Америкалық Phelps Motor Vehicle Компаниясы тарихы

Defunct American motor vehicle manufacturer

Phelps Motor Vehicle Company was a manufacturer of automobiles in Stoneham, Massachusetts, between 1903 and 1905. In 1906 it was succeeded by the Shamut Motor Company. In the late 1890's he became interested in steam powered vehicles and in 1901 marketed the Phelps Tractor. The steam tractor was designed to be controlled by horse rains so that a coachman could operate it. As Phelps Motor Company, Phelps then began developing a gasoline engine.

In 1903 Phelps Motor Company became Phelps Motor Vehicle Company with Elliott C. Lee as president and L. J. Phelps as general manager. The 1903 Phelps was a touring car model, equipped with a tonneau. It could seat 4 passengers and sold for $2,000, 2000.0 in 1903 is equivalent to about <calculated amount> in recent years. L. J. Phelps designed the vertically mounted water cooled straight 3 engine, situated at the front of the car, producing A 3 speed transmission was fitted. The car was unusual in that it did not have a parameter frame but a backbone frame that enclosed the drive shaft, and this weight savings made for a touring car. In 1904 the engine was enlarged to 20 hp and the price was $2,500, 2500.0 in 1904 is equivalent to about <calculated amount> in recent years. He returned in 1904 for the first Climb to the Clouds and cut his time to 42 minutes, placing second in his class. The Phelps motor car won a double victory in the1903 Eagle Rock, N. J. Hill Climb. The company and manufacturing plant were succeeded by the Shawmut Motor Company headed by E. C. Lee in 1906. Lucius Phelps continued to patent automotive and other devices until his death at the age of 75 in 1925.