Front Drive Motor Company
| Industry | Commercial vehicle |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1912 |
| Founder | J. Walter Christie |
| Defunct | 1918 |
| Headquarters | , US |
The Front Drive Motor Company was an American manufacturer of commercial vehicles founded in 1912 by J. Walter Christie.[1][2]
There was no connection to the Front Drive Motor Company of the same name from Missouri.
History
[edit]The company was based in New Jersey, with one source showing that it was started in 1912, but another stating that production of commercial vehicles started in December of 1911.[3] Production ended in 1918. A total of around 600 vehicles were built.[1][2]
The first fire trucks produced consisted of motorized axles mounted on the fire brigade's existing motorless steam pumps. These fore-carriages used a T-head 4 cylinder engine.[3] The first model had a 90 hp four-cylinder engine mounted longitudinally above the axle. The first buyer was the New York City Fire Department.
The following fire engines had a transverse engine which was installed under the front hood or under the driver's seat. The front-wheel drive system was patented by A. Ortengren on 7 November, 1916.[3]
The company ceased production of fire trucks in 1918, but in 1919 they designed the Christie Model 1919 tank, which was not accepted for production.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Georgano, George Nicholas, ed. (1979). The Complete Encyclopedia of Commercial Vehicles. Osceola, FL: Motorbooks International. p. 136–137. ISBN 0-87341-024-6.
- ^ a b Mroz, Albert (1996). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of American Trucks and Commercial Vehicles. Iola, WI: Krause Publications. p. 63–64. ISBN 0-87341-368-7.
- ^ a b c "1913 Christie Fire Engine Tractors". Stohrdesign.com. 2013-07-30. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ^ Christie Medium Tank M1919
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