Oakman-Hertel

Oakman Motor Vehicle Company
Company type	Automobile manufacturer
Founded	1899; 125 years ago
Founder	Max Hertel
Defunct	1900; 124 years ago
Fate	Closed
Products	Automobiles

Hertel or Oakman-Hertel was an American veteran automobile company in Greenfield, Massachusetts started in 1899 and closing in 1900.^[1]^[2]

History

Max Hertel was an engineer for the American Biscuit Company and entered the 1895 Chicago Times-Herald Race. His small two-cylinder gasoline car, built between two bicycle frames, broke the steering gear on the way to the starting line and he could not compete.^[2]

In 1899 Hertel established the Oakman Motor Vehicle Company in Greenfield, Massachusetts. The company produced a two-seat, two-cylinder, tiller steered runabout which sold for $750 (equivalent to $27,468 in 2023), that was very similar to his Times-Herald car.^[2]

With very few cars selling, creditors closed Hertel's factory in November 1900.^[2]

References

^ 100 Years of the American Auto Millennium Edition, Copyright 1999 Publications International, Ltd.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Kimes, Beverly Rae; Clark Jr; Henry Austin (1996). Standard Catalog of American Cars: 1805–1942. Iola, WI: Krause Publications. p. 700. ISBN 978-0-87341-428-9.

[1] 100 Years of the American Auto Millennium Edition, Copyright 1999 Publications International, Ltd.

[Kimes-2] Kimes, Beverly Rae; Clark Jr; Henry Austin (1996). Standard Catalog of American Cars: 1805–1942. Iola, WI: Krause Publications. p. 700. ISBN 978-0-87341-428-9.

[1]

[2]