Franklin Mint 1911 Stanley Steamer 62 Runabout-- Nbr Ltd Ed of 1500

In this larger scale, Franklin has excelled. We’ve seen a plethora of images released in this scale over the years. TFM has done well with their early Ford and Rolls Royce models. They issued the first 1:16th 1911 Stanley Steamer in March of 1993. It was red with black top and accents and sold for $145. Here, in limited edition form, it still sells for that same price 15 years later – way to go FM!

We are still treated to an amazingly realistic use of authentic fabric, genuine wood veneers and actual leather. The top raises and lowers and of course the steering works. The use of brass is carried out beautifully and contrasts well with the use of real wood veneer. The paint is gorgeous in a deep green and is striped handily throughout the model. You may open the front hood to see the detail work on the steam plant.

We could use this car today. It runs on water. It held 28 gallons of H2O and used three-quarters of a gallon per mile. That’ll get you between 35 to 45 miles per tank depending on wind resistance and the vehicle’s relative speed. The little motor vehicle developed about 10 hp at 550 pounds PSI of pressure. Back then the car cost a grand! FM’s model is much less, yet still evokes a grand memory of what things were like in 1911 and maybe what could have been. The model promotes smiles wherever it is displayed.

-Tony Perrone