Rollin Motors

Rollin Motors Company
IndustryAutomotive
Founded1923 (1923)
FounderRollin H. White
Defunct1925 (1925)
FateBankruptcy
HeadquartersCleveland, Ohio,
United States
Key people
Henry Rollins, James G. Heaslet, E. E. Allyne
ProductsAutomobiles
Production output
5,750 (1924-1925)

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

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 $18,256 in 2024), 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]

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

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)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

  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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