1903 Stanley Model BX

The Stanley Motor Carriage Company was founded by twins Francis E. and Freelan O. Stanley after selling their photographic dry plate business to Eastman Kodak. They built their first car in 1897 and sold over 200 cars between 1898 and 1899, making them the highest producer of automobiles in the United States during that time. The Stanley brothers later sold the rights to their vehicle design to Locomobile, and in 1902 they formed their own Stanley Motor Carriage Company. Due to patent issues, the Stanley brothers developed a new model with twin-cylinder engines geared directly to the rear axle.

The early Stanley vehicles used a tubular steel frame with full-elliptic springs, lightweight wooden bodies, and powered by steam generated in a vertical fire-tube boiler. Initially, the vertical fire-tubes were made from copper, later replaced by welded steel fire-tubes. The boilers used safety valves, and if they failed, an over-pressure would rupture one of the joints long before the boiler shell could burst. Several layers of piano wire were wrapped around the boiler for reinforcement.

The boiler was mounted beneath the seat, with a vaporizing gasoline burner underneath. Later models had the steam boiler located at the front of the vehicle, and these are known as 'coffin nose' Stanleys.

Slight design changes were made to the body in 1903. By 1904 the Stanley's had adopted a naming scheme for its models, A, B, and C. The models were distinguished by the seat configurations. The Type 'B' had a solid panel driver's seat and an open front seat. The Model BX was also a runabout but with Spindle Seats.

by Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2013