 The Winton Automobile
In
October 1896, Alexander Winton, of Cleveland, (who is described as “a
short-tempered Scotsman”) announced his first Automobile in "The Horseless Age"
magazine. His machine weighed in at over 1000 pounds, which slowed its
performance. A second Winton was introduced in February of 1897, and the Winton
Motor Carriage Company was incorporated in March. The second Winton was longer
and wider, accommodating three people across each of its two seats, the second
seat facing rearward in what the French called the dos-a-dos (back to back)
arrangement. (See picture.)
Leo Melanowski, Winton's Chief Engineer invited Henry Ford to come to Cleveland
for an interview at the Winton Company. Alexander Winton was not impressed with
Henry and decided not to hire him. Henry went back to Detroit to continue
working on his second Quadricycle. The Winton Company recorded its first sale in
March of 1898 for $1000 dollars and by years end, 22 Winton's were sold.
Winton was the first to use a steering wheel instead of a tiller; he put the
engine in front of the driver instead of under the car; and he developed the
first practical storage battery. He is perhaps best known now for the effect he
had on others. James W. Packard, a maker of electrical products (whose firm
later became the Packard Cable division of General Motors) visited Winton's
office in Cleveland to offer a few suggestions for improving Winton's car.
Winton blew his top and said: "If you don't like the car, why don't you build
your own?"
By 1899, more than 100 Winton's had been delivered, making Winton's the largest
manufacturer of gasoline powered autos in the United States. With the Winton
starting to show a fair amount of success, the first auto dealership in the
United States was opened in Reading, Pennsylvania by H.W. Koler.
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