Gardner-Serpollet
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | January 1, 1886 in Paris, France |
| Founder | Léon Serpollet, Henri Serpollet, Frank Gardner |
| Defunct | 1907 |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
| Products | Steam-powered automobiles |
Gardner-Serpollet was a French enterprise specializing in steam-powered automobiles during the early 1900s. The flash boiler, a crucial advancement that improved the practicality of steam-driven cars, was invented and refined by Léon Serpollet in the late 19th century.
Until his passing in 1907, Serpollet manufactured vehicles under both the Serpollet and Gardner-Serpollet names.
Origins
Léon Serpollet, originating from the Ain region of France, established a workshop alongside his brother Henri on rue des Cloÿs within Paris’s 18th arrondissement, now occupied by Parc Léon Serpollet. In 1886, they launched La Société des Moteurs Serpollet Frères in Montmartre, dedicating their efforts to advancing steam engine technology.
Flash boiler
The Serpollet brothers, Léon and Henri, were innovators of the flash tube boiler—a highly efficient mechanism that generated steam swiftly and consistently. While the precise date of its creation remains uncertain, their late 1880s steam-powered tricycle showcased its operational benefits.
In 1896, Léon secured a patent for an oil-fueled flash boiler that powered an advanced four-cylinder engine equipped with poppet valves and a sealed crankcase—features resembling those found in modern petrol engines—marking a significant leap forward in steam automobile engineering.
1894 Paris-Rouen
On July 22, 1894, four vehicles from Serpollet entered the Le Petit Journal Contest for Horseless Carriages covering the route from Paris to Rouen. Maurice Le Blant achieved 14th place and Ernest Archdeacon came in 16th, whereas 'De Prandiéres' and Étienne le Blant withdrew before completing the course.
Formation of Gardner-Serpollet
In 1898, the Serpollet siblings joined forces with American investor Frank Gardner to create the Gardner-Serpollet Company, which commenced automobile manufacturing by 1900.
A 1903 model from Gardner-Serpollet is currently displayed at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum located in Brookline, Massachusetts.
The Easter Egg
As both innovator and producer, Léon Serpollet became the first individual to set the Land Speed Record driving a non-electric vehicle. His streamlined steam car known as Œuf de Pâques (Easter Egg) attained speeds exceeding over the flying kilometre along the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, France on April 13, 1902, breaking Camille Jenatzy's previous record from 1899 established with La Jamais Contente.
External links
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- Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1886
- 1886 establishments in France
- Brass Era vehicles
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- Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of France
- Steam cars
- Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Paris
- Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1907
- 1907 disestablishments in France