Balzer [1] (United States) - AllCarIndex

Stephen M. Balzer was an early American automotive pioneer who operated in the Bronx, New York, during the late 19th century. He founded his first prototype in 1894, which is notable for being one of the earliest vehicles to utilize a rotary engine. This prototype featured a 10 horsepower, three-cylinder rotary engine that was mounted vertically and revolved around a fixed horizontal crankshaft. The engine powered one rear wheel through a gearing system, and the vehicle was designed with three forward speeds but lacked a reverse gear. Its compact design measured less than six feet in length.

Balzer produced three cars before establishing the Balzer Motor Carriage Company in 1898. He initially promised to manufacture an additional 100 vehicles; however, the actual production numbers remain uncertain and are believed to have been significantly lower than his initial commitment. In addition to his work with the three-cylinder engine, Balzer also experimented with a five-cylinder rotary engine, which was later utilized in the 1906 CAREY model, also produced in the Bronx.