Franklin (automobile)

Franklin Automobile Company
IndustryAutomotive
GenreSedans, touring cars, limousines, coupes, speedsters, taxis, light trucks
Founded1906 (1902, first car produced)[1]
FounderHerbert H. Franklin
Defunct1934
FateBankruptcy
Headquarters,
United States
Area served
United States
Key people
John Wilkinson, chief engineer
ProductsAutomobiles
Automotive parts
OwnerHerbert H. Franklin
Number of employees
3,210 in 1920
ParentH. H. Franklin Manufacturing Company

The Franklin Automobile Company was a marketer of automobiles in the United States between 1902 and 1934 in Syracuse, New York. Herbert H. Franklin, the founder, began his career in the metal die casting business before establishing his automobile enterprise.[2] Controlled by Herbert H. Franklin it had very few other significant shareholders. Franklin bought its vehicles from the H. H. Franklin Manufacturing Company which was only moderately profitable and frequently missed dividends on common stock.[3]

The two major characteristics of their automobiles were their air-cooled engines and in the early years their lightness and responsiveness when compared with other luxury cars.

The Franklin companies suffered financial collapse in April 1934. Aside from his consequent retirement CEO Herbert Franklin's lifestyle was unaffected.

  1. ^ "Preferred Stock, H. H. Franklin Manufacturing Company". Syracuse Journal. Syracuse, New York. April 8, 1920.
  2. ^ "1915 Franklin". Jay Leno's Garage. New York: NBC Corp. 2010. Archived from the original on March 25, 2012.
  3. ^ Powell, Sinclair (1999). The Franklin Automobile Company: The History of the Innovative Firm, Its Founders, the Vehicles It Produced (1902–1934), and the People Who Built Them. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers. ISBN 0768002214. OCLC 39812387.