Owen Magnetic
Encyclopedia
The Owen Magnetic was a brand of hybrid electric
luxury automobiles manufactured between 1915 and 1922. Car models of the brand were notable for their use of an electromagnetic transmission and were early examples of a electric series hybrid drivetrain. The manufacture of the car was sponsored by R.M. Owen & Company of New York, New York. The car was built in New York City in 1915, Cleveland, Ohio
between 1916 and 1919 and finally in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
in 1920 and 1921.
While the cars were powered by a six-cylinder engine, power for the wheels was based upon the same electromagnetic principle that propelled the Battleship U.S.S. New Mexico
.
Automobile author Henry B. Lent described the drive mechanism thus:
The first Owen Magnetic was introduced at the 1915 New York auto show
when Justus B. Entz
's electric transmission was fitted to the Owen automobile. "R.M. Owen have leased the large new three story fireproof building at the corner of Fifth avenue and One Hundred and Forty-second street, New York, where they will build the new Owen Magnetic motor cars." Walter C. Baker, of Cleveland Ohio, owned the patents on the Entz transmission thus each of the 250 Owen Magnetic automobiles produced in New York were built under license.
The car became as famous as the company's clientele which included Enrico Caruso and John McCormack. Owen Magnetics were advertised as "The Car of a Thousand Speeds"
In December 1915, the concern was moved to Cleveland when the R.M. Owen Company joined Walter Baker (of Baker Motor Vehicle
) and the Rauch and Lang
concern. The Baker Electric Car company would produce the car, Rauch and Lang would build the coachwork. Because of the combined resources, the 1916 Owen Magnetic increased its model range for 1916 model year, with prices in the $3,000 to $6,000 dollar range. Production continued through 1918 when Baker shifted its focus to War goods manufacturing.
The company reorganized as the Owen Magnetic Motor Car Corporation based in Wilkes-Barre. The newly-equipped factory was situated in the old Matheson
works at Forty Fort, Pennsylvania
. The Wilkes-Barre Times
announced the resumption of production for January 1, 1920, with the aim of producing 750 cars that year. The company received an order for 500 vehicles from Crown Limited of Great Britain
. Under the terms of the agreement, the cars were named Crown Magnetic. However by August 1920, before the order could be fulfilled, Owen Magnetic was in receivership.
The Crown Magnetic was displayed at the London Motor Show in 1920.
The Woods Dual Power car manufactured by the Woods Motor Company
in Chicago also used the Entz transmission. The Woods car was similar in many ways to today’s hybrids. It used both a gasoline engine and electric motors to propel the wheels and utilized braking to recharge the batteries.
Hybrid electric vehicle
A hybrid electric vehicle is a type of hybrid vehicle and electric vehicle which combines a conventional internal combustion engine propulsion system with an electric propulsion system. The presence of the electric powertrain is intended to achieve either better fuel economy than a conventional...
luxury automobiles manufactured between 1915 and 1922. Car models of the brand were notable for their use of an electromagnetic transmission and were early examples of a electric series hybrid drivetrain. The manufacture of the car was sponsored by R.M. Owen & Company of New York, New York. The car was built in New York City in 1915, Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
between 1916 and 1919 and finally in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the county seat of Luzerne County. It is at the center of the Wyoming Valley area and is one of the principal cities in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, which had a population of 563,631 as of the 2010 Census...
in 1920 and 1921.
While the cars were powered by a six-cylinder engine, power for the wheels was based upon the same electromagnetic principle that propelled the Battleship U.S.S. New Mexico
USS New Mexico (BB-40)
USS New Mexico was a battleship in service with the United States Navy from 1918 to 1946. She was the lead ship of a class of three battleships. New Mexico was extensively modernized between 1931 and 1933 and saw service during World War II both in the Atlantic and Pacific theatres. After her...
.
Automobile author Henry B. Lent described the drive mechanism thus:
- The drive mechanism had no direct connection between the engine and the rear wheels. Instead of a flywheelFlywheelA flywheel is a rotating mechanical device that is used to store rotational energy. Flywheels have a significant moment of inertia, and thus resist changes in rotational speed. The amount of energy stored in a flywheel is proportional to the square of its rotational speed...
