The Mason was a Brass Era automobile manufactured in Des Moines, Iowa from 1906 to 1909 and Waterloo, Iowa from 1911 to 1914. In 1909 and 1910 it was marketed as the Maytag-Mason.[1][2]

Mason Motor Car Company
Mason Motor Company
IndustryAutomotive
Founded1906 (1906)
FounderE. R. Mason, F. S. Duesenberg
Defunct1914 (1914)
HeadquartersDes Moines, Iowa and Waterloo, Iowa,
United States
Key people
Edward Mason, Fred Duesenberg, August Duesenberg
ProductsAutomobiles
Production output
1,513 (1906–1914)

History

The first prototype called the Marvel was powered by a 24-hp flat-twin engine with a planetary transmission. The main feature of the car was the innovative overhead valve engine and water cooling with a pump. With a displacement of 3,277cc (200 ci), the engine delivered 24–28 hp. The engine was midships under the floor and it was designed by Fred S. Duesenberg assisted by his brother August Duesenberg who was a pattern-maker at the factory. The prototypes name was changed to Mason for attorney Edward R. Mason who was the largest shareholder. Edward Mason became the company president while Fred Duesenberg became the factory superintendent.[1][2]

Mason Motor Car Company

Mason production began on August 16, 1906. Marketing efforts for the new car promoted its strength by having it drive up the 47 steps of the Iowa State Capitol building. Other advertisements boasted about the excellent fuel efficiency of the Duesenberg two-cylinder engine, claiming it could carry the car 475 miles on 18 gallons of gasoline. "The Fastest and Strongest Two-Cylinder Car in America" was the Mason's slogan. Beginning in 1907 the Mason was used in racing and reliability trials. The 1906 to 1908 Mason was made as a touring car or runabout and priced at $1,350, equivalent to $43,970 in 2022.[2]

In 1908 the company was reorganized as the Mason Automobile Company and factory expansion plans were started.[2]

Maytag-Mason

In 1909 the company was bought by washing machine maker Frederick L. Maytag and his son Elmer H. Maytag. The new company, Maytag-Mason Motor Company moved production to Waterloo, Iowa at the suggestion of William O. Galloway. The two-cylinder cars were continued as Masons, and a new four-cylinder car was marketed as a Maytag. For 1911 both cars were named Maytag, but late in the same year, the Maytag family pulled out of the company.[2][1]

Mason Motor Company

The Duesenberg brothers left the company when the Maytags controlled it but retained the Mason name for racing cars they built. By 1913, they were in St. Paul, Minnesota where they established the Duesenberg Motor Company.[1]

Edward Mason regained control of the company by 1912 from Galloway and Maytag interests and reorganized as Mason Motor Company. The Duesenbergs retained some ties with Edward Mason and in 1912 a new 2-cylinder Duesenberg engine of 20-hp was introduced. This is the first version of the famous Duesenberg" walking beam" engine. In 1913, the $3,000 (equivalent to $87,648 in 2022) Mason-Mohler was announced. This new car had a four-cylinder 65-hp Duesenberg engine mounted on a 128-inch wheelbase chassis that was underslung in the front and overslung at the rear.[1] This may have been a de-tuned version of the four-cylinder "walking beam" engine.[2]

Finances and leadership changes proved insurmountable for Edward Mason and the company was bankrupt by the end of 1914. The Waterloo factory was sold for $35,000 in 1915.[2]

Model overview

Motor Cars[2]

Year Model Cylinders Displace-

ment cc

 Horse-

power

 Wheelbase

mm

 Body Price

US$

1906–1908 Mason 24-HP 2 3218 24 2286 Runabout, 2 seat

Touring, 5 seat

 1,285

1,350

1909 2438 Tourabout, 4 seats

Touring, 5 seats

 1,250

1,350

1910 2438 Tourabout, 2/4 seat

Toy Touring, 4 seat

Touring, 5 seat

 1,250

1,250

1,350

1910 Maytag 32/35 HP 4 4599 32 2896 Touring, 5 seat 2,250
1911 Maytag 20-HP

Model A

Model B

Model C

 2 3218 24 2438 Runabout, 2 seat

Toy Tonneau, 4 seat

Touring, 5 seat

 1,250

1,300

1,350

1911 Maytag 35-HP

Model D

Model E

Model F

Model G

Model H

 4 3218 35 2896 Touring

Touring

Touring

Touring

Boattail Roadster

 1,750

1,750

1,750

1,750

1,650

1912 Mason 20-HP

Model A

Model B

Model C

 2 3218 24 2438 Touring

Torpedo

Roadster

 1,050

1,050

1,050

1912 Mason 30-HP

Model D

Model E

Model F

Model G

Model H

 4 3218 35 2946 Roadster

Touring

Touring

Touring

Roadster

 1,750

1,000

1,150

1,250

1,650

1912 Mason Knight 4 announced- not produced
1913 Mason Model C 2 3218 24 2438 Touring, 5 seat 900
1913 Mason Model K 4 3218 35 2946 Fore-Door Touring, 5 seat 1,290
1914 2946 Touring, 5 seat 1,350
1914 Mason-Mohler

65-HP

 4 65 3251 Roadster

Coupe

 3,000

3,150

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mason automobiles.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Georgano, Nick (2001). The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile (3 vol. ed.). Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers. ISBN 1-57958-293-1.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Kimes, Beverly Rae; Clark Jr., Henry Austin (1996). Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 (3rd ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 978-0-87341-428-9.
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