Pullman automobile

Pullman was an American automobile marque produced in York, Pennsylvania, during the formative era of the motor industry. Its cars were initially built by the York Motor Car Company from 1905 and later by the Pullman Motor Car Company following a 1909 reorganization. Production ended in 1917 after the company entered receivership and its assets were sold. The marque originated with Albert P. Broomell, an industrialist associated with the Broomell, Schmidt & Steacy Company. Broomell constructed an experimental automobile in 1903 that used six wheels. The front and rear axles steered in opposite directions, while the central wheels provided propulsion beneath the passenger compartment. Although the design promised exceptional maneuverability, it could become unstable or lose traction on uneven roads. A crash in 1903 helped prompt the dismantling of the prototype and the rebuilding of its mechanical components into a more conventional four-wheel automobile. Broomell and Samuel E. Baily subsequently established the York Motor Car Company in 1905. James A. Kline joined as chief mechanical designer and helped develop the production car. The vehicle was initially expected to carry the York name, but the Pullman name was selected before production began. The name evoked the comfort and prestige associated with Pullman railway cars and coaches; despite the association, the automobile company had no corporate relationship with the Pullman Company. Pullman positioned its vehicles above the mass-market end of the American automobile industry. Early models included large touring and runabout cars powered by 20- or 40-horsepower engines. Advertising presented the cars as exceptionally well made, using the claim that they were not merely the best at their price but the best at any price. Production rose from 13 pilot cars in 1905 to 273 vehicles in 1906, exceeded 1,000 cars annually by 1909, and surpassed 2,000 in 1910. Financial pressure following the Panic of 1907 brought investment from Thomas O'Connor and Oscar Stephenson. Kline and Baily left in 1908 and later became associated with the Kline Kar. The company sought to demonstrate reliability and build prestige through long-distance travel and competition. In 1908, a Pullman was driven from York to San Francisco and back at a time when American roads were difficult and the Lincoln Highway was not yet fully organized. A Pullman won the Fairmount Park Road Race in Philadelphia in 1910, and the marque received three gold medals at the 1911 Russian Exposition in Rostov-on-Don. The product range developed toward larger and more powerful cars. In 1912, Pullman introduced a six-cylinder model with 60 horsepower and a 138-inch wheelbase. By 1915, annual production had grown to more than 4,000 vehicles. The company also offered the Cutler-Hammer electric gear change, but quality problems associated with increased production damaged customer confidence and contributed to a sharp decline in sales. Management attempted to broaden the range with a less expensive model. E. T. Birdsall, recruited from White Motor Company in late 1915, designed the Pullman Junior. Introduced for 1916, it used a 22-horsepower Golden Belknap & Schwartz engine and was priced substantially below the larger Pullman cars. The Junior was the only model produced in 1917, when the company was operating under receivership, and it could not reverse the business's decline. The Pullman Motor Car Company declared bankruptcy in December 1916 and ceased operations in 1917. The York factory was sold to Bell Motor Car Company, while the remaining assets were liquidated later that year. The original factory building at 238–242 North George Street in York reportedly survives, and approximately 27 Pullman automobiles are known to remain, with about half restored.

Pullman's history began with an experimental six-wheeled automobile built in 1903 by Albert P. Broomell of the Broomell, Schmidt & Steacy Company. The prototype placed its driven wheels beneath the passenger seats and used opposing steering movements at the front and rear axles. This arrangement gave the car a tight turning circle but produced serious behavior on uneven surfaces. The driving wheels could lose contact with the road in a depression, while high spots could cause the vehicle to seesaw. After a crash, the prototype was dismantled and its engine and other components were incorporated into a more conventional four-wheel design. In 1905, Broomell and Samuel E. Baily formed the York Motor Car Company in York, Pennsylvania, to commercialize the revised automobile. James A. Kline joined the project as a master mechanic and was responsible for improving the design. Although the car was initially expected to be called the York, the Pullman name was chosen before production. It referred to the reputation for comfort and quality associated with Pullman railway equipment, but the automobile enterprise was independent of the Pullman Company. The first production vehicles were substantial touring cars and runabouts with 20- and 40-horsepower engines. Pullman adopted an explicitly premium market position, promoting its cars as superior vehicles rather than inexpensive transportation. Thirteen pilot cars were completed in 1905, followed by 273 units in 1906. The company expanded during the following years, with annual output exceeding 1,000 cars by 1909 and more than 2,000 in 1910. The Panic of 1907 created financial difficulties and led to outside investment from Thomas O'Connor and Oscar Stephenson of New York City. In 1908, Kline and Baily departed the company; they later participated in the Kline Kar automobile venture. That same year, Pullman attempted to establish the durability of its products through an arduous road trip from York to San Francisco and back. The route was particularly demanding because the Lincoln Highway had not yet been fully organized or completed. The business was reorganized as the Pullman Motor Car Company in 1909. The marque gained sporting and international recognition during the next several years. A Pullman won the Fairmount Park Road Race in Philadelphia in 1910. At the 1911 Russian Exposition in Rostov-on-Don, the company received three gold medals, an achievement presented as an important international success for an American manufacturer. Pullman continued to develop larger cars. A 60-horsepower six-cylinder model on a 138-inch wheelbase was introduced in 1912. Production reached more than 4,000 cars annually by 1915. The company also offered an electric gear-change system supplied by Cutler-Hammer. However, the pressure associated with higher output contributed to quality problems, and sales declined sharply. An attempt was made to reach a broader market through the Pullman Junior. E. T. Birdsall, formerly of White Motor Company, was recruited in late 1915 to design a lower-priced vehicle. The 22-horsepower Junior, powered by a Golden Belknap & Schwartz engine, appeared for 1916. It was the sole Pullman model produced in 1917, when the company was under receivership, but the new model arrived too late to restore the business. The Pullman Motor Car Company declared bankruptcy in December 1916 and ceased operations in 1917. Its York factory was sold to the Bell Motor Car Company, and the remaining assets were sold at liquidation later in 1917. The former factory building at 238–242 North George Street in York remains standing. Around 27 Pullman automobiles are known to survive, roughly half of them restored.

