Anyone heard of an "Allen"?

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Rich Eagle
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Anyone heard of an "Allen"?

Post by Rich Eagle » Thu Jan 20, 2022 12:12 pm

This is one of the hundreds of carmakers that was selling cars in 1915 when there were so many Model Ts on the road. They were built at Fostoria, Ohio between 1913 and 1921. Little wonder Henry tried to update the looks in 1917.
Allen1.jpg
Allen2.jpg
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Re: Anyone heard of an "Allen"?

Post by TXGOAT2 » Thu Jan 20, 2022 12:30 pm

I've never heard of an Allen. I'd bet that thing had plenty of torque, however, it weighed a good deal more than the Ford. The Depression and scrap drives of WWII destroyed a lot of American History. A brief Wikipedia article indicates that the Allen auto used a Sommers engine and at some point bought the engine company, then went bankrupt and was aquired by Willys. The article further states that another Allen car was offered by different comnpany, also operating in Ohio. No details were given on that other Allen. Local history may provide more details.


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Re: Anyone heard of an "Allen"?

Post by TXGOAT2 » Thu Jan 20, 2022 12:47 pm

See: Fostoria Historical Society.... many pictures of Fostoria. One is captioned to the effect that the Allen Motor Car Co occupied a building seen behind the YMCA building. (1914)

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Re: Anyone heard of an "Allen"?

Post by CudaMan » Thu Jan 20, 2022 2:03 pm

I highly recommend finding and buying a copy of "Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942". I have a copy of the second edition by Krause Publications. It shows six different American car companies with the name "Allen". The Allen company based in Fostoria and Columbus, Ohio built cars from 1913 through 1922. Total production is estimated at around 20,000 cars. :)
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Rich Eagle
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Re: Anyone heard of an "Allen"?

Post by Rich Eagle » Thu Jan 20, 2022 2:27 pm

Thanks for adding that Pat.
I have that "Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942" Mark. It is full of great info. They didn't have room to add better pictures but it is more complete than anyone will probably ever do. Beverly R. Kimes and Henry Austin Clark spent years putting it together.
Here are motor and chassis pages for the smaller Allen's.
Allen6.jpg
Allen7.jpg
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Re: Anyone heard of an "Allen"?

Post by Rich Bingham » Thu Jan 20, 2022 6:56 pm

A cute, "snappy" looking car ! I don't think "looks" was ever a thought in Henry's marketing strategy, although I have always wondered if the 1915 cowl design wasn't prematurely introduced with the "streamlined" 1917 models in mind. Did a massive over-production of brass radiators dictate the looks of the 1915-16 models ? Wartime shortages trimmed the brass trim from the 1916 model run.

I can't even imagine the hours of painstaking research that Henry Clark and Beverly Kimes spent on that exhaustive study. Car aficionados owe them an immense debt of gratitude. So many of these marques have no surviving examples, and the histories are fascinating !!

Thanks for posting this Rich !
Last edited by Rich Bingham on Fri Jan 21, 2022 10:51 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Anyone heard of an "Allen"?

Post by BobD » Fri Jan 21, 2022 12:03 am

Never heard of an Allen before. Nice looking well equipped car for the day. 3.625" bore X 5" long stroke engine. If I did the math right, that works out to 206.4 cubic inches.

"Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942" is one I don't have. Just ordered one in excellent condition for $22.00 from AbeBooks. Thanks Rich E. Mark S. and Rich B. for pointing out this book. :)

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Rich Eagle
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Re: Anyone heard of an "Allen"?

Post by Rich Eagle » Fri Jan 21, 2022 12:03 pm

Here are the 2 larger touring cars that Allen offered in 1915. A 4 1/8" bore would have given a but more HP that the 3 5/8" bore with 37 Hp. I don't see the larger HP stated anywhere.
Allen3.jpg
Allen4.jpg
It would be interesting to know how many of which model were sold. I think it was 20,000 total production.
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Re: Anyone heard of an "Allen"?

Post by Dropacent » Fri Jan 21, 2022 12:21 pm

I believe several cars were made in the Tiffin, Ohio area. Joe Bell would know if any are still around there. I believe the Seneca County historical society may have one on display.
In the northern part of the state, decent sized cities are maybe a half hour to an hour apart in today’s driving. You need to remember people didn’t drive 60mph back then. Well within an hour radius of me in Norwalk…… Norwalk, 2 makes of cars, Sandusky 2, Tiffin 2, Fostoria 1, Elmore 1, Elyria 2, Here is a pic of an Allen in situ
38D241E7-28DE-4D6D-819E-560E5F41822A.jpeg
Last edited by Dropacent on Fri Jan 21, 2022 12:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.


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Re: Anyone heard of an "Allen"?

Post by Dropacent » Fri Jan 21, 2022 12:31 pm

A quick follow up……. “History” tells us the first successful auto was the Dureya but the Lambert beat them by several years, made in Ohio City, Ohio. Near Indiana.

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Re: Anyone heard of an "Allen"?

Post by CudaMan » Fri Jan 21, 2022 3:48 pm

I have two books written by John Lambert's great granddaughter, Carol Jean Lambert. She makes the case for Lambert "inventing" America's first car.

Her books are titled "Something New Under the Sun", and "Who Invented America's Gasoline Automobile?"

Fascinating reading. :)
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Rich Eagle
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Re: Anyone heard of an "Allen"?

Post by Rich Eagle » Fri Jan 21, 2022 4:12 pm

I imagine there were dozens of would-be inventors developing a horseless carriage of one kind or another during the early days. Some may have reached some sort of success without the benefit of good press. Others may have given up in frustration before that. We may never know about much that went on but it's fun to think about and learn what we can.
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