1904 Franklin Model B

The idea of using an air-cooled engine was not unique to the post-World War II era, in fact, in 1902 Herbert H. Franklin brought out what was to become the most successful name in air-cooled automobiles prior to the Volkswagen. A Cornell engineering graduate named John Wilkinson originally conceived the Franklin engine in 1901. He brought the idea to former newspaper publisher and industrialist Herbert H. Franklin, and Upstate New York venture capitalist Alexander T. Brown. Wilkinson had already completed two air-cooled prototypes for the New York Automobile Company, but the firm had neither acted on the idea nor paid him for his work. Brown convinced Franklin to take a ride in one of the prototypes, which so impressed him that he decided to form the H.H. Franklin Company and get into the automobile business.

After some litigation with the New York Automobile Company, the firm was absorbed into the new Franklin Automobile Company in 1902, and the first production version of the Wilkinson design was delivered on June 23. At the rather substantial price of $1,200, a dozen more Franklins were delivered in 1902. The 1905 Franklin Roadster pictured was the company's sportiest model, featuring a transverse-mounted engine, and although unusual in design, because the Franklin had no need for a radiator or grille, it was one of the most successful new cars sold in the country. A robust and dependable car, Franklin built its early reputation for durability in 1904 when transcontinental driver L.L. Whitman, accompanied by Franklin representative C.S. Carris, drove a runabout from New York to San Francisco in just under 33 days, breaking the previous records held by Packard and Winton by almost a month! Although Franklins did exceptionally well in road races and endurance runs, their greatest selling point was that they never overheated, a problem that plagued most water-cooled automobiles in the early 1900s.

Source - Dennis Adler

For 1904, Franklin offered the Type A, Type B, Type C, Type D, Type E, and Type F models. The Type A, B, E, and F were all powered by a four-cylinder engine developing 12 horsepower. The Type D had a 20 horsepower engine while the Type C was rated at 30 horsepower. The Type C also had the largest wheelbase at 110 inches. The Type D measured 100 inches while the Type E was the smallest at 74 inches. The Type A, B, and F all measured 82 inches.

The Type A had a runabout body style, the type B and F had a Light Tonneau body style, and the Type C had a side-entrance Tonneau configuration. The Type D had a Touring body while the E was a Gentleman's Runabout.

by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2012