Made in Western New York

Buffalo Electric Carriage Co.

Glimpse the battery-operated vehicle over a century ahead of its time.

In 1900, electric vehicle production in the U.S. kept pace with gasoline-powered automobiles. However, as mass manufacturing drove down the price of gas-powered autos, and innovation increased reliability, electrics were soon left in the dust.

Buffalo Electric Carriage Co.’s horseless electric carriage, the Stanhope, appealed to women, who would not have to use a dangerous hand crank to start the vehicle. Wealthy families in Buffalo in the early 1900s might have two vehicles; a gasoline auto for the men and an electric for the women.

Quiet, easy to operate, and emission-free, the Stanhope weighed 1,800 pounds and featured wood wheels, hard rubber tires, and a Victoria top. However, the carriage was also slow, with a top speed of 14 mph, had a difficult time going uphill, and needed to be recharged every 20-50 miles.

“…I’ve always wanted, ever since I was born, to ride somethin’ that went by itself. I’ve pulled horses up and down these hills till I’m sick to death of it. I’ve al’ays set far forred on the seat an’ breathed light so’s not to weigh so much, an’ I want to ride in somethin’ I can lean back in an’ weigh heavy ‘fore I die – somethin’ that I won’t have to think all the time how tired it’s getting.”

Excerpt from “Why She Wanted An Automobile”
Buffalo Evening News – December 22, 1902

1948 Playboy

Manufactured by the Playboy Motor Car Co. in Buffalo, NY, 1947-1951.

Conceived to be the “second” car in the typical American family soon after WWII, the Playboy measured just 156” overall length and boasted a 40 hp four-cylinder engine. Only 97 of the vehicles were built. The company was founded by L. Horwitz, a former Packard dealer; C. Thomas, a former Pontiac engineer; and N. Richardson, a garage mechanic.

Playboy produced an affordable sub-$1,000 automobile selling at $995 f.o.b. Buffalo known for its innovative folding steel top that was hinged in the middle with a supposedly leak-proof rubber gasket. The company suffered from a lack of capital investment including two failed stock offerings and a failed attempt to sell the company to Henry J. Kaiser (of the Kaiser-Fraiser Car Co.) in 1950. The firm declared bankruptcy in 1951.

The Museum’s 1948 Playboy is the only one known to have a Continental kit.

White 1948 Playboy Motor Car with red interior on display at the museum.

Interior dashboard view of 1948 Playboy motor car. The dashboard and interior is entirely red except the white steering wheel.

Late 1940s yellow Motorette car with black upholstery on display in the museum.

The Motorette

The Motorette, built in Buffalo in the late 1940s, is a three wheeled vehicle designed by aviation engineers. It was promoted as a personal car in the featherweight class “that is giving America a new motor thrill.”

The company’s ad read, “It’s as smart as a Paris fashion plate, as comfortable as an Atlantic City boardwalk chair. It’s as easy to handle as a fountain pen and costs less to operate per mile than a Scotchman’s bicycle.”

The factory building still stands today on Harlem Road in Buffalo.

Thomas Rocket Car

In 1938, the Rocket Car, created by Charles D. Thomas of Batavia, NY, was promoted as “The Car of Tomorrow” and “the floating ride.”

Publicity at the time touted that the car had no fenders, no running board, no separation in the center of the floor, no visible door hinges, and practically invisible wheels. It features a combination periscope, ventilator and aerial on the top of the car that gives the impression of a windblown fin. Mr. Thomas claimed that the car could make a top speed of 100 miles per hour, and even at that rate, consume only one gallon of gas.

Charles D. Thomas went on to be part of the creation of Buffalo’s Playboy automobile in the late 1940s. Mr Thomas also designed a military amphibius vehicle, the Cheetah, produced for WWII.

1938 Rocket Car on display in the museum. The car is a dark red and has a fin on the roof.

1913 Lad’s Car

With Renault-style hood option. Manufactured by the Niagara Motor Car Corporation.

The Lad’s Car was a real gas-powered automobile designed for juveniles. It was made to carry one child, but ads claimed it could seat two. The assembly booklet sold separately for twenty cents.

This juvenile auto had a one cylinder 5 hp air-cooled 4-cycle engine with speeds from 3 to 25 mph. The amazing little car had everything from rack and pinion steering with aluminum spider, spark and throttle levers on the steering wheel and a friction lever. Its axles were of a solid one piece “I” beam design. A four-gallon gas tank claimed to provide enough for a 200-mile trip. The bodies of these mini autos were mostly wood with some metal, painted battleship gray. Solid 1 inch Goodyear tires are mounted on wooden rims.

Lad's Car before restoration. Car is very rusty.

Restoration expert Doug Redmond drives the Lad's Car. He is wearing a drivign cap and goggles.

The Niagara Motor Car Corporation only designed juvenile automobiles, with the intention that any intelligent child could assemble it themselves. It was meant to provide a mechanically minded child a sure-enough motor vehicle to teach them about automobiles. The Lad’s Car was sold only through mail order, and could be purchased assembled or unassembled for $148–$180.

The predecessor to the Lad’s Car was the Motor Bob, of Buffalo, NY, designed by E.N. Bowen who claimed to have invented a similar automobile as a young man.

The Museum’s Lad’s Car was unrestored when it was bought at auction in 1995. The late Doug Redmond, Museum friend, took on the task of meticulously restoring the car down to recreating mechanical parts where needed. Sherman Hollow Coach of Penn Yann, NY reupholstered the seat. Wooden spoked wheels were recreated by Calimer’s Wheel Shop of Waynesboro, PA. The Museum’s car has a single cylinder Pierce engine.