The Electriquette was a two-seat electric vehicle with a bench seat and exterior made of rattan (wicker). It was battery powered and utilized a motor manufactured by General Electric. At the 1915 Panama–California Exposition in San Diego, California the Electriquette could be rented for $1.00 per hour (equivalent to $30 in 2023). A variation of the vehicle was later manufactured for disabled veterans of World War I.[1] No original chairs are known to have survived, but in 2016 new chairs were designed and reintroduced to Balboa Park in San Diego.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/Two_people_riding_in_an_electriquette_%281915%29.jpg/220px-Two_people_riding_in_an_electriquette_%281915%29.jpg)
Background
editThe designer of the original Electriquette chair was businessman Clyde H. Osborn. He owned a local electric car dealership and decided to manufacture electric carts which were called Electriquettes.[2] The Electriquette's exterior was made from thick rattan (wicker) and had seating cushions.[3] Osborn started the Electriquette Manufacturing Company in Los Angeles and produced approximately 200 of the chairs.[2] The original chairs weighed 450 lb (200 kg) and they could operate for eight hours without recharging the battery.[3][4] 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".[5] The Electrician called the vehicle an "electric wheel-chair".[6] None of the original Electriquettes are known to have survived.[2]
Specifications
editThe wheelbase 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. It had four cast iron wheels fitted 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.[3][7] The vehicle was 8 inches (200 mm) off 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, which the driver could engage 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, operated by the driver's left hand.[5]
History
editThe 1915 Panama–California Exposition in San Diego California, featured Electriquettes which were small electric carts made out of wicker.[8] 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).[9] The vehicle could go forward or reverse with one speed.[10] 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.[11] The chairs were numbered and could be rented at a cost of $1.00 per hour (equivalent to $30 in 2023).[2] Test terminals were available at the exposition so that riders could check the battery's charge.[5] The design was similar to wicker pushchairs which were in use at oceanside establishments.[9] "Fatty" Arbuckle and Mabel Normand made a silent film titled Fatty and Mabel at the San Diego Exposition, in which they take a tour of the exposition riding in an Electriquette.[12]
The description of the Electriquettes as found in the Official guide book of the Panama-California Exposition San Diego 1915:[13]
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 areas of the United States. Several resorts in Venice and Santa Monica California, also began using Electriquettes.[10] The chairs were also used in Palm Beach, Florida, and other health resorts.[14] Many resorts had previously employed people to push resort guests in chairs.[10] Variations of the vehicles were also manufactured for disabled veterans of World War I.[1]
In 2011, an entrepreneur named Sandor Shapery began to design a new Electriquette. Architect David Marshall created drawings.[2] Electronics expert Brad Hunter also contributed to the project.[15] The new carts were introduced to Balboa Park in 2016. On August 14, 2016, the redesigned Electriquette was reintroduced to Balboa Park. Mayor Kevin Faulconer announced that August 14 was "Electriquette Day". The new carts were made available to rent at $15 for 30 minutes, or $25 for one hour.[2] The cost of each replica Electriquette was about $3,200.[4] In 2015 the San Diego airport featured a replica of the Electriquette in an art exhibit that was meant to celebrate the centennial of the Panama–California Exposition.[16]
Gallery
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Five people on an Electriquette in 1915
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Electriquettes 1915
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Two women in each of two Electriquettes 1915
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Electriquette body made of rattan (wicker)
References
edit- ^ a b Scientific American. New York, New Yok: Munn & Company. 1916. p. 525. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f 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.
- ^ a b c General Electric Review Volume XVIII. Schenectady, New York: General Electric Company. 1915. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c "Electric Rolling Chairs May Replace Inadequate Man Power". The Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ The Electrical Journal. London: George Tucker. 1915. p. 3.
- ^ The Automobile Journal. Pawtucket, Rhode Island: Automobile Journal Publishing Company. 1915. p. 26. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ "100 Years Later Electriquettes Return To Balboa Park | Historic Electric Carts Now Available For Rent". Sandiegoville. Archived from the original on 18 August 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c Motor Age. Rockford, Illinois: The Stanhouse Company. 1915. p. 27. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ Electric Vehicles. Chicago, Illinois: Electricity Mag. Corporation. 1915. p. 163. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ "Fatty and Mabel (At the San Diego Exposition)". Silent Era. Archived from the original on 27 April 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Bulletin – National Electric Light Association. Chicago Illinois: National Electric Light Association. 1917. p. 403. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ Ingram, Antony (21 November 2012). "An electric vehicle made of wicker?". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
- ^ "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.
External links
edit- Media related to Electriquette at Wikimedia Commons
- Balboa Park: Return of the Electriquette
- 2014 ABC 10 News report on the return of the Electriquette