1908 Thomas Flyer F

The Erwin Ross (E.R.) Thomas Motor Company produced automobiles from 1902 through 1919. Production transpired in Buffalo, New York. The first cars produced by the company appeared in 1903 and were mostly small runabouts with seating for two. The company had begun like so many other auto-manufacturing firms at the time - through a bicycle business. Thomas had been building bicycles for several companies before making the switch to automotive production.

The first E.R. Thomas Motor cars were powered by a vertically-mounted water-cooled straight-three cylinder engine that produced just over 20 horsepower. The engine was mated to a two-speed planetary gearbox.

After a brief run of three-cylinder cars, the Thomas Flyers were introduced in 1905 in 40, 50, and 60-horsepower variants. This was an impressive accomplishment for a company that, just two years prior, had been producing one-cylinder cars. These new T-head four-cylinder motors had four individually cast jugs lined up on an alloy crankcase. The T-head design was chosen to produce good cross-flow breathing. The short stroke allowed the engine to rev freely.

As times progressed, so did the E.R. Thomas Motor Cars. The Company did much to promote its vehicles and to attract customers, such as painting the cars in bright and attractive colors. The cars became more powerful and elegant and became renowned for their reliability and endurance.

In 1908, an E.R. Thomas Car was entered into 'The Great Race,' which ran from New York to Paris. The decision was made at the last minute and there was little time to properly adapt the car for the race. Instead, the company pulled one from the production line and entered it into the race. The race began in New York during the winter and proceeded to San Francisco. The entrants then loaded onto a boat and traveled to Alaska and then Siberia. Once they arrived in Siberia, the race continued.

The race lasted 171 days and covered 13,300 miles. At the conclusion of the race, ending in Paris, it was an E.R. Thomas in first place, claiming the overall victory.

Demand for the E.R. Thomas Motor cars increased after the heroic victory. In 1911, the company only produced six-cylinder cars. Within a year, the car had entered into receivership and was purchased by C.A. Finnegan of the Empire Smelting Company. The company continued to produce cars through 1916, after which the cars were able to be special ordered. It is believed that the company continued until 1918 or 1919.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2010

This 1908 Thomas Flyer has an Atwater Kent Switch and was among the earliest automotive examples to use this technology. The Atwater Kent Manufacturing Company has roots that date back to 1896 when A. Atwater Kent left the Worcester Technical Institute in Massachusetts prematurely to start his own business. The business began in his father's machine shop, where he created and sold small electrical items. Kent traveled to Philadelphia on a business trip in 1902 and, upon arriving, made the decision to rent a space and relocate his operations to that facility, and continue the production of electrical products. By 1906, Kent created an ignition system for the automobile, which created a single large spark from a series of smaller sparks. The system was dubbed the Unispark and became an integral part of the automobile in the years to come. The success of this venture soon had him creating many other parts for the automobile.

This car has seating for four and a side-mounted tire located on the driver's side. The Thomas Flyers were very impressive machines. The early examples were powered by four-cylinder engines that were capable of producing an astonishing sixty horsepower and could propel the cars to speeds of 60 mph. At around $4,000, they were among the more expensive machines on the market but well worth the price.

This car is in similar configuration to the vehicle that was taken off the showroom floor and driven from New York to Paris in 'The Great Race.' The car was basically stock, except it was given extra gas tanks, additional spare tires, and a few other minor modifications. The car was driven 12,427 land miles in 170 days and straight into the history books. The car had proven reliability, and the Thomas marque took full advantage of this wonderful accomplishment, advertising it in sales literature and using it as a tool to promote their product.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2007

Sold for $733,000 at 2010 Bonhams - Quail Lodge.
The original owner of this Touring car was Auto Club of America founder J. Herbert Carpenter of Ossining, New York. The car was delivered on October 20th, 1908. Mr. Carpenter would be the car's caretaker for over 30 years. In the 1920s, he drove it on a cross-country trek. He even used it in the earliest AACA events.

The next owner was Joe Tracy, who later sold it to the Thompson Products Company, which would be the basis of the Crawford/Western Reserve Historical Society Museum collection in Cleveland, Ohio. The collection soon grew, and by 1951, the Thomas was de-accessioned. C.F. Greiner, a former worker for E.R. Thomas, purchased the car for $300. A restoration soon followed, and two or three years later, the Historical Society exercised their 'first right of refusal' and re-acquired the car. The car would remain in that collection until 1990.

In 1990, part of the collection was brought to the market, including the Thomas. It was purchased by a new collector named Vijay Mallya of the Kingfisher Breweries fame. Mr. Mallya retained the car for a few years in the U.K. before selling it with the Brooks/Bonhams team to the current owner.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2010