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Du Pont Motors photographic reproductions

Creation: 1919-1930
 Collection
Accession: 1979-285
View this collection online in the Hagley Digital Archives.
View this collection online in the Hagley Digital Archives.

Abstract

DuPont Motors, Inc. was a manufacturing company of luxury automobiles, founded by E. Paul du Pont (1887-1950) in 1919 in Wilmington, Delaware. This collection consists of thirty-eight photographs primarily showing the exteriors of DuPont Motor’s Models A, B, D, and G.

Dates

  • Creation: 1919-1930

Creator

Extent

38 item(s)

General Physical Description

38 photographic prints : b&w ; 8 x 10 in.

Historical Note

DuPont Motors, Inc. was a manufacturing company of luxury automobiles, founded by E. Paul du Pont (1887-1950) in 1919 in Wilmington, Delaware. The company originally produced marine engines during World War I.

Arthur Maris served as DuPont Motors first Vice-President and General Manager. Maris had been the President of the Biddle Motor Car Company, which was a luxury automobile manufacturer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Wright-Martin Airplane’s John Pierson served as DuPont Motor’s chief engineer. The Merrimac Automobile Builders were hired to do the bodywork for DuPont Motors from 1927-1931.

The company produced eight models, each with several body styles, plus a few special models. Each of the vehicles were made in limited production resulting in only 537 vehicles manufactured in the twelve years of the company’s operation.

The first DuPont model was the Model A which debuted in 1919 at the Commodore Hotel International Salon Show in New York City. The Model A had a four-cylinder engine with a wheelbase of 124 inches and was offered as a two passenger roadster, a four-passenger touring, and a four-passenger sedan. Touring vehicles are open, sedan vehicles are closed. The selling price was between $4,000 and $5,600.

Model B appeared in 1920 with only slight modifications. In 1923, Model C was introduced, it was powered by a six-cylinder Continental engine and came in four styles.

In 1925, the Model D had a six-cylinder Wisconsin engine, and two years later two additional styles were available, a seven passenger touring and a four passenger convertible. The Model E was an experimental model made with a supercharger and the chassis was exhibited at the 1928 Chicago Auto Show. The Model F was introduced in the same year, which had a unique seat adjustment feature. Models E and F were not successful.

Between 1928 and 1931, the company produced the Model G, which had an eight-cylinder engine and came in many different body styles including convertible sedan, sport phaeton, limousine, club sedan, seven-passenger touring, sport roadster, convertible coupe, and a five-passenger Victoria. The 1930 Model G was owned by several celebrities such as Jack Dempsey, Eugene O'Neill, Will Rogers and Douglas Fairbanks.

After only manufacturing three Model H cars, in 1931 the company suspended production due to effects of the Great Depression and went out of business in 1932.

Scope and Content

This collection consists of thirty-eight photographs primarily showing the exteriors of DuPont Motor’s Models A, B, D, and G. Mrs. E. Paul du Pont appears in two photographs with the Model A, and there is one image where E. Paul du Pont and Arthur Maris appear together riding in the vehicle. There are several views of the 1921 Du Pont Roadster Model B, the 1924-1926 Model D’s touring, roadster, sedan and specifications; and the 1929 Model G exterior, as well as specification information and diagrams of the wiring system and a lubrication chart.

There is one image of an exterior view of the manufacturing plant in Moore, Pennsylvania which operated from 1922 until the plant was moved back to Wilmington, Delaware in 1925. Additional images include a 1924 Du Pont limousine, a close up of a Du Pont engine, a stripped down chassis, an article written by D.C. Wilson that appeared in “The Antique Automobile” and an image titled "Came out under her own steam," which shows E. Paul du Pont on a 1919 Du Pont Model A chassis with a crowd of people posing for the photograph.

Location

GL Box 3.

Existence and Location of Originals

Originals returned to owner.

Existence and Location of Copies

Select images can be viewed online in Hagley's Digital Archives.

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Related Material

Accession 1994.254, Du Pont Motors, Inc. Moore factory photographs, Audiovisual Collections and Digital Initiatives Department, Hagley Museum and Library.

Language of Materials

English

Related Names

Source

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title:
Du Pont Motors photographic reproductions
Author:
Laurie Rizzo
Date:
2015.
Description rules:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description:
English
Script of description:
Latin

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Audiovisual Collections Repository

Contact:
PO Box 3630
Wilmington Delaware 19807 USA
302-658-2400