, a generator and a horseshoe shaped magnetMagnetA magnet is a material or object that produces a magnetic field. This magnetic field is invisible but is responsible for the most notable property of a magnet: a force that pulls on other ferromagnetic materials, such as iron, and attracts or repels other magnets.A permanent magnet is an object...
were attached to the rear of the engine's crank shaft. On the forward end of the car's drive shaft, was an electric motorElectric motorAn electric motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.Most electric motors operate through the interaction of magnetic fields and current-carrying conductors to generate force...
with an armature fitted into an air space inside the whirling magnet. Electrical current, transmitted by the engine's generator and magnet attached to the armature of the electrical motor, providing the energy to turn the drive shaft and propel the engine's rear wheels. Speed for the car was controlled by a small lever adjacent to the steering wheel.
The first Owen Magnetic was introduced at the 1915 New York auto show
Auto show
An auto show, or motor show, is a public exhibition of current automobile models, debuts, concept cars, or out-of-production classics. It is commonly attended by automobile manufacturers. Most auto shows occur once or twice a year...
when Justus B. Entz
Justus B. Entz
Justus Bulkley Entz was an electrical engineer and inventor. He was the inventor of the electromagnetic transmission and a pioneer in the early automobile industry....
's electric transmission was fitted to the Owen automobile. "R.M. Owen have leased the large new three story fireproof building at the corner of Fifth avenue and One Hundred and Forty-second street, New York, where they will build the new Owen Magnetic motor cars." Walter C. Baker, of Cleveland Ohio, owned the patents on the Entz transmission thus each of the 250 Owen Magnetic automobiles produced in New York were built under license.
The car became as famous as the company's clientele which included Enrico Caruso and John McCormack. Owen Magnetics were advertised as "The Car of a Thousand Speeds"
In December 1915, the concern was moved to Cleveland when the R.M. Owen Company joined Walter Baker (of Baker Motor Vehicle
Baker Motor Vehicle
Baker Motor Vehicle Company was a manufacturer of Brass Era electric automobiles in Cleveland, Ohio from 1899 to 1914.-History:The first Baker vehicle was a two seater with a selling price of US$850. One was sold to Thomas Edison as his first car. Edison also designed the nickel-iron batteries used...
) and the Rauch and Lang
Rauch and Lang
The Rauch & Lang was an American electric automobile manufactured in Cleveland, Ohio from 1905 to 1920 and Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts from 1920-1932.-Cleveland years:...
concern. The Baker Electric Car company would produce the car, Rauch and Lang would build the coachwork. Because of the combined resources, the 1916 Owen Magnetic increased its model range for 1916 model year, with prices in the $3,000 to $6,000 dollar range. Production continued through 1918 when Baker shifted its focus to War goods manufacturing.
The company reorganized as the Owen Magnetic Motor Car Corporation based in Wilkes-Barre. The newly-equipped factory was situated in the old Matheson
Matheson (automobile)
The Matheson was an American automobile manufactured from 1903 to 1912. The President of the company was Charles Walter Matheson , born Grand Rapids, Michigan, March 22, 1876. His brother, Frank F. Matheson served as company secretary....
works at Forty Fort, Pennsylvania
Forty Fort, Pennsylvania
Forty Fort is a borough in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,579 at the 2000 census. It neighbors the boroughs of Kingston, Wyoming, and Swoyersville...
. The Wilkes-Barre Times
The Times Leader
The Times Leader is a privately owned newspaper in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.Founded in 1879, it was locally owned until being purchased by Capital Cities in 1978...
announced the resumption of production for January 1, 1920, with the aim of producing 750 cars that year. The company received an order for 500 vehicles from Crown Limited of Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. Under the terms of the agreement, the cars were named Crown Magnetic. However by August 1920, before the order could be fulfilled, Owen Magnetic was in receivership.
The Crown Magnetic was displayed at the London Motor Show in 1920.
The Woods Dual Power car manufactured by the Woods Motor Company
Woods Motor Vehicle
Woods Motor Vehicle Company was a manufacturer of electric automobiles in Chicago, Illinois between 1899 and 1916. In 1915 they produced the Dual Power Woods Motor Vehicle Company was a manufacturer of electric automobiles in Chicago, Illinois between 1899 and 1916. In 1915 they produced the Dual...
in Chicago also used the Entz transmission. The Woods car was similar in many ways to today’s hybrids. It used both a gasoline engine and electric motors to propel the wheels and utilized braking to recharge the batteries.
See also
- History of the electric vehicleHistory of the electric vehicleThe history of the electric vehicle began in the mid-19th century. An electrical vehicle held the vehicular land speed record until around 1900. The high cost, low top speed and short range of electric vehicles, compared to later internal combustion vehicles, led to a worldwide decline in their use...
- Justus B. EntzJustus B. EntzJustus Bulkley Entz was an electrical engineer and inventor. He was the inventor of the electromagnetic transmission and a pioneer in the early automobile industry....
