Frantz

Frantz was an American car manufacturer based in Cherryville, Ohio, active in the early 1900s under the name Frantz Automobile Co.

The company was notable as one of only three known instances of automobile manufacturing undertaken by clergymen. Its founder, the Reverend Hiram Frantz, combined his pastoral duties with a talent for invention, having also created devices such as a sewing machine motor and a tin opener. His mechanical aptitude alongside his theological career was noted at the time by the publication Motor Age.

By May 1901, Frantz had built four light steam cars powered by a burner of his own design. These vehicles were typical of the era, featuring tiller steering, wire wheels, and single-chain drive. He announced plans to also produce petrol-powered cars and to open a larger factory for that purpose, but no evidence suggests that this expansion occurred, and the steam cars remained the company's only known products.

By the end of 1902, Hiram Frantz had left the automobile business to return to full-time ministry, bringing an end to the brand's brief venture into car manufacturing.