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Milburn Electric Model 15 Light Coupé - successful electric car from the USA over 100 years ago

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Created on September 24, 2019

Reading time 3min

Written by:

Daniel Koch

Photos:

Courtesy RM/Sotheby's

16

Courtesy RM/Sotheby's

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Milburn Electric Model 15 Light Coupe (1915) - Coupe-Aufbau, wegen der Höhe auch "phone box" (Telefonzelle) genannt

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Milburn Electric Model 15 Light Coupe (1915) - Das Heck sieht der Front nicht unähnlich

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Milburn Electric Model 15 Light Coupe (1915) - Der Fahrer sitzt hinten auf der Couch und lenkt mit der Stange anstatt einem Lenkrad - ansonsten sieht es aus wie in einem Wohnzimmer

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Milburn Electric Model 15 Light Coupe (1915) - Zwei Passagiere finden auf Klappsitzen gegen die Fahrtrichtung Platz, unter dem heruntergeklappten Sitz sind Gas- und Bremspedal zu sehen

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Milburn Electric Model 15 Light Coupe (1915) - Minimalistische Knöpfe und Hebel

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Milburn Electric Model 15 Light Coupe (1915) - Vorhänge und eine schöne Couch, fast wie zu Hause

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Milburn Electric Model 15 Light Coupe (1915) - Anzeige für Volt und Ampère

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Milburn Electric Model 15 Light Coupe (1915) - Der originelle Geschwindigkeitsmesser erinnert an ein Massband aus dem Schneideratelier. Oben rechts gibt es sogar einen zweistelligen Zähler für die zurückgelegten Meilen pro Fahrt

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Milburn Electric Model 15 Light Coupe (1915) - Schalter für das Ein- und Ausschalten des Fahrzeuges sowie für den Ladevorgang

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Milburn Electric Model 15 Light Coupe (1915) - Blende über der Windschutzscheibe

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Milburn Electric Model 15 Light Coupe (1915) - Übersichtliche Fahrwerks-Technik

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Milburn Electric Model 15 Light Coupe (1915) - Ein einzelnes Rücklicht reichte damals noch aus

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Milburn Electric Model 15 Light Coupe (1915) - Der Antrieb ist an der Hinterachse untergebracht

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Milburn Electric Model 15 Light Coupe (1915) - Speichenräder

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Milburn Electric Model 15 Light Coupe (1915) - Für die Höchstgeschwindigkeit von 24 km/h genügt die Leistung der Scheinwerfer vermutlich

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Summary

Anyone who thought electric cars were a modern invention is mistaken: cars were already running on electricity over 100 years ago. In Hershey, USA, RM/Sotheby's will be auctioning off a Milburn Electric Model 15 Light Coupe from 1915 at the auction on October 10-11, 2019. In past auctions, similar vehicles have repeatedly achieved surprisingly high prices, so there is definitely a market for such electric pioneers. This report describes the history of the Milburn brand and portrays an example of their vehicle in many pictures.

This article contains the following chapters

Advantage for Milburn
Sufficient range
No steering wheel
No starter motor
Unusual seating position
Various superstructures
Fulminant start of production
Back in operation today

Estimated reading time: 3min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Around 1910, when most American households had access to electricity, the first golden age of electric vehicles began. The best-known brand of this technology is probably Detroit Electric, which began building electric cars in 1907. But as early as 1900, the Baker company in Cleveland, Ohio, launched the Baker Electric model. It was not until 1914 that the Milburn Wagon Company was founded in Toledo, Ohio, which also produced the Milburn Electric Model 15 Light Coupe shown in this report. At the time, the manufacturer benefited from the experience of its competitors and implemented some clever ideas. The batteries were fitted with rollers so that they could be replaced quickly to avoid long waiting times for charging.

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