Brennan Motor Manufacturing Company
Encyclopedia
Brennan Motor Manufacturing Company (1897–1972) of Syracuse, New York
was an early manufacturer of automobile engines. From 1902 until 1908, the company produced the Brennan automobile however, after the demise of the automobile enterprise, the company again turned their focus to automobile engines and later marine engines. They were in business for 75 years when the company closed its doors in 1972.
Brennan was first engaged in the manufacture of bicycles before turning to construction of automobiles. Eldest son, Emmett A. Brennan (born 1890), took control of the company in 1934 when his father died and was president of the establishment until July 1972, when he retired.
The 1902 "touring car" came complete with a 15-horsepower motor and a double opposed cylinder, horizontal motor and weighed 1,950 pounds. Ignition was by jump spark supplied by dry batteries. Two sets of batteries were carried under the bonnet and front of the dash.
In November 1902, Brennan was an exhibitor at the Madison Square Garden Show in New York City
. The event included 114 firms such as Century Motor Vehicle Company
of Syracuse
, Buckmobile Company of Utica, New York
and H. H. Franklin Manufacturing Company
, also of Syracuse
.
. The machine was from the Brennan factory and it was consigned to a Java importer. The body for the vehicle was built in Java. The machine was shipped by rail to New York City
and from there by water to its final destination.
By 1914, the company was advertising automobile parts such as auto engines, pressed steel frames, transmission gears and automobile bodies for sale. The firm was located at 108 Grape Street.
By early 1903, the company had to enlarge its factory and hire more workers in order to fill the demand for gasoline motors which it sold to both large manufacturers and individuals. The firm had worked up a large and profitable business by furnishing motors in connection with completed drawings for automobiles.
After the automobile business failed in 1908, the company focused on engines. They produced vehicle motors that were standardized for the "special service of light vehicles of the runabout class and for the finer styles of automobiles for high speed." Brennan was a pioneer building internal combustion engines of its own designs. The company also made component parts for its engines.
A small, four-cylinder marine engine called the Imp was one of Brennan's most popular engines.
in late February 1910, at the Madison Square Garden
. The manufacturers of power boats and gasoline engines were too busy to devote any time to the exposition. Their chief competitors from Syracuse, engine manufacturers, the Barber Brothers, represented by Charles E. Barber and H. J. Leighton, did not participate in the event.
P. J. Brennan, said that he could not get away from business to see the show. In discussing the show, Brennan said: "We exhibited for nine years at a winter motor boat show. We found that it interfered with business and decided to withdraw. This is the busiest time of year with the motor boat manufacturer, and it is especially true this year. The manufacturers have tried to get the show changed to the fall season, but the dealers want it in the winters so they can land orders. We'll stay at home and turn out the goods and let the dealers get the business"
The B. F. Brown Gas Engine Company was among the big exhibitors at the show.
In 1956, Marshall Brennan formed a partnership with George Shehadi to manufacture custom inboard boats. The Thompson Boat Factory on Cortland Avenue made the hulls and the motors were manufactured by the Brennan Motor Manufacturing Company at 103 South Townsend Avenue.
. The company advertised "there is a Brennan for every size and type of boat up to 75 feet (22.9 m) with both 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder types and 15 to 200-horsepower. The most highly advertised model was the Brennan De Luxe Six, a 100-horsepower motor that was "reliable since 1897." During 1928, the firm advertised they had boats, engines and outboard motors on display at their plant at 500 East Water Street.
Emmett A. Brennan was an officer of the Brennan Motor Company. He was married to Anna Carroll Brennan (died 1976), formerly of Scott Avenue.
operators and trying to find young men interested in training as machinists. A local newspaper advertised in the classified section showed that the company was also hiring bench hands "on government work."
During 1946, the company was located at 105 South Townsend Street and they were hiring machine workers to operate their Brown and Turret Lathes, Bar and Chuck, Engine Lathes, Sharpe millers and Cincinnati millers.
