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Last Reviewed: March 17, 2024
History Index

The Brass Car Era occurred between 1890 and 1919, concurrent with the Electric Car Era and beginning of the Antique Car Era. It marks the beginning of automotive history, when steam engines had fancy brass fittings and brass lanterns were a natural addition to the new "horseless carriage". Brass cars were typically built with carriage wood and forged steel and fitted with electric motors or steam engines.

1905 Stanley Steamer

1905 Stanley Steamer

Most people associate the Stanley Steamer with "Brass" vehicles because they, like many other steam driven vehicles at the time, used a lot of brass in construction and to dress up the trim. The Stanley brothers built their cars between 1896 and 1924 and sold second only to electric cars from 1899 to 1905. That was the time when thousands of wood-be industrialists were trying to build the ultimate driving machine so to come out on top was quite a feat. Following is a partial list of the manufacturers and vehicles that could be found during the Brass Car Era.


Brass Era Manufacturers


1912 Stanley Steamer

1912 Stanley Steamer




Brass Era Vehicles

  • Aachener
  • Aerocar
  • Ageron
  • Ajax
  • Alba
  • Albany Runabout
  • Alesbury
  • Alfgang
  • All-British
  • All-Velo
  • Allen (1913 Ohio)
  • Allen (1913 Philadelphia)
  • Allen Kingston
  • Alliance
  • Allright
  • Alpena
  • American
  • American Chocolate
  • American Electric
  • American Electric
  • American Simplex
  • American Underslung
  • Ames
  • Amherst
  • Ampére (car)
  • Anasagasti
  • Anchor Buggy
  • Anderheggen
  • Anderson Electric
  • Anglada
  • Anglian automobile
  • Anglo-Dane
  • Anhut
  • Ansbach
  • Antoine
  • Antoinette
  • Apollo
  • Apperson
  • Arbee
  • Ardsley
  • Argus
  • Arista
  • Armadale
  • Armstrong
  • Arno
  • Ascot
  • Asquith
  • Atlas
  • Attila
  • Auburn Automobile
  • Aultman
  • Aurora
  • Austin
  • Austral
  • Autocar Company
  • Baker Motor Vehicle
  • Berg Automobile
  • Buffalo Electric Carriage
  • Columbia
  • Compound
  • Courier
  • Covert
  • Crestmobile
  • Duryea Power
  • Eldredge
  • Elmore
  • Franklin
  • Fredonia
  • Grout
  • Haynes-Apperson
  • Holley Motor Car
  • Jeffery
  • Knox Automobile
  • Locomobile
  • Mors
  • National Motor Vehicle
  • Northern
  • Oldsmobile Curved Dash
  • Orient
  • Owen Magnetic
  • Peerless
  • Phelps Motor Vehicle
  • Pope-Robinson
  • Pope-Toledo
  • Pope-Waverley
  • Premier Motor Manufacturing
  • Royal Motor Car
  • Smith and Mabley
  • St. Louis Motor Company
  • Stearns
  • Stevens-Duryea
  • Stoddard-Dayton
  • Studebaker-Garford
  • Thomas Motor Company
  • Thrige
  • White
  • Wilson Automobile
  • Winton Motor Carriage Company
  • Woods Motor Vehicle
  • Yale