The Black was an American brass era automobile, built at 124 East Ohio Street,[1] Chicago, Illinois, in 1906.

Black
Overview
ManufacturerBlack Motor Company
Production1906–1911
Body and chassis
Body styleroadster, surrey
Powertrain
Enginetwo-cylinder air-cooled gasoline

It was a high wheeler buggy priced at a US$375-$450,[2] when Gale's Model A was $500,[3] the high-volume Oldsmobile Runabout went for $650,[4] and the Ford "Doctor's Car" was $850.[5]

The Black featured a 10 hp (7.5 kW) two-cylinder air-cooled gasoline engine, chain drive, wheel steering and (unusual for the era) double brakes.[6] It bragged speeds of 2-25 mph (3.2–40 km/h) and mileage of 30mpg (12.75 L/100 km).[6]

Surreys and "top motor buggies" were also advertised.[6]

Black Crow and Chicago Motor Buggy

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From 1909 to 1911, Black sold a rebadged Crow-Elkhart automobile as the "Black Crow".[7] In addition to Black and Black Crow names, during 1908 and 1909,[8] the company also sold a two-cylinder, high-wheeler under the Chicago Motor Buggy name.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Clymer, Floyd. Treasury of Early American Automobiles, 1877–1925 (New York: Bonanza Books, 1950), p.32.
  2. ^ Clymer, p.31.
  3. ^ Clymer, p.51.
  4. ^ Clymer, p.32.
  5. ^ Clymer, p.37.
  6. ^ a b c Clymer, p.61.
  7. ^ a b Kimes, Beverly (1996). standard catalog of American Cars 1805-1942. Krause publications. ISBN 0-87341-428-4.
  8. ^ Kimes, Beverly. Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 (Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 1996), p.303, calls them the Black Manufacturing Company.

Sources

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  • Clymer, Floyd. Treasury of Early American Automobiles, 1877–1925 (New York: Bonanza Books, 1950), p. 32.
  • Kimes, Beverly. Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942. Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 1996.
  • Wise, David Burgess. The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Automobiles. ISBN 0-7858-1106-0