Hertel or Oakman-Hertel was an American

veteran A veteran () is a person who has significant experience (and is usually adept and esteemed) and expertise in a particular occupation or field. A military veteran is a person who is no longer serving in a military. A military veteran that h ...

automobile company in

Greenfield, Massachusetts Greenfield is a city in and the county seat of Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. Greenfield was first settled in 1686. The population was 17,768 at the 2020 census. Greenfield is home to Greenfield Community College, the Pioneer Val ...

History

Max Hertel was an engineer for the American Biscuit Company and entered the 1895

Chicago Times-Herald Race The ''Chicago Times-Herald'' race was the first automobile race held in the United States. Sponsored by the '' Chicago Times-Herald'', the race was held in Chicago in 1895 among six motorized vehicles: four cars and two motorcycles. It was won ...

. His small two-cylinder gasoline car, built between two bicycle frames, broke the steering gear on the way to the starting line and he could not compete. In 1899 Hertel established the Oakman Motor Vehicle Company in Greenfield, Massachusetts. The company produced a two-seat, two-cylinder,

tiller A tiller or till is a lever used to steer a vehicle. The mechanism is primarily used in watercraft, where it is attached to an outboard motor, rudder post or stock to provide leverage in the form of torque for the helmsman to turn the rudder. ...

steered runabout which sold for $750 (), that was very similar to his Times-Herald car. With very few cars selling, creditors closed Hertel's factory in November 1900.

References

{{reflist Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Massachusetts Veteran vehicles 1890s cars 1900s cars Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1899 Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1900 Cars introduced in 1899