early_ev_antiques

-- Beata Collection --

Early EV Antiques

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From time to time interesting things come up in
the collecting world.  We can certainly get a bit off-track when
something is included in an unrelated acquisition, or is
just interesting on its own merit.   Here are a few
early 1900s EV parts that have wondered
our way.


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These meters were the dash boards of early electric vehicles. They provided basic information including traction pack voltage and amperes. Voltage equaled range remaining and amperes energy use.

An early DE dashboard meter. Most known (at least to us) DE meters are of the Weston brand. This is a Roller Smith, Bethlehem, PA, noting Made For THE Detroit ELECTRIC. The volts side show only 0-70 & the amperes side is (50)-0-150. The low voltage range might indicate an early smaller, lighter, unit. We have seen only one other photo of this model meter as a DE, but others noting use by the Hupp-Yeats (c1911-1916) electric vehicles. Tidbits: The Anderson Carriage Company, founded 1884, produced DEs from 1907 onward. If anyone knows this meters DE history we would be interested.

This meter is believed to be post 1915, as we understand that the black with gold lettering scheme was not utilized before that date. Woods Electric, Rauch & Lang, and Baker Electric all used this model in earlier vehicles, but this meter is unlabeled.

This meter originated in an Ohio Electric Car. Best we can ascertain the OEC, Co. existed in the c1908-1913 time period.

A typical Detroit Electric Vehicle dash meter made in late 1908 or early 1909. Note the -75/+75 amperes face and that it is zeroed at the center of the range. Both these features are unusual and may indicate that this meter, although sporting the typical DE case, may have had a non-vehicle purpose. Most known DE meters read -50/+150 amperes.

A pair of Rauch & Lang headlights (representative picture). The collections pair are in old-original condition, not as polished as this example.