De Mot
 | |
| Industry | Automobiles |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1909 |
| Defunct | 1910 |
| Fate | Bankruptcy |
| Headquarters | Detroit Michigan |
| Products | Runabouts |
The De Mot was an American automobile manufactured only in 1910. A product of Detroit, it was a two-seater with a two-cylinder engine. Its name was derived from a shortening of "Detroit Motor".
History
The Demot Car Company was formed in the middle of 1909 in Detroit Michigan with the purpose of making automobiles.[1] The initial plans were to make at least 3000 cars for the 1909 selling year. The president of the firm was C.H. Ritter who was described as a "wealthy retired business man". George Anthony; who would come from the American Radiator Co. would be vice president. Capital stock was $100,000 all paid in. the first factory that the company chose was too small and shortly after forming manufacturing would take place at a 40,000 square foot factory at 1305 Bellevue Avenue; a location that was formerly the site of the Sun Stove Co. [2]
By April 1910 the company was making 45 cars a week.[3]
Demot would make cars without seeking a Selden Patent license. This would result in A.L.A.M. suing the company. Demot would then form an alliance with eight other makers including Paige-Detroit, and Imperial Automobile Co. to fight A.L.A.M.[4]
On August 3 1910 the company would admit that it could not pay its liabilities which where reported to be over $100,000. Two petitioners were named. With General Sales Co. being owed $308, Williams Carburetor Co. being owed $96. At the same time a petition was made to declare the company bankrupt.[5]
By October 1910 a court had permitted Demot to reopen its plants and to have machine work and assembling done by the Ross & young Machine Company. It is unclear if any cars were ever made after this.[6]
One Demot car survives at the Antique Car Museum of Iowa. And it is claimed that three total exist.[7]
Runabout
The only car that Demot ever made was a small lightweight low cost runabout. The car would have a two-cylinder opposed engine making 10 horsepower. Cooling was by thermo-siphon. The car had a two speed planetary transmission with two forward gears and a reverse gear. Ignition was by a magneto. The runabout had a wheelbase of 80 inches. The car weighed 800
pounds and the cost was $550.[8]
A Demot runabout would be subjected to a series of reliability tests by the company. Demot would claim that a runabout would be driven over 1500 miles through Michigan. The car would be pushed through mud and sand and rocks. According to the company the car would have a "perfect score"[8]
Demot Advertisement
Demot Advertisement
References
- ↑ "The Demot Car". the Horseless Age. 24 (13): 350. September 29, 1909.
- ↑ "Demotcar Company". Cycle and Automobile Trade Journal: 148. 1909.
- ↑ "The Spokesman". The Spokesman: 152. April 1910.
- ↑ "A New Association of Independent Motor Car Makers to Take Issue with the A.L.A.M". Cycle and Automobile Trade Journal. XIV (12): 86. June 1, 1910.
- ↑ "Business Troubles". The Hub: 179. September 1910.
- ↑ "Michigan". Ward's Automobile Topics: 113. October 15, 1910.
- ↑ "1910 Demot". August 21, 2026. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - 1 2 "the Automobile". The Automobile: L-68. December 30, 1909.
- Wise, David (2000). The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Automobiles (May 2000 Rev. Upd. ed.). BookSales Inc. ISBN 0-7858-1106-0.