High wheeler explained

A high wheeler is a car which uses large diameter wheels that are similar to those used by horse-drawn vehicles.^[1] These cars were produced until about 1915,^[2] predominantly in the United States.

Design

High wheelers were derived from horse-drawn wagons, and often were conversions of these. Similarly to these wagons, they often had wood-spoke wheels, suspensions, and boxy wooden bodies.

The large-diameter slender wheels provided ample ground clearance on the primitive roads of the late 19th century, and frequently had solid rubber tires.^[3]

These cars were produced in many body styles. The most common were the motorized wagon (utility vehicle)^{[4] [5]} runabout, roadster^{[6] [7]} and buggy,^{[8] [9]} some with detachable tonneaus.

History

Before gasoline engines became widely available, high wheelers were powered by electric motors or steam engines.

The decline of the high wheeler began when standard automobiles became more sophisticated and inexpensive. The end came with the popularity of the Ford Model T.^[10] The last high wheelers were built around 1915.^[2]

Manufacturers

The following companies produced high-wheeler cars:

• ABC
• Anchor Buggy
• Åtvidabergs Vagnfabrik
  • Best Black
• Buckeye
  • Clymer
• Cole
  • Columbia Electric
  • De Schaum
• DeWitt
  • Duryea
  • Electrobat
• Eureka
• Fuller
  • Hatfield
• Haynes-Apperson
  • Hobbie Accessible
• Holsman
• Holyoke
• International Harvester
  • Jeannin
• Jewell/Jewel
  • Keystone
• Kiblinger
• King
  • Lindsley^[11]
• Luverne
  • McIntyre
    • Reliable Dayton
• Schacht
  • • Sears Single Center
• Sperry Electric^[12]
• Staver
  • Success
• ^{[13] [14]}
• Waverley Electric
• ^[15]
• Woods

* Companies which also produced cars other than high wheelers

References

Sources

• Kimes, Beverly Rae and Clark Jr, Henry Austin. Standard Catalog of American Cars: 1805-1942 (Third Edition). Iola, WI: Krause. 1996.

Notes and References

1. Book: Clough. Albert. A Dictionary of Automobile Terms. 1913. 161. 12 May 2018.
2. Web site: 1915 International MA: High-wheeling into history. www.autoweek.com. 12 May 2018.
3. Book: Haajanen, Lennart W. . 2003. Illustrated Dictionary of Automobile Body Styles. Jefferson, NC USA. McFarland. 0-7864-1276-3. 2002014546. High-wheeler. 85. Haajanen.
4. Web site: Car of the Week: 1910 IHC Auto Wagon. www.oldcarsweekly.com. 20 September 2010 . 12 May 2018.
5. Web site: IHC Delivery Car. www.classiccarweekly.net. 23 September 2013 . 12 May 2018.
6. Web site: A Pair of Schachts. www.classiccarweekly.net. 24 September 2013 . 12 May 2018.
7. Web site: 1908 Holsman High-Wheel Runabout. www.classiccarweekly.net. 7 October 2015 . 12 May 2018.
8. Web site: Car of the Week: 1908 Sears Motor Buggy. www.oldcarsweekly.com. 5 June 2015 . 12 May 2018.
9. Web site: 1908 Chicago Motor Buggy Type 112. www.classiccarweekly.net. 27 August 2013 . 12 May 2018.
10. Book: G.N. Georgano, G.N.. Cars: Early and Vintage, 1886–1930. G.N. Georgano. Grange-Universal. London. 1985. 1-59084-491-2. 65.
11. Web site: Lindsley . 2021-05-17 . 2019-05-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190507135456/http://www.american-automobiles.com/Lindsley.html . dead .
12. http://www.classiccarweekly.net/2014/10/23/sperry-electric/?doing_wp_cron=1620610825.5576500892639160156250 Sperry Electric
13. Beverly Rae Kimes, Henry Austin Clark Jr.: Standard catalog of American Cars. 1805–1942. Digital Edition. 3. Publisher: Krause Publications, Iola 2013, ISBN 978-1-4402-3778-2, Page 1494
14. Marián Šuman-Hreblay: Automobile Manufacturers Worldwide Registry. McFarland & Company, London 2000, ISBN 978-0-7864-0972-3, Page 293
15. https://www.google.com/search?q=waverly+electric+car&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=PGzXde0-zivJDM%252C0EWGEyDWEJhnGM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kSc_uaEmg75TXOUar93IxTbuY5n-A&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiV3pG3zr3wAhWtneAKHZBDBlYQ_h0wAHoECBoQAw&biw=1366&bih=625#imgrc=PGzXde0-zivJDM Waverley Electric