Английская Википедия:Bethlehem Motor Truck Corporation

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Шаблон:Short description

Файл:Bethlehem Motors 1920.jpg
Share of the Bethlehem Motors Corp., issued 29. October 1920

The Bethlehem Motors Corporation was a manufacturer of tractors, automobiles and trucks in Allentown, Pennsylvania, between 1917 and 1926.[1]

Tractor manufacturing

In 1918 and 1919, the Corporation built the Model 18-36 tractor, which weighed three tons, and was powered by a Beaver 4-cylinder engine with two forward speeds.[1] Standard equipment included a Stromberg carburettor, Bosch magneto and Fedders radiator.[1] The tractor was not a success, probably due to the poor financial position of the company, the crowded tractor market in the United States, and the 1920 agricultural depression.[1]

Automobile manufacturing

In 1920, the Bethlehem Motors Corporation built the 'Ideal' automobile, which was to be sold only outside the United States.[2] The Ideal was a four-seater sedan with a 40 hp engine built by Bethlehem, Timken axles, and was priced at $3,000.[2] The company went into receivership later that year, and all plans to further produce and sell the car were discontinued.[2] New management disposed of the unsold cars for approximately $1,000 each in 1921.[2]

Truck manufacturing

Файл:1917 - Bethlehem Motor Trucks Magazine Ad Allentown PA.jpg
1917 ad for the company's trucks.
Файл:Bethlehem Motor Truck Corporation newspaper ad.png
1920 ad for the trucks.

Truck manufacture began in 1917, with Шаблон:Frac-ton trucks powered by Golden, Belknap and Swartz engines, and a Шаблон:Frac-ton vehicle using a North American engine.[1] The smaller models cost $1,245; the larger models $1,775. Speeds were between 12 and 18 mph, depending on the engine governor used.[1] Production in 1919 was approximately 3,500.[3] By 1920, all Bethlehem trucks came with electric starter and lights, with the company motto at this time being "Trucks bought today without electric lights will be out of date tomorrow".[1] Despite these new features, business decreased, with the company going into receivership.[3] The last Bethlehem trucks, and the last vehicles of any type manufactured by the Bethlehem Motors Corporation were assembled in 1926.[1] The factory was bought by Hahn and Company in 1927.[3] Bethlehem was also one of the manufacturers of Liberty Trucks for the United States Army during World War I.[4]

References

  1. 1,0 1,1 1,2 1,3 1,4 1,5 1,6 1,7 Шаблон:Cite book
  2. 2,0 2,1 2,2 2,3 Шаблон:Cite book
  3. 3,0 3,1 3,2 Шаблон:Cite book.
  4. Mroz, Albert.The Illustrated Encyclopedia of American Trucks and Commercial Vehicles, Iola, WI: Kraus Publications, 1996. pg. 246-7.

External links