N.J. Pull
Until the mid 1920s Fairbanks Morse and Company was the major producer of motor cars and motor coaches. The company was founded in 1824 as the E. & T. Fairbanks Scale Company. An employee named C. H. Morse who had developed the companies major sales agency to promoted the products was made a partner in1872. At that time, the name was changed to Fairbanks, Morse and Company and they branched out into the railway supply business. In 1883 they absorbed the eras major hand car maker, George S Sheffield & company (the merger was finalized in 1918). They continued to make motor cars until 1956, but by the mid 1920s, they had lost their pre-eminence. In 1964, Fairbanks Morse & Co. merged with Colt Industries.
The vehicle discussed here was made in 1910. It held up to 35 passengers in its two compartments. The forward compartment contained the engine, engineer and l.c.l. freight. It had wall mounted folding seats for overflow passengers or for use as a smoking section.
The right side view shows one of the two front sliding doors to the front compartment and one of the two roof mounted radiators.
The left side view shows the other radiator, side door, side and rear steps. The acetylene headlamp would have been replaced by an electric lamp by the late teens. At this time, the electrical system probably consisted of a small battery and magneto ignition.
The running gear followed current street car design (except for the electric motors). The four cylinder engine developed 50-60h.p. at 600r.p.m. It drove the reversible rear axle through a 3 speed geared transmission. The maximum speed for this 24,000lb. car was 25 - 30m.p.h. The coach could be had with an 8 or 10 foot wheel base in standard gauge only.
This interior view shows the reversible rattan seats and the partition between the sections.