Table 1: Stearns and Stearns-Knight

Historical Timeline

1879: Frank B. Stearns (FSB) born in Cleveland.

1893: Visit to Chicago World’s Fair created interest of F.B. Stearns in self-propelled

vehicles.

1896: FSB completed his first one-cylinder vehicle.

1898: F.B. Stearns & Co. formed with the help of Ralph R. and Raymond M. Owens.

1899: Ralph Owen drove a Stearns, Cleveland to New York.

1900: Fall, 1900: First single cylinder two-stroke cycle Stearns Stanhope model put on

the market. New shop rented on Euclid Avenue across from Lakeview Cemetery.

1901: New four-stroke engine with 11 brake horsepower.

1902: Name of company changed to The F. B. Stearns Company with addition of new

capital. A two-cylinder Touring Car with 20 h.p. introduced.

1905: Four-cylinder, cast-in-pairs, L-head engine introduced.

1907: Addition made to Euclid Ave. plant.

Six-cylinder model introduced, the “45-90” with 800 cubic inch displacement.

Big Stearns four was called the 30-60, which set 3 world records and had 19 victories.

1909: “Baby Stearns” Model 15-30, four-cylinder introduced.

1910: Stearns’ chief engineer, James G. Sterling, sent to England; negotiated a

license to build Knight sleeve-valve engines in the U.S.

1911: Stearns' first Knight-engine car introduced with four-cylinder engine, as the 1912 model; Stearns bought old Royal Tourist plant in Cleveland.

1912: Stearns offered only the four-cylinder engine.

1913: Six-cylinder engine added.

1914: New body style and enclosed bodies introduced.

1915: Stearns L-4 (Light Four) introduced as a lower-priced quality car.

Five-story addition built onto the plant.

1916: Six-cylinder engine dropped; new V-8 as first V-form Knight engines.

1917: FSB retired from management at age 37. Company re-capitalized; George W.

Booker named president. Stearns started building Rolls Royce airplane engines for defense purposes.

1918: FSB sold interest in the company; production of cars curtailed because of World War I.

1920: Eight-cylinder dropped; Stearns line limited to four-cylinder SKL-4.

1923: Six-cylinder the S-Six introduced (announced in July 1922).

1924: New four-cylinder model SKB4 introduced for 1924: New smaller 6 engine introduced for 1925 models.

1925: Control of The F. B. Stearns Co. purchased by John North Willys in December 1925. H. J. Leonard made president.

1926: Over $500,000 invested in expanding Stearns’ plant and equipment: last year for four-cylinder cars.

1927: In-line Eight introduced as Model G8.

1928: Lower-priced line of sixes introduced called the Series 6-80.

1929: The F. B. Stearns Company ceased production due to financial problems.

1930: Dissolution of The F.B. Stearns Company.

Creation of the Stearns-Knight Corporation in Cleveland as parts supplier.

1935: The Stearns-Knight Corporation moved to Detroit.

Sources: Arthur Aseltine and Associates website at: www.aseltine-associates.com/History.html

Wager, Richard. Golden Wheels, Cleveland: Western Reserve Historical Society, 1975, pp.25-38.