Owen Magnetic

Owen Magnetic was an early American luxury automobile brand manufactured from 1915 into the early 1920s. Its defining feature was an electromagnetic transmission developed from the work of inventor Justus B. Entz. Rather than connecting the gasoline engine mechanically to the rear wheels through a conventional clutch and gearbox, the system used a generator and magnetic assembly on the engine crankshaft to induce electrical power in a motor connected to the drive shaft. In functional terms, this made the Owen Magnetic an early series-hybrid automobile: the internal-combustion engine generated energy, while an electric motor provided the traction. The project was sponsored by R.M. Owen & Company of New York. Brothers Raymond M. Owen and Ralph R. Owen had been adapting the Entz system for automotive use since 1912, and the first Owen Magnetic was shown at the 1915 New York automobile show. Walter C. Baker, associated with Baker electric vehicles, controlled the relevant Entz transmission patents, so the initial New York production was licensed. Approximately 250 cars were built in New York during this first phase. The brand gained attention not only for its unusual propulsion system but also for its expensive, refined positioning. Promotional material described the car as “The Car of a Thousand Speeds,” emphasizing the smooth, flexible control offered by the electromagnetic drive. Reported customers included opera singers Enrico Caruso and John McCormack. The cars used six-cylinder gasoline engines and were offered with substantial, coachbuilt bodies, including touring and sports-tourer forms. In late 1915, the operation moved to Cleveland through a combination involving R.M. Owen, Walter Baker and the Rauch and Lang organization. Baker Electric produced the mechanical and electrical portions of the automobile, while Rauch and Lang supplied coachwork. The expanded arrangement allowed the Owen Magnetic range to grow for the 1916 model year, including a Holbrook-bodied sports tourer. Prices were positioned at the luxury end of the market, reportedly ranging from $3,000 to $5,000, with one sports-tourer version listed at $6,000. Production continued through 1918, when Baker redirected its manufacturing capacity toward war-related goods. The project was later revived in Pennsylvania. J. L. Crown obtained rights connected with the Entz transmission and, together with Raymond Owen, reorganized the business as the Owen Magnetic Motor Car Corporation. A factory was established in the former Matheson works at Forty Fort near Wilkes-Barre, and production was announced for resumption in January 1920. The company planned substantially higher output, but the revival was short-lived and the corporation entered receivership in 1920. A British sales and production initiative produced the related Crown Magnetic name. Crown Limited of Great Britain arranged an order for 500 cars for distribution by Le Grice Elers, Ltd., and a Crown Magnetic was displayed at the 1920 London Motor Show. Only about 20 cars were imported before the enterprise ended. The Crown version omitted the emergency low gear used on Owen-branded cars, a design change that reportedly left the heavy automobile vulnerable on steep hills. Owen Magnetic production ceased soon afterward. Today the brand is remembered chiefly for its technically ambitious electromagnetic transmission and its place in the early history of hybrid and electric-drive automobiles.

The Owen Magnetic emerged from an effort to apply Justus B. Entz’s electromagnetic transmission to a practical automobile. Raymond M. Owen and Ralph R. Owen had been working on the concept since 1912 through R.M. Owen & Company. The first car appeared at the 1915 New York automobile show, where the brand presented a six-cylinder luxury automobile whose engine and drive shaft were not mechanically connected. Instead, the engine drove a generator and magnetic assembly, while an electric motor on the drive shaft propelled the rear wheels. This arrangement anticipated the operating principle of later series-hybrid vehicles. The transmission was used under license because Walter C. Baker controlled the relevant Entz patents. Roughly 250 Owen Magnetic automobiles were produced in New York during 1915. The car’s unusual engineering became the center of its marketing, with the slogan “The Car of a Thousand Speeds” highlighting smooth and highly variable power delivery. Its luxury image was reinforced by reported ownership among prominent singers, including Enrico Caruso and John McCormack. In December 1915, manufacturing shifted to Cleveland after R.M. Owen entered an arrangement with Walter Baker and Rauch and Lang. Baker Electric manufactured the vehicle’s technical components, while Rauch and Lang constructed the bodies. The partnership gave Owen Magnetic access to greater industrial capacity and enabled the range to expand for 1916. A Holbrook-bodied sports tourer was offered alongside other luxury body styles. Prices were high for the period, reportedly between $3,000 and $5,000, with the sports tourer listed at $6,000. Production continued through 1918, but Baker later prioritized war-related manufacturing, undermining the continuation of the automobile program. A second phase began after J. L. Crown secured rights associated with the Entz transmission. Crown and Raymond Owen reorganized the operation as the Owen Magnetic Motor Car Corporation and established a factory in the former Matheson works at Forty Fort, Pennsylvania. The company announced that production would resume on January 1, 1920, with an intended annual output of 750 cars. The target was not achieved. The company was in receivership by August 1920, before its British order could be fulfilled. The British initiative was organized under the Crown Magnetic name. Crown Limited of Great Britain arranged for 500 vehicles to be sold through Le Grice Elers, Ltd. A Crown Magnetic appeared at the 1920 London Motor Show, and approximately 20 were imported. The Crown version deleted the emergency low gear fitted to Owen cars. This omission reportedly caused difficulties on steep grades because the weight of the vehicle could overcome the transmission and stop the car. The production program ended soon afterward. Owen Magnetic’s historical importance rests less on commercial scale than on its drivetrain. It was an expensive, technically unconventional automobile that demonstrated how a gasoline engine, generator, electromagnetic coupling and traction motor could be combined without a direct mechanical connection to the wheels. Surviving examples and museum displays continue to attract interest from automotive historians because the system resembles the architecture later used in modern series-hybrid vehicles.

