At the early age of fourteen years, inspired by a display of self propelled vehicles at the Chicago Worlds Fair in 1893, Frank Ballou Stearns, produced his own one-cylinder model in the fall of 1896. He and partners Ralph and Raymond Owens, established F.B. Stearns and Company, in the big barn in the back of F.B. Stearns family home at the corner of Euclid and 101st Street. Between 1898 and 1900 the Company produced and sold close to 50 2-cycle motor cars.
The Owens left in 1900 and by 1901 the Stearns vehicle became 4-cycle having one enormous cylinder (6 1/4-inch bore and 7-inch stroke of 10 HP and wheel steering. Production was moved to a rented shop at Euclid and Lakeview. Later a much larger factory was built on this site, covering some 6- acres. The factory was enlarged many times and remained the home of the Stearns the rest of its days. The building still stands today.
By 1902 the Stearns had grown into a bonneted 20 HP double-opposed retailing for $3,000. In 1902 the Company had been reorganized, the ampersand dropped and the name had been changed to "The F.B. Stearns Company". The 1905 Stearns was altogether more European with its mechanically operated side valves. A 40 HP four cylinder sold for $4,000. Introduced in 1905 was the striking white trim on the face of the radiator shell - "The White Line Radiator Belongs to the Stearns"(tm).
Stearns cars were some of the largest, most powerful and well constructed cars of the day. They captured numerous speed, hill climb and endurance records. For 1907 season, Stearns introduced the superb 30-60 HP four cylinder and later in the year the huge 800 cubic inch six cylinder vehicle. Stearns "never built a special racer", but many worlds records were being set. For 1909, Stearns brought out a new less-powerful and less expensive "little" Stearns, four cylinders cast en-block (4 1/2 bore x 4 5/8 stroke).
With these fabulous cars, in 1909 why did Stearns study the Knight type motor? It proved to them that no poppet- valved motor could be built that would show the efficiency of the Knight-type motor. In 1911 Stearns became the first manufacturer in the U.S. to adopt the Knight patented sleeve- valve engine, for the 1912 model year. From that year on, the cars were known as Stearns-Knights. By 1917 F.B. Stearns was producing over 3,000 cars yearly, including a V-8. The Company had branches and dealers in 125 cities. During World War I, the Company also produced Rolls-Royce areoplane engines.
But also in 1917, Frank Stearns had to retire due to ill health. Under the leadership of George Booker, representing anonymous financial interests ("Corporate Raiders") took over the F.B. Stearns Company. The following years they "Milked" the profits from the Company's reputation and the tired old 4-cylinder introduced in 1915. As sales dwindled from almost 4,000 cars in 1920 to less than 700 in 1922, a new six- cylinder was introduced in 1923. A smaller six-cylinder was introduced in 1925, still keeping the tired 4-cylinder, which sold just over 100 units in 1925.
January 1, 1926 brought another house cleaning when The F.B. Stearns Company was taken over by John North Willys. The Stearns-Knights of the late 20's were some of the highest quality cars of the day. They were never produced in large numbers. In December, 1929 the Company went out of business. All 1925 and later Stearns-Knights are recognized as "True Classic"(tm) by the Classic Car Club of America.
At any rate, the Stearns and Stearns-Knight motor cars were simply too good and too important to be so utterly ignored as they have been by many historians. Stearns and Stearns-Knight for at least a moment in history, perhaps two or even three, was the King of American Motor Cars!
The F.B. Stearns Company factory building was razed March/April 2001.