Caloric (United States) - AllCarIndex

Caloric was an American automobile manufacturer based in Chicago, Illinois, that operated briefly in the early 1900s. The company was established in 1898 under the name Chicago Motocyclc Co. Initially, it focused on repair work before venturing into vehicle production. The first car, known as the Chicago, was introduced in 1902 and featured a two-cylinder petrol engine.

In 1903, the company rebranded its vehicle line to Caloric and offered two models with two-cylinder engines, producing 4.5 and 6.5 horsepower, respectively. Notably, the starting procedure for these vehicles involved heating the cylinder head with a torch until it became red hot, which may have utilized a form of hot tube ignition. The following year, in 1904, Caloric expanded its offerings to include a 9-horsepower three-cylinder model, which was characterized by a unique coupe body design.

Despite these developments, Caloric announced in August 1904 that it would cease automobile production to return to its roots in repair work and marine engine manufacturing. In 1905, the company produced a limited number of examples of the EOS I LER car, marking the end of its brief foray into the automotive industry.