From the Club library: Images and advertising copy from a record breaking drive from Chicago to New York in a 1908 Type-D Franklin.
Images, newspaper coverage, and Western Union telegrams
that follow the 860 mile low gear, non-stop grind in 1910.
Sales brochure describing a truck ton-mile competition
won by a Franklin truck.
Sales brochure describing an automotive engineer
won over to air cooling in 1910.
Mission
The H.H. Franklin Club, Inc., is a 501(c)3 non profit club which provides to the public and Club Members a museum, this website, educational and informational materials, and events, for the purpose of preserving, sharing and educating all interested parties on the history of the Franklin Automobile Company, it's subsidiaries, and the Franklin Automobile.
This web site is promoted and maintained as a repository for technical data, historical data, service data, question and answers, photographs and video clips of cars in the past and present with current owners as well as past, automobiles and parts for sale, upcoming and past events, related site links, membership news, with a limited emphasis on social media interaction for members of the H.H. Franklin Club.
The H. H. Franklin Club
- A short history of the Franklin Club
- Club Officers and Office Holders
- Past Franklin Club Presidents
- The H. H. Franklin Club Bylaws
- The H. H. Franklin Club Service Award recipients
The H. H. Franklin Manufacturing Company
- A short history of the H.H. Franklin Company
- Franklin Power - The First 100 Years
- The Franklin Model Z: A 4-Cylinder Car with Promise - Yet Never Produced
Read Franklin Company contemporary notes made for the Franklin Board of Directors which gives an outline of the history of the company.
- An article from the Air Cooled News giving the background of these notes, and an index of topics, subjects, people, etc., covered in the notes.
- Book One (1892 - 1910) of Franklin Company board history notes.
- Book Two (1911 - 1932) of Franklin Company board history notes.
Franklin Company dealers handbook from 1931.
This is a 150+ page pamphlet and although there is a focus on the Series 15 cars, it contains lots of Franklin company history and engineering information. Chapters include: Brief History, Franklin Records in Speed and Efficiency, Development of Air Cooling, The Franklin Car General Description, The Engine, Lubrication, Chassis, Bodies, Bodies - Construction and Material (with coachwork images), Quality, Light Weight, Comfort, Safety, Reliability, and Roadability. Click here or on pamphlet image.
Watch Franklin Club Historian Sinclar Powell present the history of the H.H. Franklin Manufacturing Company. Click Here
The People of the H. H. Franklin Company
- The Story of Herbert H. Franklin
- John Burns
- The Two Johns: History of Aviation and Air Cooled Motors
Ralph Hamlin: The Forgotten History of an L.A. Auto Pioneer
Read this interesting article from KCET about Ralph Hamlin, Franklin's largest dealer and some of his racing exploits. Click here to read the article.
On-Line Articles about Franklins
Franklin Automobile Dealers
This Franklin Dealership from the early 1920's is still standing in Downtown Denver. Click here to read about this building and its history.
Franklin's V-12
Read a web article about the Franklin V-12 from 'The Old Motor' on-line magazine . Click here.
1931 Derham Sportsman Coupe,
aka Airman De Luxe Model 153.
Two articles about a Franklin expressly built for display at the 1931 New York Automobile Salon in Hemmings. Click here. or you may Click here.
Better Dressed But Not Too Flashy - 1927 Franklin 11B Sedan
Read an article from Autoweek's online publication. . Click here.
From Syracuse, with Pride - 1923 Franklin 10B
Read an article about this Franklin by Jim Donnelly from September 2013 issue of Hemmings Classic Car . Click here.
Franklin’s Innovative and Wind-Cheating Torpedo
Read an article about this Franklin on 'The Old Motor' on-line magazine. Click here.
1910 Franklin Six at the Riverside Garage on Long Island
Read another article from 'The Old Motor' about this 1910 Economy Run on Long Island. Click here.
1934: Victim of the Great Depression, the final Franklin rolls off the assembly line
Read an article about the history of the company on the 'Syracuse.com' on-line magazine. Click here.
The Franklin
Read an article about the history of the company with a distinctive British take on Franklins on the 'Motor Sport' on-line magazine archives. Click here.
Lindbergh and Franklins
Read a couple of articles about Lindbergh and his connections with Franklins.
Click here for an article from Vintage Wings.
Click here for an article from Hagerty.
How Franklin Cars Work
Read an on-line article from 'How Stuff Works'. Click here.
Wikipedia
Read the Wikipedia entry on Franklins. Click here.