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1911 Cadillac Model 30
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Description
1911 was the beginning of the end of an era for automobiles as Cadillac made the automobile much easier to use the following year. In 1912, Cadillac introduced the electric starter and electric lights as standard features on the Model 30, also the only car Cadillac sold from 1908-1914. These seemingly small changes made the automobile safer and easier to use. Before 1912, starting the car meant manually cranking the motor, like winding up toy but much bigger.…
1911 was the beginning of the end of an era for automobiles as Cadillac made the automobile much easier to use the following year. In 1912, Cadillac introduced the electric starter and electric lights as standard features on the Model 30, also the only car Cadillac sold from 1908-1914. These seemingly small changes made the automobile safer and easier to use. Before 1912, starting the car meant manually cranking the motor, like winding up toy but much bigger. This required a lot of strength and risk because a mistake could mean the crank snaps back, like suddenly losing at arm wrestling, and injuring the person. For headlights before 1912, the lights were powered by gas and turning them on meant using a match and lighting them like a candle.
In 1911, Cadillac worked with Charles Kettering, at Dayton Engineering Laboratories to develop a device that could crank the car to life with the press of a button. The electric system needed to power the starter was then adapted to run the electric lights when the car was in motion.
The electric starter was so important to the development of better cars that it earned Cadillac its second Dewar Trophy, a British award for automotive advancements.
Year:
1911
Make / Manufacturer:
Cadillac Motor Company
Model:
Model 30
Donated By:
MBNA Marketing Systems, Inc.
Style:
Touring
Cylinders:
4
Engine Size:
33 hp