Fournier-Searchmont Automobile Company
On December 16, 1901, the Fournier-Searchmont Automobile Company was incorporated in a new reorganization that would double the investment capital. Fournier-Searchmonts and Fournier's Mors race car were shown at the March 1902 Chicago Auto Show where Henri Fournier was headlined. In May 1902 Fournier took on a large garage in Paris France and said he would spend only one month a year in the United States on Fournier-Searchmont business.[3][4]
Searchmont was very active in Endurance Trials and received blue ribbons for all three entries in the New York to Buffalo Run in 1901.[3] In the 1902 Long Island Trials, all three Searchmonts and seven other participants were controversially disqualified for exceeding 15 miles per hour.[4]
E. B. Gallagher departed Searchmont in 1902 to become general manager of Mobile Company of America, and Lee Chadwick became the chief-engineer and superintendent of the Searchmont factory.[2]
Two new front-engined cars were introduced for 1902 which featured many parts from the Wagonette. Both were runabouts with improved engines. The smaller and sportier Type III had a wheelbase of 66 in and a 12 bhp, two-cylinder engine. The bigger Type IV had a wheelbase of 70 in and 6 bhp from a single cylinder engine.[2]
A larger Twin-engine, Type V appeared in time for the Chicago Auto Show. E. B. Gallagher is credited as the designer although it was heavily advertised as a Fournier-Searchmont.[4] It came with four-seater Tonneau coachwork, the Type III's twin engine, and had a wheelbase of 78 in. French influence is evident in the new Searchmont, shown in a certain resemblance with the contemporary Mors and the use of a pressure feed lubrication system, the first in a U. S. production car. The improved cars doubled in price over the $1,200 runabout, the Type III now priced at $2,000 and the Type V at $2,250, .[2][1]
Searchmont refined the Type V and offered it as the Type VI with 8 bhp for 1903. A new addition was the Type VII, a very attractive four-passenger Tonneau with a 10 bhp two-cylinder engine and a wheelbase of 81 in. They cost $2,000 and $2,500, respectively.
