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| First Hess automobile produced Car: L 21.25 cm,W10 cm, H10.5 cm without driver Marked: “D.R.G.M”, “No. 163264” The very first Hess automobile produced and replicated after the full size autos of the day, circa 1895. This first auto by Hess is extremely heavy and rugged, using a large flywheel / friction mechanism for propulsion. It was not long before Hess created and developed the hand-cranked, flywheel powered auto. At first, only a number (1058) was assigned to these vehicles. Soon after the name “Hess Auto” was used and finally “Hessmobil” became the permanent name for these hand-cranked, flywheel powered vehicles until Hess went bankrupt in 1934. The driver and passenger figures on this auto are replacement composition pieces. In 1912 Hess modified their smaller, flywheel friction powered toys and from then on they became known and labeled as “Hess Rollers”. |
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Hess 1058 first handcranked flywheel auto, circa 1890s (not part of my collection) Before the flywheel powered Hess Auto / Hessmobil was created and named on toy vehicles, Hess produced this touring car without a name. It was numbered 1058 on the radiator and labeled “D.R.G.M.” in unusually large letters on the hood of the vehicle. Perhaps this was a first effort and Hess wanted everyone to know of it’s patent. This appears to be a first production piece or prototype as this model had an exposed flywheel on one side of the vehicle with a friction type reduction mechanism driving the right front wheel. Interestingly, it has been described as a touring car but only has seating for two people; one driver and one passenger. Strange looking devices on either side of the driver’s seat might be faux oilers or some other simulated mechanism. Orange with cream and black trim, the floor of the vehicle reminds me of a tile like floor used on toy steam workshops of the period. Oil burning headlamps of the period can be seen on both sides of the car. Early spoked wheels with the front wheels smaller than the rear and fastened to axles with the Hess patented method (patent 44408). The steering wheel is mounted vertical without angle as full size early vehicles were designed and produced.
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