There were but four gasoline cars in the United States in 1896—Duryea, Ford, Haynes, and Benz, the last being the German car which was imported.
With the accomplishments of the builders of steam, electric and gasoline motored vehicles at this time—1895—the practical success of horseless carriages had been definitely settled. Practically all fundamental problems had been solved. To make them finally an accepted addition to the world’s methods of transportation in general use, two things only were needed.
One was the development of perfecting devices, such as rubber tires, the production of which began about 1889; and the other was the general acceptance of automobiles by the people—a cordial, popular approval, manifested by their purchase and use. And while the development to greater perfection could be left to work itself out, the popular approval to the point of enthusiastic general adoption was another matter.
Inventors could develop, even if it took over a hundred years, a complete, perfect machine, finally. But human doubts, mental apathy, and man’s opposition can be overcome by only one means—enthusiasm.
Enthusiasm is to man’s opposing mind what the oxyhydrogen flame is to steel, and it is one of the potent forces that will burn itself into mentality.
Around the period of 1893-1898, the attitude of the mass of the people in this country toward the automobile was one of good natured toleration, but indifference. A few of the “class” were interested and convinced that the automobile had arrived, but the “mass” believed it was a passing fad, and from its practical side, of particular interest chiefly to mechanics. If, in its opinion, the automobile had any future, it was as a luxury of the rich.
The people could not sense what they feel now—the value of the automobile in time, health and recreation, and in its possibilities as a factor in economics. They saw the disadvantages of owning an automobile, but were without appreciation of its benefits.
So one of the most interesting facts in the history of the development of the motor car is that the first American made gasoline automobile sold in the United States was disposed of March 24,1898. The sale of steamers and electrics had been going on for several years before, but not very extensively.
This fact of the date of the first sale of a gasoline motor car fixes clearly that the use of automobiles in the United States practically increased from one car to over three million, in less than twenty years.
The first American gasoline car thus sold was disposed of by Alexander Winton to Robert Allison of Port Carbon, Pa.