1928 Stearns-Knight Model F6-85

Frank Ballou Stearns was born into a wealthy family. He built his first car in his father's Cleveland mansion's basement machine shop in 1897, and it was the first car he had built or driven. He would continue to experiment, produce vehicles, and build an automobile company - the F.B. Stearns Co was founded just prior to 1900. During the company's lifespan, it produced over 33,000 cars before falling into the economic conditions caused by The Great Depression.

The early vehicles produced by Stearns were catered to affluent motorists who wanted style, speed, and elegance. By 1902, he had a 20-horsepower model with a steering wheel and sliding gears. By the early teens, the company was offering a range of big fours and sixes that could propel the vehicles to over a mile a minute.

In 1911, the company acquired the first American license to produce Charles Yale Knight's sleeve-valve motor. From that point in history forward, every Stearns produced would feature the quiet, valve-less motors. The list of engines would grow to include fours, sixes, and eights, all featuring silent running gear.

by Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2013