Keeton (automobile company)
Encyclopedia
Keeton Motor Company was a pioneer brass era automobile
maker based in Detroit, Michigan
.
Keeton's 1913 48 was a six-cylinder five-passenger tourer
with left-hand steering, 12½ in (31.75 cm)-diameter electric headlights, starter, and horn. There were four forward speeds, an 80 mph (128 km/h) speedometer, and the choice of wires spoked wood wheel
s. It had the radiator
just in front of the cowl, behind the engine, the "proper and protected position", according to its ads. The folding top was mohair
and the windshield folded. Like most cars of the era, it came standard with a tool kit, which in this case included an electric trouble light
, tire iron, pump, jack, and tire patch. It sold at US$
2750, at a time when American
's lowest-price model was US$4250, the Lozier
Light Six Metropolitan started at US$3,250, the Enger 40 and Ford Model F
were US$2000, the FAL
US$1750, the Cole 30 and Colt Runabout US$1500, the high-volume Oldsmobile
Runabout
went for US$650, Western
's Gale Model A was US$500, a Black
could be as low as $375, and the Success
hit the amazingly low US$250.
Keeton also offered the five-seat Riverside Tourer and Meadowbrook Roadster
at US$2750, the Tuxedo
Coupé
at US$3000, with a chassis price (suitable for custom coachwork
, typical of the likes of Rolls-Royce
or Duesenberg
at the time) of US$2250.
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
maker based in Detroit, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Keeton's 1913 48 was a six-cylinder five-passenger tourer
Touring car
A touring car, or tourer, is an open car seating five or more. Touring cars may have two or four doors. Often, the belt line is lowered in the front doors to give the car a more sportive character. They were often fitted with a folding roof and side curtains. Engines on early models were either in...
with left-hand steering, 12½ in (31.75 cm)-diameter electric headlights, starter, and horn. There were four forward speeds, an 80 mph (128 km/h) speedometer, and the choice of wires spoked wood wheel
Wheel
A wheel is a device that allows heavy objects to be moved easily through rotating on an axle through its center, facilitating movement or transportation while supporting a load, or performing labor in machines. Common examples found in transport applications. A wheel, together with an axle,...
s. It had the radiator
Radiator
Radiators are heat exchangers used to transfer thermal energy from one medium to another for the purpose of cooling and heating. The majority of radiators are constructed to function in automobiles, buildings, and electronics...
just in front of the cowl, behind the engine, the "proper and protected position", according to its ads. The folding top was mohair
Mohair
Mohair usually refers to a silk-like fabric or yarn made from the hair of the Angora goat. The word "mohair" was adopted into English before 1570 from the Arabic: mukhayyar, a type of haircloth, literally 'choice', from khayyara, 'he chose'. Mohair fiber is approximately 25-45 microns in...
and the windshield folded. Like most cars of the era, it came standard with a tool kit, which in this case included an electric trouble light
Trouble light
A trouble light, also known as a rough service light or inspection lamp, is a special lamp used to illuminate obscure places and able to handle moderate abuse. The light bulb is housed in a protective cage and a handle that are molded to form a single unit...
, tire iron, pump, jack, and tire patch. It sold at US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
2750, at a time when American
American Motor Car Company
The American Motor Car Company was a short-lived company in the automotive industry founded in 1906, lasting until 1913. It was based in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The American Motor Car Company pioneered the "underslung" design.-History:...
's lowest-price model was US$4250, the Lozier
Lozier
The Lozier Motor Company was a brass era producer of automobiles in the United States of America. The company produced luxury automobiles from 1900 to 1915, with a factory at 3703 Mack Avenue, Detroit, Michigan....
Light Six Metropolitan started at US$3,250, the Enger 40 and Ford Model F
Ford Model F
The Ford Model F is an automobile produced by the Ford Motor Company. It was a development of the Model A and Model C, but was larger, more modern, and more luxurious. It was a four-seater phaeton with running boards and a side-entrance tonneau standard. Production started in 1905 and ended in 1906...
were US$2000, the FAL
Fal-Car
The Fal-Car, originally known as A Car Without A Name, was an American automobile manufactured from 1909 until 1914 by a company that identified itself in advertisements only as Department C, 19 North May Street, Chicago. The address had previously been the location where the Reliable-Dayton...
US$1750, the Cole 30 and Colt Runabout US$1500, the high-volume Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile was a brand of American automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. It was founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. In its 107-year history, it produced 35.2 million cars, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing, Michigan factory...
Runabout
Oldsmobile Curved Dash
The gasoline powered Curved Dash Oldsmobile is credited as being the first mass-produced automobile, meaning that it was built on an assembly line using interchangeable parts. It was introduced by the Oldsmobile company in 1901 and produced through 1907...
went for US$650, Western
Western Tool Works (automobile company)
Western Tool Works was a pioneering brass era automobile manufacturer in Galesburg, Illinois.Western in 1905 produced the Gale Model A, an open roadster, for sale at US$500, which was less than high-volume Oldsmobile Runabout, at US$650, the Ford "Doctor's Car" at US$850, or the Holsman high...
's Gale Model A was US$500, a Black
Black Motor Company
The Black was a brass era United States automobile, built at 124 East Ohio Street, Chicago, Illinois, in 1906.It was a high wheeler buggy priced at a surprisingly low US$375-$450, when Gale's Model A was US$500, the high-volume Oldsmobile Runabout went for US$650, and the Ford "Doctor's Car" was...
could be as low as $375, and the Success
Success Automobile Manufacturing Company
Success was a brass era United States automobile, built at 532 De Ballviere Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri, in 1906.It was a high wheeler buggy priced at an exceedingly low US$250...
hit the amazingly low US$250.
Keeton also offered the five-seat Riverside Tourer and Meadowbrook Roadster
Roadster
A roadster is a two-seat open car with emphasis on sporty handling and without a fixed roof or side weather protection. Strictly speaking a roadster with wind-up windows is a convertible but as true roadsters are no longer made the distinction is now irrelevant...
at US$2750, the Tuxedo
Tuxedo
A tuxedo is a type of semi-formal dress for men.Tuxedo may also refer to:-Places:Canada* Tuxedo, Winnipeg, Manitoba, a city neighborhood** Tuxedo , a provincial electoral district in Manitoba...
Coupé
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
at US$3000, with a chassis price (suitable for custom coachwork
Coachwork
Coachwork is the body of a horse-drawn coach or carriage, a motor vehicle , a railroad car or railway carriage. Usually reserved for bodies built on a separate chassis, rather than being of unitary or monocoque construction...
, typical of the likes of Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce Limited
Rolls-Royce Limited was a renowned British car and, from 1914 on, aero-engine manufacturing company founded by Charles Stewart Rolls and Henry Royce on 15 March 1906 as the result of a partnership formed in 1904....
or Duesenberg
Duesenberg
Duesenberg was an Auburn, Indiana based American luxury automobile company active in various forms from 1913 to 1937, most famous for its high-quality passenger cars and record-breaking racing cars.-History:...
at the time) of US$2250.
Source
- Clymer, Floyd. Treasury of Early American Automobiles, 1877-1925. New York: Bonanza Books, 1950.