1909 Washington Model A1

At the dawn of automobile production, before the maturing of a steady production flow of reliable products, auto-builders sprouted from every corner of nearly every town and city. Reputations were still being forged and product features were still being perfected. Sales were often limited to a small region, town, or just to a handful of people. One of those small pioneering companies was the Washington Automobile Company. There were many companies that used this name; from Chicago to Washington, DC. Two different cities in Ohio used the name and another one in Maryland. The Washington Automobile Company of Hyattsville, Maryland was started in 1909 by the Carter Motor Car Company. The individual behind both of these companies was Howard O. Carter. He produced the Carter Two-Engine car which was produced from 1907 to 1908. This very unique creation had two engines - one was a spare.

The Washington Company of Hayattsville was so-named after the company's location in the nation's capital. It had a conventional design and was powered by a single four-cylinder engine mated to a three-speed sliding gear transmission. Their product for 1909 was called the Model A-1 and it rested on a 112-inch wheelbase and came in either a roadster or touring body. Both sold for $1,750. A 4-passenger Touring and a Baby Tonneau were added a year later and with a few modifications, the engine horsepower rose to 35 HP. Another Model - the Model B-1 - was also added this year and offered in four body styles. Though it shared the same 112-inch platform, the four-cylinder engine was rated at 45 horsepower.

For 1911 and 1912, the wheelbase measured 118 inches and the powerplant was rated at 40 horsepower. Production ceased in 1912.

by Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2012