LEON BOLLEE

Leon Bollee (1870 - 1913) was born in to a family of French entrepreneurs involved in the manufacture of church bells to steam cars. In 1889, Leon Bollee invented a mechanical calculating machine, probably the world's first calculator. In 1895 , Leon Bollee constructed the first car , a 3-wheeler and called it a voiturette.

See the operation a Leon Bollee here with its hot tube ignition and starting procedures

Leon Bollee produced the first 4 wheel car in 1899 and by the time the demand for small cars were going down as the engine sizes increased. Leon Bollee manufactured the first big car in 1903 and by 1910, was manufacturing cars equipped with engine sizes ranging from 8 litres to 11 litres. Some of the Leon Bollee cars - a 1904 Leon Bollee and a 1911 Leon Bollee.

Leon Bollee automobiles was taken over by Morris Motor company in 1924 with the intention of selling Morris cars under the Leon Bollee brand in France. The partnership did not succeed as planned and finally Leon Bollee closed its operation by 1931-33.

The Logo of Leon Bollee and Morris Leon Bollee -