Smith Automobile Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1902 in Topeka, Kansas, United States |
| Founder | Anton Smith, Clement Smith, Terry Stafford |
| Defunct | 1911 |
| Headquarters | Topeka , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Automobiles (Veracity, Smith, Great Smith) |
The Smith Automobile Company, located in Topeka, Kansas, was among the pioneering automobile producers in the United States, manufacturing the Veracity, Smith, and Great Smith models between 1902 and 1911. Notably, they were the earliest car manufacturer established west of the Mississippi River.
History
By February 1900, Terry Stafford had begun experimenting with his initial automobile prototype but faced financial constraints. Support came from Anton and Clement Smith, brothers who provided capital to establish a manufacturing facility. The first vehicles reached customers in August 1902, initially branded as Veracity and equipped with two-cylinder engines; subsequently, larger models adopted the Smith designation.
In November 1904, the Smith Automobile Company was officially incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000. Stafford developed a new four-cylinder model featuring shaft drive, which debuted around mid-1906.
The 1907 Great Smith model retailed for $2,500 and was powered by a 318 cubic inch (5213 cc) water-cooled four-cylinder engine. It incorporated a four-speed sliding gear transmission, multi-disk clutch, 34×4 inch spoked wheels, and a wheelbase measuring 107 inches. The company took pride in producing nearly all components internally under proprietary patents.
In 1908, a Great Smith vehicle achieved the distinction of being the first car to reach the summit of Pikes Peak. During 1908 and 1909, the Smith brothers divested their shares to investors from Michigan who intended to transfer manufacturing to Grand Rapids, Michigan. However, resistance from the A.L.A.M. compelled the company to maintain operations in Topeka. By December 1910, after attempting to secure local financial backing, the firm entered receivership.
Upon leaving the enterprise, Anton Smith reportedly destroyed company documentation. In 1908, Stafford departed to establish the Stafford Motor Car Company, which operated until 1915; vehicles from this company were owned by prominent individuals including President Harry Truman.
In 1911, Charles and George Southwick purchased the Smith factory and completed assembly of remaining automobiles from existing parts before selling the property to a silo manufacturer in 1912.
A red and black Great Smith automobile is exhibited by the Kansas Historical Society.
See also
External links
- Short description with empty Wikidata description
- Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States
- Economy of Topeka, Kansas
- American companies established in 1902
- 1902 establishments in Kansas
- Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1902
- American companies disestablished in 1912
- 1912 disestablishments in Kansas
- Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1911
- Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Kansas
- Veteran vehicles
- Brass Era vehicles
- 1900s cars
- 1910s cars
- Cars introduced in 1902
- Cars discontinued in 1911