By July 1972, the company employed nearly 100 employees, mostly shipping parts and components for its engines.
During August 1928, the company remodeled their plant at the corner of Water and South Townsend streets, a brick building, for a cost of $800.
By 1972, they were situated in seven buildings on 500 East Water Street at South Townsend Street in Syracuse
. Most of the real property owned by the firm had already been sold by July, 1972 when the company closed.
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
was an early manufacturer of automobile engines. From 1902 until 1908, the company produced the Brennan automobile however, after the demise of the automobile enterprise, the company again turned their focus to automobile engines and later marine engines. They were in business for 75 years when the company closed its doors in 1972.
History
The company was founded in 1897 by Patrick H. Brennan (1865 - January 22, 1934) and was known as Brennan Motor Manufacturing Company or Brennan Motor Company. The company motto was "Simplicity and durability."Brennan was first engaged in the manufacture of bicycles before turning to construction of automobiles. Eldest son, Emmett A. Brennan (born 1890), took control of the company in 1934 when his father died and was president of the establishment until July 1972, when he retired.
Automobile production
For a brief period from 1902 until 1908, the company produced the Brennan automobile. The firm would take up auto manufacturing "occasionally, perhaps when demand was slow." The auto was similar to what was a "fairly standard American pattern" with the power unit mid-mounted under the floor and central chain transmission; however, Brennan "took the drive through a sliding gearbox, rather than an epicyclic system." Each auto was fitted with a horizontally-opposed two-cylinder engine. The rest of the vehicle had a more conventional design with full-elliptic springs, right-hand drive and channel secton chassis.The 1902 "touring car" came complete with a 15-horsepower motor and a double opposed cylinder, horizontal motor and weighed 1,950 pounds. Ignition was by jump spark supplied by dry batteries. Two sets of batteries were carried under the bonnet and front of the dash.
Automobile shows
The company was "pronounced the best of its kind" at the Chicago Show in June 1902, as a result of years of experience and the satisfactory use from Maine to California.In November 1902, Brennan was an exhibitor at the Madison Square Garden Show in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The event included 114 firms such as Century Motor Vehicle Company
Century Motor Vehicle Company
Century Motor Vehicle Company was a manufacturer of electric and steam automobiles in Syracuse, New York. The company switched to gasoline-fuelled internal combustion engine-powered automobiles in January 1903, and went out of business later that year.-History:Century Motor Vehicle Company was...
of Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, Buckmobile Company of Utica, New York
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
and H. H. Franklin Manufacturing Company
Franklin (automobile)
The Franklin Automobile Company was a manufacturer of automobiles in the United States between 1902 and 1934 in Syracuse, New York. Herbert H. Franklin, the founder, began his career in the metal die casting business before establishing his automobile enterprise.Franklin founded the H. H. Franklin...
, also of Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
.
Custom vehicles
In March 1908, an automobile gear and 28-horsepower engine for a light touring car were shipped from Syracuse to Java in the East IndiesEast Indies
East Indies is a term used by Europeans from the 16th century onwards to identify what is now known as Indian subcontinent or South Asia, Southeastern Asia, and the islands of Oceania, including the Malay Archipelago and the Philippines...
. The machine was from the Brennan factory and it was consigned to a Java importer. The body for the vehicle was built in Java. The machine was shipped by rail to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and from there by water to its final destination.
By 1914, the company was advertising automobile parts such as auto engines, pressed steel frames, transmission gears and automobile bodies for sale. The firm was located at 108 Grape Street.
Automobile engines
In June 1902, the company was already producing Brennan Standard Motors which ran from 4 to 30 horsepower. According to advertisements, they were the "recognized type of motor for automobiles." Both water-cooled and air-cooled engines as well as mufflers and vaporizers were manufactured at the company's plant. They also offered a special 8 horsepower motor with a transmission gear.By early 1903, the company had to enlarge its factory and hire more workers in order to fill the demand for gasoline motors which it sold to both large manufacturers and individuals. The firm had worked up a large and profitable business by furnishing motors in connection with completed drawings for automobiles.
