Friedman / Hydro-Carbon / Ideal (United States) - AllCarIndex

Friedman Automobile Company was established in Chicago, Illinois, by florist Oscar J. Friedman in the early 1900s. The company initially focused on the production of automobiles, having developed a three-wheeled vehicle powered by a 3-horsepower, 2-cylinder engine in 1900. Following this prototype, Friedman aimed to expand his offerings to include four-wheeled cars and even airships, although the latter remained unfulfilled.

The four-wheeled vehicles produced by Friedman were manufactured by the National Sewing Machine Company based in Belvidere, Illinois. These cars featured 6-horsepower, 2-cylinder engines and utilized tiller steering. Friedman placed an order for 525 vehicles; however, the actual delivery fell significantly short of this number. In April 1903, he took legal action against the National Sewing Machine Company for breach of contract, which highlighted the challenges faced by the company during its brief existence. Subsequently, the National Sewing Machine Company created a similar vehicle design known as the Eldredge, further complicating Friedman's efforts in the automotive market.