- List of defunct United States automobile manufacturers
- Matheson (automobile)Matheson (automobile)The Matheson was an American automobile manufactured from 1903 to 1912. The President of the company was Charles Walter Matheson , born Grand Rapids, Michigan, March 22, 1876. His brother, Frank F. Matheson served as company secretary....
Other Early Electric Vehicles
- American ElectricAmerican Electric (1899 automobile)The American Electric was an American automobile manufactured in Chicago from 1899 to 1902 and Hoboken, New Jersey in 1902. The company built a wide range of electric carriages - some bodied as high, ungainly-looking dos-a-dos four-seaters - these were claimed to be capable of running from to...
- Argo ElectricArgo ElectricThe Argo Electric Vehicle Company operated in Saginaw, Michigan, from 1912 to 1916. The Argo Electric used a 60 volt system with Westinghouse motors. They claimed to be capable of . It had 6 forward and 6 reverse speeds, had 36 x 4 cushion tires and used an steering wheel on the left...
- Babcock Electric Carriage CompanyBabcock Electric Carriage CompanyThe Babcock Electric Carriage Company was an early 20th century United States automobile company, making electric vehicles under the Babcock brand from 1906 through 1912....
- Columbia Automobile CompanyColumbia Automobile CompanyThe Columbia Automobile Company was a leading early Hartford, Connecticut, United States manufacturer of automobiles.The Columbia Automobile Company was created as a joint venture of the Motor Vehicle Division of the Pope Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut, and the Electric Vehicle...
- Detroit ElectricDetroit ElectricDetroit Electric was an automobile brand produced by the Anderson Electric Car Company in Detroit, Michigan. Nowadays, a Chinese British entrepreneur is leading Detroit Electric to develop affordable and high quality pure electric vehicles in mainland Europe...
- BerwickBerwick (automobile)The Berwick was an electric car manufactured in Grand Rapids, Michigan, by the Berwick Auto Car Company in 1904. The Berwick was an electric two-seater runabout selling for $750. It had three speed positions, was tiller operated, and had a top speed of ....
- Binghamton ElectricBinghamton ElectricThe Binghamton Electric was an American automobile manufactured only in 1920. An electric car from Binghamton, New York, the car was made by the Binghamton Electric Truck Co. Only two or three two-passenger coupes were produced....
- Buffalo ElectricBuffalo Electric Vehicle CompanyThe Buffalo Electric Vehicle Company was an American electric car manufacturing company from 1912 until 1915 based in Buffalo, New York. The motorcars were marked under the Buffalo brand. The company was formed by a merger of several electrical vehicle and allied companies which included:*Babcock...
- CenturyCentury (automobile)The Century was produced by the Century Motor Company from 1911-13 and later renamed to the Century Electric Car company from 1913-15. Both companies operated out of Detroit, Michigan. The Century was an electric car with an underslung chassis. It had tiller-operated steering, and the customer...
- Dayton ElectricDayton ElectricThe Dayton Electric was an American electric car manufactured in Dayton, Ohio from 1911 until 1915; the company offered a complex range of vehicles.-See also:*List of defunct United States automobile manufacturers*History of the electric vehicle...
- GrinnellGrinnell (automobile)The Grinnell was an electric car manufactured in Detroit, Michigan by the Grinnell Electric Car Company from 1910-13. The Grinnell was a five-seater closed coupe that sat on a wheelbase. The company claimed to have a range per charge. The vehicle cost $2,800...
- Riker ElectricRiker Electric Vehicle CompanyThe Riker was a veteran and brass era electric car founded in 1898 in Elizabeth, New Jersey.Designed by Andrew L. Riker, they were built in small numbers until the company was absorbed by the Electric Vehicle Company in 1901....
- Woods Motor VehicleWoods Motor VehicleWoods Motor Vehicle Company was a manufacturer of electric automobiles in Chicago, Illinois between 1899 and 1916. In 1915 they produced the Dual Power Woods Motor Vehicle Company was a manufacturer of electric automobiles in Chicago, Illinois between 1899 and 1916. In 1915 they produced the Dual...
External links
- Jay Leno's Garage (video) The focus of the segment is the Chevrolet VoltChevrolet VoltThe Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle manufactured by General Motors. The Volt has been on sale in the U.S. market since mid-December 2010, and is the most fuel-efficient compact car sold in the United States, as rated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency...
but a 1916 Owen Magnetic is shown and the similarity of the propulsion system is noted.