Franklin automobiles Franklin (automobile)

alexander t. brown of syracuse, new york - entrepreneur

wilkinson signed formal contract franklin go business him producing air-cooled automobiles on july 1, 1901. alexander t. brown , herbert h. franklin combined efforts , created startup named brown , franklin commence building , promotion of franklin automobile. initial work of business financed equally both men. great franklin s faith in proposition, borrowed every cent of money.

store on west fayette street in syracuse first franklin car produced in period of 2 months - syracuse herald, june 23, 1912

the original staff consisted of 6 or 7 people. in 1 corner, drafting board in front of him, sat john wilkinson , bookkeeper, stenographer , others @ desks , tables. in original machine shop 2 mechanics. these 2 men building first car. 2 months had worked shaping part , shaping that, until day came when had complete car. later brown , franklin absorbed h. h. franklin manufacturing company.

the company s first home four-story building @ northeast corner of west fayette , south geddes streets, leased brown lipe gear company.

on november 1, 1901 h. h. franklin manufacturing company restructured , franklin automobile company spun off separate entity. herbert franklin named business after himself , president , primary shareholder. gave john wilkinson stock , appointed him chief engineer. in days, franklin ran business side , wilkinson made engineering , manufacturing decisions. alexander t. brown , willard c. lipe important figures in founding of company , original office in c. e. lipe machine shop.

from outset, wilkinson wanted build car lightweight , economical. believed should acme of simplicity, owner of franklin car have little possible mechanically. first drawings of vehicle contained idea of self starter operated compressed air.

by december 1901, local newspaper announced h. h. franklin manufacturing company began operation of automobile factory @ west fayette , south geddes streets in building owned lipe estate. company place gasoline carriages on market in spring. factory includes woodworking department in bodies made.

a total of 4 experimental machines made before company attempted produce market.

during 1902 franklin sold total of 13 cars priced @ $1,100 each, , modest beginning went on become successful car company. 28 years, 1902 1930, company thrived , during of time enjoyed distinction of being city s largest employer.