1907 Waltham-Orient V-Twin 8hp Surrey
Engine no. V104A
c.70ci, Two Cylinder Overhead Valve Engine
Single Carburetor
8hp
2-Speed Epicyclic Transmission
Fully-Elliptic Leaf Springs
Transmission Brake only

*Offered from a prominent Northeast Collection
*Early American Automobile
*A good original example with rare two-cylinder option
*Former Audrain Veteran Car Tour participant

WALTHAM-ORIENT

Marketed as 'The Cheapest Automobile in the World – Everybody Should Have One,' the Orient Buckboard was the product of The Waltham Manufacturing Co. of Massachusetts. It should come as no surprise to learn that the Orient name first appeared on a Bicycle. In 1893 champion bicyclist Charles H. Metz, who later went on to build the Metz, organized the Waltham Manufacturing Company to build the Orient Bicycle. Pushed by investor and General Electric president Charles Coffin, in 1899 the company showed an electric vehicle in New York. Although the electric for Coffin wasn't the death of the company, neither Metz nor the employees who built it were happy with the vehicle.

By 1902 Metz had his fill of investor meddling in the company and he left Orient, which by that time was an American agent for deDion and was a producer of its own quads and trikes as well as a proper four-wheeled motorcar. With Metz gone, investors Coffin and M.P. Clough brought in Leonard Gaylor, who promptly designed the elemental motor vehicle dubbed the Orient Buckboard. Looking almost exactly like a large rear-engine go-cart, the vehicle was powered by a rear-mounted, vertical, single-cylinder engine of 4hp, weighed just 400 lbs, had claimed a top speed of 35mph and would climb a 1:12 hill in top gear. Steering was by tiller and the flexible hickory wooden platform provided the suspension.

The 'Buckboard' would remain in production through 1907/8, by which time the cars were marketed as Walthams and the name 'Orient' had become the model. As the model evolved the cars gained wooden noses or faux hoods on the front, long wheelbase models were made with two rows of seats. On the technical side front engine four-cylinder cars joined the range and it is understood that in the last years the company also offered the option of a rear mounted two cylinder 'V' format engine, for an extra $50, as evidenced by the handful of surviving cars.

THE CAR OFFERED

The example presented here is one of those rare V-Twin powered cars, providing more appropriate power for the longer wheelbase four-seater Surrey model. The car appears to be a good stock version of the model, seemingly retaining its original structure/bodywork.

The Surrey was acquired from a noted Northeast collection and has resided in its current also prominent stable for a number of years. During that ownership it was previously been awarded a National First Prize award with the AACA. Used here in Newport on the inaugural Veteran Car Tour, the Orient has proven to be a reliable mount for such events. Recent work carried out on it has included the fitting of new tires all round.

The Waltham Orient 'Buckboard' represents an individual statement, one theory on the development automobile from the early days of the American motor industry and, as such, there are examples present in numerous collections around the country.
Lot to be sold without reserve.