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1910 Flanders Model 20

Walter E. Flanders was joined by salesman William E. Metzger and coachbuilder/financier Barney Everitt to form the E-M-F Motor Company (Everitt-Metzger-Flanders). Acquiring the Northern and Wayne companies and their respective plants and equipment, the E-M-F produced a mid-market automobile in Detroit, Michigan from June 3rd of 1908 to 1912. When this venture failed, Mr. Flanders began building an automobile using his surname. He was joined by William E. Kelly, the designer of the Wayne, who would become the company's chief engineer. To help fund this new venture, Flanders convinced the Studebaker Brothers into buying the factory of the defunct DeLuxe Motor Company of Detroit.

The 1910 Flanders 20 vehicle was powered by a four-cylinder engine that produced 20 horsepower. The two-speed gearbox sent the power to the rear wheels. Internal expanding drum brakes on the rear wheels provided the stopping power. The vehicle was suspended in place by front semi-elliptic leaf springs with rear full elliptic leaf springs.

Early Flanders vehicles offered suffered from overheating issues. These vehicles were recalled and repaired. A total of 8,132 Flanders were built in 1909 and 15,300 the following year.

The Flanders Model 20 was a quality automobile priced at a reasonable $750 price - at the time, lower than a Ford Model T. Body styles initially included a two-passenger runabout ($750) and a four-passenger tourer ($790). In 1911, the tourer was dropped and a roadster, coupe, and four-passenger suburban were added to the lineup. The 1911 Flanders was priced at $700 for the runabout, $725 for the suburban or roadster, and $975 for the coupe.

The Suburban was a multi-purpose body style, performing duties as a passenger transporter and a delivery vehicle. The body section could be removed and replaced with a slip-on fully enclosed salesman's body. This made it very practical for many situations.

The 100-inch wheelbase used for the 1910 and 1911 Flanders grew to 102 inches for 1912. Body styles included the roadster ($750), the Runabout ($775), the Touring ($800), the Suburban ($800), and the three-passenger coupe ($1,000). By this point, the Ford automobile was selling at under $600 and its vehicles would continue to flood the market, sending many of its competitors into receivership.

Flander's automobile production was running smoothly but the Studebaker automobiles were selling slowly. As inventory continued to back up and cash flow became scarce in March of 1910, J.P. Morgan, acting on behalf of Studebaker, acquired the stock not owned by Studebaker. The Flander Model 20 remained in production briefly before it became a Studebaker.

During its three years of production, approximately 31,514 units were built. Walter Flanders began building a new six-cylinder model dubbed the Model 50 Six in 1913. The vehicle rested on a 130-inch wheelbase and was priced at $2,200 for the Roadster and $2,250 for the seven-passenger tourer.

The Flanders Six was introduced at the New York Automobile Show in January of 1913 and only a few examples were built before Mr. Flanders was recruited by Benjamin Briscoe to help with the United States Motor Company. This company had overstretched its resources as it attempted to mirror the numerous acquisitions of the newly-formed General Motors Corporation. Flanders's solution was to eliminate the underperforming companies which ultimately left Maxwell. This company prospered for several years before the postwar recession hit in 1920. A merger with Chalmers was made to remain alive but the union did not work out well. In 1923, Walter Percy Chrysler arrived and breathed new life into the company. Chrysler became president of the Maxwell-Chalmers organization by 1924 and introduced his new Chrysler in January. The Chrysler Corporation followed in mid-1925. The final Maxwell automobile was built in 1925.


By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2010

Related Reading : Flanders Model 20 History

From 1909 through 1912 the American-based EMF Company produced automobiles. It was founded by Barney Everitt, Willaim Metzger, and Walter Flanders. Taking the first letter of each individuals surname brought about E-M-F. All three had been in the automotive business prior to the formation of their company. Flanders had been a production manager for Henry Ford. Metzger had worked with Cadillac and....
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Performance and Specification Comparison

Price Comparison

1910 Model 20
$790-$16,000
1910 Flanders Model 20 Price Range: $750 - $790

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Model 20

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
100.00 in.
4 cyl.
$750 - $790
102.00 in.
4 cyl., 154.80 CID., 20.00hp
$750 - $1,000

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