement.
   • Wheel base - 79" actual measurement.

   1904 Coventry cars (Coventry Sales Brochure dated 1904):
   Material courtesy A. J. Gallagher of England.

   Cars (models) available in 1904 (coventry brochure)

   1. Tonneau
   2. Surrey (Double Phaeton)
   3. Brougham
   4. Brougham, closed top
   5. Waggonette (modified Tonneau) Note back rest on front seat box.
   6. Phaeton, rumble seat
   7. Phaeton, Double Rumble
   8. Phaeton, Dogcart
   9. Phaeton Folding-Front (vis-a-dos)
   10. Phaeton, Power
   11. Phaetonette

   Content of the 1904 Coventry Sales Brochure:

   The 1904 Coventry sales brochure contains the most complete history, mechanical workings and specifications of the 3-cylinder Duryeas of any sales brochure that I have seen or know to be in existence. This includes the British cars and the cars from the colonies as we are referred to. At this time I am not sure how to incorporate this material into the web site.

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   DURYEAS 1905 THROUGH 1907 (3-cyl.)

   1905:

   Some of the styles offered in 1905:
   

   1. Phaeton 4-wheeled....wheel base 75"
   2. Phaeton 4-wheeled , folding rear seat....wheel base 78" - courtesy Antique Automobile.
   3. Phaeton 3-wheeled
   4. Phaeton 4-wheeled with folding vis-a-dos front seat
   5. Surrey....wheel base 90" - gauge (outside to outside of 3" tire) 56"
   6. Trap
   7. Hansom
   8. Brougham
   9. Park Wagon
   10. Wagonette

   Image of 1904-1905 Phaeton courtesy David Berckmeuller.

   WATER CIRCULATION, TRANSMISSION, BEARINGS:
   Ref. The Reason Why (Duryea literature 1905)
   Material - courtesy David Berckmeuller

   QUOTES:

   Referring to Thermo-circulation.....On our two-passenger phaetons we favor this system only but for four or more passengers we usually fit pump and tubular radiator in addition.

   Referring to transmission.....Our transmission gear is 12" diameter, lies close against the side of the flywheel and requires but 4" width.

   Referring to bearings.....We use phosphor bronze for our rear axle bearings. These are 10" long and fitted with felt oiling pad.....We have used ball bearings with great satisfaction for over ten years in auto work but give preference to our present bearings because they are absolutely free from trouble except occasional oiling even in the most inexperienced hands.

   1906:

   Material - courtesy of Jonathan D. Fuller ( great great grandson of Charles E. Duryea ) and family.

   NOTE: ref - Duryea sales brochure undated. I sent a copy of this brochure to David Berckmeuller and David matched up one of the pictures perfectly with a picture in a 1906 magazine ad. The chances that is a 1906 brochure are good.

   Interesting points:

   1. There are two pictures of Folding rear seat Phaetons. One shows the rear seat open and the radiator coils run vertically and the coils are recessed. The other one shows a Phaeton with the rear seat closed and the cooling coils run horizontally and the coils are out-front.
   2. List Folding Rear Phaeton with 15-20 h.p. engine at $1500.00.
   3. List Doctors Phaeton with top and 15-20 h.p. engine at $1350.00.
   4. List a Double Victoria (no picture) with top and 25-35 h.p. engine at $2500.00.
   5. Inclined steering heads.
   6. We use the N.A.A.M. warranty.

   Other styles offered in 1906:

   1. Phaeton 3-wheeled courtesy Antique Automobile.

   1907:

   Some of the styles offered in 1907:
   

   1. Double Victoria courtesy Antique Automobile and A.J. Gallagher.

   Rotary valve engine - yes
   Bore - 5 inches
   Stroke - 5 inches

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   CONTENTS THIS PAGE:
   Duryeas in 1898 & 1899 (top of page) ......Duryeas in 1900
   1902 (or earlier) Duryea (image 1) ............Duryeas in 1901
   Duryeas in 1902 .......................................Duryeas in 1903 and 1904 Reading & Coventry
   Duryeas 1905 through 1907