1912 Cadillac Model 30 Touring

This is the first vehicle to use the electric starter designed by Charles Kettering, of Dayton, Ohio. His business would become a household name (Dayton Electric Company) and the electric starter (known as a 'World Wonder') revolutionized the car industry setting women behind the wheel of what would otherwise be a difficult car to start by hand cranking the engine. Cadillac was truly, as their logo declared, 'Standard of the World!'

The electric starter also brought with it another innovation - electric lighting for headlamps, cowl lamps, and a tail lamp. Prior to this innovation, driving at night required using gas-powered lamps which used either calcium carbide gas mixed with water in a generator device or use of Prestolite gas.

This automobile has been in the same family for 45 years and has passed from Grandfather to Father and Son.