A 1904 Stanley Steamer Model CX Runabout has been placed on loan to the Boothbay Railway Village by its owners, David Ault and Norine Jewell Ault of Wayne.  

The Stanley brothers, Francis E. and Freeland O., were born in Kingfield. Together they established the Stanley Dry Plate Company (makers of photographic dry plates, later sold to George Eastman) and the Stanley Motor Carriage Company (makers of Stanley steam cars). The Stanley Brothers also invented and produced gas illumination equipment, an artists' airbrush, early X-ray apparatus, and steam railcars, and were both photographers and violin makers. The Stanley Steamer is especially at home here in the Boothbay region as the Stanley brothers had summer homes on Squirrel Island. 

Although the Stanley Motor Carriage Company operated from 1902 to 1924, the brothers had been building steam cars as early as 1897. They sold their first designs to Locomobile. That company manufactured affordable, small steam cars until 1903, when production switched entirely to internal combustion-powered luxury automobiles. That opened the doors for the Stanley’s return and the formation of the Stanley Motor Carriage Company. 

This particular Stanley Steamer, chassis number 1273, was found on a Pennsylvania farm in the late 1970s and restored.

It is notable for being awarded the Antique Automobile Club of America Senior National First Place in 1982 and Grand National First Prize in 1983. The vehicle also participated in the 1982 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, the world’s longest running motoring event and largest annual gathering of vehicles built before 1905. The Museum’s 1904 Curved Dash Oldsmobile also once ran in the same event although the year is unknown. Most recently the vehicle was invited to be shown at the 2006 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance and received a first place award in its class there.

The 1904 Stanley Steamer Model CX Runabout has an 8 horsepower engine and an 18 by 12-inch firetube boiler with a 3 by 4-inch 2-cylinder engine mounted on the rear axle.  It presently runs on Coleman fuel (although originally it would have used gasoline.) Back in 1904 the original owners would have paid an extra $18 for its wood wheels (as opposed to the standard wire wheels) and the larger tires (30 by 3 inch) were an extra $51.72. It was the last Stanley model with the boiler under the seat and using tiller steering. 

The Steamer joins the nearly 60 other cars, trucks and fire engines on view at the Museum including a 1909 Stanley Steamer Model R, a 1935 Swallow SS1, 1937 Packard Rollston Phaeton (Model 1502), and a 1962 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud II. 

The Village is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. with hourly train departures between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.  Admission to the Museum is $10 for adults, $5 for children. Museum members get in free. Well-behaved and leashed four-legged friends are welcome. Contact the Boothbay Railway Village for more information at 207-633-4727, or online at www.railwayvillage.org. The Boothbay Railway Village is located at 586 Wiscasset Road, Route 27 in Boothbay.