1900 Wood Electric Truck
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B. Altman and Company, a New York City department store, purchased this electric truck from F. R. Wood and Son around 1900. Altman employed horse-drawn delivery wagons but began to experiment with electric trucks in 1898 as a cost cutting measure. Electric trucks dispensed with the care and maintenance costs of horses. This truck made twice-daily trips from a warehouse to a distribution center.
B. Altman and Company, a New York City department store, purchased this electric truck from F. R. Wood and Son around 1900. Altman employed horse-drawn delivery wagons but began to experiment with electric trucks in 1898 as a cost cutting measure. Electric trucks dispensed with the care and maintenance costs of horses. This truck made twice-daily trips from a warehouse to a distribution center.
Artifact
Truck
Date Made
1900
Keywords
On Exhibit
at Henry Ford Museum in Driving America
Object ID
32.570.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of United Parcel Service.
Material
Wood (Plant material)
Metal
Leather
Color
Black (Color)
Maroon
Red
Dimensions
Height: 119 in
Width: 93.75 in
Length: 171.5 in
Wheelbase: 121 in
Inscriptions
Right side of seat: WEIGHT OF VEHICLE 7550 LB/MFRS RATED CAPACITY 400 LB/GROSS WEIGHT 11550 LB [and in gold] 157
Specifications
Make & Model: 1900 Wood electric truck
Maker: Frederick R. Wood & Son, New York, New York
Motor type: two 2-hp DC
Batteries: lead-acid, 44 cells
Height: 119 inches
Width: 94 inches
Wheelbase: 121 inches
Overall length: 171.5 inches
Horsepower: 4
Weight: 7500 pounds
Pounds per horsepower: 1875
Range between charges: 20 to 30 miles
Top speed: about 10 mph
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