08/02/2025

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A Tribute to the Fossmobile – 1897

A Tribute to the Fossmobile – 1897

As a younger boy, escalating up in Fort Chambly, Quebec, from time to time, I would hear tales of George Foote Foss’ (my grandfather’s) invention. At times, I would overhear these tales as my father shared the specifics with mates and neighbours who have been checking out our property. Nevertheless, the stories that I most usually listened to came directly from my grandfather, as we frequented him routinely. I remember fondly, sitting on a footstool close to his toes as he sat in his substantial, comfortable chair, recounting the steps he took in tinkering, arranging and in the long run, making a gasoline engine car, which was to be the first in Canada – later on dubbed: “The Fossmobile.”

In the early 1960s (I was only about age 7), I remember that all people all-around me was talking about a flurry of renewed fascination in his accomplishment. It was then that he was introduced with two honorary memberships: one from the Vintage Vehicle Club of Montreal (VACM) and the other from the prestigious Antique Auto Club of The us (AACA). Only two Canadians have at any time obtained this latter honour. The other Canadian to acquire this was Colonel Robert Samuel McLaughlin, who commenced the McLaughlin Motor Car or truck Firm in 1907, which was one of the very first major vehicle makers in Canada.

With these two initiatives, there arrived a swarm of media notice and I can remember remaining revealed newspaper clippings, a lot of of which I continue to have in my possession right now. Not only ended up there images and articles written about his honorary memberships, but quite a few of the nearby papers also reprinted his earlier creating of: “The Real Tale of a Tiny Town Boy,” initially released in 1954, by The Sherbrooke Every day History.

Getting a relative with historic significance meant that most of his descendants have ended up using his creation story and the various publications about it, as a matter for school jobs. I remember utilizing his story as a matter for a single of my school assignments, each of my two little ones did, and just a yr ago my 6-yr-outdated granddaughter did a “show and notify” at her school about her great-wonderful grandfather’s invention.

George Foote Foss (September 30, 1876 – November 23, 1968) was a mechanic, blacksmith, bicycle repairman and inventor from Sherbrooke, Quebec. For the duration of the winter of 1896, he designed a four-horsepower one-cylinder gasoline powered car. In the spring of 1897, he completed his creation: the initial gasoline-powered automobile to be crafted in Canada, which was, later on referred to as the “Fossmobile”.

It was in early 1896, through a excursion to Boston, Massachusetts to purchase a turret lathe for his growing equipment store, that my grandfather observed his initial vehicles. These automobiles, electrically pushed broughams, were rented out for $4.00 an hour. He paid the price to have a journey, but however, just after a experience of only 50 percent an hour, the batteries died.

Returning to Sherbrooke, he made the decision to establish an auto that would deal with this challenge. My grandfather drove his motor vehicle in and around Sherbrooke, Quebec for 4 several years. He later on moved to Montreal, Quebec, where by the car or truck sat idle for a year ahead of he offered it for $75 in 1902. He had beforehand turned down an supply to associate with Henry Ford who went on to sort the Ford Motor Firm. He turned down the offer you, as he considered Ford’s Quadricycle automobile to be inferior to the Fossmobile. He also turned down economical backing to mass-develop the Fossmobile, citing his inexperience to do so, as he was only 21 years old at the time.

I am frequently asked if I know if my grandfather experienced any regrets about not partnering with Ford or not mass-generating his invention. From every little thing I remember hearing him say, he had no regrets. He appreciated a straightforward lifestyle and I read him say on additional than a person celebration, that: “you you should not live a long existence with the stresses of working a major company.” He passed away at age 92, so potentially his idea was correct, at least for him.

Just lately, I re-opened the Foss family members archives, to far better fully grasp and precisely document my grandfather’s extraordinary accomplishment. My aim has been to uncover means to share this historic Canadian function with automotive fans, historians and upcoming generations of Canadians. To this stop, I have proven a small business, as a signifies to establish networks, foster collaboration and share vital historic memorabilia.

As George Foss’ grandson, I have talked with some visionaries and I am looking for the enable of other prospective authorities in “Classic Car Restoration,” for a very special task. The goal is to use reverse engineering (the reproduction of an inventor or manufacturer’s product), to make a “Tribute Vehicle,” emulating as intently as doable, the requirements of George Foss’ invention of the very first gasoline powered car built in Canada: the Fossmobile. There are no unique drawings, so the Tribute Auto will have to be dependent entirely on comprehensive scrutiny of initial Fossmobile images.

I have started the approach of getting vintage components from the period, with the hope of building this automobile, replicating components only when it is certainly needed. I will provide oversight for this process and collaborate with vehicle historians and professionals. Together the way, the journey will be documented, although ensuring notice to depth.
The hope is to honour my grandfather’s legacy and convey to better light-weight, this major chapter of Canadian heritage. With its completion, this Tribute Vehicle will be a tangible embodiment of the very first gasoline motor vehicle constructed in Canada. There is a expanding curiosity in showcasing the done Tribute Fossmobile in basic auto exhibits. Even so, it will ultimately be donated to a Canadian museum to improve historic schooling for latest and upcoming generations.

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