1914 Rauch and Lang B4

Electric Brougham

The first Rauch & Lang electric was completed in 1904, and production started in 1905 when 50 cars were built. The Hertner Electric Company, which supplied motors to Rauch & Lang, was bought in 1907. Two years later, production was running at 1,000 cars annually and sales agencies had been appointed in 20 cities, some as far as Manchester, NH, and Denver, CO.

This regal 1914 Brougham was built during the glory days of the electric car and is perhaps the finest example of the luxurious Rauch & Lang Brougham. It is elegantly upholstered in plush red velvet and comfortably seats four and has remarkable all-around visibility for passengers and the driver, who, incidentally, controls the car from a rear seat. With tiller steering, it was not that easy to maneuver at speeds above 30 mph.

Driven by an 80-volt electric motor and a cache of rechargeable batteries, the Rauch & Lang was virtually silent. The only noise generated was the sound of the tires rolling over the road.

In 1920, Rauch & Lang sold its passenger car business to the Stevens Duryea Company, which produced a dwindling number of electric passenger cars. The era of the electric car as a means of personal transportation had come to an end.

The Rauch & Lang automobiles were electrically powered and often adorned with luxurious amenities. The electric motor provided benefits over the gas-powered engine. Starting the automobile was easy, especially when compared with the rudimentary means of spinning a crank to start an electric motor. The electric motor was quiet and did not produce fumes. The drawback was that it could only travel a short distance before requiring a recharge. As the years progressed, so did the gas-powered engine. The horsepower was increased, exhaust systems were created, and the electric starter was introduced. The electric-powered automobile could no longer compete.

The Rauch and Lang Carriage Company was located in Cleveland, Ohio, and began their business by creating carriages and coaches. From 1905 through 1916 they produced automobiles. The automobiles they produced, both open and closed versions, were expensive and purchased mostly by rich urban women. Many of the vehicles featured a seat outside of the closed compartment for the driver. With their coachbuilding expertise, they were able to create elaborate and exquisite automobiles that were easy to drive and comfortable to ride.

An advertisement for their automobiles read 'Whatever your ideas today, you are certain to come to the conclusion, sooner or later, that an enclosed automobile like the Rauch & Lang Electric combines all the desirable features and eliminates all the well-known annoyances and much of the expense incident to gasoline cars.'

In 1916 they merged with Baker Electric and became known as Baker, Rauch & Lang Company. In 1920 the automobile production line was purchased by Stevens-Duryea Company of Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts. The Cleveland Company, known as Baker, remained in business producing trucks and industrial vehicles until the 1980s.

This 1916 Rauch & Lang JX6 Double Control had a factory price of $3000 and had seating for four passengers. It has dual steering, brake, and motor controls which makes it convenient for the driver to sit in either the front seat or the back seat.

By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2007