12 Facts About Milton Reeves

Milton Othello Reeves was an early pioneer of the American automobile industry.

Milton Reeves was born on a farm in Rush County, Indiana, on August 25,1864, to William Franklin Reeves and Hannah M Gilson and educated in Knightstown.

Milton Reeves was buried in Columbus City Cemetery in Columbus, Indiana.

Milton Reeves noticed that workers could not control the speed of the pulleys used to power the saws.

Milton Reeves is credited as building either the fourth or fifth American automobile, called at the time a motocycle.

Milton Reeves's first recorded test of his motocycle's transmission took place on September 26,1896.

Milton Reeves continued to work on developing a car and by 1904 had convinced his brothers to back another attempt.

Milton Reeves made four Model D and six Model E cars by 1905.

That year Milton Reeves obtained a contract for 500 of these engines from the Aerocar Company and by 1906 was making 15 engines a week.

Milton Reeves modified a 1910 model Overland by adding four extra wheels and calling it the Reeves Octo-Auto.

Milton Reeves followed this in 1898 with a 20 passenger vehicle, which he sold to a South Dakota businessman.

Milton Reeves's vehicles were not very successful but his variable speed transmission and muffler were.