After the automobile business failed in 1908, the company focused on engines. They produced vehicle motors that were standardized for the "special service of light vehicles of the runabout class and for the finer styles of automobiles for high speed." Brennan was a pioneer building internal combustion engines of its own designs. The company also made component parts for its engines.
Marine engines
Later on the company produced engines for motor boats.A small, four-cylinder marine engine called the Imp was one of Brennan's most popular engines.
Motor boat shows
Syracuse was not largely represented in the Motor Boat Show that took place in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in late February 1910, at the Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
. The manufacturers of power boats and gasoline engines were too busy to devote any time to the exposition. Their chief competitors from Syracuse, engine manufacturers, the Barber Brothers, represented by Charles E. Barber and H. J. Leighton, did not participate in the event.
P. J. Brennan, said that he could not get away from business to see the show. In discussing the show, Brennan said: "We exhibited for nine years at a winter motor boat show. We found that it interfered with business and decided to withdraw. This is the busiest time of year with the motor boat manufacturer, and it is especially true this year. The manufacturers have tried to get the show changed to the fall season, but the dealers want it in the winters so they can land orders. We'll stay at home and turn out the goods and let the dealers get the business"
The B. F. Brown Gas Engine Company was among the big exhibitors at the show.
In 1956, Marshall Brennan formed a partnership with George Shehadi to manufacture custom inboard boats. The Thompson Boat Factory on Cortland Avenue made the hulls and the motors were manufactured by the Brennan Motor Manufacturing Company at 103 South Townsend Avenue.
Motor boat distributor
By April 1928, Brennan was a distributor for the "famous" Albany, a 23 feet (7 m) runabout, powered by the Brennan marine motor. The price range was $2,200 through $3,000 and top speed of 35 miles per hour (15.6 m/s). They also offered the Albany cruiserCruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
. The company advertised "there is a Brennan for every size and type of boat up to 75 feet (22.9 m) with both 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder types and 15 to 200-horsepower. The most highly advertised model was the Brennan De Luxe Six, a 100-horsepower motor that was "reliable since 1897." During 1928, the firm advertised they had boats, engines and outboard motors on display at their plant at 500 East Water Street.
War work
In March 1943, at the beginning of World War II, Brennan was awarded a subcontract for turning out machine-gun plates for the Doyle Corporation.Company officers
On January 15, 1906, the annual meeting was held and the Brennan Motor Manufacturing Company elected the following directors; P. H. Brennan, A. C. Brennan, T. J. Brennan, Ernest R. Deming and Arthur Perkins.Emmett A. Brennan was an officer of the Brennan Motor Company. He was married to Anna Carroll Brennan (died 1976), formerly of Scott Avenue.
Employees
By 1918, the company headquarters were located at 101 Grape Street and they were hiring latheLathe
A lathe is a machine tool which rotates the workpiece on its axis to perform various operations such as cutting, sanding, knurling, drilling, or deformation with tools that are applied to the workpiece to create an object which has symmetry about an axis of rotation.Lathes are used in woodturning,...
operators and trying to find young men interested in training as machinists. A local newspaper advertised in the classified section showed that the company was also hiring bench hands "on government work."
During 1946, the company was located at 105 South Townsend Street and they were hiring machine workers to operate their Brown and Turret Lathes, Bar and Chuck, Engine Lathes, Sharpe millers and Cincinnati millers.
By July 1972, the company employed nearly 100 employees, mostly shipping parts and components for its engines.
Plant facilities
On January 1, 1910, the firm announced they were adding an addition to their plant on Grape Street.During August 1928, the company remodeled their plant at the corner of Water and South Townsend streets, a brick building, for a cost of $800.
By 1972, they were situated in seven buildings on 500 East Water Street at South Townsend Street in Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
. Most of the real property owned by the firm had already been sold by July, 1972 when the company closed.