Henry U. Palmer was a wealthy barrel manufacturer and Charles Singer was part of the sewing machine family fame. The duo's relationship began in 1907 when they collaborated on a New York City dealership for Simplex, Matheson, and Isotta-Fraschini automobiles. Surrounded by elite machinery, Mr. Palmer and Mr. Singer were inspired to build their own prestigious automobile. In 1908, they launched the Palmer & Singer Manufacturing Company, initially referred to as the P&S, and within a year, by the founders' full names. The cars were initially produced in the Matheson plant in Pennsylvania while the company's new factory was being built in Long Island. The company's slogan was 'The Best in Motor Cars,' a bold statement backed up with victories in the Long Island Motor Derby of 1911 and impressive finishes in a 24-hour speed trial at Brighton, New York.
The company's four-cylinder model was built on a 106-inch wheelbase, while the six-cylinder model rested on a 126-inch platform. It was one of the earliest American luxury cars to be fitted with a four-speed selective transmission with a multiple-disc clutch and modern shaft drive. Wheelbase sizes varied over the years, and a range of body styles was offered, catering to a wide range of uses.
Not content to rest on its laurels, the company continued experimenting with new technologies and improving its product. Their new slide-valve engine, called the Magic Six and invented by Swiss engineer Martin Fischer, proved to be costly to build and unreliable, and its introduction in 1914 quickened the demise of the marque.
By May of 1914, the company's property was sold to William Wooster who intended to build a car of his own. Unlike the Palmer-Singers, the new automobiles were to be small and affordable, with prices below $500. Having a change of heart, Mr. Wooster sold the Palmar & Singer assets to Charles A. Singer in June 1914. Mr. Singer abandoned the Magic engine, used a Herschell-Spillman unit, and introduced the Singer automobile shortly thereafter.
The 1911 Palmer-Singer Model 4-50
The Palmer-Singer Model 4-50 was one of four models offered by the company in 1911. Regarding size, its 129-inch wheelbase was larger than the 120-inch platform of the Model 4-30 and the 125-inch-inch wheelbase of the Model 6-40. The model names represented the number of cylinders and the horsepower output (ALAM rated). Above the Model 4-50 was the Model 6-60 which had a 138-inch wheelbase and a six-cylinder, 60-hp engine. Prices ranged from the low-$3,000s to low-$5,000s.
The Palmer-Singer Model 4-50 had a T-head four-cylinder engine with a 5.5-inch bore, 5.25-inch stroke, and a 499 cubic-inch displacement. With a single Updraft carburetor, the engine offered 50 (ALAM) horsepower. It was paired with a four-speed transmission with a direct final drive. The suspension was via semi-elliptic leaf springs, and rear drum brakes provided the stopping power. Body styles included a runabout, a seven-passenger tourer, a Gunboat roadster, and a Milord five-passenger tourer.
by Dan Vaughan