Topic: Puzzle #1676 - 1906 Grout Steamer Touring Car

[Otto Puzzell]

Know what it is?

Please, respond below and identify what this is, and who built it.
As always, detailed answers are greatly appreciated by all. 
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Thanks!

[Otto Puzzell]

Experts?

[Otto Puzzell]

Movin' up

[Paul Jaray]

From USA?

[Paul Jaray]

..like a Grout Steam?

[Otto Puzzell]

Just like one - yes!

I have a bit of a story to go with this one, but will ask if you'd like to go first: Can you share a little more about this one?

[Paul Jaray]

Well, I know that the 1903 model arrived complete with cowcatcher and was designed to look identical to a steam locomotive, but the following models, except for the perfect round hood and the single central headlight, were more ...normal.

This model should be a 1905 Grout Steam 12\18hp Side Entrance tonneau, made by Grout Brothers Automobile Company (1900-1912)...don't know any particular story on this model.

[Paul Jaray]

Grout
The three Grout brothers, Carl, Fred and C.B. made a few experimental cars, both steam and petrol powered between 1898 and 1900, when they were set up in business by their father, William H. Grout as the Grout Brothers Automobile Company of Orange, Massachusetts. He had made a fortune in the manufacture of sewing machines, originally in partnership with Thomas H. White who had moved to Cleveland and also set his sons up in steam car manufacture (see Thomas). The first Grout steamers left the factory in the summer of 1900: they were typical of their kind, with 2 cylinder engines under the seat, single chain drive, tiller steering and bicycle type wheels. A more distinctive model was the coupe of 1901, this had a completely enclosed body so tall that it looked like a mobile sentry box. All the early Grout steamers were called New Home, after the name of the Grout sewing machine company.
In 1903 the runabouts were joined by a larger 4 seater tonneau with double chain drive, a bonnet and a large locomotive-type cow catcher which acted as a bumper bar. This model only lasted one or two years and in 1904/05 Grouts had circular bonnets with a single headlamp mounted in the centre. Weekly output in 1904 was 18 cars, but in spite of this the Grouts felt that steam had had it's day and the 1905 12/18hp side entrance tonneau was the last steamer. The same year they offered a 20hp 4 cylinder petrol driven car and followed this up with larger cars of 30/35hp and 40/45hp. They were of conventional design with shaft drive, but did not sell as well as the steamers, doubtless because of the enormous competition. In 1907 William Grout, dissatisfied with the way his sons were running the company, took it over from them. They were so angry that they left Orange altogether. William Grout died in 1908 and the company was reformed as the Grout Automobile Company of Orange , Massachusetts. Production dwindled from then onwards and the company ceased to trade in 1912.
The earlier steamers were sold in England as the Weston.

[Paul Jaray]

and..
In 1906 the Grout was available as a gasoline Four, 30\35hp Touring 102" wb. This one should be a 1905 model (2-cyl 86" wb) for sale in 1906.

[Otto Puzzell]

Those are both very good - thank you for sharing.

The tidbit I have on this car relate to it (a 1906 model) being for sale, used. Not sure of who was selling it, or the year, but the car looks to have been reworked. Here is the back of the photo card above, from the Donald and Carolyn Hoke archives:


 

[Otto Puzzell]

Ah - beat me to it. Touché!

[Paul Jaray]

Less than 1 minute...
The Grout Brothers quit producing steamers in 1905, when they listed 2 models, the puzzle car (12\18hp) and a gasoline 20hp. From then on, till 1912 there was always a gasoline car in their line-up: a 30\35hp (1906) a 35hp (1907-1909) a 40\45hp (1910) a 35hp and a 45hp (1911-1912).
The steamers were first tried in 1896 on experimental basis till 1900 when production started with the "New Home" Stanhope model, built in 1900 and 1901, followed by conventional steamers, Runabout and Stanhope, in 6 different models in 1902. Following year saw only 3 models, 2 runabouts (2 and 4 passengers) and a tonneau (the Locomotive!). In 1904, 2 steamers were available: a single 7 1\2hp Runabout or Surrey and a Twin 12hp Touring, with angular hood.

[Ray B.]

It seems to be the third Grout that we feature.
http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=6134.0
http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=2422.0