Offered from the 'Somerset Hoard', barn stored since circa 1939
c.1903 Baker Electric Two-Seat Runabout

• Early American electric car built for the British market
• Original electric bell under footboard
• Original headlamp
• Original registration number overwritten on front dash panel
• Original electric motor with plate attached
• Full elliptic springs front and rear

Hidden away from public view for more than eight decades, the Baker is one of seven cars coined the 'Somerset Hoard'. An exceptional discovery of seven mainly veteran cars that have remained together in the same Spiers family ownership, untouched and unused since the outbreak of The Second World War.

This electric runabout was built by the Baker Motor Vehicle Company of Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
The company was formed in 1899 by Walter C Baker and F Philip Dorn. Their first vehicle appeared at the National Auto Show in Madison Square Gardens, in November 1900. At the time this was the biggest Auto show yet to be held in the USA. Baker's First models were a Runabout ($850) and Stanhope Phaeton ($1,600). It is claimed that the first car bought by Thomas Edison was a Baker Runabout.

These models arrived in the UK early in 1902, appearing at the Agricultural Halls show on stand 104 in April. The show was promoted by Cordingley's and the Automobile Club. By late 1902 a right-hand tiller and control lever version of the Runabout, described as the 'latest production of the Baker Motor Vehicle Co', was brought into the UK by Mr Samson Parsons of Darlington, who at the time was described as 'handling the imports'. Baker cars later appeared at the Crystal Palace and Agricultural Hall shows during 1903. Their final appearance seems to have been at the Crystal Palace Show in February 1904. By 1906 the Baker company claimed to be the largest manufacture of electric vehicles in the world, and later in 1914 merged with Rauch and Lang.

This car is a genuine UK import with right-hand tiller and control lever. The motor is by Ewell-Parker of Cleveland, Ohio (class G, size 0, 20 volt) while the original battery specification was 12 x 2v cells charging to 2.65 v, roundly of 32v and 100ah, 'sufficient for 40 miles on good level roads'. The controller is of the non-sparking type, with three speeds in both forwards and backwards, and can act as a brake. There is a combined volt and amp meter on the footboard, while the push button in the end of the control lever operates an electric bell under the platform. Various contemporary reports claimed speeds of 14 and 16 mph.

This car is recorded in the Somerset registration records as 'Y 311' registered to an Alfred Bruce of Burrington, Bristol on 18th January 1905. The registration was reassigned to the Bristol Carriage and Wagon Works Co of Bristol in June 1915. The car was then issued with 'Y 3907' (see illustration) and subsequently sold to an owner in Dalbeattie, Dumfries in November 1915 before making its way back south, to Tewksbury, in January 1918.

Offered from long-term dry storage, this car has not been used for some considerable time and will require extensive restoration before returning to the road. Its mechanical condition is not known and thus the car is sold strictly as viewed. There are no documents with this Lot.