Albany (1907 Automobile)
Encyclopedia
The Albany was an American car produced in Albany, Indiana
, from 1907 to 1908.
It was produced as a Surrey and a runabout, and were early vehicles with false hoods and solid rubber tires. The single- and 2-cylinder air-cooled motors produced 6/7 hp and 18/20 hp, respectively.
The car was manufactured by a local inventor and businessman John L. Tulley (1872–1954), who held several turn of the 20th century patents, including a gauge to measure oil. Mr. Tulley was a natural mechanic whose early days were spent as a surveyor's assistant. He then went on to assist in building power and light plants around the midwest before arriving in Albany to form the Albany Automobile Company about 1906. The Albany Runabout had two opposing cylinders and was air-cooled. Up to 850 cars were said to have been built and they were shipped to all parts of the country, with at least one vehicle shipped to England.
Marketed as "the busy man's car", one of the Albany's main selling points were blue dyed elephant hide seats, which were supposedly guaranteed to last the lifetime of the car.
Local legend has it that Henry Ford
came to Albany to look at the Runabout and exchange ideas with Tulley. Tulley also knew Elwood Haynes
, who is credited with inventing the clutch
.
Albany, Indiana
Albany is a town in Delaware and Randolph counties in the U.S. state of Indiana, along the Mississinewa River. The population was 2,165 at the 2010 census...
, from 1907 to 1908.
It was produced as a Surrey and a runabout, and were early vehicles with false hoods and solid rubber tires. The single- and 2-cylinder air-cooled motors produced 6/7 hp and 18/20 hp, respectively.
The car was manufactured by a local inventor and businessman John L. Tulley (1872–1954), who held several turn of the 20th century patents, including a gauge to measure oil. Mr. Tulley was a natural mechanic whose early days were spent as a surveyor's assistant. He then went on to assist in building power and light plants around the midwest before arriving in Albany to form the Albany Automobile Company about 1906. The Albany Runabout had two opposing cylinders and was air-cooled. Up to 850 cars were said to have been built and they were shipped to all parts of the country, with at least one vehicle shipped to England.
Marketed as "the busy man's car", one of the Albany's main selling points were blue dyed elephant hide seats, which were supposedly guaranteed to last the lifetime of the car.
Local legend has it that Henry Ford
Henry Ford
Henry Ford was an American industrialist, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, and sponsor of the development of the assembly line technique of mass production. His introduction of the Model T automobile revolutionized transportation and American industry...
came to Albany to look at the Runabout and exchange ideas with Tulley. Tulley also knew Elwood Haynes
Elwood Haynes
Elwood P. Haynes was an American inventor, metallurgist, automotive pioneer, entrepreneur and industrialist. He invented the metal alloys stellite and martensitic stainless steel and designed one of the earliest automobiles made in the United States...
, who is credited with inventing the clutch
Clutch
A clutch is a mechanical device which provides for the transmission of power from one component to another...
.