De Mot

De Mot was an American automobile marque associated with the Demot Car Company of Detroit, Michigan. The company was organized in the middle of 1909 to manufacture inexpensive automobiles, during a period when the Detroit region was rapidly becoming one of the principal centers of the American motor industry. The name was derived from a shortening of “Detroit Motor.” The enterprise was led by C. H. Ritter, described in contemporary material as a wealthy retired businessman, who served as president. George Anthony, formerly associated with the American Radiator Company, was vice president. The company reported paid-in capital stock of $100,000 and initially planned to produce at least 3,000 cars for the 1909 selling year. Its first proposed factory proved too small, so manufacturing was moved to a 40,000-square-foot facility at 1305 Bellevue Avenue in Detroit, a site previously occupied by the Sun Stove Company. By April 1910, the company was reported to be producing approximately 45 cars per week. De Mot’s only known automobile was a small, low-cost runabout. It used a two-cylinder opposed engine rated at 10 horsepower, thermo-siphon cooling, magneto ignition, and a two-speed planetary transmission with two forward speeds and reverse. The car had an 80-inch wheelbase and an advertised weight of 800 pounds. Its listed price was $550, placing it in the entry-level portion of the early American automobile market. The company promoted the model through claimed reliability testing, stating that a runabout had covered more than 1,500 miles through Michigan over mud, sand, and rocky terrain and had achieved what the company called a perfect score. The company’s commercial and legal position deteriorated during 1910. De Mot manufactured without obtaining a license under the Selden patent system, prompting litigation by the Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers, commonly known as A.L.A.M. De Mot joined eight other automobile makers, including Paige-Detroit and Imperial Automobile Company, in an alliance intended to oppose A.L.A.M.’s position. The dispute added legal pressure to an already fragile business. On August 3, 1910, Demot acknowledged that it could not meet its liabilities, which were reported to exceed $100,000. Creditors named in connection with the bankruptcy proceedings included General Sales Company, owed $308, and Williams Carburetor Company, owed $96. A petition was made to have the company declared bankrupt. In October 1910, a court allowed the plant to reopen, with machining and assembly to be performed by Ross & Young Machine Company. The available historical record does not establish whether any additional De Mot automobiles were completed after that point. The marque therefore appears to have had an extremely brief production life, centered on the 1910 runabout.

The Demot Car Company was formed in Detroit in the middle of 1909 with the objective of manufacturing automobiles. Its president was C. H. Ritter, characterized in contemporary descriptions as a wealthy retired business man, while George Anthony, who had come from the American Radiator Company, served as vice president. The company reported $100,000 in fully paid capital stock and initially planned to produce at least 3,000 automobiles for the 1909 selling year. The company’s first factory was considered too small soon after formation. Manufacturing was therefore moved to a 40,000-square-foot building at 1305 Bellevue Avenue, a Detroit property formerly occupied by the Sun Stove Company. By April 1910, production was reported at approximately 45 cars per week. Despite this output, the company operated in a difficult and competitive period for American automobile manufacturers, many of which were also dealing with patent licensing disputes and uncertain access to capital. De Mot’s only known automobile was a small runabout intended to provide simple, inexpensive motoring. It was a two-seater powered by a 10-horsepower, two-cylinder opposed engine. The specification included thermo-siphon cooling, magneto ignition, and a two-speed planetary transmission with two forward ratios and reverse. The car used an 80-inch wheelbase, weighed about 800 pounds, and was offered at a stated price of $550. The company promoted the model’s durability through claimed tests in Michigan, asserting that a runabout had traveled more than 1,500 miles over mud, sand, and rocky roads and had received a perfect score. The company also became involved in the broader Selden patent controversy. De Mot built cars without first seeking a license under the patent system promoted by the Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers, or A.L.A.M. A.L.A.M. sued the company. De Mot joined an alliance of eight other manufacturers, including Paige-Detroit and Imperial Automobile Company, to oppose A.L.A.M.’s licensing position. This legal conflict took place while the company was still trying to establish production and sales operations. Financial problems soon became decisive. On August 3, 1910, Demot admitted that it could not pay its liabilities, which were reported to be more than $100,000. The proceedings identified claims including $308 owed to General Sales Company and $96 owed to Williams Carburetor Company. A petition was filed seeking a bankruptcy declaration. In October 1910, a court permitted the plant to reopen, with Ross & Young Machine Company assigned to perform machining and assembly. The record does not clearly show whether cars were produced after the reopening. De Mot consequently survives as a brief Detroit automobile venture whose production appears to have been limited to the 1910 runabout.

