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{{short description|Defunct American motor vehicle manufacturer}}
{{Infobox company
{{Infobox company
| name = Middleby Auto Company
| name = Middleby Auto Company
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| products = [[Automobiles]]
| products = [[Automobiles]]
| brands = Middleby, Reading
| brands = Middleby, Reading
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}}[[File:Middleby roadster, 1909, made by Middleby Automobile Co., Reading, Pennsylvania, 20 HP, 4 cylinder, gasoline enginer - Luray Caverns Car and Carriage Museum - Luray, Virginia - DSC01249.jpg|thumb|right|Middleby roadster, 1909]]
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}}{{short description|Defunct American motor vehicle manufacturer}}

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[[File:Middleby roadster, 1909, made by Middleby Automobile Co., Reading, Pennsylvania, 20 HP, 4 cylinder, gasoline enginer - Luray Caverns Car and Carriage Museum - Luray, Virginia - DSC01249.jpg|thumb|right|Middleby roadster, 1909]]
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The '''Middleby Auto Company''' (1908–1913) was a [[Brass Era car|brass era]] American automobile manufacturer, based in [[Reading, Pennsylvania]].<ref name=":0">{{Georgano-EncAuto3v}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Kimes-USCars3rd}}</ref>


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The '''Middleby Auto Company''' (1908-1913) was a [[Brass Era car|brass era]] American automobile manufacturer, based in [[Reading, Pennsylvania]].<ref name=":0">{{Georgano-EncAuto3v}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Kimes-USCars3rd}}</ref>
== History ==
== History ==
The company was founded by Joseph Middleby, who purchased the [[Duryea Power]] Company factory.<ref name=":1" /> Some Middlebys were sold as Readings.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
The company was founded by Joseph Middleby, who purchased the [[Duryea Power]] Company factory.<ref name=":1" /> Some Middlebys were sold as Readings.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />


Middleby's first 1908 Model A automobile was a [[Runabout (car)|runabout]] with a 108-inch [[wheelbase]] and 30 x 3 1/2 inch tires, a [[four-cylinder]], [[air-cooled engine]], with a sliding-gear shaft-drive [[Propulsion transmission|transmission]] with three speeds forward and one reverse. Standard equipment included two gas lamps, two side oil lamps, one rear lamp, tools, and a French horn. Its price was $850, {{Inflation|US|850|1908|fmt=eq}}.<ref name=":1" />
Middleby's first 1908 Model A automobile was a [[Runabout (car)|runabout]] with a 108-inch [[wheelbase]] and 30 x {{frac|3|1|2}}-inch tires, a [[four-cylinder]], [[air-cooled engine]], with a sliding-gear shaft-drive [[Propulsion transmission|transmission]] with three speeds forward and one reverse. Standard equipment included two gas lamps, two side oil lamps, one rear lamp, tools, and a French horn. Its price was $850, {{Inflation|US|850|1908|fmt=eq}}.<ref name=":1" />


Model B was a touring car, based on the same chassis, and priced at $1,000. By 1910 the company had sold about 400 automobiles. After 1911, the wheel base increased to 120 inches, with 36-inch wheels and a 4-cylinder water-cooled engine.<ref name=":1" /> Middleby automobiles were produced in six models: a Runabout for $850, single rumble for $1,000, surrey for $1,000, double rumble for $1,100, touring car for $1,200, and Toy Tonneau for $1,200, {{Inflation|US|1200|1911|fmt=eq}}.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 1, 1912 |title=The Carriage Monthly |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Motor_Body_Paint_and_Trim/t_VYAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Middleby%20Auto%20Company&pg=RA11-PA89&printsec=frontcover}}</ref>
Model B was a touring car, based on the same chassis, and priced at $1,000. By 1910 the company had sold about 400 automobiles. After 1911, the wheel base increased to 120 inches, with 36-inch wheels and a 4-cylinder water-cooled engine.<ref name=":1" /> Middleby automobiles were produced in six models: a Runabout for $850, single rumble for $1,000, surrey for $1,000, double rumble for $1,100, touring car for $1,200, and Toy Tonneau for $1,200, {{Inflation|US|1200|1911|fmt=eq}}.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 1, 1912 |title=The Carriage Monthly |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t_VYAAAAYAAJ&dq=Middleby%20Auto%20Company&pg=RA11-PA89}}</ref>

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Two automobile reference books show Charles M. Middleby as company owner. His relationship to the plant property owner, Joseph Middleby, is not known. Joseph Middleby died in 1911, and the company was operated by his executors until closed and sold in 1913.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Massachusetts Probate Court Record - 1924 | date=1925 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LwcYw-ReqwkC&dq=%22joseph%20middleby%22%2C%20malden%20ma&pg=PA441}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 26, 1913 |title=Automobile Topics Magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LwcYw-ReqwkC&dq=%22joseph%20middleby%22%2C%20malden%20ma&pg=PA441}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 1, 1908 |title=The Horseless Age |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LwcYw-ReqwkC&dq=%22joseph%20middleby%22%2C%20malden%20ma&pg=PA441}}</ref>


