Michigan (1903 automobile)
| Formerly | Fuller Brothers Manufacturing Company |
|---|---|
| Company type | Automobile manufacturer |
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1903 |
| Defunct | 1907 |
| Fate | changed name |
| Successor | Fuller & Sons Manufacturing Company |
| Headquarters | Kalamazoo, Michigan |
| Products | Automobiles |
The Michigan automobile was a brass era vehicle produced in Kalamazoo, Michigan by the Michigan Automobile Company, Ltd between 1903 and 1907.
History
The enterprise began through a collaboration between the Fuller brothers, Charles D. and Frank D., proprietors of Fuller Brothers Manufacturing Company—known for producing washboards and wooden goods—and the Blood brothers, who owned Kalamazoo Cycle Company and were involved in early automobile prototypes. On December 30, 1902, the Michigan Automobile Company, Ltd was established with Charles Fuller serving as chairman, Frank Fuller as secretary and general manager, Maurice E. Blood as treasurer, and Charles C. Blood as superintendent.
Following internal disagreements, the Blood brothers withdrew from the company in late 1904. They subsequently launched their own Blood automobile, essentially replicating their final design created for Michigan. The Bloods discontinued vehicle production in 1905 to concentrate on manufacturing automotive components. Meanwhile, the Michigan Automobile Company persisted until 1907 when the Fuller brothers transitioned their focus to parts production under the new name Fuller & Sons Manufacturing Company, specializing in transmissions and clutches.
Models
The initial prototype developed by the Blood brothers was a two-seat runabout featuring a 48-inch wheelbase, lever-operated steering, and an air-cooled single-cylinder engine delivering 3.5 horsepower (476 cc). The first production vehicle, Model A, had a 54-inch wheelbase, weighed 360 pounds, and was priced at $450; around 100 units were produced by 1904.
In 1904, the company introduced Model C, a larger car equipped with a two-cylinder engine generating 12 horsepower mounted beneath the seat. It had a wheelbase of 78 inches, utilized a steering wheel for control, and was marketed as a Light Touring car at $900.
By 1905, two additional two-cylinder models were made available: Model D featured a 12 horsepower engine with an 80-inch wheelbase and Demi Tonneau body style priced at $1,100; Model E offered 16 horsepower on a 90-inch wheelbase initially costing $1,250 and increasing to $1,500 by 1906. Model E continued in production until the company's closure in 1907.
See also
- Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States
- American companies established in 1903
- Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1903
- 1903 establishments in Michigan
- Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1908
- 1908 disestablishments in Michigan
- Companies based in Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Michigan
- Brass Era vehicles
- 1900s cars
- Cars introduced in 1903
- Cars discontinued in 1907