The Rollin Motors Company was an American automobile manufacturer from 1923 until 1925 and founded by Rollin Henry White.[1] The company was based in Cleveland, Ohio.[2]

Rollin Motors Company

The Thoroughbred of the Thoroughfare
Industry	Automotive
Founded	1923; 99 years ago (1923)
Founder	Rollin H. White
Defunct	1925; 97 years ago (1925)
Fate	Bankruptcy
Headquarters	Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Key people	Henry Rollins, James G. Heaslet, E. E. Allyne
Products	Automobiles
Production output	5,750 (1924-1925)

History

The Rollin automobile[3] had advanced technology, brakes on all four wheels (mechanical internal expanding type), pistons and connecting rods of special aluminum, lubrication oil through a pump and a four-bearing crankshaft.[4] There were four models: Touring ($995, equivalent to $15,733 in 2021), Brougham, Sedan and 3 passenger Coupe($1,175). Cars were sold in the USA, Australia and a very few to Europe. Designed and built by Rollin H. White, formerly chief engineer of the White Motor Company.[5]

The car was planned as an economical automobile to capture a share of the lower price market. Its engine was similar to that of the Cletrac tractor, a White subsidiary. The chairman was Rollin Henry White. His father, Thomas White, was chairman of The White Sewing Machine Company, and the White Motor Company. The Rollin was too high-priced for the market for which it had been intended. In its most successful year, 1924, approximately 3,622 units were produced.[5] By the end of 1925 the factory was closed due to bankruptcy.[6]

In December 1924 the car carrier SS Lakeland transported on Lake Michigan several new automobiles. The Lakeland sank with at least twenty-two model-year vehicles aboard from Nash Motors, Kissel Motor Car Company, and a Rollin. Recreational divers recovered the Rollin automobile in 1979 but it was too damaged to save.[7]

As of 2018, there are several Rollin automobiles in the USA and in Australia, as well as a few in Europe, at least one in the Netherlands and two in Sweden.

Gallery

Bibliography

• Automobile Trade Journal 1899-1924 (1924-12-01). "Historical Records, back of the men back of the Rollin". Vol. 29, no. 6. p. 573. Retrieved 2021-01-16. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
• E. Wrenick, Frank; Elaine, E. Wrenick (2016). Automobile Manufacturers of Cleveland and Ohio, 1864–1942. McFarland & Company Inc. p. 141. ISBN 9781476623566.
• Lackley, James H. (2018). The Chandler Automobile. Harvard University Press. p. 235 and 80. ISBN 9781476625546.

References

External links

• Automotive Hall of Fame
• Western Reserve Historical Society — Cleveland History Center, 2 Rollin automobiles
• 2 Rollin Model G's at ConceptCarz

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rollin vehicles.

На других языках

[de] Rollin Motors Company