1910 White Model GA

The company founded by Thomas White and William Grout before the Civil War began as a manufacturer of sewing machines. Based in Massachusetts, they later moved to Ohio. The company produced a variety of products throughout its 80-year history including roller skates, machine tools, and bicycles.

Around 1900, White's sons Rollin, Windsor, and Walter entered the steam automobile industry. The White Motor Company of Cleveland, Ohio, manufactured White Steamers from 1900 until 1910, producing approximately 10,000 steam-powered vehicles during that time. Production continued with internal combustion through 1918, when they abandoned passenger cars to concentrate on trucks.

Four White steam cars contested the New York to Buffalo Endurance Run of 1901, and each received First Class Certificates. The following year, our Gold Medals were won in the New York-Boston-New York event, and in 1903, a White Steamer won the Gold Medal in the New York to Pittsburgh Endurance Run. In 1905, Webb Jay drove 'Whistling Billy' to a new World Mile Speed Record at the Morris Park Track with a speed of 73.75 mph.

White steamers built through 1903 had conventional Stanhope designs similar to horse-drawn buggies. In 1904, the engine was moved to the front and, with a more substantial chassis, was generally offered with rear-entrance tonneau coachwork.

The White Motor Company patented the flow motor in 1906, a technology that allowed a steam car to be driven automatically for the first time. Even with continual improvements, internal combustion continued to grow in popularity, so White decided to license the design of a Delahaye engine, and built a 'gas car' in 1908.

1910 White
The 1910 White model lineup included a pair of internal combustion models, and a pair of steam-powered cars. The Model O-O and Model M-M were the latter, with the Model O-O residing on a 110-inch wheelbase and powered by a 20-horsepower engine. The Model M-M steamer had a 122-inch platform and a 40-horsepower engine. Prices for the Model O-O ranged from $2,000 to $3,300, and the Model M-M from $4,000 to $5,000.

The company's internal combustion options included the Model G-A and G-B, with the G-A being the smaller of the two. Both models were carried over into 1911, but with left-hand drive configuration. Right-hand drive, internal combustion Whites were built only in 1910.

The Model G-A had a 110-inch wheelbase and the Model G-B a 120-inch wheelbase. Body style options of the Model G-A included a five-passenger tourer and tonneau, both priced at $2,000. The Model G-B 7-passenger tourer was priced at $2,500, the landaulette at $3,800, and the limousine at $3,600.

The Model G-A was powered by a 226.4 cubic-inch inline four-cylinder engine with a single carburetor and paired with a four-speed manual transmission. It had two-wheel brakes and a leaf spring suspension.

Approximately 2,408 White automobiles were built in 1910, a significant increase over the 1,377 units built in 1909 and slightly more than the 2,183 examples built in 1911.

by Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2024