Schuyler Zent owned a machine shop in Marion, Ohio in the late 1890s. He received a patent for gasoline engines in 1899 and 1901. Zent began building an 8 hp automobile in his machine shop around 1900. In July 1902, he took his finished automobile on a drive to Mansfield, Mt. Vernon, and Fredericktown. Zent was very enthusiastic about the trip and said his automobile was able to achieve a top speed of twenty miles per hour. Zent hoped to produce his automobile commercially in Marion, but unfortunately, he could not find any investors. So, he traveled to other cities in search of someone who would be interested in manufacturing his automobile.
Zent announced in October 1902, that he had propositions from investors in Bellefontaine and the Single Center Spring Co. in Evansville, Indiana. The Bellefontaine investors offered to organize a stock company, but Zent worked out a deal with Willis Copeland of the Single Center Spring Co. to build his “Zentmobile” in Evansville. Copeland was impressed with Zent’s design for a car that employed new standardized wheels and other modern refinements.
The first Zentmobile was built by the Single Center Spring Co. in 1903. The Zentmobile was displayed at the St. Louis automobile exposition where it was well received by automobile experts. Unfortunately, the Zentmobile was only produced for about one year. The Single Center Spring Co. continued to successfully manufacture other automobiles.
In mid1904, Zent returned to Bellefontaine and once again met with investors. They were able to reach an agreement to manufacture his automobile in Bellefontaine. In October of that year, the Zent Automobile Company was incorporated with a capital stock of $25,000. Serving on the board were, C.E. Yoder, president, William R. Cordrey, vice-president, W.R. Niven, Treasurer, John P. Aikin, secretary, and W.W. Osborn and Charles M. Brown board members. They purchased the William G. Short machine shop on Water St. and traveled to Cincinnati where they purchased machinery for the new factory.
There was a lot of excitement about an automobile being manufactured in Bellefontaine. Dr. William W. Hamer stated he was interested in buying a new Zent automobile as soon as it was available. He had been looking for a “machine” to drive in all weather and had visited several automotive factories in Detroit, Michigan. However, Dr. Hamer did not find any automobiles that compared to the Zent.
The Weekly Examiner reported in December 1904, “The Zent Automobile Co. now have a force of five skilled mechanics who are getting out four machines, one of which it hopes to have ready for the Chicago Automobile Show that opens February 4, 1905. The working parts of these machines are as fine and as perfectly made as the works of a watch, and the Zent auto factory on Water St. is a most interesting place to visit.”
The company produced the first 18 hp, 3-cylinder Zent in January 1905. They advertised “The popularity of automobiling is being increased on account of the practicality of the air-cooled engine, which makes the motor car a vehicle for all seasons. For simplicity of construction, durability and efficiency, the Zent engine is the best air-cooled motor on the market. The 1905 Zent is designed for both pleasure and business purposes.
It has a side entrance detachable tonneau. It is made very strong and yet very light, with plenty of room for carrying luggage under the front seat and tonneau. By removing the tonneau, it has the appearance of a runabout, with space for considerable luggage which can be converted into a delivery wagon.”
The Zent was known for its smooth and quiet running engine. However, it did have mechanical problems. The Logan County Index reported in November 1905 that Schuyler Zent had severed his ties with the Zent Automobile Company and was moving his family to another city.
In 1907, The Zent Automobile Co. changed its name to the Bellefontaine Automobile Co. The new name and a new product, the Traveler, brought success to the company. The Traveler was designed and engineered by Harry E. Barnhart, a Dentist from Warren, Ohio who left his practice to work for the Bellefontaine Automobile Co. The Traveler came with two options, an air-cooled engine (Model “A”) or water-cooled engine (Model “B”) both could reach speeds of forty miles per hour.
They also produced a slightly larger Model B-8 in 1908. It had a 32 hp, 4-cylinder engine with a 3-speed gear box and 34” wheels. The 5-seater touring car sold for $2,500.
After 1908, the Bellefontaine Automobile Co. stopped producing automobiles, but continued to operate as a workshop.
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