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The Smith Automobile Company of Topeka, Kansas, was an early United States automobile manufacturing company which produced the Veracity, Smith, and Great Smith lines of automobiles from 1902 to 1912.

They were the first automobiles made west of the Mississippi River. The company's first automobile was designed by Terry Stafford. However, lacking operating capital, he gained financing from the artificial limb manufacturing brothers Anton and Clement Smith. The company the brothers financed bore their name.

The Great Smith of 1907 was priced at US$2,500 with a 318 in³ (5213 cc) (4.5×5-inch, 114×127mm) water-cooled four-cylinder engine, a four-speed sliding gear transmission (three forward, one reverse), and a multi-disk clutch. It featured 34×4 in (86×10 cm) spoke wheels and a 107 in (2718 mm) wheelbase.

Notable Achievements

In 1908, a Great Smith became the first automobile to make it to the top of Pikes Peak.

Transition and Legacy

Terry Stafford left the company in 1908 to build an automobile under his own name; the Stafford Motor Car Co. lasted until 1915. In 1908 and 1909, the Smith brothers sold their interests in the company, and Michigan investors took over with plans to move the factory to Grand Rapids, Michigan. However, this move was opposed by the Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers (ALAM), and the company remained in Topeka.

By December 1910, the Smith Automobile Company was in the hands of a receiver. Upon exiting the automobile business, Anton Smith reportedly destroyed all the files and records of the company in a large bonfire. The Smith automobile plant was sold to Charles and George Southwick in 1911, who built remaining Smith cars from parts on hand. The plant was later sold to a silo manufacturer in 1912.

Preservation

The Kansas Historical Society has a red and black Great Smith on display.

Models Produced

• Veracity: One of the early lines of automobiles produced by the company.
• Smith: Another line of automobiles, known for their luxury quality.
• Great Smith:
  • Engine: 318 in³ (5213 cc) water-cooled four-cylinder
  • Transmission: Four-speed sliding gear (three forward, one reverse)
  • Clutch: Multi-disk
  • Wheels: 34×4 in (86×10 cm) spoke wheels
  • Wheelbase: 107 in (2718 mm)
  • Price: US$2,500

Significance

The Smith Automobile Company was a pioneering force in the early days of American automotive manufacturing, particularly notable for being the first to produce automobiles west of the Mississippi River. Their vehicles were known for their luxury quality and innovative design, reflecting the evolving standards of the automotive industry during the early 20th century.