• 1910

  De Mot runabout entered production

  [1]De Moten.wikipedia.org

  The company produced its lightweight two-seat runabout, powered by a 10-horsepower opposed twin-cylinder engine and priced at $550.

• 1910

  Production reached a reported 45 cars per week

  [1]De Moten.wikipedia.org

  April reports indicated that the Detroit operation was making approximately 45 vehicles weekly.

• 1910

  Company entered the A.L.A.M. patent dispute

  [1]De Moten.wikipedia.org

  After producing without a Selden patent license, De Mot faced litigation and joined other manufacturers opposing A.L.A.M.’s licensing system.

• 1910

  Bankruptcy proceedings initiated

  [1]De Moten.wikipedia.org

  The company acknowledged that it could not meet liabilities reported above $100,000, leading to a bankruptcy petition.

• 1910

  Court authorized plant reopening

  [1]De Moten.wikipedia.org

  A court allowed the plant to reopen in October, with Ross & Young Machine Company handling machining and assembly.

• 1909

  Demot Car Company organized

  [1]De Moten.wikipedia.org

  The company was formed in Detroit to manufacture automobiles, with plans for large-scale production.

• 1909

  Manufacturing moved to the Bellevue Avenue factory

  [1]De Moten.wikipedia.org

  The company moved from its initial undersized factory to a 40,000-square-foot facility at 1305 Bellevue Avenue, formerly occupied by the Sun Stove Company.

An inexpensive, lightweight entry-level automobile designed for personal transportation and promoted through claimed durability testing.

• Automobile · 1910

  De Mot Runabout

  The De Mot runabout was the marque’s only documented automobile. It was a lightweight two-seat car with an 80-inch wheelbase and an advertised weight of 800 pounds. Power came from a 10-horsepower, two-cylinder opposed engine using thermo-siphon cooling and magneto ignition. A two-speed planetary transmission provided two forward gears and reverse. Listed at $550, the runabout was positioned as a relatively inexpensive automobile for early motorists. De Mot promoted claimed Michigan reliability tests covering more than 1,500 miles across mud, sand, and rocky roads.

• 1910Michigan runabout reliability tests

  United States

  De Mot promoted claimed tests in which a runabout traveled more than 1,500 miles through difficult Michigan terrain, including mud, sand, and rocks.

  Outcome. The company claimed the vehicle achieved a perfect score, but the available reference does not provide independent verification or evidence that the promotion materially improved sales.

  Source

• 1910

  Alliance against A.L.A.M. licensing requirementsStrategy

  Background

  De Mot manufactured cars without seeking a Selden patent license and was sued by the Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers.

  Action taken

  The company joined eight other manufacturers, including Paige-Detroit and Imperial Automobile Company, in an alliance to oppose A.L.A.M.’s position.

  Aftermath

  The dispute added legal pressure during the company’s brief operating period; the available source does not establish the final legal outcome.

  • Paige-Detroit — Paige-Detroit joined the group of manufacturers opposing A.L.A.M.’s licensing position.
  • Imperial Automobile Company — Imperial Automobile Company joined the same alliance against A.L.A.M.’s licensing position.

  Source

• 1910

  Production and assembly restructuring after financial distressOther

  Background

  After Demot acknowledged that it could not pay reported liabilities exceeding $100,000, a bankruptcy petition was filed.

  Action taken

  In October, a court allowed the plant to reopen and permitted Ross & Young Machine Company to perform machining and assembly.

  Aftermath

  It is unclear whether any automobiles were completed after the reopening, and the marque did not develop into a continuing automobile manufacturer.

  Reported liabilities. More than $100,000 (August 1910)

  Source

1. 1De Moten.wikipedia.org