1905 Sears Auto Buggy research

[Guest]

Recently purchased a 1905 Sears Auto Buggy #5322. Have it running and driving. Can anyone tell me where I can find information on this auto? Person I bought it from said it was sold by Sears, Roebuck & Co. Don't know if it is a fact or not. Would like to find out who actually manufactured this auto for Sears and any other information that is out there. Thank you. Eric Danielson

[Peter J.Heizmann]

24T42...thank you for the informative response. Interesting reading.<P>Regards, Peter J.

[Guest]

Sears did not manufacture the Allstate,it was a Henry J[made by Kieser-Frazer]with the Allstate emblem.

[24T42]

Yes, it was made by Sears and you ordered it from the Sears Catalog. They made about 3500 from 1909 to 1912. (So I am wondering -did you transpose a digit on your serial number?) Sears lost $80,000 on this venture and you can see why when you look at the other cars of this same time period. A chain driven high wheeler was not the most advanced car.<P>My husband and I own a 1911 Sears Model H # 3296. We bought in from a Sears Laurinburg NC dealer. It has always been in NC and we are third owners. <P>The following article is one I ususally hand out to the public when we get the car out.<P>The Sears AutoBuggy<BR>In 1911, you could order almost anything you needed from the Sears catalog, including automobiles. A motor buggy like this one was delivered to your home in a strong hickory crate. The new owner had to mount the wheels, fill the tank, and crank it up. Seven models sold for $325 to $495.<P>With a two-cylinder 14-horsepower engine the buggy?s top speed was 25 mph. According to the catalog, that was fast enough: ?We do not believe that the average man desires to go whirling through the country at 40 to 50 miles an hour.?<P>A satisfied owner wrote: ?It beats a horse bad, as it don?t eat when I ain?t working it and it stands without hitching, and, best of all, it don?t get scared at automobiles.? <P>Sears sold 3,500 motor buggies (losing $80,000 in the process) between 1908 and 1912, when the company discontinued the line. The company returned to the automobile business briefly in the early 1950s with the Allstate.<P>Catalog Number #21T33 Cost: $395<BR> #21T44 $370 (without top & fenders)<P>Cash Only<BR>No Credit<BR>Made in Chicago<P>Motor: Two-cylinder, horizontal opposed type, 4 1/8-inch bore, 4-inch stroke. <P>Horse Power: 14-horse power.<P>Lubrication: Mechanical force feed oilier & splash system, insuring perfect lubrication.<P>Ignition: Jump spark, with dry cells and nonvibrating coil.<P>Transmission: Friction disc type.<P>Drive: Double side chain from power shaft.<P>Brakes: Double acting expanding brakes on rear wheels, positive in their application, nonrattling, and powerful enough to hold on any grade. Emergency brake, reverse on transmission.<P>Wheel Base: 72 inches<BR>Tread: 56 inches, 60 inch tread<BR>Tires: 36 X 3/8-inch solid rubber tires.<BR>Carburetor: Schebler.<BR>Tank: Heavy gauge metal, located under seat. Gravity feed to carburetor. 6 gallon tank.<P>Weight: 1050 lbs.<BR>Shipping Weight: 1300 lbs.<BR>3,000 ? 5,000 miles/set of tires<BR>100 ? 200 miles/gallon of oil<BR>3,000 ? 4, 000 miles/clutch<P>Please make note of the miles per gallon of oil - 100 to 200 miles per gallon is not a whole lot.<P>It came with a Sears guarantee, which stated - ?We guarantee each automobile to be perfect in material and workmanship and will replace at any time any broken parts showing defective workmanship?? <BR>Sears Catalog<BR> <BR>We do own a 1911 Sears catalog and the car is listed.There are several reproduction books on the Sears AutoBuggy and often available on Ebay.<P>I hope this helps. Have fun with the car. She will always draw a crowd esp. when people find out it was indeed ordered from the Sears catalog.<p>[ 06-30-2002: Message edited by: 24T42 ]

[24T42]

A quick check of Ebay and there is a copy of a book published in 1973 called "1909-1912 Sears Roebuck,Motor Buggy Catalogue". This would be a great book to get some basic information. <P> <A HREF="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2116894725" TARGET=_blank>Sears Book Listing on Ebay</A><P>Over the holiday, I will try and find some of my historic photos of Sears and see if I can post them.<P>Phil - Thanks for catching my goof. I did not mean to imply that Sears made the Allstate.