Pope-Tribune
Pope-Tribune (1904–1908) was part of the Pope automobile group of companies founded by Colonel Albert Pope manufacturing Brass Era automobiles in Hagerstown, Maryland.[1]
 1904 Pope-Tribune 6hp Runabout | |
| Industry | Automotive |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1904 |
| Defunct | 1908 |
| Fate | Closed, factory sold |
| Headquarters | Hagerstown, Maryland, |
Key people | Harold Pope, Gilbert J. Loomis |
History
With an initial price of $650 (equivalent to $21,171 in 2022), the Pope-Tribune was the cheapest and smallest model of the Pope automobiles. The factory was set up in the old Crawford bicycle factory and run by Harold E. Pope,[2] the colonel's son.[1]
The first Pope-Tribune, a single-cylinder runabout, was introduced in 1904. It was to the design of Gilbert J. Loomis, who made the Loomis automobile of Westfield, Massachusetts. Model II also had a front-mounted, vertical, single-cylinder engine (with a 4.5in bore and a 4in stroke), wheel steering, sliding pinion gearbox, shaft drive and a bevel rear axle with a differential.[1]
In 1905, the price of the car was reduced from $650 to $500, and a 12 hp two cylinder model was added. Production continued until 1908, but by then the cars had become larger and more expensive. The final models, with four-cylinder engines, were a 16/20 hp selling for $1,750 (equivalent to $54,963 in 2022, and a 30 hp for $2,750. The company closed in November 1908 and sold the Hagerstown factory.[2]
The model that is on display in the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, is an early model with a single cylinder and shaft drive.
References
- 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.
- Georgano, N. (2000). Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile. London: HMSO. ISBN 1-57958-293-1.