Milburn Light Electric

The original 1915 model was designed by Karl Probst.^[1] The Light Electric's batteries were positioned on trays beneath its front and rear hoods.^[2] Light Electrics featured an early version of dynamic braking, with stored energy being used to aid its two mechanical wheel brakes.^[3] The coupe and brougham models of the Light Electric featured simple tiller controls,^[4][3][2] with two horizontal levers for control of speed and steering. The cars had four speeds in forward steering and two speeds for reverse steering.^[3] The roadster and sedan models had steering wheels, while the "town car" model had a steering wheel for its open-air chauffeur seat and a tiller in the enclosed compartment.^[4]

Milburn had a long history of manufacturing passenger coaches, which was well-demonstrated in the craftsmanship of the Light Electric. Interior and exterior finishings of the cars were of high quality.^[3] The car was also lower to the ground, lighter weight, and more affordably-priced than most electric vehicles before it had been.^[2] 1915 models had a wheelbase measuring 110 inches (2,800 mm), and a chassis holding a 2-horsepower motor manufactured by General Electric.^[2] Excluding the weight of its batteries, the 1915 coupe model weighed 1,400 pounds (640 kg).^[2] The 1917 models were powered by thirteen 6-volt batteries, with its General Electric motor having 3.36 horsepower.^[5]

1919 Milburn Light Electric Model 27 Brougham at Autoseum in Sweden, with hood lifted to display battery tray

surviving 1921 Milburn Light Electric Model 27 Brougham with front hood lifted to display removable batteries

Weaknesses of the car included limited range, as it ran out of power far quicker than gasoline vehicles of its era.^[6] Early Light Electrics typically required its battery to be fully recharged after every 50 miles (80 km).^[2] In the 1917 model year, the range for battery charges was between 60 miles (97 km) to 70 miles (110 km).^[6] In an effort to address this weakness, in 1917, a battery swap service was made available for Milburn Electric owners in Chicago.^[7] In 1920 Milburn began producing replaceable battery kits, with the batteries featuring rollers for ease of insertion and removal by car owners.^[3][2] Additionally, limited advancements in battery technology and improvements in the design of the General Motors motors used for Milburn Electrics meant that, by the 1921 model year, Milburn Electrics had an extended range of 90 miles (140 km) per charge.^[2]

1915 dealership advertisements

The Milburn Electric lacked speed,^[6] with its 1915 coupe model topping-out at 15 mph (24 km/h) and its 1915 roadster model topping out at 19 mph (31 km/h).^[2] and had difficulty powering up steep grades.^[6] Improvements in General Electric engines used allowed models produced circa 1921 to achieve top speeds between 25 mph (40 km/h) and 30 mph (48 km/h).^[2]

While the car was initially only offered in two body styles in its first model year: the Model 15 coupe and the Model 151 roadster. Beginning in the second model year, the range of body styles expanded to ultimately include "brougham", sedan, "town car", and light delivery vehicle body styles.^[3] The "town car" model was a touring car, and was also advertised as a limousine.^[4] It featured an open driver's seat and covered rear seats. The light transport model featured a cargo area behind a front row of seats,^[1] In 1920, the Model 33 taxicab variant was produced and sold to companies in Chicago and St. Louis. In 1922, two truck variants were produced: the Model 43 (with a 0.5 tonnes (0.49 long tons; 0.55 short tons) chassis was sold for $1,585) and the Model 40 (with a 1 tonne (0.98 long tons; 1.1 short tons) chassis, sold for $1,985).^[4]

The first consumer Light Electrics (the 1915 models) were produced on the company's assembly line in September 1914.^[2] Milburn manufactured approximately 4,000 vehicles of the model in its Toledo, Ohio facility, with the last being produced in 1923.^[6] The 1915 model year came in two body styles: the Model 15 coupe (sold for $1,485) the Model 151 roadster (sold for $1,285). Both used the same wheelbase, chassis, and motor setup.^[2]

