Vanderbilt Cup Races

The First Auto in North Carolina: The Buggymobile

Gilbert S. Waters in his steam propelled automobile, the Buggymobile. 

Water's first attempt at building a horseless vehicle came in 1899 after seeing and hearing others build this new form of transportation.  Considered the first automobile made in North Carolina it used a one cylinder, water cooled engine and measured only 7 feet long.  After bankers balked at investing in his new venture, Waters produced his second Buggymobile three years later on his own.  (northcarolinahistory.org)

After this second attempt, Waters still could not obtain financial support for additional manufacturing and his Buggymobile remained a one of a kind.  After using it for some 40 years,  Waters donated it to the North Carolina History Museum in Raleigh where it is on permanent exhibit.  (kellerbergerroom.com)

Mr. and Mrs. Waters in their Buggymobile which attained a speed of 35 mph and 40 miles/gallon.   Weighing 540 pounds, it held two gallons of gasoline.  The Waters would drive the Buggymobile around their home town, New Bern, NC on a daily basis through the late 1940s. 

On March 9, 1939 Waters was invited to appear on the nationally syndicated radio show "We the People" in New York City.  Prior to appearing and revving up the engine to audience applause, he first drove the Buggymobile around Times Square and Central Park carrying local celebrities.  (newbernhistorical.com, 2021/The Sun, 1939)

A historical plaque at the location (Broad and Bern Streets, New Bern, NC) where Waters built his Buggymobiles.   (newbernhistorical.com)

The Wilmington Auto Club

The growing number of automobiles in the early 1900s in Wilmington contributed to the need for an automobile club.   Anyone care to guess what the term "scorching" means here?  (The Wilmington Messenger Jun. 5, 1906)

There were 14 automobiles in Wilmington at the time (NC had a total of 780) but ownership was expected to grow resulting from the good roads in the area.   Club officials had an interest in increasing automobile usage:  one such person was  Frank Herbst, the proprietor of the first garage in town.  (The Wilmington Messenger Jun. 5, 1906)

Not sure if these were considered "good roads"!  (New Hanover Public Library Digital Collections)

New Hanover Public Library Digital Collections

Care to identify the auto in this photo? (New Hanover Public Library Digital Collections)

A New Form of Amusement

In 1906, Herbst with a partner, also offered automobile pleasure trips along Wilmington's Wrightsville Beach.  (Wilmington Morning Star May 10, 1906)

The partners purchased a Pope-Toledo touring car to use on the beach.  (Wilmington Morning Star May 10, 1906)

A 1906 Pope-Toledo touring car. (Conceptcarz.com)

Unfortunately poor conditions at the beach did not allow for the driving of the Pope-Toledo that summer and the venture was abandoned   The partners did offer their car to to those wishing to go on a pleasure drive around Wilmington.  (The Wilmington Messenger Jun. 26, 1906)

In the fall of 1906 Herbst sold his share of the partnership to a retired banker who wished to start up another venture, presumably an auto dealership and supply house.  (Wilmington Morning Star Oct. 27, 1906)

A Local Auto Enthusiast Emerges: Frank Herbst

As mentioned earlier, Herbst had opened the first auto dealership and garage in Wilmington in 1905.   (Washington Messenger Dec. 17, 1905)

"Along The Cape Fear", Block, 1998

Herbst was the sole agent for Maxwell automobiles.

Herbst put his money where his mouth was to alleviate the problem of material on roadways dangerous to cars and horses alike.  (Wilmington Morning Star Dec. 19, 1908)

In 1909 Herbst sold his dealership to the Wilmington Motor Car Company of which he became a member of the Board of Directors.  Herbst would live to 102 and is credited with being the first person to patent an inboard/outboard motor for motor boats.   (Wilmington Dispatch Oct. 21, 1909, Block)

The new company sold various makes of automobiles.  (Wilmington Morning Star Oct. 24, 1909)

And another: John Platt

Another auto enthusiast making a living selling cars was John E. Platt who along with Herbst would participate in the 1907 Wrightsvile Beach race which I'll discuss in part 5 of this series.  (Wilmington Morning Star Aug. 27, 1907)

Seemed that Platt was primarily a Ford dealer.  (Wilmington Morning Star Sept. 18, 1907)

The Contributions to Automobiling of George and Edith Vanderbilt

George and Edith in 1912.  (biltmore.com)

As noted in an earlier post, George had modern roads built on his Biltmore estate so he and others could enjoy the scenic grounds.   And to get around he owned various automobiles.  (The Early Automobile in NC, Robert E. Ireland, 1990)

After George's death in 1914 Edith owned an array of cars and became active in automobile organizations in the state.  (The Early Automobile in NC, Robert E. Ireland, 1990)

This author gives credit for George's interest in the automobile to his brother William K. Vanderbilt, however he appears to have the William Vanderbilts mixed up pertaining to the Vanderbilt Cup Races.   (The Early Automobile in NC, Robert E. Ireland, 1990)

Edith's acceptance as a Vice-President of the state's Autombobile Club.  (Carolina Motorist Jan., 1922)

And here are her suggestions on Motor Vehicle Laws.  I personally like 6 and 7, how about you?  (Carolina Motorist Jan., 1924)

The final post (#5) of this series will describe the 1907 Wrightsville Beach Automobile Race, held on the sands of Wilmington.  Its backers hoped it would become an annual event but others were not as supportive as it appears to have never happened again.