1904 Knox Two-Cylinder

Harry Knox's career as a vehicle inventor began in 1899 when he developed the three-wheeled car with a six-horsepower air-cooled engine. It had a 9-foot circle turning radius, so the transmission was not given a reverse gear. Later, Mr. Knox would build tractors, trucks, racing cars, fire rigs, and buses.

In 1904, Harry Knox perfected and patented his air-cooled engines, making his vehicles reliable in all weather conditions. These vehicles featured a combination of approximately 2,000 2-inch corrugated pins that were threaded into the outer cylinder barrels, increasing the cooling surface. The heat was actually radiated away from the engine.

The Knox automobiles were built in Springfield, Massachusetts, from 1900 to 1914.

The 1904 Knox Tudor was powered by a 274.9cc two-cylinder air-cooled opposed engine with a Knox carburetor producing approximately sixteen horsepower. The cylinder barrels were studded with two-inch pins for cooling, and its prickly appearance earned it the nickname 'Old Porcupine' amongst some of its owners. The engine was positioned midship in the chassis and paired with a two-speed manual planetary transmission, driving the rear wheels through chains. The live axle suspension had leaf springs, steering was from the car's left side by tiller, and braking was via rear-axle drums.

Body styles for the two-cylinder 1904 Knox included the 'Tuxedo' touring car, 'Tudor' Surrey and the 'Touraine' stanhope or runabout. The flat rear deck of the Touraine stanhope accommodated luggage and spare tires, while the Tudor and Tuxedo models had a large rear seat mounted in that area. All models had seating for two auxiliary passengers, neatly concealed when not needed in the forward body structure.

Compared to many other vehicles traveling the roadways in 1904, the Knox was a moderately expensive car and relatively large. Its wheelbase measured 84 inches and it sold new for $2,000.

The car's reputation for durability was bolstered in 1906 when it finished the Glidden Tour with a perfect score.

by Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2019