The American Chocolate later known as Walter was an American-assembled automobile. Manufactured from 1902 to 1906 by vending machine company the American Chocolate Machinery Co., in Manhattan, New York, owned by William Walter.[1][2] He decided to expand his business by assembling automobiles in his factory.[3] The cars were exhibited at the New York automobile show.[4]
The cars were built from imported components, and were 30, 40, and 50 hp models. Production was supervised by Swiss engineer William Walter, who began building cars in 1898. The company relocated to Trenton, New Jersey in 1906, where it began producing cars under the name Walter.
After 1910 Walter was building 4 X 4 trucks, which were used by the military and municipalities. After World War I Walter truck switched from the brand's own four-cylinder motor to the Waukesha engine, and the company moved to a new location on Long Island in 1923.[5] The company would be finally absorbed by Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp (KME) in the late 1970s.[6]
Models
| Year | Engine | Horsepower | Transmission | Wheelbase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1902 | 2-cylinder | 12 | N/A | N/A |
| 1903 | 2-cylinder | 12 | 3-speed manual | N/A |
| 1903 | 4-cylinder | 24 | 3-speed manual[1] | N/A |
| 1906 | 4-cylinder[1] | 30 | 3-speed manual | 110" |
| 1906 | 4-cylinder | 40 | 3-speed manual | 110" |
| 1906 | 4-cylinder | 50 | 3-speed manual | 122" |
Notes
- 1 2 3 Kimes, Beverly (1996). Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942. Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-428-4.
- ↑ Mueller, Mike (2006). American Horsepower: 100 Years of Great Car Engines. MBI Publishers. p. 20. ISBN 9780760323274. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
...1902, when William Walter rolled out the first car from his American Chocolate Machinery Company factory in New York ...
- ↑ Wallechinsky, David; Wallace, Amy (2005). The new book of lists : the original compendium of curious information. Canongate. p. 246. ISBN 9781841957197. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
- ↑ "Official Space Allotment for the New York Show". Automobile Review. 7 (12): 322. 15 December 1902. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ↑ Mroz, Albert (2010). American Cars, Trucks and Motorcycles of World War I: Illustrated Histories of 225 manufacturers. Jefferson, North Carolina: Mc Farland and Company, Publishers. p. 379. ISBN 978-0-7864-3967-6.
- ↑ "Where snow fell, the trucks of Walter shoved". Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- Lewerenz, Alfred (1973). "The American Chocolate Company - a bit od history". Horseless Carriage Gazette. 35–36: 30. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- Image of a 1902 Waltomobile Tonneau Archived 2015-11-27 at the Wayback Machine made by the American Chocolate Machinery Co.
- "The 1904 Walter Gasoline Car". Cycle and Automobile Trade Journal. 8 (7): 112. 1 January 1904. Retrieved 7 April 2013.