The Middleby Auto Company (1908-1913) was a

brass era The Brass Era is an American term for the early period of automotive manufacturing, named for the prominent brass fittings used during this time for such things as lights and radiators. It is generally considered to encompass 1896 through 1915 ...

American automobile manufacturer, based in Reading, Pennsylvania.

History

The company was founded by Joseph Middleby, who purchased the

Duryea Power Duryea Power Company was a manufacturer of Brass Era automobiles in Reading, Pennsylvania. It was one of several similarly named companies that early automobile pioneer Charles Duryea was involved with. The 1904 ''Duryea Straight-Line Phaeton'' ...

Company factory. Some Middlebys were sold as Readings. Middleby's first 1908 Model A automobile was a runabout with a 108-inch

wheelbase In both road and rail vehicles, the wheelbase is the horizontal distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels. For road vehicles with more than two axles (e.g. some trucks), the wheelbase is the distance between the steering (front ...

and 30 x 3 1/2 inch tires, a four-cylinder, air-cooled engine, with a sliding-gear shaft-drive transmission with three speeds forward and one reverse. Standard equipment included two gas lamps, two side oil lamps, one rear lamp, tools, and a French horn. Its price was $850, . Model B was a touring car, based on the same chassis, and priced at $1,000. By 1910 the company had sold about 400 automobiles. After 1911, the wheel base increased to 120 inches, with 36-inch wheels and a 4-cylinder water-cooled engine. Middleby automobiles were produced in six models: a Runabout for $850, single rumble for $1,000, surrey for $1,000, double rumble for $1,100, touring car for $1,200, and Toy Tonneau for $1,200, . Two automobile reference books show Charles M. Middleby as company owner. His relationship to the plant property owner, Joseph Middleby, is not known. Joseph Middleby died in 1911, and the company was operated by his executors until closed and sold in 1913.

Middleby Advertisements

File:1908 Middleby Runabout Automobile.jpg, alt=, 1908 Middleby Runabout File:Middleby Runabout advertisement (small).jpg, alt=, 1908 Middleby Advertisement File:1913 Middleby Automobile advertisement.jpg, alt=, 1913 Middleby Advertisement

Reading

Between 1910 and 1913,an up-market Middleby was market as the Reading. It had a larger four-cylinder engine, was a foot longer in wheelbase, and was priced several hundred dollars more. Charles M. Middleby decided that his top-of-the-line car should carry his own name, a bigger and pricier Middleby was introduced for 1911. Both marques ended in 1913.

References

{{Commons, Middleby automobiles, Middleby automobiles Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States American companies established in 1908 Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1908 1908 establishments in Pennsylvania American companies disestablished in 1913 Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1913 1913 disestablishments in Pennsylvania Companies based in Reading, Pennsylvania Brass Era vehicles 1900s cars 1910s cars Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Pennsylvania Cars introduced in 1908