Previously, we have discussed ways in which Cleveland was a pioneer in the development of electric lights and electric railways. It was the first city to have electric street lights, in 1879, with Charles Brush’s arc lights around Public Square, and it was the first city to have a commercial electric street railway when Edward Bentley and Charles Knight opened their line in 1884.
But here’s a Cleveland invention you may not have been familiar with. In 1892, two Clevelanders, Brewer and Krehbiel, patented an articulated car. A prototype was built the following year by Cleveland’s Kuhlman Car Co. The idea of an articulated car didn’t catch on at that time and the inventors are not well remembered: we only found out about them through a Hungarian website and we haven’t been able to discover their first names!
As we also have discussed, articulated cars came into regular use in 1912 when Boston introduced their “two rooms and a bath” cars, constructed from two old four-wheel cars. And, today, articulated rail cars are common on urban transit systems throughout the world. But it appears that Cleveland had the first!
Join Us This Summer!
Love uncovering stories like this? Come see the history of transit in person! We are thrilled to announce that the museum officially opens for the summer season on May 23.
Whether you’re a history buff, a transit enthusiast, or just looking for a unique summer outing, we can’t wait to welcome you back. Mark your calendars and join us for a season of discovery!
Image Credit: Brewer and Krehbiel’s car, Street Ry Journal, via Villamosok.Hu