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Two automobile reference books show Charles M. Middleby as company owner. His relationship to the plant property owner, Joseph Middleby, is not known. Joseph Middleby died in 1911, and the company was operated by his executors until closed and sold in 1913.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Massachusetts Probate Court Record - 1924 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Massachusetts_Reports/LwcYw-ReqwkC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22joseph%20middleby%22%2C%20malden%20ma&pg=PA441&printsec=frontcover}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 26, 1913 |title=Automobile Topics Magazine |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Massachusetts_Reports/LwcYw-ReqwkC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22joseph%20middleby%22%2C%20malden%20ma&pg=PA441&printsec=frontcover}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 1, 1908 |title=The Horseless Age |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Massachusetts_Reports/LwcYw-ReqwkC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22joseph%20middleby%22%2C%20malden%20ma&pg=PA441&printsec=frontcover}}</ref>
== Middleby Advertisements ==
== Middleby Advertisements ==
<gallery widths="180" heights="180">
<gallery widths="180" heights="180">
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== Reading ==
== Reading ==
Between 1910 and 1913,an up-market Middleby was market as the '''Reading'''. It had a larger four-cylinder engine, was a foot longer in wheelbase, and was priced several hundred dollars more. Charles M. Middleby decided that his top-of-the-line car should carry his own name, a bigger and pricier '''Middleby''' was introduced for 1911. Both marques ended in 1913.<ref name=":1" />
Between 1910 and 1913, an up-market Middleby was market as the '''Reading'''. It had a larger four-cylinder engine, was a foot longer in wheelbase, and was priced several hundred dollars more. Charles M. Middleby decided that his top-of-the-line car should carry his own name, a bigger and pricier '''Middleby''' was introduced for 1911. Both marques ended in 1913.<ref name=":1" />


== References ==
== References ==
<references />
<references />
{{Commons|Category:Middleby automobiles|Middleby automobiles}}
{{Commons category|Middleby automobiles}}

[[Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1908]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1908]]

Latest revision as of 01:51, 18 November 2024

Middleby Auto Company
IndustryAutomobile manufacturer
Founded1908; 117 years ago (1908)
FounderJoseph Middleby or Charles M. Middleby
Defunct1913; 112 years ago (1913)
FateClosed and sold
HeadquartersReading, Pennsylvania
ProductsAutomobiles
BrandsMiddleby, Reading
Middleby roadster, 1909

The Middleby Auto Company (1908–1913) was a brass era American automobile manufacturer, based in Reading, Pennsylvania.[1][2]

History

[edit]

The company was founded by Joseph Middleby, who purchased the Duryea Power Company factory.[2] Some Middlebys were sold as Readings.[1][2]

Middleby's first 1908 Model A automobile was a runabout with a 108-inch wheelbase and 30 x 3+1⁄2-inch tires, a four-cylinder, air-cooled engine, with a sliding-gear shaft-drive transmission with three speeds forward and one reverse. Standard equipment included two gas lamps, two side oil lamps, one rear lamp, tools, and a French horn. Its price was $850, equivalent to $28,824 in 2023.[2]

Model B was a touring car, based on the same chassis, and priced at $1,000. By 1910 the company had sold about 400 automobiles. After 1911, the wheel base increased to 120 inches, with 36-inch wheels and a 4-cylinder water-cooled engine.[2] Middleby automobiles were produced in six models: a Runabout for $850, single rumble for $1,000, surrey for $1,000, double rumble for $1,100, touring car for $1,200, and Toy Tonneau for $1,200, equivalent to $39,240 in 2023.[1][3]

Two automobile reference books show Charles M. Middleby as company owner. His relationship to the plant property owner, Joseph Middleby, is not known. Joseph Middleby died in 1911, and the company was operated by his executors until closed and sold in 1913.[4][5][6]

Middleby Advertisements

[edit]
  • 1908 Middleby Runabout
  • 1908 Middleby Advertisement
  • 1913 Middleby Advertisement

Reading

[edit]

Between 1910 and 1913, an up-market Middleby was market as the Reading. It had a larger four-cylinder engine, was a foot longer in wheelbase, and was priced several hundred dollars more. Charles M. Middleby decided that his top-of-the-line car should carry his own name, a bigger and pricier Middleby was introduced for 1911. Both marques ended in 1913.[2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Georgano, Nick (2001). The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile (3 vol. ed.). Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers. ISBN 1-57958-293-1.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Kimes, Beverly Rae; Clark Jr., Henry Austin (1996). Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 (3rd ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 978-0-87341-428-9.
  3. ^ "The Carriage Monthly". March 1, 1912.
  4. ^ "Massachusetts Probate Court Record - 1924". 1925.
  5. ^ "Automobile Topics Magazine". April 26, 1913.
  6. ^ "The Horseless Age". April 1, 1908.
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