Midland Motor Company was an American

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 ...

automobile A car or automobile is a motor vehicle with wheels. Most definitions of ''cars'' say that they run primarily on roads, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport people instead of goods. The year 1886 is regarde ...

manufacturer in

Moline, Illinois Moline ( ) is a city located in Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. With a population of 42,985 in 2020, it is the largest city in Rock Island County. Moline is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring East Moline and Rock Island ...

from 1908 to 1913.Clymer, Floyd. ''Treasury of Early American Automobiles, 1877-1925'' (New York: Bonanza Books, 1950), p.93.

History

Midland Motor Company formed from the remnants of the Deere-Clark Motor Car Company after the John Deere company pulled out of the venture. In 1910, Midland produced two models. The Model L 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 ...

with a 318in³ (5213cc) (4×5-inch, 114×127 mm)

four-cylinder engine The engine configuration describes the fundamental operating principles by which internal combustion engines are categorized. Piston engines are often categorized by their cylinder layout, valves and camshafts. Wankel engines are often categorize ...

of 40 hp (30 kW) built by Milwaukee. It had a

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 ...

of 115 in (2921 mm), 34×4-inch (86×10-cm) spoke wheels, and the choice of partial

tonneau A tonneau ( or ) is an area of a car or truck open at the top. It can be for passengers or cargo. A tonneau cover in current automotive terminology is a hard or soft cover that spans the back of a pickup truck to protect the load or to improve ...

or roadster with trunk. In 1911 this was mid-priced at $2,100 (). The Model K was a touring car with a 390in³ (6389cc) (4×5-inch, 120×140 mm) four of 50 hp (37 kW). It had a wheelbase of 118 in (2997 mm), 36×4-inch (91×10-cm) spoke wheels, and the choice of touring or demi-tonneau bodies. In 1911 this was higher mid-priced at $2,250 Midland had progressive engineering, with an in-unit engine and transmission. The drive-line from the engine to the differential was enclosed. A

six-cylinder The straight-six engine (also referred to as an inline-six engine; abbreviated I6 or L6) is a piston engine with six cylinders arranged in a straight line along the crankshaft. A straight-six engine has perfect primary and secondary engine balan ...

car was introduced in 1912. In 1911 Charles Pope retired and died the next year. The company entered bankruptcy in 1913 due to mismanagement. File:1908 Midland Ad Cycle and auto trade journal.jpg, alt=, 1908 Midland Advertisement in Cycle and Automobile Trade Journal File:1911 Midland Motors Ad Cycle and Auto journal.jpg, alt=, 1911 Midland Advertisement in Cycle and Automobile Trade Journal

References

{{reflist Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Illinois Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States History of Illinois Moline, Illinois Defunct companies based in Illinois 1900s cars 1910s cars Brass Era vehicles Cars introduced in 1908 Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1908 Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1913

History

See also

References