Talk:Stearns (automobile)

Bicycle mfr?
Did they begin as a bicycle manufacturer? Barney Oldfield's International Motorsports Hall of Fame article led me to ask this question. Royalbroil 15:11, 31 May 2006 (UTC)


 * A little late to answer, but: No. F. B. Stearns always built automobiles.--Chief tin cloud (talk) 10:56, 30 July 2011 (UTC)

Dated
Floyd Clymer, Treasury of Early American Automobiles, 1877-1925 (New York: Bonanza Books, 1950), p.190, puts the start date 1897, end 1930. Can somebody with a better source check? Trekphiler (talk) 09:06, 19 March 2008 (UTC)


 * 1898: F.B. Stearns & Co. was incorporated in 1898 (although Stearns surely sold some cars earlier). F.B. Stearns Co. was incorporated in 1902. Production stopped 20th Dec. 1929, dissolution followed 30th Dec. For 1930, both 8 cylinder line of cars are listed but not the Sixes. Probably, they sold what had been built by then.--Chief tin cloud (talk) 16:56, 7 October 2011 (UTC)

Power rating
Generally, US automobile manufacturers used N.A.C.C (North American Chamber of Commerce) or similar power rating. bhp found general use in the first half of the 1920s, so converting power rate of early cars often leads to ijnappropriate results.--Chief tin cloud (talk) 16:56, 7 October 2011 (UTC)

Early Data
1901: 101 c.i. is equivalent to 1,655 cc, not 4,083 cc. Following my main source (Kimes, 1985), in 1901 b x h was 6 1/4 x 7 1/2 in which gives 106.32 c.i = 1742 cc; Kimes further differs in some details of the early history, especially in introduction years for new models and innovations. As both sources, Wise an Kimes, are very trustworthy I cannot decide which facts are correct, so I offer another version for 1901-1904:


 * By 1901, it had advanced to a gasoline runabout with a steering wheel - which is very early - central chain drive, and a 3518 cc (214.8 c.i.) one-ylinder engine under the seat bench, this being one of the largest single cylinder engines in production at the time. It delivered 11 HP following then-actual measure. Until then, about 50 cars had been built..


 * In 1902, the name changed to F. B. Stearns Company as the Owens had left. F. B. Stearns took over as president, general manager and treasurer. His father, F. M. Stearns, businesman in stone quarry, became vice president and secretary. Vehicle range consisted of the Suburban, a rear-entrance Tonneau with the previous year's engine. Transmission was by a two-speed planetary transmission, single chain drive with two-wheel belt-tension, solid front axle and full-elliptic leaf springs front and rear . The second model was a 20 HP two-cylinder model with 5-passenger touring body, priced high at US$3,000. Stearns sold 25 cars that year. . Strangely, Stearns went to modern left hand drive in this year, but reverted soon and stayed with right hand drive for another 12 years.


 * The Suburban was retained for the following year but a 24 HP automobile replaced the 20 HP. The water-cooled flat twin engine was mounted in front, al although named a Touring, it was, in fact, a Rear Entrance Tonneau for five passengers . It got a three-speed sliding gear transmission, and all vehicle controls were situated on the steering wheel. The armored wood-framed car spread over a wheelbase of 78 in (1981 mm, weighed 2800 lb (1270 kg), and sold for US$3000.


 * Stearns went even more upmarket in 1904. The Suburban was discontinued, the 24 HP automobile got a longer wheelbase of 96 in. (2438 mm), and a new 36 HP four-cylinder car became available. It was European-inspired, with pressed steel chassis, wheelbase of 111 in. (2819 mm), and four-speed gearbox, but had a distinctly American (i.e., backward) coil and battery, rather than the ignition magneto typical in Europe . The only available body style was a 7 passenger Touring which was very expensive at US$ 4,150.

Kimes adresses 1904 as the introduction year for the magneto. The 40/45 is mentioned with a price og US$4250, not 5200.--Chief tin cloud (talk) 16:56, 7 October 2011 (UTC)