Fal-Car

The Fal Motor Company was an American automobile manufacturer that was located in Chicago (Illinois ). They made 1909-1914 automobiles with the brand name FAL ago. This name was derived from the names of the three founders, TS Fauntleroy ( CEO), HR Averill (Sales Manager) and EH Lowe (Managing Director).

History

The wagons were the successors of the Reliable Dayton, in its corporate buildings production has been established. All F.A.L. were four-cylinder models with initially 30 bhp (22 kW), later 40 bhp ( 29 kW ), power. The engines came from the Buda Engine Company.

No name - but 30 bhp (1909 )

Initially the car as Car Without A Name has been sold (German car without a name). This should allow the buyers to provide the car with their own name, an idea that apparently not sat down. The car had a four-cylinder in-line engine with 30 bhp (22 kW).

Soon, the three founders decided to use the first letter of their last name as the name of the automobile. The cars were given a slightly more powerful engine and were now called 35/40 hp. The midsize car sold quite well, but the finances of the three founders were soon exhausted. They tried to win various investors. NH van Sicklen and soon got out, EH Marhöfer could also be won, but could not prevent the bankruptcy in August 1911.

Beginning of 1912 bought the company as FAL Automobile Company again under CJ Marhöfer, the brother of the above EH Marhöfer. The production of the 35/40 hp was resumed and continued until 1913.

F.A.L. Grayhound (1913-1914)

The end of 1913 Marhöfer introduced a new model named Grayhound. The only available as a 2- seater roadster car was drawn elegant than the its predecessor, but had only a single light in the middle. He was the first car with " reclining seats ": The seat cushion could be pushed forward into the footwell and served as a pillow; the legs of the sleeper were in the rear of the car. The narrow "bed" was - according to contemporary advertising statement - after all, 2,438 mm long!

Also the Grayhound could not turn the fortunes of the company. In the spring of 1914, the buildings and equipment were auctioned.

A total of about 65,000 F.A.L. have arisen.

Models

Swell

• Burgess Wise, David: The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Automobiles
• Kimes, Beverly Ray & Clark jr. Henry Austin: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942, Krause Publications, Iola WI (1985 ), ISBN 0-87341-045-9

• Former Automobile Manufacturers Association ( United States)
• Company ( Chicago)