Compound (United States) - AllCarIndex

The Compound automobile brand originated from the Eisenhuth Horseless Vehicle Company, which was established in Middletown, Connecticut, in the early 1900s. John W. Eisenhuth, who had previously built an experimental car in Newark, New Jersey, in 1898, partnered with D.F. Graham, the designer of the Graham-Fox compound engine. This innovative 3-cylinder engine utilized exhaust gases from two cylinders to power the third, a concept that aimed to enhance engine efficiency.

In 1904, the Compound brand began production after Eisenhuth acquired the factory of the defunct Keating company. The vehicles produced were characterized by their conventional design, featuring a 3-cylinder engine, 3-speed gearboxes, and shaft drive. The first model offered was a 20-horsepower vehicle in 1904, followed by two models in 1905: a 12/15 horsepower and a 24/28 horsepower, which may have been a renaming of the earlier model.

Throughout its brief existence, the Compound brand saw a decrease in wheelbase lengths, contrary to the industry trend of increasing sizes. The wheelbase measurements shrank from 100 inches (2540 mm) in 1904 to either 81 or 96 inches (2070 or 2438 mm) in subsequent years. However, in 1907, a larger model was introduced, featuring a 40-horsepower engine and a 115-inch (2921 mm) wheelbase, designed as a 7-seater tourer.

At some point during its operation, the company underwent a name change to Eagle Motor Car Company, likely due to negative perceptions surrounding John Eisenhuth's financial practices. It is believed that some of the later vehicles produced may have been marketed under the Eagle name, marking a transition in branding as the company navigated its challenges in the automotive industry. The Compound brand ceased operations around 1908.