Vehicle Description
For the better part of a century, a well-worn Sears & Roebuck
catalog was a much a fixture of the American household as the
Bible. Whether you lived in the heart of a city or on a farm in the
rural Midwest, Sears & Roebuck offered thousands of products,
goods, and sundries delivered to your door. Clothing, rifles,
livestock, machinery, and even pre-fabricated houses counted among
the millions of products Sears offered through the years. In 1908,
the same year that Ford debuted their revolutionary low-cost Model
T, Sears & Roebuck added an automobile to their vast list of
products. Sears was more than just a retailer; they designed and
manufactured many of the products they sold. The new Sears Motor
Buggy was a natural extension of their manufacturing experience;
designed and (eventually) built entirely in Sears sprawling Chicago
manufacturing plant. To create the car, the company brought in
Alvaro S. Krotz, who had previous experience with an electric
runabout sold under his name. Like many of the products that
defined the brand, the Sears Motor Buggy was kept simple and
robust. Early examples used a two-cylinder gasoline engine of ten
horsepower, paired with a friction transmission, chain drive, and
tiller steering. Later models grew to 14 horsepower, yet few
deviations took place through the four-year production run, which
appealed to Sears' conservative target audience. The initial batch
of Sears buggies was built in the Hercules factory in Evansville,
Indiana. However, by late 1909, production shifted to Sears'
factory in Chicago, and the range gradually expanded into several
models, all based around the same basic design by Krotz (despite
his hasty departure from the company). From a technical standpoint,
all models were mainly the same, with the main differences being
equipment and wheel type. The Model G was the most basic, while the
Models H and J added such niceties as mudguards and a top. The $475
Model K features all the J had to offer and added large diameter
cushion tires. Stepping up to the Model L got you pneumatic tires,
and so forth. Between 1908 and 1912, Sears sold approximately 3,500
cars through their catalog. Customers raved about their simplicity
and efficiency, many of them first-time automobile owners. But
company accountants were considerably less thrilled. Sears was
losing money on every vehicle they sold, and the arrival of Henry
Ford's Model T was enough for them to see the writing on the wall.
Sears left the car business in 1912 - but not for good. Forty years
later, Sears teamed up with Kaiser Motors to market the
slow-selling Henry J under the "Allstate" via the famous Sears
catalog, although car buying had moved on and the project was a
flop. This 1911 Sears Model P is a rare four-seat model from the
penultimate year of Sears Motor Buggy production. It is one of
approximately 800 Sears cars built in 1911, offered at the catalog
price of $495 - about $200 less than the cheapest Model T. Period
advertising described the four-seat Model P as a "combination
business and pleasure car." Advertising targeted the rural
customer, claiming a Model P with its rear seat removed was ideal
for taking vegetables or dairy to the market, or with the bench in
place, perfect for taking your family to church on Sunday. Aside
from the extended chassis, the mechanical specification is the same
as the rest of the line, built around a central-mounted air-cooled
two-cylinder engine of 14 horsepower, friction transmission, and
twin-chain final drive. This rare and charming Model P buggy has
the distinction of being the only Sears ever owned by William F.
Harrah. Registration records show this Sears joined his
world-famous collection in approximately 1968 and remained a part
of the museum for nearly twenty years until the dispersal of
Harrah's collection in 1985. The Sears found yet another long-term
owner in a large and diverse private collection. The owner bought
the car directly from Harrah's, and it remained in his collection
for the next 34 years. The history file contains numerous documents
confirming ownership by Harrah's, including an official certificate
issued by the collection upon the car's sale and the original
placard from its time on display in the museum. This Model P is
well-equipped with period-correct fittings including twin Comet
carriage lamps, bulb horn, and steel mudguards on all four wheels.
It wears a lovely patina to the finish that suits the character of
the car quite well, presenting in very good overall condition
following many years of care and maintenance. Other details and
fittings include a leather toe-board, polished nickel tiller and
step plates, and a Ham Manufacturing tail light. The lofty seating
position is very much carriage-like, and the large wheels allow for
excellent clearance on rutted rural roads. The button-tufted
leather benches have lots of character accrued through the years,
with some cracking and creasing in the surfaces that are consistent
with the overall patina. Mechanically, this Sears is sound and
complete, recently treated to a light refresh after a period of
disuse, although additional sorting may be required. Two cylinders,
air cooling, and tiller steering keep things remarkable simple -
ideal for the rural farmer buying his first motor car. Piloting an
early buggy such as this Sears Model P is a unique experience in
the motoring world, offering a tremendous amount of fun with just
14 horsepower. This delightful example would be most welcome in the
Horseless Carriage Club or with the Vintage Motor Car Club of
America, who regularly hosts special tours for single and
twin-cylinder motor cars. Sears built just 3,500 Motor Buggies in
total, making any example a rare sight. This example, with
well-documented history as part of the world's most famous car
collection is sure to bring joy to any horseless carriage
enthusiast.
