120 years ago today (Nov 6, 1905), the end of the beginning.

[Rob]

There are no historical references to this day in Ford history, but on this day 120 years ago, the future of Ford Motor Co. was about to change forever. And Henry Ford, CFO James Cousins, C. H. Wills nor any other Ford Motor Company figures were involved.

Ford Motor Co. had just finished an incredibly successful fiscal year (Oct 1, 1904-Sep 30, 1905). Three new models, C, B and F sales were hugely profitable, and two 100% of capitalization dividends had been paid to investors. FMC’s two largest shareholders, VP Henry Ford and Treasurer A. Y. Malcomson each received almost 2 million dollars (today’s value) in dividends . Both also received another $31,000 (today’s value) from the new Ford-Canada enterprise.

The company was tooling up for the introduction of two revolutionary new models, the six cylinder K, one of this country’s first six cylinder production autos, and the four cylinder Model N, to be offered at the unheard of retail price of $500.

It’s not surprising this story in an Indiana newspaper probably went unnoticed:

Turns out Reeves Pulley Co. of Columbus Indiana inked a contract with an unknown automaker, selling their entire expected production of air cooled 20 hp motors for 1906.

Reeves had just entered the engine making business, although they were already a well established pulley and gear maker with national and international customers. Below is an ad the company placed in the September 1, 1905 “Cycle and Automobile” magazine for their 12 and 20 hp motors:

[Rob]

Newspapers left a trail before and after this November 6 story. Research of newspaper archives revealed Reeves Pulley VP Milton O. Reeves

We see Reeves left for Detroit with his 20 hp motor and 12 hp cats to demonstrate for a potential buyer on October 17, 1905, returning on November 4th.

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

Newspapers left a trail before and after this November 6 story. Research of newspaper archives revealed Reeves Pulley VP Milton O. Reeves
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We see Reeves left for Detroit with his 20 hp motor and 12 hp cats to demonstrate for a potential buyer on October 17, 1905, returning on November 4th.

How large & wide could these cars have been to warrant a specially sized freight car??

Our Wikipedia friends...

"Reeves continued to work on developing a car and by 1904 had convinced his brothers to back another attempt. He made four Model D and six Model E cars by 1905. The D had a 12 hp engine and the E an 18-20 hp engine. In 1905 he produced an air cooled, valve in head motor with individually cast cylinders, splash lubrication, and intake and exhaust manifolds on opposite sides. That year Reeves obtained a contract for 500 of these engines from the Aerocar Company and by 1906 was making 15 engines a week. 1906 saw the introduction of a water cooled model and the Model J engined car the Reeves Go-Buggy. The Model P engine was used in the Sears Motor Buggy.[5] The engines continued to evolve until 1910 when the family again abandoned the idea because of the collapse of the Aerocar Company.[6] Through this period Reeves had continued to make cars with the Model S and N being two of the types. The variable speed transmission continued to be made by the Reeves Pulley Company up until 1955 when it was acquired by the Reliance Electric Company, now part of the Baldor Electric Company."

Other auto companies using Reeves engines at various time during the period were Auburn, Autobug, Chatham, Mapleby, and Moon."

[Rob]

Thanks Jerry. Here’s a rough photo identified as a 1906 Reeves. It may be the car used to demonstrate the 12 or 20 hp motor in Detroit:

[Rob]

I find it interesting that tha day after the Ford Motor Co. year end shareholders and directors meeting, Reeves and his cars met with a prospective buyer who wished to remain unknown.

We now know that buyer was Alex Malcomson and interested investors. We also see that he wished his identity to not be disclosed, and that he had been re-elected to the Ford Board of Directors.

We also learn from the first article at the top of this post that “The big order is for the twenty horse power engine and the engine will be used in an entirely new automobile, one which has never yet been on the market. The Detroit company also wants the Pulley company to design a light touring car in which the twelve horse power engine can be used and in that event there will be a large order placed with the Reeves Company for that size engine.”

This implies (to me) that Malcomson was interested in a smaller model as well as his initial Aerocar offering, which used the 20 hp Reeves air cooled motor. Regardless, this Aerocar, designed and contracted for by November 1905, was a very different automobile than Ford’s Model K, also being designed at the same time, with a six cylinder water cooled motor exactly twice the displacement and horsepower. In 1909 this court proceeding furnished more details about the future Aerocar. Reeves would sue Malcomson for not fulfilling the contract, taking only 300 of the original 500 motors contracted. What’s more, we see in the contract terms Malcomson and Aerocar were paying $320 for these motors. In contrast, Ford Motor Co. paid Dodge Bros. $287 for the six cylinder water cooled motor used with the Model K:

Next, wrapping up. How this seemingly unrelated event (to Ford Motor Co.) changed Ford history.