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Electriquette

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Two people riding in an Electriquette (1915)

Electriquette is a two seat electric vehicle with a bench seat and exterior made of rattan (wicker). It was battery powered and utilized a motor which was manufactured by General Electric. The Electriquette could be rented during the 1915 Panama-California Exposition in San Diego California for a fee of $1.00 per hour (equivalent to $30 in 2023). A variation of the vehicles was later manufactured for disabled veterans of World War I. No original chairs are known to have survived but new chairs were designed and reintroduced to Balboa Park in San Diego in 2016.

Background

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Front view of the Electriquette chasis with batteries visible

The designer of the original Electriquette chair was businessman Clyde H. Osborn. He owned a local local electric car dealership and decided to manufacture electric carts which were called Electriquettes.[1] The Electriquette's exterior was made from thick rattan (wicker) and had seating cushions.[2] Osborn started the Electriquette Manufacturing Company in Los Angeles and produced approximately 200 of the chairs.[1] The original chairs weighed 450 lb (200 kg) and they could operated for eight hours without charging the battery.[2][3] The Press of Atlantic City described the Electriquette as a two-person "wheel chair" and an "electrically propelled rolling chair", adding that it was "very popular".[4] The Electrician called the vehicle an "electric wheel-chair".[5]

Specifications

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The wheel base of the original Electriquettes was 45 in (1,100 mm) and had a frame made of angle steel. A battery was mounted in the front and a motor with gearing was in the back. There were four wheels that were cast iron with hard rubber tires. The two front wheels were 10 in (250 mm) and they were mounted in "swivel socket bearings" with a tie rod that attached to the chassis. The two rear wheels were 14 in (360 mm) and they were attached to the chassis. The motor was manufactured by General Electric and was 12 volts, 14 amperes, 2000 RPM, GE-1042 rated producing 3/8 horsepower. Power was delivered to one of the rear wheels which had a sprocket and the other rear wheel had a drum brake.[2][6] The vehicle was eight inches off of the ground and the seat was 38 in (970 mm) wide. The Electriquette's power was delivered to the rear wheels by chain and it was stopped with a drum brake. The driver could engage the drum brake by hand or foot control. The driver could steer and move the Electriquette with a lever: forward for go, back for neutral. The lever could be raised up when not in use. Each Electriquette had a bell for warning or signaling others, and it was operated by the driver's left hand.[4] Some of the vehicles were built with sun shades.[5] None of the original Electriquettes are known to have survived.[1]

History

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Two children riding in an electriquette (1915)

The 1915 Panama-California Exposition in San Diego California, featured Electriquettes which were small electric carts made out of wicker.[7] More than 100 of the Electriquettes were used at the exposition and they had a top speed of 3.5 mph (5.6 km/h).[8] The vehicle could go in forward or reverse with one speed.[9] Another feature of the design was that the vehicle would not exceed 3.5 mph (5.6 km/h) even when going downhill because of the gearing.[10] The chairs were numbered and could be rented at a cost of $1.00 per hour (equivalent to $30 in 2023).[1] Test terminals were available at the exposition so that riders could check the battery's charge.[4] The design was similar to wicker pushchairs which were in use at oceanside establishments.[8] "Fatty" Arbuckle and Mabel Normand made a silent film titled Fatty and Mabel at the San Diego Exposition. In the film they take a tour of the exposition riding in an Electriquette.[11]

The description of the Electriquettes as found in the Official guide book of the Panama-California Exposition San Diego 1915:[12]

The real, easy, classy, comfortable, luxurious way to see and enjoy the Exposition is in an Osborn Electriquette, which supplants the antiquated push-chair and jinrikisha. The only passenger conveyance permitted on the grounds. The simplicity of operation renders experience unnecessary. A child can drive it. It's great fun.

The Electriquettes spread to other areass of the state. Several resorts in Venice and Santa Monica California also began using Electriquettes.[9] The chairs were also used in Palm Beach, Florida and other health resorts.[13] Many resort had previously employed people to push resort guests in chairs.[9] Variations of the vehicles were also manufactured for disabled veterans of World War I.[14]

in 2011, a local entrepreneur, named Sandor Shapery began to design a new Electriquette. Architect David Marshall created drawings. The new carts were introduced to Balboa Park in 2016. On August 14, 2016 the a redesigned Electriquette was reintroduced to Balboa Park. Mayor Kevin Faulconer announced that August 14 was "Electriquette Day". The new carts are available to rent at $15 for 30 minutes, or $25 for one hour.[1] The cost of each replica Electriquette was about $3,200.[3] In 2015 the San Diego airport featured a replica of the Electriquette in an art exhibit which was meant to celebrate the centennial of the Panama-California Exposition.[15]

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  • Five people on an electriquette in 1915
    Five people on an electriquette in 1915
  • Electriquettes 1915
    Electriquettes 1915
  • Two women in each of two electriquettes 1915
    Two women in each of two electriquettes 1915
  • Electriquette body made of rattan (wicker)
    Electriquette body made of rattan (wicker)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Peterson, Karla (19 August 2016). "Park's Electriquettes take history for a ride". San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on 16 August 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  2. ^ a b c General Electric Review Volume XVIII. Schenectady, New York: General Electric Company. 1915. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Electriquette' Returns to Service in Balboa Park". San Diego History Center San Diego, CA | Our City, Our Story. San Diego History Center. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "Electric Rolling Chairs May Replace Inadequate Man Power". The Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  5. ^ a b The Electrical Journal. London: George Tucker. 1915. p. 3.
  6. ^ The Automobile Journal. Pawtucket, Rhode Island: Automobile Journal Publishing Company. 1915. p. 26. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  7. ^ "100 Years Later Electriquettes Return To Balboa Park | Historic Electric Carts Now Available For Rent". Sandiegoville. Sandiegoville. Archived from the original on 18 August 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  8. ^ a b Doe, John (1 May 2014). "Balboa Park: Return of the Electriquette". Ranch & Coast Magazine. Archived from the original on 16 August 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  9. ^ a b c Motor Age. Rockford, Illinois: The Stanhouse Company. 1915. p. 27. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  10. ^ Electric Vehicles. Chicago, Illinois: Electricity Mag. Corporation. 1915. p. 163. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Fatty and Mabel (At the San Diego Exposition)". Silent Era. Silent Era. Archived from the original on 27 April 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  12. ^ "Official Guide Book of the Panama-California Exposition San Diego 1915" (PDF). University of California San Dego. Directors Panama-California Exposition. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 August 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  13. ^ Bulletin – National Electric Light Association. Chicago Illinois: National Electric Light Association. 1917. p. 403. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  14. ^ Scientific American. New York, New Yok: Munn & Company. 1916. p. 525. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  15. ^ "Airport Art Exhibit, San Diego Metro Magazine". SD Metro Magazine. 24 March 2015. Archived from the original on 14 July 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
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