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Rollin Motors

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Rollin Motors Company
IndustryAutomotive
Founded1923; 101 years ago (1923)
FounderRollin H. White
Defunct1925; 99 years ago (1925)
FateBankruptcy
HeadquartersCleveland, Ohio,
United States
Key people
Henry Rollins, James G. Heaslet, E. E. Allyne
ProductsAutomobiles
Production output
5,750 (1924-1925)
1924 Rollin at Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum

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]

History

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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 $17,690 in 2023), Brougham, Sedan and a three-passenger Coupe($1,175). Cars were sold in the US, Australia and a very few in Europe. The cars were 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 US and in Australia, as well as a few in Europe, at least one in the Netherlands and two in Sweden.

In 2023 the Rollin Preservation Society (NL) presented a documentary about a unique Rollin still registered for use on public roads.[8]

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  • Rollin Touring 1923 - picture from 1963
    Rollin Touring 1923 - picture from 1963
  • Serial plate of a Rollin
    Serial plate of a Rollin
  • Engine compartment Rollin
    Engine compartment Rollin
  • Rollin Touring 1924, picture from 2015
    Rollin Touring 1924, picture from 2015

Bibliography

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  • 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)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • 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

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  1. ^ "WHITE, ROLLIN HENRY | Encyclopedia of Cleveland History". Encyclopedia of Cleveland History | Case Western Reserve University.
  2. ^ The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Automobiles. By David Burgess Wise. Published 1979 - ISBN 0600303799 page 286, 125, 339
  3. ^ The Complete Encyclopedia of Motorcars. Edited by G.N. Georgano. Second edition 1973. ISBN 0852230486 - page 593
  4. ^ original brochure Rollin - page with technical specifications
  5. ^ a b Kimes, Beverly Rae; Clark Jr., Henry Austin (1996). Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 (3rd ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 978-0-87341-428-9.
  6. ^ "In re Rollin Motors Co. | 23 F.2d 110 (1927) | 23f2d110299". Leagle.
  7. ^ Wisconsinshipwrecks
  8. ^ Keep Rollin - the documentary
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rollin vehicles.
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