This is not a sketch of Russell's Shop
1. If the first successful test run of the Duryea was in 1893
why was the centennial celebration held in 1996?
The most widely accepted date for the introduction of the
Duryea Automobile is 1893 but the first production run (13 cars
of same design) was in 1896. NOTE: Your site host is not taking
sides on the " 1892/1893 issue ", I am just trying to answer the
question the way it is most often asked.
2. Did any of the 1896 cars survive?
Yes, there is one at the Henry Ford Museum. Although this site
is devoted to the 3 Cylinder Duryeas, there is an image of this
car in this web site.
3. Where were Charles and Frank born?
Charles was born in Canton, Illinois (1861) and Frank was born in
Washburn, Illinois (1869).
4. I need information on the Duryea brothers and their family.
Can you recommend a source?
Yes, Charles E. Duryea, Automaker (1972) by George W. May. You
should be able to get this book on interlibrary loan. I know
there is a copy at the Library of the University of North
Carolina. I recommend the revised edition (1996). This book is
available from the Peoria Public Library.
5. I need all the information I can get on the automobiles
bearing the name Duryea. Can you recommend a source?
Yes, in addition to this web site and the books mention in the
answer above I recommend the following:
---Who Designed And Built Those Early Duryea Cars? by J. Frank
Duryea
I am fortunate enough to have an original of this book but I do
not know where you can get one.
6. Were there any 3 Cylinder Duryeas produced at the
Springfield Site?
Possibly, maybe a prototype, but this site deals with the 3
Cylinder water-cooled (4-cycle)
Duryeas that came after the brothers split and production of
these cars started around 1898 in Peoria, Illinois.
7. Did the Chicago Race Car survive?
I do not know.
8. Which Duryeas were entered in the Brighton to London Run
and did any of these cars survive?
Two of the 1896 Duryeas were sent to London and I do not know if
either survived.
9. Did any of the Duryeas produced before 1900 have a
planetary transmission?
Yes they did. I think the first one was used in a Peoria car in
1898.
10. Did Charles use a roller-drive in any of the 1897
cars.
No. The roller-drives did not appeared until around 1908 in the
Buggyauts.
11. Did Charles move from Springfield to Peoria and then to
Reading.
No. Charles moved from Springfield to Peoria to Elizabeth City NJ
back to Peoria and then to Reading PA.
The 1893 Duryea (1 cyl) in image20 as of June, 1996 was at the Smithsonian Institute. This car was successfully tested on the streets of Springfield, Massachusetts in 1893. - Image, courtesy of Automotive Hall Of Fame.
The 1895 Chicago Race Car (2 cyl) in image22 is reported in 1905 Duryea literature as having been completed in the winter of 1894 and used almost daily in 1895.
According to 1905 Duryea literature, the performance of the Chicago Race car in the snow, suggested changes such as smaller wheels, larger tires, longer wheel base, lower center of gravity, more power and better throttle control. There is also a reference to the removal of the water pump and a return to a belt transmission. The car picture in this article looks like the 1896 car (including suspension) presently at the Henry Ford Museum, but with fenders.
I have a photo of a 1896 car that has a completely different suspension than either the 1895 Chicago Race car or the 1896 production car and could be the Cosmopolitan carriage. Charles could have got the picture of this car and the one with finders (mentioned above) mixed up in the 1905 "A Bit Of History". At present, I can not devote any more time to this matter.
The 1896 Duryea (2 cyl) in image10 as of June, 1996 was at the Henry Ford Museum. This is the only known surviving car from the 1896 production run (13 cars of same design). - Image, courtesy of Henry Ford Museum.
The 1897 Duryea (opposed 2-cyl) in image23 is reported in 1905 Duryea literature as having been designed in 1896. The wheels on this car were 30" and 34" and it had a gear transmission ( 3 forward and 1 reverse). The lever for throttling and changing the speed was separate from tiller and off to the side. The article also indicates the use of a self-oiling chain and as far as I know, this is the earliest Duryea with wire-spoked wheels. Corrugated radiating water tanks were built into the sides of the vehicle.
