1909 Pierce-Arrow
The George N. Pierce Company, of Buffalo, New York, built bicycles and birdcages before starting car production in 1901 with a 2 3/4 hp De Dion-engined Motorette. In 1909, using the name of their most successful model. the company became known as Pierce-Arrow, at which time their entire production consisted of six-cylinder cars, of 36hp (5686cc), 48hp (7243cc) and 66hp (10,619cc).
1909 Rochet-Schneider
Looking rather like a Turkish bath on wheels, this 1909 Rochet Schneider’s bodywork is actually patterned on the contemporary hansom cab. Odd though the styling looks nowadays, with its flap-up windscreen and multipaned side windows, in its day it was thought le dernier cri for the fashionable Edwardian motorist about town.
1909 Turicum
Christened with the ancient name of Zurich. in which it was built from 1904 to 1914. the Turicum car was characterised throughout its production life by the use of friction drive. However. the first couple of Turicums had one feature. which thankfully was not continued on subsequent models-they were foot-steered. by twin pedals. This 1909 twin-cylinder car was one of their more ephemeral models. being produced during that season alone.
1910 Bianchi
Edoardo Bianchi was a Milanese cycle manufacturer who went into car production with a singlecylinder voiturette in 1899. Ten years later, Bianchi had become one of Italy’s more notable marques, building solid, reliable cars to the design of Giuseppe Merosi. In 1909. they introduced a big 5-litre. 20/30hp model. with pair-cast cylinders and chain drive. By the time this landaulette appeared in 1910. shaft drive had been adopted for the 20/30.
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