1910 White Model OO Steam Touring

The White Motor Company built the White Steamers in Cleveland, Ohio from 1900 until 1910. Company founders Thomas White and William Grout had initially built sewing machines in Massachusetts prior to the Civil War, later moving the company to Ohio. White's son, Rollin, invented the semi-flash boiler which greatly improved the usability of steam technology. Rollin, along with his brothers Windsor and Water, began steam car manufacturing around 1900. Nearly 200 examples were built in 1901 and within a decade had surpassed Stanley as the largest manufacturer of steam automobiles.

The White Steamers used a 'Compound' two-cylinder system in which water was flash-heated in a boiler, then compressed in one cylinder, and then sent to the other cylinder at high pressure. The rear transaxle had two forward speeds plus neutral and braking was also employed on the rear wheels. The suspension consisted of leaf springs at all four corners.

This particular example is a Model O-O powered by a 2-cylinder Compound Steam engine delivering approximately 20 horsepower. It is a five-passenger touring car that has been owned by Ollie Hall, Emmett Tucker, Charlie Kulchar, and then Dick Wells in 1991 from whom the current owners acquired it in 2016.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2020