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1918 First Paige Truck

Model: "Six-39" "Six-55"
Cylinders: 6 6
Horsepower SAE: 23.44 29.4
Wheelbase: 117 127
1918 models
1918 models. Literary Digest, Nov. 17, 1917 (Bill Roberts collection)

Before 1917 was over, Paige announced a 1918 lineup that featured only refinements in both series of six-cylinder models that otherwise stayed the same. Except for the Brooklands, which was carried forward from 1917, the larger series was now labeled "Six-55," while the smaller remained "Six-39."

1918 6-55
1918 Six-55 Essex N.A.C.C. Annual Hand Book

The Essex seven-passenger touring, on the same 127 inch wheelbase as in 1917, made much of the rounded back of the body, "a feature that again marks the artistic genius of Paige designers." This apparently allowed a rear seat design that, according to the maker, allowed exceptional comfort unknown previously in touring cars of any size. This model came standard in royal blue with blue wheels with a white stripe.

The 1918 sales catalog included a drawing of the "Six-55" four-passenger coupe. This model and the center-door sedan could both be quickly converted into a open car by lowering the windows into the body and removing the side posts on both sides.

The Larchmont four-passenger sport roadster was shown with other 1918 models at the January automobile shows, but it was a new design that was not included in the fall announcement of Paige models. The March 2, 1918, Saturday Evening Post carried an ad displaying the Larchmont. Spokeless, steel disc "Disteel" wheels were an option on this model. Besides their aesthetic appeal they were more resilient and stronger than wooden spokes with no increase in weight. The manufacturer, Detroit Pressed Steel Co., modestly claimed they were "as epoch-making as the introduction of the electrical starter".

1918 Larchmont
1918 Six-55 Larchmont and owner Bill Roberts, San Angelo TX, 1972. (Bill Roberts collection)

The four closed models were available in a choice of three colors for the body below the molding: Brewster Green, hazel brown, or Paige Blue. Above the molding they were black. Three patterns of upholstery were available to harmonize with each of the colors. Head linings and carpets matched the choice of upholstery.

1918 6-39
1918 Six-39 Linwood. N.A.C.C. Annual Hand Book

The "Six-39" Series rode on a 117 inch wheelbase that was unchanged, like the larger series, from the previous year. The Dartmoor "Six-39" was a conventional two/three-passenger roadster, while the Glendale was designed for four passengers. The Glendale had only two doors, but front bucket seats enabled passengers to get to the rear seat. It was a well-proportioned car for the times. A buyer could order a Linwood "Six-39" five-passenger touring with a winter top installed at the factory for $198.50, or he could order the winter top to be shipped separately for $230 to put it on at his convenience.

All "Six-39" open models came with Brewster Green bodies, hoods, and radiators and with red wheels. The sedan came with a black upper body and a lower body of Richelieu Blue or Brewster Green. There were two patterns of upholstery for the sedan to harmonize with either color.

The gas tank in the larger series was now at the rear of the car. It held 23 gallons, and a Stewart vacuum system moved the gas to the motor. In the smaller series the gas tank was still under the cowl. It held 14 gallons, and the carburetor was fed by gravity. Both had a triple plate dry clutch.

Sale of Paige Denied

Detroit, July 1 - The rumor that the General Motors Co. is about to purchase the Paige-Detroit Motor Car Co. is unfounded, according to H. M. Jewett, president of the Paige company. The Paige company has been approached several times in the past by the General Motors Co. with offers, and the recent visit to the east of Mr. Jewett, who sought an interview with W. C. Durant of General Motors, caused an over-zealous newspaper correspondent to write a story to the effect that Mr. Jewett's visit was prompted by a desire to go through with the deal. As a matter of fact, the conference between the two men dealt only with the steel situation.

Motor Age magazine, July 4, 1918

Paige increased prices more than once during the model year because of the scarcity of material. Motor Age magazine printed the following announcement of the latest change in its issue of August 8, 1918:

Model Old New Advance
Six-39 $1,395 $1,515 $120
Essex six-55 1,830 1,985 155
Larchmont six-55 1,950 2,090 140

In contrast to earlier print ads that may have shown a family in its stylish Paige at the seaside, by summer a Paige-Detroit ad showed smiling military officers in a Paige touring car with barracks in the distant background. In the ad Paige-Detroit encouraged the business executive to buy a Paige auto as his contribution to the war effort, because it would free him from slowly moving, congested public transport. In a leap of advertising logic, thus would the businessman's auto contribute to the speed of developing the country's industrial strength, which was necessary to exert its full military strength on the battlefields of Europe. This was not the time, the company asserted, for "parsimonious hoarding that leads to industrial stagnation and inertia".

1918 truck left side
Chassis of Paige 2-ton truck. Motor Age magazine, Nov. 7, 1918 (Bill Roberts collection)
1918 truck axle
1918 Paige truck rear axle. Motor Age magazine, Nov. 7, 1918 (Bill Roberts collection)

In November Paige launched a truck line that had been announced earlier in the spring of 1918. The company planned to market a complete line of trucks, ranging from 1-ton to 5-ton capacities. A limited number of the new trucks were to be distributed initially. As war conditions made it possible, production was to be increased and other models were to be added. The company had been building Government trucks for more than a year, which had delayed its entry into the market with its own line.

The first model, the 2-ton for $2,950, was powered by a four-cylinder Continental engine, having a bore and stroke of 4-1/8 by 5-1/4 inches, which developed 27 horsepower SAE. It was not fitted with a starting and lighting system. Other features included:

Two ton truck
First Paige truck. Saturday Evening Post, Dec. 21, 1918 (Bill Roberts collection)

Elsewhere:

  • Sunday driving is banned to conserve fuel because of the war.
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