Ottomobile

Ottomobile was an American brass-era automobile marque associated with the Otto Gas Engine Works of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The company grew out of a business established by Gas-motoren-Fabrik Deutz as a United States subsidiary for marketing Otto engines. Its principal activity was initially the manufacture and sale of stationary gas engines, but it also experimented with road vehicles before entering the automobile market as a serious commercial venture. The company's early vehicle work included the Otto Tractor, a gasoline-powered experimental vehicle produced in 1896. This project preceded the marque's formal automobile production by more than a decade and reflected the company's broader interest in applying internal-combustion engines to mobile equipment. Otto Gas Engine Works eventually introduced an automobile in 1910. The first cars were marketed under the Otto name rather than Ottomobile and were positioned as relatively expensive, substantial touring automobiles. A separate Otto Motor Car Sales Company was established to market the vehicles. The 1910 range used a four-cylinder Otto engine of 241 cubic inches, or approximately 3.95 litres, mounted on a 123-inch wheelbase. Available bodies included a roadster, demi-tonneau, and touring car. The engine was rated at 35 horsepower, and the automobile carried a premium price of $2,000 at the time. In 1911, the range expanded with Victoria, coupé, and limousine bodies. Larger four-cylinder engines of 286 and 318 cubic inches were offered, with output stated at approximately 38.9 horsepower. For 1912, the automobiles adopted the Ottomobile name. Otto Gas Engine Works planned to broaden the line, expand its factory, and make the vehicles available through additional automobile dealers. That expansion did not become a durable automobile business. By late 1912, the company had decided to withdraw from automobile manufacturing, ending the marque after a brief production period. Ottomobile belonged to a wider Otto-branded engineering history that extended beyond the United States. Related Otto Gas Engine operations in France produced automobiles from 1900 to 1914, while the German company built cars in 1923 and 1924. Those operations were distinct from the Philadelphia marque and should not be treated as the same American automobile brand. In 1915, during the period surrounding the First World War, the Philadelphia Otto Gas Engine Works was required to sever its connection with its German parent and became a branch of the Superior Gas Engine Company. As a result, Ottomobile is best understood as a short-lived American automobile marque created by an engine manufacturer rather than as a continuing international automotive company.

The history of Ottomobile is closely tied to the Otto Gas Engine Works in Philadelphia. The American company was established by Gas-motoren-Fabrik Deutz as a subsidiary intended to market Otto engines in the United States. Its main business was stationary gas-engine manufacture, but it also investigated the use of gasoline power in vehicles. One early result was the Otto Tractor, an experimental gasoline vehicle associated with 1896. The company did not immediately become an automobile producer. Its established engine business remained central until 1910, when Otto Gas Engine Works introduced a passenger automobile fitted with an Otto four-cylinder engine. To support sales and distribution, the Otto Motor Car Sales Company was created. The first range used a 241-cubic-inch, approximately 3.95-litre, four-cylinder engine and a 123-inch wheelbase. Roadster, demi-tonneau, and touring bodies were offered. The cars were rated at 35 horsepower and sold at a premium price of $2,000, reflecting their position in the expensive end of the early American automobile market. In 1911, Otto expanded the body selection to include Victorias, coupés, and limousines. The company also offered larger four-cylinder engines displacing 286 and 318 cubic inches, or approximately 4.69 and 5.21 litres. Output was given as about 38.9 horsepower. These developments indicate an attempt to compete through a broad body range and larger, more powerful mechanical specifications rather than through low-cost mass production. The 1912 model year marked the transition from the Otto name to Ottomobile. Otto Gas Engine Works planned to enlarge its factory, extend the range of body styles, and open distribution to other automobile dealers. The proposed expansion was short-lived. By late 1912, the company had decided to abandon automobile manufacturing, bringing the American marque's production to an end after only a few years of commercial automobile activity. The American Ottomobile should be distinguished from other Otto-related automobile ventures. An Otto Gas Engine branch in France built automobiles between 1900 and 1914, and the German Otto Gas Engine company produced cars in 1923 and 1924. These were separate operations and do not establish a continuous production history for the Philadelphia Ottomobile marque. The company's corporate circumstances changed further in 1915. In the context of the First World War, Otto Gas Engine Works was required to sever its connection with its German parent. It subsequently became a branch of the Superior Gas Engine Company. This later corporate development followed the end of Ottomobile automobile production and forms part of the marque's post-automotive history rather than a continuation of the brand's car business.

