Elmore Manufacturing Company

Elmore Manufacturing Company (founded 1893) was a manufacturer of automobiles in Clyde, Ohio. The company took its name from its original place of manufacture, the nearby Village of Elmore. Founded by James and Burton Becker, Elmore used a 2-stroke engine design, in straight-2 or single-cylinder versions. They later produced a straight-3 as well.

The smallest 1904 model was the Elmore Convertible Runabout, a runabout model. Equipped with a tonneau, it could seat 4 passengers and sold for just US$650, making it one of the least-expensive vehicles on the market. The flat-mounted single-cylinder engine, situated at the center of the car, produced 6.5 hp (4.8 kW). A 2-speed transmission was fitted. The car weighed 1050 lb (476 kg).

The Elmore Runabout was next in line, a runabout model. It could seat 2 passengers and sold for US$800. The vertically-mounted straight-2, situated at the center of the car, produced 8 hp (6 kW). A 3-speed transmission was fitted. The angle iron-framed car weighed 1400 lb (635 kg).

The top model was the Elmore Tonneau, a tonneau model. It could seat 4 passengers and sold for US$1400. The flat-mounted straight-2 was situated at the front of the car, produced 12 hp (8.9 kW). A 3-speed transmission was fitted. The angle iron-framed car weighed 1500 lb (680 kg).

In 1908, Elmore's three-cylinder two-stroke caught the attention of William C. Durant, founder of General Motors. He purchased the company the following year, with Elmore becoming one of General Motors' divisions. After Durant was forced out of General Motors in 1912, Elmore became one of the several car divisions that were closed in favor of more promising brands to help General Motors achieve financial stability.

References

• Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly (January, 1904)