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Open Thursday, Friday & Saturday
11 am to 4 pm
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$10 – Children (12 & under)
$20 – Adults
$20 – Seniors
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About the Exhibit
Early advertising claimed, “You have never known the real delights of motoring until you have toured in a Thomas Flyer.”
E. R. Thomas Motor Car Company of Buffalo, NY, originally established for the manufacture of bicycles and motorcycles, was first located at Broadway & Elm in Buffalo. The 1904 Thomas Auto-Bi, the first practical U.S. motorcycle, was promoted as very near a perfect motor bicycle and the safest, easiest riding, and most durable motor bicycle ever made. (The Museum’s 1904 Thomas Auto-Bi was meticulously restored by Doug Redmond and donated to the Museum by Mr. Tom Hagen of Erie, PA.)
The company built its first automobile about 1900. Because of the character, speed, and reliability of Thomas cars, they were referred to as the “Thomas Flyer.” By 1905, Thomas Flyers were winning hill-climbing and endurance contests. There were 7,000 E. R. Thomas automobiles sold in the public market, and they sold from $3,750 to $6,000 each.
The company assets were sold off in bankruptcy in 1913. The Thomas Motor Car Company factory stands today as part of the Rich Products complex, 1200 Niagara Street in Buffalo, NY.
The Museum is proud to display its 1909 Thomas 6-40 Flyabout 5 passenger, 1904 Thomas Auto-Bi meticulously restored by Douglas Redmond, a bronze of the NY to Paris Thomas by artist Stan Wanlass, and more rare original Thomas memorabilia.
The 1908 New York to Paris Race
In 1908, the perception of automobiles was that they were an unreliable luxury for the rich. At this time, a race was proposed: A ’round the world adventure from New York City to Paris, with teams driving across North America, crossing the frozen Bering Strait, through Asia to Europe, and finally finishing at the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Five European teams were entered, but no Americans were represented. It was thought no car could get past Chicago in the dead of winter.
President Teddy Roosevelt, however, was not going to stand for Europeans driving across his country in a race America wasn’t competing in. He put the call out to manufacturers. The only one confident enough in his vehicles was E.R. Thomas. He volunteered his 1907 Thomas Flyer Model 35, and his top mechanic, George Schuster, as driver. 24 hours before the race began, Schuster was told to pack his bags and get to New York — he was about to drive around the world!
A crowd of 250,000 gathered to watch the start of the race in NYC’s Times Square. It took 41 days to get to San Francisco. In Alaska, 10 feet of snow meant the competitors had to be shipped across the Pacific. The journey was dangerous and grueling. A New York Times correspondent rode with the team, sending carrier pigeons with his dispatches to the U.S. wrapped around the legs.
The Thomas Flyer finally entered the city gates of Paris on July 30th — but was not allowed due to a broken headlight! A passing cyclist offered his lamp, but they couldn’t remove it from his bike, so with an entire bicycle strapped to the hood, Schuster and the Thomas Flyer crossed the finish line at the Eiffel Tower, 169 days after they embarked.
They returned home as heroes. President Roosevelt sat behind the steering wheel and told Schuster, “I like men who do things. Not the good man who stays at home.” The victory legitimized the American automobile manufacturing industry and convinced its citizens of the car’s reliability beyond the horseless carriage.