1913 Baker

edited by David Barth, 30 January 2009.
Courtesy The Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Photos were taken in January 2009.

In 1900, there were approximately twice as many manufacturers of electric automobiles as those of gasoline cars. By 1913, the year this car was made, the few remaining electric car companies were struggling to stay alive, including the Baker Motor Vehicle Company, perhaps the most famous of all electrics.

In mid-1915, the Baker Motor Vehicle Company merged with another Cleveland electric car manufacturer, Rauch & Lang. The company produced cars under both names in 1916. Then, Baker formed two divisions, one to build bodies for a variety of gasoline cars, the other to build electric vehicles for industrial and commercial use. Renamed the Baker Material Handling Corporation, the company produced forklifts, electric postal vans, golf carts, and other electric vehicles until 1989, when it closed.

The Model WB roadster was unusually sporty for an electric car. In 1914, the roadster was offered only with a steering wheel. In 1915, buyers could have a wheel or a tiller, the steering system so closely associated with electric vehicles. This Baker has been professionally restored, and has been a national First Prize winner in Antuque Automobile Club of America competitions.

Model: WB
Body Style: Roadster
Original Factory Price: $2,300
Battery: 48 Volts
Wheelbase: 87 inches
Manufacturer: Baker Motor Vehicle Company
Location: Cleveland, Ohio

Donor: Donald C. Burnham