1904 SEARCHMONT TOURING

Theodore Search of the Stetson Hat Company and Spencer Trask purchased the Keystone Motor Company of Philadelphia  in 1900. The result of that buyout was the Searchmont Motor Company.  Search and Trask had seen potential with the evolving automobile and with the Keystone Motor Company. Keystone had been creating single-cylinder, rear engined runabouts and delivery wagons that had been done with much success. Their vehicles were lightweight and the five-cylinder engine was suitable to carry the vehicles  along at a modest pace. With the buyout, the Searchmont Company retained the services of Keystone's plant manager, Edward B. Gallagher. The result of his work soon had a positive effect and his contributions to the Searchmont automobile included the use of force-feed lubrication, which made it the first of its kind in the US.

This 1904 Searchmont Touring automobile is a rear-entranced vehicle that is powered by a two-cylinder engine that produces 10 horsepower. The engine uses a double-chain drive to turn the wheels and features the force-feed engine lubrication system. The gorgeous body sits atop an 81-inch wheelbase and is believed to be the only Searchmont in existence. It has wonderful, period correct, brass accents, wicker tonneau baskets, and leather upholstery. It is also one of the earliest examples of the slow but steady switchover within the auto industry from tiller style steering to a modern steering wheel.

It  is a 'barn find' vehicle and has been lovingly restored to new condition. It has received a national first place award from the Antique Automobile Club of America and routinely runs in the London-to-Brighton antique motoring event, open only to operating vehicles built before December 31, 1904.

As for the Searchmont company, sales began to dwindle over the next year or so and eventually they sold their remaining stock of 100 cars to a local department store who sold them at a reduced price until the stock was depleted and the Searchmont company went out of business.