Baker Motor Vehicle

thumb|Baker Stanhope (1902)

thumb|Baker Surrey (1904)

thumb|1913 Baker Electric

thumb|Baker Runabout 1.5 kW (1907)

thumb|Baker Queen Victoria 1.5 kW (1907)

thumb|Baker Inside Driven Coupé 1.5 kW (1907)

thumb|Baker Roadster 2.6 kW (1907)

thumb|Baker Brougham 4.3 kW (1907)

Baker Motor Vehicle Company was an American manufacturer of Brass Era electric automobiles in Cleveland, Ohio, from 1899 to 1914. It was founded by Walter C. Baker.

History

thumb|left|Baker Electrics logo, 1912

The first Baker vehicle was a two seater with a selling price of US$850. One was sold to Thomas Edison as his first car. Edison also designed the nickel-iron batteries used in some Baker electrics. These batteries have extremely long lives .

1902 accident

In May 1902, Baker took part in a speed trial on a public road on Staten Island, New York. The vehicle was built specially for racing, having previously raced in Cleveland, and was a streamlined and enclosed 'torpedo' body with a small conning tower and even smaller mica window for the driver. A crew of two were carried, one acting as brakesman whilst W C Baker, the driver, steered. Although carrying two people increased the weight, this was a small matter when the car already weighed , mostly of lead-zinc batteries. The intention was to exceed 60 mph and to cover 'a mile a minute' from a standing start, beating the performance of the more powerful gasoline cars and the 1901 electric record by a Riker of 1:08.

The Baker was car 39 from the start and set a good time for the first part of the course, but then lost control and slid sideways into the crowd. Two spectators were killed and others injured. In the aftermath, the Automobile Club of America resolved to stop races on public roads and there was a general loss of confidence in the safety of electric cars.

The Runabout had , weighed , and had a wheelbase of 58-in.

thumb|left|200px|1909 Baker Suburban Runabout

The 1906 Baker Landolet was priced at $4,000. The company also manufactured the Imperial, Suburban, Victoria, Surrey, Depot Carriages, and other new models "to be announced later."

thumb|right|250px|Baker Electrics advertisement, The Washington Post, 19 October 1913

By 1907, Baker had seventeen models, the smallest being the Stanhope and the largest the Inside Drive Coupe. There was also the US$4,000 Extension Front Brougham with the driving seat high up behind the passengers mimicking a hansom cab. Baker also introduced a range of trucks with capacity of up to five tons in 1907.

In late 1910, the Baker Electric was quite luxurious and priced at $2,800. It had a seating capacity of four passengers and was painted black with choice of blue, green or maroon panels. The latest model also offered a Queen Victoria body as "interchangeable on chassis" priced at an additional $300.

The Baker of 1910 was the only electric that had a heavy series-wound motor of 300 percent overload capacity, with a commutator "absolutely proof against sparking and burning under all conditions." It was driven by Helen Taft, wife of William Howard Taft, and later by Edith Bolling Wilson.

A Baker Electric was bought in 1903 by King Chulalongkorn of Siam. It was trimmed with ivory and gold, and upholstered with pigskin seats.

Commercial vehicles

left|thumb|Baker Motor-Vehicle Co. Commercial Car Department, 1912

right|thumb| Baker Electric Truck (1914)

The Baker Motor-Vehicle Company, located at 63 West 80th Street in Cleveland, Ohio, specialized in vehicles for the commercial market. By October 1912, the company had a Commercial Car Department and had dealers situated in several leading cities around the United States.

During late 1912, Baker advertised that the average cost for deliveries over the "steep hills" of Spokane, Washington, by Crescent Department Store were four cents a piece, including all operating charges, maintenance, interest and depreciation.

Commercial vehicles:

Model X - 0,5 t Truck
Model O - 1 t Truck
Model U - 2 t Truck
Model CC - 3,5 t Truck

thumb|right|200px|Baker's [[Baker Motor Vehicle Company Building|former showroom and service facility on Euclid Avenue ]]

Merger

thumb|left|Baker Electric - Quality Service in 1913

In 1913, Baker was overtaken in sales by Detroit Electric and, in 1914, merged with fellow Cleveland automaker Rauch and Lang to become Baker, Rauch & Lang. A 1916 Baker Electric was also featured in a 1960 episode of Dennis the Menace.

References

</references>

External links

Baker Electric Vehicles (1907) - Sales catalog featuring specifications and pricing for various models at Cleveland Public Library.
My Classic Car Season 10 Episode 14 - Jay Leno's Baker Electric Car
Blog about Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome's Baker electric car restoration