Phianna (automobile)

Phianna was an American automobile manufacturer that commenced business in 1916.

Origins

The Phianna Motor Company was created in about 1916 by R J Metzler. Metzler had acquired the SGV's line in May 1915 prior to the company being wound up. Metzler partnered with industrialists John A Bell and T M Pepperday, who moved its production to Newark, New Jersey.[1][2][3] SGV had fallen deeply into debt.[4] The name Phianna originated from one of the companies twin daughters, Phyliss and Anna.[3][5]

Phianna is thought to have made one car based on the SGV, and then its own models.[3] The 1916 Phianna was a $3,600 town car. The bodies were custom made.[6] By 1917 Phianna's ranged in price from $5,000 to $6,000. By comparison a Ford cost between $345 to $645.[7]

With the United States entry into World War One, in 1918 the Phianna factory was used to make tools and dies for the Wright-Martin Aircraft Company. The company put its assets up for sale and Miles Harold Carpenter with assistance from a Texas rancher, Carl M Worsham, acquired the assets. A new plant was set up at the end of 59th Street, Long Island City.[3]

Safety glass was introduced in 1919 as were turn signals and stop lights.[3] Carpenter changed the company's motto from The Foreign Car Made in America to America's Representative Among the World's Finest Cars. The company also introduced an innovative six-cylinder engine in 1919.[3]

With the depression of 1921 Carpenter, on advice from Mortimer L. Schiff, decided to stop production and close down the business. The final car was made in 1922 for John F Norman.[3]

Models

References

  1. ↑ The World guide to automobile manufacturers, Nick Baldwin, Facts on File Publications, 1987, page 440, ISBN 0816018448, 9780816018444
  2. ↑ The New encyclopedia of motorcars, 1885 to the present, G N Georgano and Thorkil Ry Andersen, Dutton, 1982, page 489, ISBN 0525932542, 9780525932543
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/p/phianna/phianna.htm retrieved 17 June 2015
  4. ↑ "Final claims in SGV case". Reading Times. April 29, 1916. p. 7. Retrieved June 16, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ http://www.trombinoscar.com/veterans/sgv1201.html retrieved 17 June 2015
  6. ↑ "Phianna Advertisement". The New York Times. October 11, 1916. p. 12. Retrieved June 17, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Service car lead pleasure". The Wichita Daily Eagle. April 8, 1917. p. 43. Retrieved June 17, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
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