1918 Milburn Electric Model 27 Light Electric Brougham

The dawn of the automobile era saw many individuals and companies experimenting with a wide variety of fuel sources, such as gasoline, electricity, and steam, each having benefits and limitations. The electric vehicles were limited in their range, but they were clean, quiet, and easy to start. Another disadvantage was that households that lacked electricity in their homes were unable to recharge the storage batteries. The steam-powered vehicles were clean and quiet, but they required a few minutes before starting to allow steam to form. The gasoline engine was noisy, dirty, and hard to start but showed the most potential. The advent of the electric starter around 1914 meant the demise of the other fuel sources.

By 1910, electric mains had reached a wide portion of the United States population, making electric vehicles more desirable. In 1914, a company was formed in Toledo, Ohio, named the Millburn Wagon Company. It was faced with stiff competition from well-established electric car makers such as Baker and Detroit, not to mention mounting pressure from many other alternative-fuel-sourced vehicles and the low-cost Ford Model T. What Millburn offered that was unique to the company was a battery pack on rollers, which allowed fresh batteries to be installed quickly. This eliminated the downtime required for re-charging making it much more versatile and useful than the traditional electric cars. Sales reflected, with around 1,000 cars sold in 1915 and increasing to 1500 the following year. Their success was short-lived, and by the early 1920s the era of the electric car was going the way of the dinosaur. Production ceased in 1923, and the factory was sold to General Motors.

Most of the body styles produced on the Millburn had the 'phone booth' design. A few roadsters, town cars, and even a delivery van were available.

This 1918 Milburn Electric Model 27 has a Brougham body style. It is a well-preserved example with an older restoration. It has a green body and a black top and fenders. The interior is well appointed with plush bolstered cloth upholstery that is in excellent condition considering its age. Steering is by tiller controls on the left side, and there are two rear-facing fold-down seats in addition to the seats in the back.

This car has traveled a total of 17,591 miles. The top speed from the 76-volt General Electric DC electric motor was around 19 mph and could travel 60 miles before requiring a recharge. There are four forward speeds and two reverse. Two-wheel mechanical brakes provide the stopping power for the 105-inch wheelbase car.

This car was brought to the 2008 Automobiles of Amelia presented by RM Auctions where it was estimated to sell for $35,000 - $45,000. Included in the sale was an authentic Millburn Battery charger. At the conclusion of the auction, the lot had been sold for $46,750, including the buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2008