Lucius B. Packard

Lucius B. Packard (died 1914) was an American wheelwright, cabinetmaker and automobile pioneer early in the Brass car era.

He built his first Velocipede in Peabody, Massachusetts) in 1860, followed by a "real" bicycle in 1879 that was built in Salem, Massachusetts.

In 1895 followed a prototype automobile that featured a 2 bhp (ca. 1,5 kW) gasoline engine by American that gave its power via a chain to the left rear wheel. Speed was controlled by two levers; one sat on the right of the steering lever. Moving it forward accelerated the vehicle, backwards lowed it. In a vertical position it brought the engine to idle. A second lever behind the seat did the same for reverse. Packard found a buyer for his car before he finished it.

In 1896 he completed another four-wheeled vehicle, this time with an electric engine. It was derived from a horse-drawn carriage. His last car was built in 1898, an electric Three-wheeler with a single front wheel, allowing the use of a long steering lever. It had a center-tube frame, and the bodywork was hinged with springs.

L. B. Packard worked in his shop at Liberty and Derby streets in Salem until 1914 when it was destroyed by a fire on June, 25th. Packard died on October 14, 1914. Photographs exist of his runabout and the Three-Wheeler.

There seems to exist no relationship with the Packard family from Warren, Ohio, Ohio, founders of the later Packard Motor Car Company.

Sources

Beverly Rae Kimes (editor) and Henry Austin Clark, jr.: Standard Catalogue of American Cars, 2nd edition, Krause Publications, Iola WI 54990 ISBN 0-87341-111-0, p. 1063-1064.