1901 Porter Stanhope

The 1901 Porter Stanhope, above, has been bought by George Hounslow, is currently being stored at Don Bourdon's, and is soon to be shipped to the U.K. 

It is then to rebuilt using a 14" Don Bourdon boiler and burner, Locomobile engine, and some modern concessions for safety. According to John Bentley's "Oldtime Steam Cars" book, the Porter Steam Stanhope, made by the Porter Motor Co. Boston, Mass., used an engine adopted by very few steam vehicle builders. This was a two-cylinder, single acting, oscillating type, "balanced throughout", and steam-fed from a tubular boiler which contained 350 copper tubes and tested to 1000 PSI cold water pressure. Dry weight was 550 pounds. The original body was aluminium, featuring watertight compartments; thus the body itself was the water tank! This has been replaced by a replica Locomobile body, with original Locomobile seat, built to a high standard. Despite many interesting features, the Porter Motor Co. managed to survive only from 1900 to 1901.

Of Particular interest is the chassis, which bottle-necks in to the centre of the front axle. This is presumably, to allow the front axle to pivot. A similar system used on the Steamobile cars, allowed 15 inches of independent movement of each of the front wheels. Also of interest is the use of universal joints on the strengthening rods of the chassis (below), adding further flexibility to the chassis. It is planned, that, during the rebuild of this car, a regularly updated blog will be available on this website, showing what is involved in the rebuild of such a car.