User:HeraldicEagle

The First American Automobile

The first American-made, completely operable, self-propelled, road vehicle (automobile) was invented and made in Hinsdale, New Hampshire by Mr. George A. Long in 1875.

The young 15 year old George Long was an apprentice in the machine shop (now a State and Federal Historic Site) in 1875, on Hinsdale's Canal Street (NH Route 119E.). Long worked for the former, Civil War Veteran and Union Captain, Jason R. Holman and his partner, Charles D. Merriman.

Long's first automobile had a single cylinder (former powder cartridge), had a bicycle-type frame, ordinary wooden wheels, solid rear axle, and was charcoal-fired-steam-propelled. Long's vehicle seat was located behind the firebox while the fifth wheel in the front, permitted its steering. Long's first vehicle could maintain 30 miles per hour, roads permitting. Long later recalled that: "It (his first automobile) was a good vehicle and would do 30 miles an hour on the straightaway, if, a good road could be found smooth enough to stand such speed.".

Long's shakedown test for his first automobile in 1875, was scheduled one morning after midnight as to escape possible embarrassment. But the local Hinsdale folk, saw and heard what was going on, and soon quite a crowd had assembled. This first test-run came up short as his auto only ran a few hundred yards and stopped. During the run a "kink" had developed in the exhaust pipe. Long further recalled that: "This pleased everyone; because people don't like to see a thing work after they had said it can't.". This first vehicle of Long was later demonstrated to many visitors, some of whom came from some distance to see it run about.

The Father of the American Automobile, George A. Long, was also responsible for the first motor vehicle law. Apparently the authorities of nearby Northfield, MA (where Long lived in 1875) had to draw up a local ordinance, and then banned his "...noisy, cinder-throwing scorcher...". To avoid further trouble, Long scheduled further trials after dusk and raced horses and buggies right off the road, leastwise, "...any that did not bolt and dash in the opposite direction.".

Subsequently in 1878, Long's first automobile was disassembled (with much encouragement or threatening) and the chassis purchased by the Town of Hinsdale and utilized as a horse-drawn, fire-fighting apparatus. The engine and boiler was purchased by a private concern, to power a Connecticut River cargo boat.

Although there are numerous newspaper accounts of young Long's automobile exploits; there unfortunately are no known sketches or photographs of his 1875 vehicle.

In 1879 Mr. George A. Long started building his second automobile, submitted for a patent on August 29, 1882, and was awarded patent number 281091 on July 10, 1883 by the United States Patent Office. This vehicle called "STEAM-ROAD-VEHICLE" interestingly, is gasoline-fired-steam-propelled. It is amusing to this author that Karl Benz of Mannheim, Germany, received his first German automobile patent (number: DRP-37435), on January 29, 1886, yet, Mercedese-Benz, claims to be the inventor of the automobile. This, not even taking into consideration the many newspaper accounts of George A. Long's first and un-patented, running, automobile.

George A. Long was quite the local and daring, young celebrity.

It was not Benz whom invented the automobile.

Long's second automobile in 1956, was restored when Mr. John H. Bacon contacted Long (when he was 96) in Boston, MA; and, solicited him to help restore his own historic (by this time), second automobile. Luckily, most of the second automobile parts built by Long, were obtainable as he knew of their stored whereabouts. With the help of Mr. George Eli Whitney (designer/builder of early steam engines/influenced the 'Stanley Brothers/Stanley Steamer') and Mr. Russell Davis (Master Boilermaker?) of Leominster, MA., the conglomeration formulated and completed, the restoration of Long's second and patented, "Steam Road Vehicle" (automobile) to it's original running condition. As this (Long's second) vehicle was restored by the men, it now resides not only as the Oldest American Automobile, but the Oldest Self-Propelled Vehicle, residing in the Smithsonian Institution's collection. Again, this is George A. Long's second, and only patented, automobile.

This, Long's second automobile of 1881 or 1882, features an advanced two-cylinder engine that was interestingly, gasoline-fired-steam-propelled. It further sports a tubular frame, wire wheels, rubber tires, adjustable seats for two, two speeds forward or reverse (belt and pulley transmission), front-wheel brakes, ball-bearing steering, self-vaporizing jet fuel system, dual steering controls and ball joints.

George A. Long was later awarded more than thirty other patents during his centurion and inventive life. Some others of his ideas included the ball joint, an automatic garage heater, a treasure ship salvaging method, a completely silent toilet valve (ball and caulk?), and a window assembly machine (triple-track?).

George A. Long was honored at age 87 in 1947, by the Automobile Old Timers Club. Long died blind and penniless at the age of 100, in downtown Boston, in 1960. Long's automobile inventive achievement has been commemorated with a State of New Hampshire historical marker on NH route 119E; signifying across the highway, as to the local of Long's workshop.

It is anticipated that soon, a Federal historic marker may be planted signifying the local, as the "Birthplace of the American Automobile".

This Federal-styled building that inhabited Long's workings was built in 1837, by Mr. Joel Derby (a cooper). It originated and was utilized as a water-powered, granite-block-founded, brick, clerestory-roofed, cooperage. It became the Holman and Merriman Machine Shop in 1865.

HeraldicEagle (talk) 16:36, 11 June 2009 (UTC)