• 1920

  Pennsylvania production revival announced

  [1]Owen Magneticen.wikipedia.org

  The reorganized corporation planned to resume production at Forty Fort, Pennsylvania.

• 1920

  Crown Magnetic presented in London

  [1]Owen Magneticen.wikipedia.org

  The British derivative was displayed at the London Motor Show.

• 1920

  Company enters receivership

  [1]Owen Magneticen.wikipedia.org

  The Owen Magnetic enterprise entered receivership and the planned expansion collapsed.

• 1918

  Baker production phase ends

  [1]Owen Magneticen.wikipedia.org

  Production continued through 1918 before Baker shifted emphasis toward war goods.

• 1916

  Luxury range expanded

  [1]Owen Magneticen.wikipedia.org

  The range gained additional body styles, including a Holbrook-bodied sports tourer.

• 1915

  First Owen Magnetic shown

  [1]Owen Magneticen.wikipedia.org

  The first Owen Magnetic debuted at the New York automobile show.

• 1915

  Manufacturing moves to Cleveland

  [1]Owen Magneticen.wikipedia.org

  The company joined Baker and Rauch and Lang, relocating production to Cleveland.

• 1912

  Development work begins

  [1]Owen Magneticen.wikipedia.org

  Raymond and Ralph Owen began adapting the Entz electromagnetic transmission for automotive use.

Historically significant American luxury automobile brand positioned around silent, smooth and innovative electromagnetic propulsion.

• Luxury automobile · 1915

  Owen Magnetic touring car

  The principal Owen Magnetic automobile was a large six-cylinder luxury car using the Entz electromagnetic transmission. The gasoline engine powered a generator and magnetic assembly rather than mechanically driving the rear axle. An electric motor connected to the drive shaft then supplied propulsion. The design eliminated a conventional direct connection between engine and wheels and was promoted for smooth, flexible operation. Touring bodies formed a central part of the range during the New York and Cleveland production periods.

• Luxury sports tourer · 1916

  Owen Magnetic sports tourer

  Introduced as part of the expanded 1916 range, the sports tourer combined the Owen Magnetic drivetrain with a Holbrook-built body. It occupied the brand’s high-priced luxury segment and demonstrated the company’s reliance on specialist coachbuilders. The model retained the electromagnetic transmission that defined the brand and was listed at a higher price than the ordinary range.

• Luxury automobile · 1920

  Crown Magnetic

  Crown Magnetic was the British-market derivative developed after J. L. Crown obtained rights to the Entz transmission. Crown Limited of Great Britain arranged an order for 500 cars and presented the model at the 1920 London Motor Show. The Crown version omitted the emergency low gear fitted to Owen cars, reportedly creating a serious disadvantage on steep hills. Only about 20 were imported before the production program ended.

• 1915The Car of a Thousand Speeds

  United States

  Owen Magnetic advertising emphasized the car’s electromagnetic transmission and promoted it as “The Car of a Thousand Speeds,” presenting smooth and finely controllable propulsion as a luxury advantage.

  Outcome. The slogan helped establish the brand’s identity around technical novelty and premium motoring.

  Source

• 1920

  Reorganize and restart production in PennsylvaniaStrategy

  Background

  After the Cleveland manufacturing phase ended, J. L. Crown and Raymond Owen sought to revive the automobile business.

  Action taken

  They formed the Owen Magnetic Motor Car Corporation and equipped a factory at the former Matheson works in Forty Fort, Pennsylvania.

  Aftermath

  The company announced a 750-car production target but entered receivership before the revival could become established.

  Source

• 1920

  Develop the Crown Magnetic for BritainProduct launch

  Background

  Crown Limited of Great Britain sought to commercialize the electromagnetic automobile in the British market.

  Action taken

  A Crown Magnetic derivative was prepared for an intended 500-car order and shown at the London Motor Show.

  Aftermath

  Only about 20 cars were imported, and the program ended when the Owen Magnetic business went into receivership.

  Source

• 1915

  Move production to Cleveland through a manufacturing partnershipStrategy

  Background

  The New York operation required greater manufacturing resources and depended on licensed transmission technology.

  Action taken

  R.M. Owen joined Walter Baker and Rauch and Lang; Baker handled automobile production and Rauch and Lang built the coachwork.

  Aftermath

  The partnership expanded the model range, but production ended after Baker redirected capacity toward war goods.

  Source

1. 1Owen Magneticen.wikipedia.org