According to 1905 Duryea literature, this light weight vehicle was designed in 1896 and the first car was produced in 1897 (see section above). I suppose it was to replace the heavier 1896 production car, but along came the "split up" and historians can fill you in on this.
I wanted to mention these vehicles because there was an article in Automobile Quarterly that reported the shipment of one of these cars to England in 1899.
NOTE: ref. 1898 Duryea sales brochure (Springfield, Mass.)
Material - courtesy Stuart McDougall, Free Library Of
Philadelphia
QUOTES FROM 1898 BROCHURE:
In the Spring of 1895, the carriage with which the " Times-Herald " race was won was completed. Following this came the Cosmopolitan carriage of May, 1896. Then came the London-Brighton Carriage, which competed successfully with all the best makes of foreign vehicles. Having demonstrated the practicability of the motor, the next step was to reduce the total weight of the carriage; this was done in the present carriage. While the former carriages weighed from 1,200 to 1,400 pounds, the present carriage, which was finished in May, 1897, weighs 750 pounds.
It will be observed that in the 1898 design, the body and running gear are the same in each style, the variation is only in the seat and top, thus enabling a purchaser at a slight additional cost to have two or more styles of vehicle.
STYLES SHOWN IN 1898 BROCHURE:
Two-Inch pneumatic Tires.
Carriage Delivered F. O. B., Springfield, Mass. - If you are
doing research on these Light Weight Duryeas, I suggest that you
do not take this excerpt literally.
Buggyauts, Gems, and others
SPECIAL NOTE ON THE BUGGYAUTS:
Charles moved from Peoria to Reading PA in 1900. Production of
the 3-cylinder Duryeas continued through 1907.In my opinion, the
production of the Buggyauts started in 1908 in Reading PA. A
Patent for the two-cylinder power plant and roller-drive drive
train used in the Buggyauts was applied for by Charles E Duryea,
Reading, Pa. on Sept. 17,1908. I talked Mel Moffitt into
researching the patent and I believe he told me the patent was
granted in 1911. For those who want to research the patent
themselves, the patent number is 1,034,769.
READING, PENNSYLVANIA:
NOTE: ref. Duryea sales brochure (not dated)
Material - courtesy Stuart McDougall, Free Library
Philadelphia.
Styles shown in brochure:
Engine - (2-cylinder, 2-cycle, air-cooled)
Roller drive - yes
1908 Duryea Buggyaut courtesy Boyertown Museum and Erminie Shaeffer Hafer author of " A Century Of Vehicle Craftsmanship ".
SAGINAW, MICHIGAN:
NOTE: ref. 1913 sales brochure (Saginaw, Michigan) - courtesy
site host
Styles Shown in 1913 Brochure:
2 Cylinder Engine (cooling spines not shown):
Tires - solid rubber
Roller Drive - yes
Ignition - battery or magneto
Standard Color - dark green and black
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA:
NOTE: ref. Duryea Cyclecar sales brochure dated 1914
Material - courtesy A. J. Gallagher
A 4-wheeled car (open two-seater) with Roller Drive is pictured.
NOTE: ref. Duryea sales brochure dated 1920
Material - courtesy Stuart McDougall, Free Library
Philadelphia.
Styles shown in brochure:
Wheels - wood, twelve-spoke
Tires - 28" x 3"
Steering wheel - yes
Roller drive - yes
Engine - (2-cylinder, special)
Image of 4-wheeled Gem - courtesy Boyertown Museum and Erminie Shaeffer Hafer author of " A Century Of Vehicle Craftsmanship ".
CONTENTS THIS PAGE:
Most Frequently Asked
Questions (Top of Page)
Pre 3 Cylinder Duryeas
2 Cylinder Light Weight
Carriages
Post 3 Cylinder Duryeas
