Rollin Motors

The Rollin Motors company was an American automobile manufacturer from 1923 until 1925 and founded by Rollin Henry White.[1] The company was based in Cleveland, Ohio.[2]

The Rollin Motors Co.
Founded1923, bankrupt in 1925
FounderRollin H. White
HeadquartersCleveland, Ohio, US
Productspassenger cars, total about 6.000
1924 Rollin at Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum

History

The Rollin automobile[3] had advanced technology, brakes on all four wheels (mechanical internal expanding type), pistons and connecting rods of special aluminum, lubrication oil through a pump and a four-bearing crankshaft.[4] There were four models: Touring ($995.00) , Brougham, Sedan and 3 passenger Coupe. Cars were sold in USA, Australia and a very few to Europe. Designed and built by Rollin H. White, formerly chief engineer of the White Motor Company. The car was planned as an economical automobile to capture a share of the low price market. Its engine was similar to that of the Cletrac tractor, a White subsidiary. The chairman was Rollin Henry White. His father, Thomas White, was owner of The White Sewing Machine Company , White Steamer and the White Motor Company. The Rollin was too high-priced for the market for which it had been intended. In its most successful year, 1924, approximately 6,500 units were produced. By the end of 1925 the factory was closed due to bankruptcy.[5] As of 2018, there are several Rollin automobiles in the USA and in Australia, as well as a few in Europe, at least one in the Netherlands and two in Sweden.

In December 1924 the car carrier SS Lakeland transported on Lake Michigan several new automobiles. The Lakeland sank with at least twenty-two model-year vehicles aboard from Nash Motors, Kissel Motor Car Company, and Rollin motor company. Recreational divers recovered one Rollin automobile in 1979.[6]

  • Rollin Touring 1923 - picture from 1963
  • Serial plate of a Rollin
  • Engine compartment Rollin
  • Rollin Touring 1924, picture from 2015

Bibliography
  • Automobile Trade Journal 1899-1924 (1924-12-01). "Historical Records, back of the men back of the Rollin". Vol. 29 no. 6. p. 573. Retrieved 2021-01-16. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  • E. Wrenick, Frank; Elaine, E. Wrenick (2016). Automobile Manufacturers of Cleveland and Ohio, 1864–1942. McFarland & Company Inc. p. 141.
  • Lackley, James H. (2018). The Chandler Automobile. Harvard University Press. p. 235 and 80.


References
  1. "WHITE, ROLLIN HENRY | Encyclopedia of Cleveland History". Encyclopedia of Cleveland History | Case Western Reserve University.
  2. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Automobiles. By David Burgess Wise. Published 1979 - ISBN 0600303799 page 286, 125, 339
  3. The Complete Encyclopedia of Motorcars. Edited by G.N. Georgano. Second edition 1973. ISBN 0852230486 - page 593
  4. original brochure Rollin - page with technical specifications
  5. "IN RE ROLLIN MOTORS CO. | 23 F.2d 110 (1927) | 23f2d110299". Leagle.
  6. Wisconsinshipwrecks
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