Waltham Steam

Waltham Steam was an early American steam automobile developed in 1898 by engineers George M. Tinker and John W. Piper at the Waltham Manufacturing Company in Waltham, Massachusetts. The company was then associated with the Orient bicycle brand. With permission from owner Charles Herman Metz, Tinker and Piper constructed a lightweight steam buggy in a corner of the plant. The vehicle was completed toward the end of 1898 and was presented publicly at the Boston Automobile Show that year. The first Waltham Steam was designed around lightness and mechanical simplicity. Its two-cylinder, double-acting steam engine weighed approximately 50 pounds and produced about 3 horsepower. A copper condenser accounted for roughly 110 pounds, while the complete vehicle weighed approximately 600 pounds. The buggy used wire wheels and a vertically mounted steering lever rather than a conventional steering wheel. These features reflected the experimental character of the period, when automobile engineers were still comparing steam, electric, and gasoline propulsion and had not yet settled on a dominant layout. Tinker and Piper subsequently produced two additional steam cars under the Tinker & Piper name. During this period, ownership of the Waltham Manufacturing Company changed: Metz sold the business to Charles A. Coffin and H. P. Clough but remained as general manager. Coffin was an executive of General Electric and encouraged the development of an electric vehicle as a possible market for GE equipment. Tinker and Piper built a small electric car at the Waltham plant using a General Electric motor. The vehicle, with a 60-inch wheelbase, was displayed as the Orient Electric at the New York Cycle & Automobile Show in 1899. The engineers and Metz were reportedly not persuaded to continue with electric vehicles, and no further electric models followed. In 1899 or early 1900, Tinker and Piper left the Waltham Manufacturing Company by mutual agreement and with Metz's support. They established the Waltham Automobile Company at 130–136 Newton Street in Waltham. This separate venture built small steam-powered stanhopes marketed under the Waltham name. The cars sold for $750 with a Victoria top, and some may have been fitted with vis-à-vis coachwork. Production ended in 1902 or 1903, and the total number built is not known. Waltham Steam was therefore a short-lived pioneer rather than a sustained automobile marque. Its significance lies in its connection to the experimental American automobile industry of the late 1890s and early 1900s, its unusually lightweight steam-buggy design, and the transition of its engineers from bicycle-factory experimentation to independent automobile production. At least one Waltham steam Stanhope is known to survive. A separate, unrelated company in Springfield, Massachusetts, also produced a steam automobile under the Waltham name in 1905; that later manufacturer should not be confused with the Tinker and Piper enterprise.

Waltham Steam emerged from the experimental engineering work conducted inside the Waltham Manufacturing Company in Waltham, Massachusetts. The company was known at the time for producing Orient bicycles, but its facilities also provided a setting in which employees could investigate the emerging automobile industry. Engineers George M. Tinker and John W. Piper received permission from company owner Charles Herman Metz to build a small steam vehicle in an unused corner of the plant. Their first vehicle was completed near the end of 1898. Called the Waltham Steam, it was a very light steam buggy with a two-cylinder, double-acting engine rated at approximately 3 horsepower. The engine weighed about 50 pounds, and the copper condenser weighed about 110 pounds. With a total vehicle weight of approximately 600 pounds, the design emphasized low mass rather than power or conventional automotive equipment. Its wire wheels and upright steering lever further distinguished it from later standardized automobile designs. Tinker and Piper exhibited the vehicle at the Boston Automobile Show in 1898, placing it among the early publicly demonstrated American motor vehicles. The engineers produced two further steam cars under the Tinker & Piper name. Meanwhile, the corporate setting changed. Metz sold the Waltham Manufacturing Company to Charles A. Coffin and H. P. Clough, although he continued as general manager. Coffin, who was also an executive of General Electric, sought opportunities to use GE products in emerging markets. At his direction, Tinker and Piper built a small electric car at the Waltham plant. The car had a 60-inch wheelbase and used a General Electric electric motor. It was shown as the Orient Electric at the New York Cycle & Automobile Show in 1899. The electric experiment did not lead to a continuing product line: Tinker, Piper, and Metz were not enthusiastic about the vehicle, and no additional electric cars followed. In 1899 or early 1900, Tinker and Piper left the Waltham Manufacturing Company under a mutually agreed arrangement supported by Metz. They established the Waltham Automobile Company at 130–136 Newton Street in Waltham. The new business manufactured small steam-powered stanhopes, sold at $750 when equipped with a Victoria top. Historical accounts also indicate that some examples may have used vis-à-vis coachwork, although the exact extent of that production is uncertain. The Waltham Automobile Company remained a short-lived operation. Production ended in 1902 or 1903, and surviving sources do not establish how many vehicles were built. At least one Waltham steam Stanhope remains in existence. The marque belongs to the Brass Era, when steam, electric, and gasoline systems competed for acceptance and manufacturers frequently operated on a small experimental scale. The Waltham name was later used by an unrelated Springfield, Massachusetts, company that produced a steam-powered automobile in 1905. That company is distinct from the Waltham Manufacturing and Waltham Automobile activities associated with Tinker and Piper. Waltham Steam is consequently best understood as the early Waltham steam-car design and its closely connected production venture, rather than as a long-running automobile manufacturer.

