Children growing up today will think that Henry Ford invented the automobile. -- Charles Duryea Duryea Motor Trap CHARLES DURYEA (1861-1938) | J. FRANK DURYEA (1869-1967) DURYEA MOTOR TRAP, 1898 The father of the American automotive industry, Charles Duryea. Built the first motor car in America in 1893. The Peoria Motor Trap was born in a barn behind the family home on West Barker - Peoria, IL, in the winter of 1897-98. Its three-wheeled. three-cylinder design was simple and easy to operate And it it was truly a horseless carriage -- since the definition of trap before the turn of the century was a light, usually one-horse carriage, with springs. About 12 Motor Traps were built in Peoria and Peoria Heights in the late 1890’s. You can see Peoria Historical Societys Duryea Motor Trap, in pristine condition, with an adjoining Exhibit at the lower level of the Peoria Riverfront Museum. peoriariverfrontmuseum.org/exhibits-collections/permanent-collections/duryea-motor-trap Since its founding in 1952, The Peoria Regional Museum Society had a splendid, unique and colorful history. On December 31, 2013, PRMS dissolved and signed an agreement with PHS that transferred both their twenty-three artifacts as well as their financial assets to the Peoria Historical Society. The Peoria Historical Society is enthusiastic about the opportunity to carry on the preservation of this fantastic collection! Through an agreement between PHS and Wheels O’Time Museum, these twenty-three artifacts will remain on display at the museum. PHS will also continue the Duryea Engineering Scholarship Fund in conjunction with Illinois Central College. Please continue your support of the preservation of these artifacts by joining, contributing to, and volunteering for the Peoria Historical Society. Please consider supporting the Peoria Historical Society as we continue in our mission to preserve, share and celebrate Peoria’s story! Collection items from the Peoria Regional Museum Society: peoriahistoricalsociety.org/!/collections/2013.111 DURYEA MOTOR TRAP SPECIFICATIONS VEHICLE: Four passenger dos-a-dos (back-to-back); central controller ( tiller) toe brake and heel reverse; low body; long wheel base WHEELS: 30-inch front, 36-inch rear special wheels; pneumatic tires (special design )2-inch front or 2-inch or 2-1/2 inch rear. MOTOR: Triple motor (three-cylinder engine) 4-1/2 inch bore by 4-1/2 inch direct stroke, weight 190 pounds, maximum power 6 hp. 100 to 1,000 rpm. SPROCKETS: Detachable sprockets, front 7,9 or 11 teeth; rear 33 teeth (Planetary transmission with two for-ward speeds and one in reverse) CHAIN: Any desired speed, self- oiling chain BEARINGS: Anti-friction and self- oiling bearings. PAINT: Dark green body, carmine running gear. TRIMMING: Upholstered, dark green English body doth with broad lace facing; nickel trimmings LENGTH: 8-1/2 feet weight 700 pounds, width, seat 41 inches, floor 31 inches, starting crank operative from seat EXTRAS: Canopy lop storm curtains, hot foot mat electric lights, double brake, double steering wheels, motor speeder, different colors or upholstering, prices of extras on application. Trailer, two-wheeled, seating two to eight people as ordered, can be attached to the trap for picnic, park or public use. Brothers Charles and J. Frank Duryea are credited as the first Americans to design, mass-produce and market a gasoline-powered car. Born in central Illinois, Charles Duryea was always interested in improving methods of transportation. He worked first on bicycles, partnering with Harry G. Rouse to design bicycles that they built in Massachusetts. In 1891, Charles moved his family to Massachusetts and convinced his brother Frank to join them. The brothers began working on a compact gasoline engine. Charles returned to Peoria in 1892 to continue in the Rouse-Duryea Co. while Frank stayed behind to concentrate on the engine. In 1893, the Duryea brothers’ car started for the first time. In 1898, Charles incorporated the Duryea Manufacturing Co. in present-day Peoria Heights and began manufacturing the Peoria Duryea Motor Trap. The driver used the single handle of this two-person car to steer the vehicle, shift gears and throttle the engine. Charles planned to produce 100 Traps in one year, but financial difficulties and some unfortunate business decisions led to the closing of the company after only a few were completed. --- Peoria Riverfront Museum ----- By July 1898 Charles Duryea was proudly displaying a prototype of his firms vehicle, called the Duryea Motor Trap. Equipped with a three-cylinder engine, the Charles Duryea design was somewhat advanced over previous Duryea models. The only trouble was getting real production to commence. Under-capitalized, the Duryea Manufacturing Company contracted with another local firm called the Peoria Rubber and Manufacturing Company to build Duryea automobiles. But Peoria Rubber soon found itself absorbed by the BicycleTrust, and serious production of cars was sporadic at best. A projected production run of 100 for 1899 ended up at 15 or so. Meanwhile, his estranged brother Frank was busy nearby. In 1901, he made a deal with the Massachusetts-based J. Stevens Arms and Tool Company to build automobiles and in 1904 the Stevens-Duryea Company was formed to manufacture Stevens-Duryea automobiles in factories in Chicopee and East Springfield. That company had moderate success initially, but it closed its doors in 1915 having built about 14,000 vehicles. When his Reading operation went sour, Charles Duryea built some cars in Saginaw, Michigan. After that, he moved yet again, this time to Philadelphia, the fire still burning inside to become a mover-and-shaker in the industry he created. Well before he died in 1938 he lamented, Children growing up today will think that Henry Ford invented the automobile. A sad ending for the brothers who created the American auto industry. --- Jack Nerad
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 12:20:46 +0000
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