1908 Welch Model 4-L

In the late 1890s, A.R. Welch organized the Chelsea Manufacturing Company. In 1901, A.R. Welch and his brother Fred built their first automobile. It had a two-cylinder 20 horsepower engine of the brother's design that featured hemispherical combustion chambers with its valves in small 'cages' and actuated by a single overhead camshaft, driven by a vertical shaft off the crankshaft, and rocker arms to a pair of inclined valves per cylinder. Two spark plugs were used per cylinder, with ignition by trembler coils for starting and by a Bosch magneto, driven by the vertical camshaft drive, once running.

The automobiles were displayed at the Chicago Automobile Show in 1903, and production soon followed in Chelsea, Michigan with the organization of the Chelsea Manufacturing Company, Ltd. J.D. Watson provided some financial backing and the small company produced roughly 15 automobiles per month. By 1904, the firm was in bankruptcy due to insufficient capital and slow sales. What was left of the company was salvaged by A.R. Welch and moved to Pontiac where the company was re-organized as the Welch Motor Car Company. The company was given a healthy infusion of capital and began to prosper.

The 1905 Welch automobile had a 114-inch wheelbase and was equipped with a 36-horsepower four-cylinder engine. Several body styles were offered including a Victoria, Landaulette, Limousine, Side Entrance Tonneau, and a Canopy Top Touring. Pricing was in the neighborhood of $4,000 which made it rather expensive for the period. However, automobiles were still a luxury item and often tailored to those that could afford them.

In 1909, a separate company was formed in Detroit for the production of less-expensive, smaller vehicles known as the Welch-Detroit (Welch-Pontiac). In 1910, the Welch Motor Car Company became part of General Motors. A year later, the final Welch cars were produced by General Motors.

by Daniel Vaughan | May 2019