• 1902

  Approximate end of production period

  [1]Waltham Steamen.wikipedia.org

  Production of the Waltham steam automobiles ended in approximately 1902 or 1903.

• 1899

  Orient Electric presented

  [1]Waltham Steamen.wikipedia.org

  Tinker and Piper displayed a General Electric-powered electric car as the Orient Electric at the New York Cycle & Automobile Show.

• 1899

  Waltham Automobile Company established

  [1]Waltham Steamen.wikipedia.org

  Tinker and Piper left the Waltham Manufacturing Company and began an independent Waltham automobile venture in Waltham, Massachusetts.

• 1898

  First Waltham Steam completed

  [1]Waltham Steamen.wikipedia.org

  George M. Tinker and John W. Piper completed a lightweight steam buggy at the Waltham Manufacturing Company and named it Waltham Steam.

• 1898

  Boston Automobile Show exhibition

  [1]Waltham Steamen.wikipedia.org

  The first Waltham Steam was exhibited at the Boston Automobile Show.

A lightweight, experimental American steam automobile associated with the Brass Era and the early transition from bicycle manufacturing to motor-vehicle production.

• Steam automobile · 1898

  Waltham Steam light steam buggy

  The original 1898 Waltham Steam was a compact, lightweight steam buggy developed by George M. Tinker and John W. Piper. It used a 3-horsepower, two-cylinder, double-acting steam engine weighing approximately 50 pounds. Its copper condenser weighed about 110 pounds, and the complete vehicle weighed approximately 600 pounds. The vehicle had wire wheels and a vertically mounted steering lever. It was demonstrated publicly at the 1898 Boston Automobile Show.

• Steam automobile · 1899

  Waltham steam Stanhope

  After establishing the Waltham Automobile Company, Tinker and Piper built small steam-powered stanhopes under the Waltham name. Contemporary descriptions identify a $750 version fitted with a Victoria top, while some vehicles may have received vis-à-vis coachwork. The total production quantity is unknown, and production ended around 1902 or 1903. At least one Stanhope is known to survive.

• Electric automobile · 1899

  Orient Electric

  The Orient Electric was an experimental electric car built by Tinker and Piper at the Waltham Manufacturing Company at the direction of Charles A. Coffin. It used a General Electric motor and had a 60-inch wheelbase. The vehicle was shown at the 1899 New York Cycle & Automobile Show, but the project did not lead to additional electric vehicles and is not part of the continuing Waltham steam line.

• 1899

  Experiment with electric propulsionStrategy

  Background

  After Charles A. Coffin and H. P. Clough acquired the Waltham Manufacturing Company, Coffin sought potential applications for General Electric equipment.

  Action taken

  Tinker and Piper built an electric car using a General Electric motor and presented it as the Orient Electric.

  Aftermath

  The engineers and Metz were not impressed with the electric vehicle, and no further electric cars were produced under the project.

  Source

• 1899

  Formation of an independent steam-car companyStrategy

  Background

  Tinker and Piper left the Waltham Manufacturing Company in 1899 or early 1900 with Metz's agreement and support.

  Action taken

  They established the Waltham Automobile Company at 130–136 Newton Street and focused on small steam-powered stanhopes.

  Aftermath

  The independent venture produced Waltham steam automobiles for a limited period before ending production around 1902 or 1903.

  Listed price of a Waltham Stanhope with Victoria top. $750 (Around 1899–1903)

  Source

• 1898

  Launch of the Waltham Steam buggyProduct launch

  Background

  Tinker and Piper were experimenting with motor vehicles while employed by the Waltham Manufacturing Company, whose principal established business was associated with Orient bicycles.

  Action taken

  With Charles Herman Metz's permission, they built and exhibited a lightweight steam buggy using a small two-cylinder engine.

  Aftermath

  The buggy established the Waltham name in early American automobile experimentation and was followed by additional Tinker & Piper steam cars.

  Source

1. 1Waltham Steamen.wikipedia.org