Rollin Motors
{{short description|Defunct American motor vehicle manufacturer}}
{{Infobox company
| logo = File:Rollin - emblem.jpg
| logo_caption = The Thoroughbred of the Thoroughfare
| name = Rollin Motors Company
| industry = Automotive
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1923}}
| founder = Rollin H. White
| defunct = {{end date and age|1925}}
| fate = Bankruptcy
| location = Cleveland, Ohio
| hq_location_country = United States
| key_people = Henry Rollins, James G. Heaslet, E. E. Allyne
| products = Automobiles
| production = 5,750
| production_year = 1924-1925
}}
The Rollin Motors Company was an American automobile manufacturer from 1923 until 1925 and founded by Rollin Henry White.{{Cite web|url=https://case.edu/ech/articles/w/white-rollin-henry|title=WHITE, ROLLIN HENRY {{!}} Encyclopedia of Cleveland History|website=Encyclopedia of Cleveland History {{!}} Case Western Reserve University|language=en-US}} The company was based in Cleveland, Ohio.The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Automobiles. By David Burgess Wise. Published 1979 - {{ISBN|0600303799}} page 286, 125, 339
History
The Rollin automobileThe Complete Encyclopedia of Motorcars. Edited by G.N. Georgano. Second edition 1973. {{ISBN|0852230486}} - page 593 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.original brochure Rollin - page with technical specifications There were four models: Touring ($995, {{Inflation|US|995|1924|fmt=eq}}), 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.{{Kimes-USCars3rd}}
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. By the end of 1925 the factory was closed due to bankruptcy.{{Cite news|url=https://www.leagle.com/decision/192713323f2d110299|title=In re Rollin Motors Co. {{!}} 23 F.2d 110 (1927) {{!}} 23f2d110299|last=|first=|date=|work=Leagle|language=en}}
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.[http://www.wisconsinshipwrecks.org/Vessel/Details/358 Wisconsinshipwrecks]
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.[https://youtube.com/watch?v=sOPsYtEJeKY Keep Rollin - the documentary]
Gallery
{{Gallery
| title =
| align = center
| File:Rollin Touring 1923 - picture 1963.jpg
| alt1=
| Rollin Touring 1923 - picture from 1963
| File:Rollin - serial plate 5919.jpg
| alt2=
| Serial plate of a Rollin
| File: Rollin engine 1924.jpg
| alt3=
| Engine compartment Rollin
| File:Rollin Touring, picture 2015.jpg
| alt4=
| Rollin Touring 1924, picture from 2015
| File:
| alt5=
| Write a caption here
}}
Bibliography
- {{cite magazine |author=Automobile Trade Journal 1899-1924 |title=Historical Records, back of the men back of the Rollin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gz5LAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Rollin+Motors%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA573 |magazine= |date=1924-12-01|volume=29|issue=6|pages=573 |access-date=2021-01-16}}
- {{cite book |last1=E. Wrenick |first1=Frank| last2= Elaine| first2= E. Wrenick |title=Automobile Manufacturers of Cleveland and Ohio, 1864–1942 |publisher=McFarland & Company Inc. |date=2016 |page=141 |isbn=9781476623566|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nMYWDQAAQBAJ&q=%22Rollin+Motors%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA141}}
- {{cite book |last=Lackley |first=James H. |title=The Chandler Automobile |publisher=Harvard University Press |date=2018 |page=235 and 80 |isbn=9781476625546 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DspZDwAAQBAJ&q=%22Rollin+Motors%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA235}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.automotivehalloffame.org/honoree/windsor-t-white/ Automotive Hall of Fame]
- [https://www.wrhs.org/research/crawford/autos/ Western Reserve Historical Society] — Cleveland History Center, 2 Rollin automobiles
- [https://www.conceptcarz.com/view/model/736/rollin.aspx 2 Rollin Model G's at ConceptCarz]
- https://youtube.com/watch?v=sOPsYtEJeKY/ documentary Keep Rollin
{{Commons category|Rollin vehicles}}
Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States
Category:Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Ohio
Category:Defunct companies based in Cleveland
Category:1923 establishments in Ohio
Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1923
Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1925