Gaeth

Founding

The Gaeth car would be created by Paul Gaeth, a man who lived in Cleveland Ohio. He spent the late 1800s building bicycles and stationary engine. In 1898 he would build an experimental steam car and shortly after a gasoline car. In 1900 he would join the People's Automobile Company as the superintendent. He would leave the position in 1902 when People's went under.^[2]

Almost right after the company went bankrupt Paul Gaeth would partner with a local business man and would form the Gaeth Automobile Company at 54 Warden Street. Initially the firm would produce cars on a special order basis only out of a small machine shop. And initially the cars would be sold under the Gaethmobile brand name.^[2]

Gaeth Automobile Company

By October 1903 total production would be 24 cars since inception.^[3]

In late October of 1904 after producing one cylinder cars (and apparently a single two cylinder car) Gaeth would expand their product offering to include a three cylinder touring car known as the Gaeth Triplex.^[4]

For 1905 the three cylinder Triplex would be discontinued, and for 1905 the model lineup would include a four cylinder and two cylinder car. Distribution was still largely regional as opposed to the larger firms who would market to the whole country and even other nations, but in late 1905 plans were being made for a larger factory and more expansive distribution network. The plant was being provided by outside funding.^[5] Another development for 20-5 was a still unnamed 50 horsepower model.^[6]

The company offered three cars for the 1906 model year, all of them four cylinder cars. The Type G was the smallest and made 20-24 horsepower. The Type H was the medium model making 30-40 horsepower. And the Type J was the most powerful making 50-54 horsepower.^[7] A commercial wagon, known as the Model K would also be offered beginning in the middle of the year.^[8]

For the 1907 model year the company would offer a four cylinder model making 35 horsepower; known as the Type XII.^[9]

Over the course of three days in September 1907 a reliability run would be held in Cleveland. Eight cars would have their hoods sealed and then driven a route of over 150 miles each day. The competing cars were two Buicks, two Cartercars, two Jacksons, a Mora and a Gaeth Type K Delivery Wagon. Points were deducted for each stop and repair. During the contest it rained heavily and cars were skidding and failing in the muddy roads. The Gaeth was the only car to score a perfect score during the trial. Granted the trail had a much lower turnout than hoped for.^[10]

Six years after being formed the company was still extremely small, production for 1908 was estimated to be 75 to 100 cars for the whole year.^[11] To expand; the company would be reorganized and incorporated with a capitalization of $100,000. Paul Gaeth would remain as president, and R.P. Hawkins would be vice president.^[12] For the 1908 model year the company would use another four cylinder model known as the Type XV which was almost identical to the previous year's model.^[13]

In mid 1909 the company would expand its repair and paint shops and finishing shops. and would report "Business at present we have found to be rather steady and we expect this condition to hold for the remainder the present year or there may of course be a small increase in general business activity" The cars for the next few years would be very slightly modified variants of the Type XV.^[14]

Gaeth Motor Company

In late July 1910 the assets of the Gaeth Automobile company would be transferred to a new firm called the Gaeth Motor Company. The new firm would be incorporated at $400,000. Paul Gaeth who was in Europe at the time, was apparently in poor health and might have offloaded the company to new investors as a result. As part of the reorganization a new factory was planned and production was hoped to be increased from anywhere from 100 to 500 cars a year.^[15] As another part of the reorganization the company would move form Cleveland to Pittsburgh.^[16]

Discontinuation

It is unclear at this point what happened to the Gaeth Automobile Company and the Gaeth Motor Company. In November of 1910 it was reported that the Gaeth Automobile Company had fallen into the hands of a receiver. The newly formed Stuyvesant Motor Car Company of Cleveland would purchase the assets and then move the factory to Sandusky. For 1911 the Stuyvesant planned to build 200 Gaeth cars and 100 of their own name sake cars. It is unclear if the reorganization did not go through, or if the new firm was mislabeled as the old firm. Regardless of these facts no more mention is made for either firm after 1910.^[17]

Make and Break Ignition

Gaeth would patent and market heavily its so called "make and break ignition system" around 1906. This system would be a major selling point on all Gaeth four cylinder cars after its introduction. It was a low tension ignition system that also was able to facilitate starting the car (the only of its kind according to Gaeth). The ignition system would compose of a vertical shaft running between the cylinder pairs; the vertical shaft would be connected to the engine by means of a gear running off of the intake manifold. From the vertical shaft the system would be described as:

"To the top of the vertical shaft is fastened a pair of small cranks connected to which are four horizontal push rods for tripping the contact arms of the ignitors The times of tripping are regulated by four small eccentrics carried on vertical spindles and against which the push rods are caused to bear by means of coiled springs It is seen that as the cranks revolve the operative ends of the push rods will be given a combination reciprocating and side motion through their engagement with the eccentrics thus permit ting of controlling their tripping action through the eccentrics Each ignitor has a moving member or contact arm which is brought into contact with its stationary electrode by means of one of the horizontal push rods By making the spiral gear on the camshaft of sufficient length a range of action is secured by the spark lever such that the ignitor nearest the firing point may be snapped off thus causing a spark within the cylinder and enabling the motor to start on compression"^[18]

Gaethmobile

The first production model was introduced in 1902 and was known as the Gaethmobile. It was a two seat runabout with a single cylinder horizontal engine underneath the rear of the body. RPM varied between 200 and 1000. Top speed was 30 miles an hour. There were two forward speeds and a reverse from a planetary transmission. It was right hand drive and used a tiller to steer. The Gaethmobile weighed 1,200 pounds and was sold on a order only basis.^[19]

Gaeth Triplex

The Gaeth Triplex would be introduced sometime in 1904. The car was powered by a three cylinder horizontal gasoline engine making 25-30 horsepower; the hood did not contain the engine, the engine was under the seats like many early touring cars. The advertised body was a side entrance touring car. Cooling was by thermo-syphon, and the car had a two speed planetary transmission and reverse. Top speed was 50 miles an hour; engine speed was between 150 to 1200 RPM. The car was right hand drive with a steering wheel by Brown-Lipe and a foot throttle. Two brakes were employed, a service brake that operated on the differential which was controlled by a foot lever, and an emergency brake that operated on the rear wheels that was controlled by a lever. Wheelbase was 100 inches.^[20]

Type H

The Type H was available for 1906. It was the middle model in the 1906 lineup. It made 30-40 horsepower out of a vertical four cylinder engine (as opposed to the horizontal three cylinder in the Triplex). The cylinders were cast in pairs. There were three forward gears and a reverse from a sliding gear transmission. Cooling was by thermo-siphon. There were two sets of brakes, a service brake controlled by a foot pedal that acted on the outside of the rear drums, and an emergency brake that was operated by a hand lever that worked on the inside of the rear drum brakes. Two bodies were offered, a side entrance "King of the Belgians" tonneau, and the second was a surrey. The seats were leather, and there was a trunk that could be accessed from behind the car. Five lamps, horn, and tools were standard.^[7]

Type K Delivery Wagon

The Model K did not share engines with the larger models; instead it would employ a single cylinder gasoline engine making 10-12 horsepower. It used a two speed planetary transmission which had a reverse. The vehicle weighed 1,800 pounds and could carry up to 1,500 pounds. The wheelbase was 103 inches, and steering was by steering wheel.^[8] Final Drive was by chain. The Price was $1200 for 1906.^[12]

Type XII

The Type XII would be unveiled in late 1906 as a 1907 model. It employed a 35 horsepower water cooled 4 cylinder engine. Ignition would be by a magneto, and the car would have three forward speeds from a sliding gear transmission. Two brakes would be on the car, a service brake acting on the outside of the brake drums which was operated by a foot pedal, and an emergency brake acting on the inside of the drums operated by a hand lever. The wheelbase was 112 inches, and the car weighed 2700 pounds. The listed price for late 1906 was $3500; this price included lamps and tools.^[9]

Type XV

The Type XV was "the leading model" for 1908. It was very similar in appearance to the Type XII, it made 35 horsepower from a four cylinder engine that was slightly enlarged. Other details are largely the same as the Type XII. Price was $3500.^[13]

Type XX

The Model XX would again be a slightly modified previous model. The XX would be introduced in 1908 for the 1909 model year. It would be rated at 38 horsepower. Three models would be advertised, a roadster and touring car for $3,500. And a limousine for $4,500.^[21]

Type XXI

The company for the 1910 model year would even admit that the Model XXI was the same car as before, the reason given was that they had perfected their design to the point that it did not need to change. The price and specs were the same as the previous year. ^[22]