• 1915

  Corporate separation from German parent

  [1]Ottomobileen.wikipedia.org

  Otto Gas Engine Works was required to sever its connection with its German parent and became a branch of the Superior Gas Engine Company.

• 1912

  Otto cars become Ottomobile

  [1]Ottomobileen.wikipedia.org

  The cars were marketed under the Ottomobile name as the company planned factory expansion and wider dealer distribution.

• 1912

  Withdrawal from automobile manufacturing

  [1]Ottomobileen.wikipedia.org

  By late 1912, Otto Gas Engine Works decided to leave automobile manufacturing, ending the short-lived American Ottomobile marque.

• 1911

  Range expansion

  [1]Ottomobileen.wikipedia.org

  The automobile range expanded with Victoria, coupé, and limousine bodies and with larger four-cylinder engine options.

• 1910

  First Otto automobile

  [1]Ottomobileen.wikipedia.org

  Otto Gas Engine Works introduced a passenger automobile powered by a four-cylinder Otto engine. The initial range included roadster, demi-tonneau, and touring bodies.

• 1896

  Otto Tractor experiment

  [1]Ottomobileen.wikipedia.org

  Otto Gas Engine Works experimented with a gasoline-powered vehicle known as the Otto Tractor, demonstrating an early interest in mobile applications for its engines.

A premium-priced, technically substantial brass-era automobile marque developed by a Philadelphia gas-engine manufacturer.

• Passenger automobile · 1910

  Otto roadster

  The roadster was one of the initial body styles offered when Otto Gas Engine Works entered automobile production in 1910. It used the marque's four-cylinder Otto engine and shared the long 123-inch wheelbase of the first range. As an open, two-seat-oriented body style, it represented the sporting and personal-use side of the company's premium automobile offering.

• Passenger automobile · 1910

  Otto demi-tonneau

  The demi-tonneau was part of the 1910 Otto automobile range. It combined an open touring-oriented body with seating and access arrangements characteristic of early twentieth-century automobiles. It was powered by the initial 241-cubic-inch four-cylinder engine and was sold alongside the roadster and touring versions.

• Passenger automobile · 1910

  Otto touring car

  The touring car was an initial Otto offering and likely the most directly practical body style in the first range. It used the 35-horsepower, 241-cubic-inch four-cylinder specification and the 123-inch wheelbase. Like the rest of the Otto line, it was positioned as a high-priced automobile rather than a mass-market model.

• Passenger automobile · 1911

  Otto Victoria

  Introduced as part of the expanded 1911 range, the Victoria added another formal open-body configuration to the Otto catalogue. It could be specified within the later engine program that included larger four-cylinder units. The model disappeared when the company abandoned automobile production after the 1912 season.

• Passenger automobile · 1911

  Otto coupé

  The coupé joined the Otto range in 1911 as a more enclosed body style than the earlier open cars. It formed part of the company's attempt to broaden its customer and body-style coverage while retaining a premium position. No continuing production followed the company's decision to exit automobile manufacturing.

• Luxury passenger automobile · 1911

  Otto limousine

  The limousine was added in 1911 and represented the formal, high-end end of the Otto range. It was associated with the larger engine offerings and carried a notably high contemporary price. Its inclusion shows the company's effort to serve prestige-car buyers before ending automobile production.

• Passenger automobile · 1912

  Ottomobile automobiles

  For 1912, the company's cars were identified as Ottomobile rather than Otto. The marque was intended to support a larger factory, a wider selection of styles, and distribution through additional dealers. These plans were overtaken by the decision to leave automobile manufacturing by the end of the year.

• 1912

  Planned factory and dealer expansionStrategy

  Background

  After several years of automobile production and a growing body-style range, Otto Gas Engine Works sought to expand its automobile operation for the 1912 season.

  Action taken

  The company planned to enlarge its factory, broaden the available styles, and make the cars available through additional automobile dealers under the Ottomobile name.

  Aftermath

  The expansion did not proceed as a lasting growth strategy. By late 1912, Otto Gas Engine Works decided to withdraw from automobile manufacturing.

  Source

• 1912

  Exit from automobile manufacturingStrategy

  Background

  The automobile business remained a small and short-lived extension of Otto Gas Engine Works' established engine operations.

  Action taken

  Otto Gas Engine Works ended its automobile manufacturing activity by late 1912.

  Aftermath

  Ottomobile became a defunct American automobile marque, while the parent operation continued in the gas-engine field and later became associated with the Superior Gas Engine Company.

  Source

1. 1Ottomobileen.wikipedia.org