Norsk Teknisk Museum's 1917 Model 27

1917 Milburn Light Electric (was "1919")
Photo
Photo courtesy of Norsk Teknisk Museet
Owner: Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology
Email: Endre Fodstad (Endre.Fodstad at tekniskmuseum.no)
Location: Oslo, Norway
Serial number (oval plate): 2-450-7
Motor number (title): 458581 
Body number (square plate): 802
Model: 1917 Milburn Light Electric model 27L
Wheels: Wire (24"?) clinchers, Frayer Wheel, Phelps Mfg Co, Columbus Ohio
Color: Black, with black running gear and chrome (?) wheels
Upholstery: Original
Seating capacity: 4
Windows: Original
Steering control: Lever (tiller)
Speed control: Lever
Top speed:  
Range:  
Forward speeds:  
Reverse speeds:  
Length overall:  
Width overall:  
Wheelbase:  
Height overall:  
Track:  
Tires: 815 x 105mm, black, clincher
Tread: Block style (?)
Brake systems:  
Curb weight:  
Instrumentation: Original
Lights:  
Heater:  
Motor: GE E1051F14W6, 33A, 76V, 2000RPM
Drive train: Worm
Controller:  
Springs:  
Axles:  
Batteries: Edison Nickel Iron
System voltage:  
Charger:  
Additional features:  
Price, new:  
Latest Findings (from visit by Myles Twete to museum on 8/24/2018):  Prior to this visit we had this car as a 1919 Model 27 based on reported ID of 2-824-7.  Quickly we discovered that this was incorrect with a "Car No" plaque at the rear of the car shows "24507".  This indicates that the car could be a 1917 or 1918 Model 27.  Similar S/N cars (438 and 462) are currently considered 1917 models.  We also verified the Body# as "802" and the Motor# as 458581.  Notes from the museum also list other numbers: "27917 (Chassis)", "24507?" and "39812?".  They also note what looks like 4 car registration#s (A-562, A-639(?), A-8753 and A-12514)---the license plate on the car shows A-712. The fenders, while from the side appear shaped like Milburn fenders, are not bead-rolled or made with a central crown channel as Milburn made them.  In fact, they appear similar in style to the fenders of 2 or 3 other of the museum's unrelated cars.  The wheels, while having the identical spoke pattern as Houk wire wheels with lock-rings, these are clincher-wheel rims made by "Frayer Wheel, Phelps Mfg Co., Columbus, Ohio".  The tires are metric 815x105mm clinchers.  It may be that this car was special ordered with metric size clincher wheels to fit available clincher metric tires.  The wheels were not measured but based on the metric size, they are probably 605mm (32").  The Ahooga horn has been located Front-left facing forward, adjacent to the LF fender.  Batteries: The rear compartment was opened and there are 3 rows of 4-cells of batteries.  the cell caps on these show "NIFE" --- i.e. these are Edison Nickel-Iron batteries.  Assuming these cells are original with the car, there appears to be 1 row of 4 cells missing from the rear compartment if the car originally had 40-cells and 16 were in the rear and 24 in front.  These batteries may still be functional if properly treated!
 
Curator's remarks cca 2004: "This particular car was owned by a factory owner in Oslo who is said to have used it to ride from his home to work. We are not sure, however, if this is correct. We only know that the last owner's name was Josef de Caspary. He had an automobile shop in Oslo, and gave the Milburn to our museum in 1939. It is said that there were five Milburn Electrics in Oslo, and that de Caspary had two, but this is also most uncertain" --- Dag K. Anderassen Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology, Oslo