• 1917

  Operations ended

  [1]Pullman automobileen.wikipedia.org

  Production ceased, the factory was sold to Bell Motor Car Company, and the remaining assets were liquidated.

• 1916

  Pullman Junior launched

  [1]Pullman automobileen.wikipedia.org

  The lower-priced Pullman Junior entered production with a 22-horsepower Golden Belknap & Schwartz engine.

• 1916

  Bankruptcy declared

  [1]Pullman automobileen.wikipedia.org

  The Pullman Motor Car Company declared bankruptcy in December.

• 1915

  Production peak and quality problems

  [1]Pullman automobileen.wikipedia.org

  Annual production exceeded 4,000 cars, but quality issues connected with higher output contributed to a severe sales decline.

• 1912

  60-horsepower six-cylinder introduced

  [1]Pullman automobileen.wikipedia.org

  The company introduced a six-cylinder, 60-horsepower automobile on a 138-inch wheelbase.

• 1911

  Awards at the Russian Exposition

  [1]Pullman automobileen.wikipedia.org

  Pullman received three gold medals at the Russian Exposition in Rostov-on-Don.

• 1910

  Fairmount Park Road Race victory

  [1]Pullman automobileen.wikipedia.org

  A Pullman automobile won the Fairmount Park Road Race in Philadelphia.

• 1909

  Reorganized as Pullman Motor Car Company

  [1]Pullman automobileen.wikipedia.org

  The automobile business was reorganized under the Pullman Motor Car Company name.

• 1908

  York–San Francisco reliability journey

  [1]Pullman automobileen.wikipedia.org

  A Pullman completed a journey from the York factory to San Francisco and back, demonstrating endurance under difficult early-road conditions.

• 1906

  First full production year

  [1]Pullman automobileen.wikipedia.org

  Production increased to 273 vehicles, following 13 pilot cars in 1905.

• 1905

  York Motor Car Company established

  [1]Pullman automobileen.wikipedia.org

  Broomell and Samuel E. Baily established the York Motor Car Company in York, Pennsylvania, to produce the revised four-wheel automobile.

• 1903

  Six-wheeled prototype built

  [1]Pullman automobileen.wikipedia.org

  Albert P. Broomell built an experimental six-wheeled Pullman automobile. Its unconventional steering and driven-wheel arrangement proved difficult on uneven roads, and the prototype was later dismantled.

A premium American automobile marque emphasizing size, mechanical quality, comfort, prestige, and long-distance reliability.

• Premium touring automobile · 1905

  Pullman touring cars

  Pullman's principal early products were large touring cars aimed at buyers seeking comfort, prestige, and substantial performance. Early examples used 20- or 40-horsepower engines and were marketed as premium American automobiles rather than low-cost transportation. Their size and equipment reflected the company's effort to associate the marque with luxury railway travel.

• Passenger automobile · 1905

  Pullman runabouts

  Pullman also produced runabout body styles during its early production period. These cars carried the marque's premium positioning into a more compact open-car format while retaining the company's emphasis on mechanical quality and performance. Exact model-by-model specifications are not established in the supplied reference material.

• Large luxury automobile · 1912

  Pullman 60-horsepower six-cylinder

  Introduced in 1912, this large six-cylinder Pullman used a 138-inch wheelbase and produced 60 horsepower. It represented the company's move toward higher-output, full-size automobiles and served as one of the marque's most substantial offerings before the later downturn in quality and sales.

• Lower-priced passenger automobile · 1916

  Pullman Junior

  The Pullman Junior was created to broaden the company's market with a less expensive car. Designed by E. T. Birdsall after his recruitment from White Motor Company, it used a 22-horsepower Golden Belknap & Schwartz engine. Introduced for 1916, it was the only Pullman model produced in 1917, but its late arrival could not prevent the company's collapse.

• 1916

  Bankruptcy and receivershipOther

  Background

  Declining sales and quality difficulties left the company unable to continue as an independent automobile manufacturer.

  Action taken

  The Pullman Motor Car Company declared bankruptcy in December 1916 and operated under receivership into 1917.

  Aftermath

  Operations ended in 1917, the factory was sold to Bell Motor Car Company, and other assets were liquidated.

  Source

• 1915

  Development of a lower-priced modelStrategy

  Background

  Sales declined after quality problems emerged during a period of increased production.

  Action taken

  E. T. Birdsall was recruited from White Motor Company to design the lower-priced Pullman Junior.

  Aftermath

  The Junior entered production in 1916 but arrived too late to restore the company's finances.

  Source

• 1909

  Corporate reorganization under the Pullman nameStrategy

  Background

  The automobile had been produced by the York Motor Car Company since 1905, while the Pullman name had become the identity used for the vehicles.

  Action taken

  The business was reorganized as the Pullman Motor Car Company.

  Aftermath

  The reorganization preceded a period of increased production and greater sporting and international visibility.

  Source

1. 1Pullman automobileen.wikipedia.org