The US automobile industry was much more diverse in the first three decades of the 20th century than it became in the second half of the century. The Franklin Automobile Company was based in Syracuse, NY and manufactured luxury automobiles from 1901 to 1934. The stock market crash of 1929 killed demand for luxury cars and Franklin entered 1932 with $7 million of unsold inventory. They tried to introduce a lower priced car, but it was too little too late. The Franklin named continued to be used as a brand name for Aircooled Motors through WWII. Aircooled was in Liverpool, NY and at one time my great grandfather worked for them. Republic bought them in 1945, then the Tucker Car Corporation bought them in 1947. The Tucker family sold it in 1961 and it was renamed Franklin Engine Company. It was finally sold to the Polish government in 1975 and moved to Poland...
The Northeast Classic Car Museum in Norwich, NY has a large collection of Franklin cars and several Franklin aircraft engines. The collection includes some very rare machines.
A 1903 Franklin. This is the second oldest known to exist, the oldest is owned by the Smithsonian and is on loan to the Onondaga Historical Society. It was purchased by the Smithsonian because it was the first car to have a 4-cylinder engine, lightweight construction, elliptic springs, air-cooled engine, valve-in-head cylinder, throttle control, & float feed carburetor.
1908 Franklin truck. The only one know to exist.
The last open bodied Franklin. They began producing closed body sedans in 1913.
Franklin O-805 engine 12-cylinder engine. These were to be used in the Interstate XBQ-5 drone, a remote control bomber. But the Army never ordered it. As a result there are only 5 or 6 engines known to exist.
A Franklin 2-series 2-cylinder engine. Used in small sport planes like the Lockheed Little Dipper and Bellanca 7ACA A Franklin 4-series 4-cylinder engine. Used in planes like the Piper Cub.
A 6-cylinder engine used for the Republic Seabee.
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