The First Automobile Show Adapted from Information by the American Oil & Gas Historical Society The first American automobile show, held at Madison Square Garden in New York City on November 3, 1900, showcased an innovative array of electric, steam, and internal explosion engines for powering horseless carriages. The event featured 160 vehicles from various manufacturers, with companies like Old Motor Works of Lansing, Michigan, debuting models of each type to compete in the emerging market. Future leaders in the transportation industry showcased driving and maneuverability skills on a 20-foot-wide track surrounding the exhibits, while a 200-foot wooden ramp tested vehicles’ hillclimbing capabilities. The show, sponsored by the Automobile Club of America, attracted around 48,000 visitors who paid 50 cents each to witness the latest automotive technology. The residents of New York City welcomed electric vehicles as a solution to reduce the massive amounts of waste generated by horses, including 450,000 tons of manure, 21 million gallons of urine, and 15,000 horse carcasses removed from the streets annually. Hundreds of hansom cabs constructed by the Electric Vehicle Company showed promise, but their adoption was limited by the weight of lead-acid batteries, challenging road conditions, and inadequate electrical infrastructure, restricting them to metropolitan regions. The history of steamed-powered automobiles dates back to 1768, when Nicholas-Joseph Cugnot, a French military engineer, built a selfpropelled steam tricycle for artillery transport. Locomobile produced 750 steamers, but consumers were deterred by the lengthy boiler heating time and frequent water stops. The internal combustion engine eventually surpassed steam technology. Automobiles powered by internal combustion engines were initially primitive, noisy, and cantankerous. Most were based on Nikoulas Otto’s 1876 four-stroke design and ran on a variety of fuel, including stove gas, kerosene, naphtha, lamp oil, benzene, mineral spirits, alcohol, and gasoline. In 1886, Karl Benz applied for a patent for his three-wheeled, gasoline-powered carriage. Two years later, his wife Bertha took the vehicle on a highly publicized drive. As the refining industry sought to replace kerosene, gasoline emerged as a viable alternative. The Curved Dash Runabout, the first mass-produced U.S. automobile, was sold by Old Motor Works from 1901 to 1907. During this period, approximately 425 units were sold, each featuring a single-cylinder five-horsepower gasoline engine and priced at $650. By the end of production four years later, nearly 19,000 Runabouts had been sold, demonstrating America’s clear preference for gaspowered internal combustion engines. New “infernal machines” quickly gained popularity, joining horses on unpaved roads. When New York City hosted its next automobile show, more than 1000 vehicles, including internal combustion and hybrid gasolineelectric automobiles, were exhibited to over one million visitors. Support the American Oil and Gas Historical Society: www.aoghs.org At the turn of the century, about 8000 vehicles shared mostly unpaved roads with horses and wagons. In 1906, a “Stanley Steamer” set the world land speed record at 127.7 miles per hour, still officially recognized as the land speed record for a steam car. Automobiles powered by internal combustion engines at the 1900 National Automobile Show were primitive. The most popular models proved to be electric, steam, and gasoline - in that order. G&O Time for a Little Fun! April Puzzle Solution: “April is the time to turn over a new leaf.” Win a prize! Send completed puzzle to: WWDR PO Box 660 Bonifay, FL 32425 fax: 850-547-0329 or e-mail: michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com Match the three-letter words on the right to complete the seven-letter words on the left. WEAT_ _ _ ANT BENE_ _ _ AGE NITR_ _ _ HER SEAL_ _ _ FIT GARB_ _ _ ATE 15 MAY 2025 WorldWide Drilling Resource®
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