Stearns Steam Carriage Company was a manufacturer of steam automobiles in Syracuse, New York, founded by Edward C. Stearns. Stearns built electric automobiles from 1899 to 1900 and steam cars from 1901 to 1903. The company was also known as the Stearns Automobile Company in 1903.

History

E. C. Stearns & Company was a manufacturer of hardware and bicycles and entered the automobile business producing an electric car from 1899 to 1900. The electric car sold in small quantities until fall 1900 when they decided to switch to steam cars and the Stearns Steam Carriage Company was formed. George M. Barnes designed the steam car based on his Barnes Steam Trap of 1899. The Stearns was powered by a compound twin-cylinder 8- hp engine, with a chain drive and tiller steering. It was offered in several body styles, including a station wagon which was probably the first use of that style of car. The Runabout was priced at $900 () while the top of the line Station Wagon was priced at $1,600, . By November of 1901, the Stearns Steam Carriage Company reported to have produced over 100 cars. A Stearns participated in the 1901 500 Mile Endurance Run and received a First Class Ribbon. Stearns displayed at the

Pan-American Exposition The Pan-American Exposition was a World's Fair held in Buffalo, New York, United States, from May 1 through November 2, 1901. The fair occupied of land on the western edge of what is now Delaware Park, extending from Delaware Avenue to Elmwood A ...

, and exhibited in the major motor shows. In 1902 a Stearns participated in the 500 Mile Boston-New York Reliability Run without any penalized stops. Edward Stearns went into business with promoter Edward Joel Pennington and was vice-president of Pennington's Anglo-American Rapid Vehicle Company. A new incorporation called the Stearns Automobile Company became a subsidiary, but in the summer of 1903 the property of the Stearns Automobile Company was sold at a receiver's sale for $595.

Gallery

File:Stearns-electric 1900.jpg, 1900 Stearns Electric carriage File:Stearns-steamer 1901-1218.jpg, 1901 Stearns Steam compound engine File:Stearns-steam-runabout 1901.jpg, 1901 Stearns runabout in Endurance Run File:Stearns-steamer 1902 stanhope.jpg, 1902 Stearns Steam Stanhope with top File:1903 Stearns Model H Station Wagon in April 1903 Cycle and Automobile Trade Journal.jpg, 1903 Stearns Model H Station Wagon File:Stearns-auto 1903 steam.jpg, 1903 Stearns Runabout advertisement

References

External links

Stearns Steam Carriage Company at the VirtualSteamCarMuseum.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stearns Steam Carriage Company Steam cars Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Syracuse, New York Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States Veteran vehicles Vehicles introduced in 1900 1900s cars Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1900 Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1904 Defunct companies based in Syracuse, New York 1900 establishments in New York (state) 1904 disestablishments in New York (state)