Daniels Motor Company

Beginning

The Daniels Motor Company was incorporated in 1915. Its president, George E. Daniels, was an incorporator of General Motors, a branch manager for Buick, and vice president and general of the Oakland Motor Car Company. The company outfitted a 30,000 square foot factory in Reading, Pennsylvania formerly occupied by the Mt. Penn Stove Works. Daniels chose to specialize on an eight cylinder car and chose Herschell–Spillman, which constructed engines for the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company, to be his engine supplier.

In 1916, Daniels Motor Company produced 142 Model A Daniels Eight Cylinder cars with several body styles. As Daniels did all of its own production, the company never had to refuse buyers due to high demand unlike competitors. In 1917, the three passenger Coupe Model B was produced. Prices ranged from $3,100 to $5,200.

In 1919, between one hundred and two hundred Cloverleaf Coupe model Cs were produced. This model displayed the first Daniels-built engine. The engine, designed by the same Italian engineer who created the best four-cylinder engines in Europe, proved inadequate and had to be reconfigured.

1920s

In 1920, Daniels announced it would be opening a new plant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and premiered the V8 engine. Production was expected to be 1,500 automobiles annually at the new facility. Seven different body styles were available with V8 engines, with designs ranging from the seven-passenger touring cars priced $4,750 to the Daniels limousine at $6,250. In 1921, prices increased and existing models experienced moderate design changes.

In 1922, the Daniels Motor Company opened a new office in Brooklyn, New York, intended to serve Brooklyn and Long Island residents and announced the plan to double output of all Daniels' plants within two months' time. This office was the first Daniels to offer a service station to all Daniels Motor Company buyers with Daniels Motor Company-specific tools and equipment. George Daniels cited providing service stations as the most important facet of his business structure, as it was a major driver of sales. In its prime, Daniels Motor Company had between 15 and 20 agents across the US. That same year, Daniels released a statement explaining the company would be cutting prices for the first time. The president warned buyers no further reductions were expected and prices are to rise again within 90 days. At the same time, a majority of the company's preferred stock was offered on the New York Stock Exchange.

In 1953, a 32-year-old Daniels 1921 model D car was up for auction in California. The original cost was $6,500. It was believed to be the last existing 1921 Daniels Model D in existence, and one of fifteen remaining Daniels cars in the world.

Chassis numbers

1915 101-108 Model A Herschell Spillman engine

1916 109-250 Model A Herschell Spillman engine