The car was marketed as ideal for women, as it was cleaner, quieter, and more appealing than gasoline powered automobiles of the era (which were considered odorous, loud, and challenging to control).^[6] Most companies of the day believed that female consumers were more inclined to prefer electric cars, while male consumers were more likely to prefer gas cars, thus Milburn and other manufacturers featured well-dressed women in its advertising in order to appeal to a female target demographic.^[5]

Despite being the lowest-priced electric vehicle available to consumers,^[3][1] Milburn Light Electrics were still relatively expensive. The high cost to purchase the Light Electric made it a prohibitive option for many consumers.^[6] Additionally, public appetite for early electric vehicles was already declining after the 1912 introduction of the electric starter for gasoline engines.^[3] The car, which had luxurious finishes, ultimately became regarded to be a status symbol.^[10] It was largely purchased by professionals and high-society members, whose daily needs could still be met by a vehicle possessing the limitations of the Milburn Light Electric.^[3] Nevertheless, it Milburn had more success than most other manufacturers of the day in sales of electric automobiles.^[5]

Initial year sales of the Milburn Light Electric were low,^[3] with sources indicating 1,000 1915 models produced and sold.^[3][2] In 1916, a varied range of Light Electric body styles were introduced. Sales in that second year increased marginally to 1,500, with the brougham body style proving the most popular body style.^[3]

The Milburn Electric served as a presidential state car, with President Woodrow Wilson and his U.S. Secret Service detail using 1918 model year Milburn Light Electrics to travel around Washington, D.C..^[3][11] Wilson personally owned a 1918 model year Milburn Light Electric, and would drive it himself around the grounds of the White House.^[4] The Secret Service owned several Milburn Light Electrics, as it found the quite electric vehicle was ideal for use both in escorting the president at parades, and following the first family in their travel.^[5]

In 1919, the Milburn company plant was destroyed in a fire, causing losses of $900,000 and destroying third completed vehicles and even more incomplete vehicle bodies. Production was temporary moved to the grounds of Toledo University, where it resumed in January 1920. ^[4]

The last model of Light Electric offered for sale was the Model 27L Light Brougham, which was produced in limited quantities for several years.^[3] General Motors purchased the Milburn body plant in February 1923.^[2] As part of the General Motors purchase of the facility, Milburn retained the right to produce electric automobiles.^[4] However, Milburn only continued to manufacture automobiles briefly briefly in to make use of its remaining stock of material and parts.^[1] The last Milburn Light Electric produced only two months after General Motors' purchase of the plant.^[2] After this, the company only produced trucks and on-demand vehicles.^[4]

Few Milburn Light Electrics survive, with being housed in museums and private collections.^[3] As of 2024^[update], only 56 Milburn Light Electrics are known to still remain, with most being brougham-bodied models.^[2][8]

• Allen County Museum (1923 Model 27L Brougham)^[12]
• Antique Car Museum of Iowa (1922 Model 27L Brougham)^[8]
• Autoseum^[a], Sweden (1919 Model 27L Brougham)^[8]
• Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles (1917 Model 27 Brougham; 1919 Model 27L Brougham)^[8]
• Egeskov Castle^[b] (1920 Model 27L Brougham)^[8]
• Ellwood House and Museum (1920 Model 27L Brougham)^[8]
• The History Museum, South Bend, Indiana (Brougham)^[8]
• Josiah K. Lilly III Antique Automobile Museum at Heritage Museums and Gardens (1917 Model 27 Brougham)^[8]
• Kamyshmash Automobtive Museum, Moscow (1922 Model 27L Brougham)^[8]
• Museo Automovilistico de Malaga, Spain (1916 Model 22 Brougham)^[8]
• Museum of Science and Industry,^[c] Chicago (1921 Model 27L Brougham)^[8]
• Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology (1917 Model 27 Brougham)^[8]
• State Historical Society of Iowa (1917 Model 27 Brougham)^[8]
• Tampa Bay Automobile Museum (1922 Model 27L Brougham)^[8]
• Elizabeth M. Watkins Community Museum (1921 Model 27L Brougham)^[8]