1919 Franklin Series 9 Brougham

The Franklin Automobile Company produced vehicles from 1902 through 1934. They are best remembered for their air-cooled engines, wooden frames, and full-elliptic springs. John Wilkinson was the engineer who built the first Franklin car and whose design principles combining high quality with lightweight gave Franklin their distinct reputation for dependability and long life.

All of their models used air-cooled engines and they were the only major manufacturer of air-cooled automobiles in the United States with the exception of the short-lived, very low production Holmes made from 1918 to 1923. Almost all models used a six-cylinder engine except for some of the earliest cars, which had four-cylinder engines. A V12 model was also produced from 1932 to 1934.

From the mid-1920s on, Franklin competed in the luxury car market. All models from 1925 on, except for the 1933-1934 Olympic, are considered full classics by the Classic Car Club of America. A total of 154,000 cars were produced. Early Franklins are easily identified by the sloping hood and they had no radiator. Starting in 1922, they changed styling to a conventional more vertical front but they still had no radiator.

Franklin pioneered the production of the closed car with catalog Sedans, Broughams, Berlines, and Coupes as early as 1912. The desire for comfort in all weather conditions was growing and designer Wilkinson's V-Windshield cars of 1916 through 1922 were delivered. Luxury appointments included felted wool upholstery, Pewter-finished trimmings, coat hooks, hat rack, and parcel net, plus an engine-driven air compressor for tire filling. Franklin's biggest-selling model, the Series 9, featured a smaller, but highly refined 6-cylinder engine and chassis, giving owners even more 'ability' in difficult conditions as well as economy and reliability.

This 1919 Series 9B has a 199 cubic-inch six-cylinder overhead valve engine, producing 30 horsepower with a three-speed transmission. Its wheelbase is 115 inches and its weight with the Brougham body is 2,700 pounds.

Franklin was an early adapter of closed bodies, and this body is a prime example. This car was donated to the Franklin Automobile Collection at Hickory Corners by Bob and Pat Kern who purchased the car at the Harrah's Collection Automobile Auction in 1984. It is in its original unrestored condition with only 6,000 miles.