Western Tool Works was a pioneering
brass era 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 regarded ...
manufacturer in
Galesburg, Illinois
Galesburg is a city in Knox County, Illinois, United States. The city is northwest of Peoria. At the 2010 census, its population was 32,195. It is the county seat of Knox County and the principal city of the Galesburg Micropolitan Statistic ...
. The company made Gale automobiles from 1904 to 1910. Early Gale
runabouts were notable for having bodywork hinged at the rear of the car that could be lifted to ease access to the engine, essentially making the entire body the
hood.
In 1905 Western produced the Gale Model A runabout for sale at
US$500. This was less expensive than the high-volume
Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile or formally the Oldsmobile Division of General Motors was a brand of American automobiles, produced for most of its existence by General Motors. Originally established as "Olds Motor Vehicle Company" by Ransom E. Olds in 1897, it pro ...
Runabout at US$650, the 2-seat
Ford Model C "Doctor's Car" at US$850, or the
Holsman high wheeler, but more expensive than the
Black
Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white ha ...
at $375, and the
Success
Success is the state or condition of meeting a defined range of expectations. It may be viewed as the opposite of failure. The criteria for success depend on context, and may be relative to a particular observer or belief system. One person migh ...
at US$250.
The Model A came standard with a
water-cooled
Cooling tower and water discharge of a nuclear power plant
Water cooling is a method of heat removal from components and industrial equipment. Evaporative cooling using water is often more efficient than air cooling. Water is inexpensive and n ...
engine mounted beneath the tilting body,
chain drive
Chain drive is a way of transmitting mechanical power from one place to another. It is often used to convey power to the wheels of a vehicle, particularly bicycles and motorcycles. It is also used in a wide variety of machines besides vehicles.
...
, elliptic springs, spoke wheels with tube tires, and repair kit.
The same year, Western offered the US$650 Gale Model B. Its water-cooled engine, springs, wheels, and tires had the same dimensions as those of the Model A, and it also had chain drive and a repair kit. It offered available leather
buggy top,
clincher tires, horn, and brass
headlights.
In 1907, Western offered the Gale Model K-7
phaeton at US$1,250. The K-7 was a five-seat
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 two-cylinder engine, a wheelbase of , and wheels.
Notes
References
*
*
*
*
See also
*
List of defunct United States automobile manufacturers
This is a list of defunct automobile manufacturers of the United States. They were discontinued for various reasons, such as bankruptcy of the parent company, mergers, or being phased out.
A
* A Automobile Company (1910–1913) 'Blue & Gold' ...
Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States
Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Illinois
1900s cars
History of Illinois
Defunct manufacturing companies based in Illinois
{{Brass-auto-stub