Stearns (-Knight)

US, 1899 – 1930

F.B. Stearns Co, Cleveland, Ohio

The Stearns car company’s first product was a typical gas buggy in the American idiom with horizontal underfloor engine, planetary transmission, chain drive, and bicycle-type wheels. In its 1901 form the Stearns car had one enormous cylinder (6¼in bore and 7in stroke) and wheel steering. By 1902 the Stearns cars had grown into a bonneted 5½-litre 25hp twin retailing for $3.000. 1905 Stearns cars were altogether more European, with their mechanically-operated side valves, paired cylinders, and Mercedes-style radiators. A 40hp four Stearns car sold for $4.000, and led to even greater things, such as a chain-driven 45/90hp six Stearns car, with the rear pair of cylinders vanishing into the scuttle of the Stearns car. Capacity of the Stearns car was 13-litres, and the Stearns car could achieve close on 90mph. The smaller 8¾-litre 4-cylinder 30/60 Stearns car was a 60mph car available with shaft or chain drive, this Stearns car was priced at $4.600. In 1909 there was a modest 15/30hp town Stearns carriage with a monobloc engine. The trademark of these Stearns cars was the white line running round the inside of the radiator shell. Sporting Stearns cars subsequently gave way to staidier Stearns cars with the Knight double-sleeve valve engine, 1914 Stearns car versions being a 5.1-litre four and a 6.8-litre six, both with electric lighting and starting. By 1917 Stearns cars were cashing in on the V8 fashion with a 5.4-litre Stearns car, but fours and sixes engaged the Stearns car company’s attention during the early and middle 1920s, the former disappearing in 1926, one year later the Stearns firm had been acquired by Willys-Overland. This change of ownership did not affect the quality of the Stearns cars, which was kept on as a prestige line. During the Stearns car make’s last two seasons – 1929 and 1930 – there was a 27.3hp six Stearns car retailing at $2.095, and a big 6.3-litre straight-8 Stearns car with a 9-bearing crankshaft and 12ft 1in wheelbase, for which prices started at $5.500.

US, 1900 – 1904

Stearns Steam Carriage Co, Syracuse, N.Y.

Designed by E.C. Stearns, this Stearns car had no connection with the better-known Cleveland-built Stearns. This Stearns car was a steam car of conventional design using a 2-cylinder side-valve engine of 8hp, chain drive and steering by side tiller. A wide variety of body styles was offered, including a six-seater Stearns car with three rows of seats and roll-down canvas sides. The latter model Stearns car was introduced in 1902, and has been called, probably correctly, the world’s first production station wagon.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; MCS, GNG

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