thumb|Knox „Atlas“ 3t (1905) 24 hp
thumb|Knox Model 15 (1909)
thumb|Knox Model 18 (1909)
thumb|Knox Model 20 (1909)
thumb|Knox Trucks (1910)
thumb|Knox-Martin ladder truck (1911)
thumb|Knox fire truck (1919)
The Knox Automobile Company was a manufacturer of automobiles in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, between 1900 and 1914. Knox also built trucks and farm tractors until 1924. They are notable for building the very first modern fire engine in 1905, and the first American vehicle with hydraulic brakes, in 1915.
History
Harry Austin Knox built three experimental gasoline cars at Overman Wheel Company between 1895 and 1898. He left Overman when they decided to build a steam car. Knox joined with his former employer, Elihu H. Cutler of the Elektron Company to form the Knox Automobile Company in Springfield Massachusetts in 1900. The Waltham Watch Company factory was purchased and Knox built 15 cars in their first year.
The Knox Model A was a three-wheel runabout with a 5-hp one-cylinder air-cooled engine. In 1902 a four-wheel runabout and a 8-hp two-cylinder engine joined the model line-up. Early cars were called Knoxmobile with the Waterless Knox being used from 1903. A slogan used was "The Car That Never Drinks".
The "Old Porcupine" engine
The flat-mounted single-cylinder engine was air-cooled. Rather than flanges to improve the efficiency of cooling, 1,750 threaded diameter rods were screwed into the cylinder casing as projecting studs, which led to the engine sometimes being referred to as "Old Porcupine". A 2-speed planetary transmission was fitted. This engine was situated at the center of the car and produced . It was also called a "hedgehog". The one-cylinder engine was used until 1905. In 1902 a two-cylinder version was added that was used up to 1907.
Fate
By 1912 Knox sales were slipping and a receiver was called in. The last Knox automobiles were built in 1914 and Knox was declared bankrupt in 1915. Knox reorganized as the Knox Motors Corporation and continued to build tractors and trucks until 1924.
|1904
|1
|
|
|-
|E
|1905
|1
|
|
|-
|F-3
|1905–1906
|2
|
|
|-
|F-1
|1905–1906
|2
|
|
|-
|F
|1905–1906
|2
|
|
|-
|41
|1905–(1907)
|1
|
|
|-
|39
|1905–?
|2
|
|
|-
|F-4
|1906–1907
|2
|
|
|-
|102
|1906–(1907)
|2
|
|
|-
|G
|1906–1908
|4
|
|
|-
|H
|1907–1909
|4
|
|
|-
|232
|1908-
|4
|
|
|-
|L
|1908
|4
|
|
|-
|O
|1909
|4
|
|
|-
|M
|1909–1910
|4
|
|
|-
|S
|1910–1912
|6
|
|
|-
|R
|1910–1912
|4
|
|
|-
|R-45
|1912
|4
|
|
|-
|66
|1913
|6
|
|
|-
|46
|1913–1914
|6
|
|
|-
|45
|1913–1914
|4
|
|
|-
|44
|1913–1914
|4
|
|
|}
Production
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year
|-
|1912
|877
|S; R; R-45
|-
|1913
|673
|66; 46; 45; 44
|-
|1914
|383
|46; 45; 44
|-
|Total
|10,835
|-
|1915
|
|
|
|-
|1916
|
|
|
|-
|1917
|
|
|
|-
|1918
|
|
|
|-
|1919
|
|
|35 (6,5 tons); 36 (6,5 tons)
|-
|1920
|
|
|36 (5 tons); 36 (5 tons all-wheel drive)
|-
|1921
|
|
|36 (5 tons); 36 (5 tons all-wheel drive)
|-
|1922
|
|
|35 (5 tons); 36 (10 tons)
|-
|1923
|
|
|35 (5 tons); 36 (10 tons)
|-
|1924
|
|
|35 (5 tons); 36 (10 tons)
|}
References
See also
- Brass Era car
- List of defunct United States automobile manufacturers
- Knox automobiles at ConceptCarz
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