Phianna (automobile)

Phianna was an American automobile manufacturer that commenced business in 1916.

Origins

The Phianna Motor Company was created in about 1916 by R J Metzler. Metzler had acquired the SGV's line in May 1915 prior to the company being wound up. Metzler partnered with industrialists John A Bell and T M Pepperday, who moved its production to Newark, New Jersey.[1][2][3] SGV had fallen deeply into debt.[4] The name Phianna originated from one of the companies twin daughters, Phyliss and Anna.[3][5]

Phianna is thought to have made one car based on the SGV, and then its own models.[3] The 1916 Phianna was a $3,600 town car. The bodies were custom made.[6] By 1917 Phianna's ranged in price from $5,000 to $6,000. By comparison a Ford cost between $345 to $645.[7]

With the United States entry into World War I, in 1918 the Phianna factory was used to make tools and dies for the Wright-Martin Aircraft Company. The company put its assets up for sale and Miles Harold Carpenter with assistance from a Texas rancher, Carl M Worsham, acquired the assets. A new plant was set up at the end of 59th Street, Long Island City.[3]

Safety glass was introduced in 1919 as were turn signals and stop lights.[3] Carpenter changed the company's motto from The Foreign Car Made in America to America's Representative Among the World's Finest Cars. The company also introduced an innovative six-cylinder engine in 1919.[3]

With the depression of 1921 Carpenter, on advice from Mortimer L. Schiff, decided to stop production and close down the business. The final car was made in 1922 for John F Norman.[3]

Models
  • SGV based car - one only in 1916
  • Town car - costing $3,600 in 1916
  • Special sport - 1918
  • Sedan - 1918
  • Limousine - 1919

References
  1. The World guide to automobile manufacturers, Nick Baldwin, Facts on File Publications, 1987, page 440, ISBN 0816018448, 9780816018444
  2. The New encyclopedia of motorcars, 1885 to the present, G N Georgano and Thorkil Ry Andersen, Dutton, 1982, page 489, ISBN 0525932542, 9780525932543
  3. http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/p/phianna/phianna.htm retrieved 17 June 2015
  4. "Final claims in SGV case". Reading Times. April 29, 1916. p. 7. Retrieved June 16, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. http://www.trombinoscar.com/veterans/sgv1201.html retrieved 17 June 2015
  6. "Phianna Advertisement". The New York Times. October 11, 1916. p. 12. Retrieved June 17, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Service car lead pleasure". The Wichita Daily Eagle. April 8, 1917. p. 43. Retrieved June 17, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
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