Ever since the Stanley steamers were introduced in the year 1897 they became very popular and gained tremendous recognition as they were capable of inducing more acceleration than the gasoline powered cars. However they started losing their momentum with the launch of self starting automobiles which started instantly on ignition in comparison to the Stanley steamers that required a little time to warm up before powering it. They then lost their popularity to such an extent that there manufacturing became limited which has now declined to an almost no manufacturing situation.
The Stanley steamers were highly appreciable because they ensured safety in terms that it was quite difficult to steal it as the car required around 20 minutes to warm up before it could start. It required a torch for preheating of the vaporising tube and for lighting the pilot. It was also very fuel efficient providing a fuel efficiency of nearly 10-12 miles per gallon. The heat is generated by the steamers in the boilers that were specifically designed in a way that they were 100 percent safe and never went through explosions. The boilers were usually drum shaped and ranged in sizes varying from 14-18 inches in height and 14-30 inches in diameter. After the steam is generated the boilers release the steam which is then directed towards the engine and from where it is routed to the dual cylinders. The boilers usually had a steaming capacity of 10, 20 or 30 horse power which incorporated the engine to develop 100 horsepower. The Stanley steamers auto carriage motors worked without the use of neutral or clutch as transmission was not required.
With some modifications in the later models of the Stanley steamers automobiles the steam that was generated was again collected in the boiler to be reused and this increased the efficiency of the cars. The earlier models of the Stanley steamers required a manual control of water levels in the boiler but the condition was improved with the later models by using a fully automatic water management. All the earlier models were wooden built which was later enhanced by using aluminium bodies and steel frames to give it a more streamline look. The earlier introduced cars were focused mainly as being roadstars and racers, while the later manufactured ones were for the purpose of long tours that also included a Mountain Wagon which was both a truck and a bus. However even after so many advantages of the Stanley steamers its popularity started declining and now they are no longer manufactured and the older models have become the vintage cars.
Stanley steamers declined in popularity only when the Stanley brothers failed to incorporate new interests into their cars and hence failed to improve on the productivity. The Stanley brothers even started manufacturing heavier cars lately but without increasing their horse power which made the driving inefficient. Neverthless to say that the Stanley steamers in today’s time has become an important product of display at the museums and collectors and are still appreciated for their unique designing and beauty amongst people.
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