1908 Schacht High Wheeler

This early automobile looks more like a wagon or buggy than an automobile. With its large wheels and simple design, the Schacht High Wheeler was a suitable car for drivers in rural America. In the middle of our country, away from the cities and sidewalks and stores, the sixteen-spoke wheels of the Schacht could easily pull through mud and sand, through wagon wheel ruts and over potholes. And the tires are made of solid rubber, unmlike pneumatic, or air-filled tires, which would go flat on the rough roads out in the country. The Schacht’s high ground clearance provided the driver an extra measure of safety and reliability as he drove. And when a Schacht needed a repair, the driver could visit the local blacksmith or wagon repair shop.

The Schacht Manufacturing Company of Cincinnati, Ohio was a well-known buggy maker before they made their first automobile in 1904. Between 1904 and 1914, Schacht produced 8,000 automobiles! In 1908 a brand new Schacht like this would have cost $650.