Brush Motor Car Company was one of a raft of auto makers founded in the early 1900s. Brush’s specialty was cheap runabouts, which means a conveyance with almost no weather equipment. Its cars incorporated “innovations” of dubious value, which is probably why the company lasted only a few years. These included wooden underpinnings, including a frame and axles made of hickory, and an engine that turned counterclockwise so a right-handed person starting the car would be less likely to get hurt if the starter crank rebounded. This rare speedster, meticulously restored by a grandson with his grandfather, has been in storage for years and needs a new home. It is advertised here on craigslist for $23,000, and the new owner can pick it up from Red Feather Lakes, Colorado. Thanks to Barney for this unusual find!
Alanson Partridge Brush was no fly-by-night entrepreneur. He began his career working as an engineer for Cadillac, helping to bring its first car to market in 1902. In an historic stunt, on October 2, 1902, he drove the prototype Cadillac first up, then down the steps of the Wayne County Courthouse in downtown Detroit. The feat advertised the new car’s tractability to excellent effect. But his employer refused his proposal to build a lightweight two-cylinder car, prompting Brush’s resignation. Brush founded his own motorcar company in 1907. He produced several models, mostly differentiated by increasing power output from single-cylinder L-head engines and slightly varied coachwork. The planetary gearbox was his own design.
By 1910, Brush had been absorbed into the United States Motor Company, which amounted to a consortium of dealers banded together to achieve selling efficiencies. In only a few more years, Brush – along with many of its peers – was sidelined by the advent of the Model T. But before it closed down, lightweight 6 and 10 hp Brush cars had climbed Pike’s Peak, participated in the Glidden Tour, and driven across the country.
Brush runabouts come to market with some regularity – ok, maybe not every day, but certainly one or two every couple of years. Bonhams has auctioned several, including this outstanding Model A, sold this year for just over $21k. Today’s well-restored Brush speedster is probably priced about right, with a little wiggle room for negotiating. Would you ever own a car from the first days of motoring?
I’ve never heard of Brush motor cars until drinking my cup of coffee this morning. What a beautiful restoration. And the fact that a Grandpa and a Grandson did all this work is even better. I guarantee you, those are cherished memories that would never be forgotten. There’s something about the simplicity of this little buggy that really draws me to it. This is great Michelle. Thank you for all the research you did on this, I enjoyed learning about Brush Motor cars.
Hickory axles? That’s a new one on me!
Very pretty car though. And I imagine if you can keep from breaking an axle, they’d be pretty easy to maintain.