Grout Brothers was a manufacturer of

steam-powered A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid. The steam engine uses the force produced by steam pressure to push a piston back and forth inside a cylinder. This pushing force can be tr ...

automobiles in

Orange, Massachusetts Orange is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 7,569 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. Part of the town is included in the census-designated plac ...

. The three brothers, Carl, Fred and C.B. were set up in business by their father William L., who had made sewing machines under the New Home name in partnership with Thomas H. White. The early cars were sold under the New Home name. The Grout name debuted on autos in 1899.

History

In 1900, Grout offered a four-seat steam ''

trap A trap is a mechanical device used to capture or restrain an animal for purposes such as hunting, pest control, or ecological research. Trap or TRAP may also refer to: Art and entertainment Films and television * ''Trap'' (2015 film), Fil ...

''Clymer, Floyd. ''Treasury of Early American Automobiles, 1877–1925'' (New York: Bonanza Books, 1950), p.14. powered by a two-cylinder engine mounted under the seat. An enclosed body model followed in 1901. An unusual model was the 1903 Steam Tonneau, which was fitted with a cowcatcher at the front. The 1904 ''Grout Touring Car'' was a

touring car Touring car and tourer are both terms for open cars (i.e. cars without a fixed roof). "Touring car" is a style of open car built in the United States which seats four or more people. The style was popular from the early 1900s to the 1930s. Th ...

model. It could seat five passengers and sold for US$2000. The two-cylinder steam engine was mounted horizontally at the center of the car, with the boiler at the front under the typical touring car hood. This engine produced 12 hp (8.9 kW). The car weighed 2200 lb (998 kg). In 1904, Grout introduced a range of conventional four-cylinder gasoline-engined cars, but by then the company had financial problems, and few were made. The last cars were made in 1912. The steamers were exported to the United Kingdom and sold under the Weston name. The Grout assembly plant in

, was still standing in 2018 and was also home to Minute Tapioca Company and since 1977, has been the corporate offices of Pete's Tire Barns, Inc. The initial structure is still intact with additions on the sides of the back of the building. Over the years, Pete's Tire Barns has uncovered artifacts from the manufacturing facility including wheels, tires, etc. The Orange Historical Society Museum currently houses two Grout Automobiles.

Notes

Sources

* ''Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly'' (January, 1904) *Clymer, Floyd. ''Treasury of Early American Automobiles, 1877–1925'' (New York: Bonanza Books, 1950), p. 14. Steam cars Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Massachusetts Cars introduced in 1899 1900s cars 1910s cars Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1899 Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1912 1899 establishments in Massachusetts 1912 disestablishments in Massachusetts Veteran vehicles Defunct manufacturing companies based in Massachusetts {{Veteran-auto-stub