Alanson P. Brush was an engineer who had worked on the first Cadillac, a single-cylinder runabout produced in 1902. Brush's philosophy relied on simplicity and basic materials to ascertain reliability and performance. When his Brush automobiles were introduced in 1907, they had a wood chassis frame and axles, coil spring suspension, and rode on solid rubber tires. Priced at $500, the Brush runabout was attractively priced. The wheelbase measured 74 inches, and the power was from a single-cylinder engine offering six horsepower.

Financial backing for the Brush Company was supplied by Frank Briscoe. Many regarded Brush as something of an engineering protégé, and his low price and technically advanced vehicles supported this belief. In 1909, a Brush Runabout finished the 2,636-mile Glidden Tour, according to its maker, 'in good shape—a lot more than can be said for some of the big cars.'

In 1910, the Brush Company was merged into Benjamin Briscoe's United States Motor Company, which succumbed to the collapse of U.S. Motors in 1911. The Brush automobiles were built in 1911 and continued to be sold in 1912. In 1912, a new car was introduced, dubbed the Liberty Brush, though it was merely the old Brush devoid of non-essential items and priced at the meager price of $350.

by Dan Vaughan