Ajax Motor Vehicle Company was a now-defunct American

brass era The Brass Era is an American term for the early period of automotive manufacturing, named for the prominent brass fittings used during this time for such features as lights and radiator (engine cooling), radiators. It is generally considered to ...

electric car An electric car or electric vehicle (EV) is a passenger car, passenger automobile that is propelled by an electric motor, electric traction motor, using electrical energy as the primary source of propulsion. The term normally refers to a p ...

manufacturer established in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

, which operated from 1901 until 1903. It produced the Ajax Electric car. Its factory was located at 220 West 36th Street, just north of the famed Macy's Department Store in

Manhattan Manhattan ( ) is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City. Coextensive with New York County, Manhattan is the County statistics of the United States#Smallest, larg ...

History

Ajax Motor Vehicle Company - Electric Runabout

Ajax Motor Vehicle Company was formed by New York City brothers Walter Simpson and Alfred L. Simpson, with an initial capitalization of US$10,000. They set up manufacturing in July 1901, in a factory located on Manhattan's West 36th Street, not far from Macy's. The company produced an open two-seat lightweight runabout that rode on narrow 28 inch

wire wheel Wire wheels, wire-spoked wheels, tension-spoked wheels, or "suspension" wheels are wheels whose rims connect to their hubs by wire spokes. Although these wires are considerably stiffer than a similar diameter wire rope, they function mechani ...

s with pneumatic tires and optional mudguards.Kimes and Clark, p.20 photo. It was originally priced at US$1,100, but later reduced to $850. The frame of the car was similar to bicycle construction, with seamless-drawn steel tubing, joined by brazing into drop-forged lugs. The 24V electric motor was rated at bhp and had a chain drive to the rear axle and differential. Mechanical brakes were provided on both rear axle and motor. Steering was by a crosswise tiller to the left seat. Ajax had a display at the 1903

New York Auto Show The New York International Auto Show is an annual auto show that is held in Manhattan, New York City in late March or early April. It is held at the Javits Center, Jacob Javits Convention Center. It usually opens on or just before Easter weeke ...

, but closed later that year. This may have been precipitated by the 1902 collapse in the US electric car market, following dubious selling of electric car stocks, and a high-profile accident to a racing

Baker A baker is a tradesperson who baking, bakes and sometimes Sales, sells breads and other products made of flour by using an oven or other concentrated heat source. The place where a baker works is called a bakery. History Ancient histo ...

. No cars were sold outside New York City. The company's forearm and clenched fist logo predated the similar one used by

Arm & Hammer Arm & Hammer is a brand of baking soda-based consumer products marketed by Church & Dwight, a major American manufacturer of household products. The logo of the brand depicts the ancient symbol of a muscular arm holding a hammer inside a red ci ...

. They later used the slogan, "An Honest Automobile At An Honest Price". Today, a car in original condition could be worth in excess of $14,000.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ajax Motor Vehicle Company) Brass Era vehicles Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States Veteran vehicles Cars introduced in 1901 Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1901 1901 establishments in New York City 1903 disestablishments 1900s cars History of New York City Electric vehicles introduced in the 20th century Defunct manufacturing companies based in New York City Cars discontinued in 1903