1921 Milburn Model 27L Brougham

The Milburn Wagon Company of Toledo, Ohio, began building horse-drawn vehicles in 1848. In 1915, the Company began building electric automobiles. Milburn also built bodies for other car companies, including Ford. Karl Probst helped design the Milburn. Probst would later go on to work on the Jeep prototype by American Bantam in World War II. In 1923, General Motors purchased the factory and soon ceased production of the Milburn Electric. Milburn built approximately 4,000 electric automobiles.

'The Only Modern, Light, Low-Hung Electric' -- were produced in Toledo from 1915 to 1923, with 1500 vehicles being produced in 1916. The coupe seen here, when new, had a top speed of 15 mph and a range of 60-75 miles per charge.

Because of their ease of operation (no cranking needed to start the engine), electric vehicles were very popular with women drivers. The Milburn has several features designed to appeal to women, including flower vases and the beveled glass mirror. While our eyes might see it as an oversized rear-view mirror, it is actually a fashion accessory.

The two levers in front of the left rear seat are the controls. The long lever is for steering, and the small lever controls the four forward and two reverse speeds. The controls fold up, out of the way, to make room to enter. The strap hanging from the back of the main seat is the 'handle' to lower the range rear window.

This car was once owned by Charles Flammer, Jr. The vehicle was later owned by Bernard Berman of Allentown, Pennsylvania. Mr. Berman had the car restored by Maurice DeAngeli in the mid-1980s. In 2000, the car was donated to the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles by Yuasa, Inc. of Reading, Pennsylvania. In 2009, the car was displayed at the Woodrow Wilson House Museum in Washington, DC. Woodrow Wilson's Secret Service was known to have driven Milburns. This Milburn is part of the Boyertown Museum Historic Vehicles' permanent display collection.