Chainless / Knowles-Chain (France) - AllCarIndex

Chainless-Knowles-Chain was a French automobile manufacturer active from 1900 to 1903, based in Paris. The company was known for producing vehicles that utilized shaft drive technology, which was reflected in its name, a blend of French and English.

The initial offerings from Chainless-Knowles-Chain featured 8 or 12 horsepower two-cylinder Buchet engines. These early models bore a resemblance to the contemporary vehicles produced by De Dion-Bouton, a prominent manufacturer of the time. In 1903, the company expanded its lineup by introducing a more powerful 24 horsepower four-cylinder model.

Despite its focus on shaft drive, Chainless-Knowles-Chain exhibited a lack of confidence in this technology, as evidenced by its decision to also produce chain-driven cars under the name Knowles-Chain during the years 1900 to 1901. The company’s brief existence reflected the transitional period in the automotive industry as manufacturers experimented with various drive systems.