Little known fact- Walter Baker built an electric racecar. It crashed in 1902, killing the driver and some spectators. In response, he built another car with straps on the seat to keep the driver from flying out of the car in a crash- the world's first car seat belt.
thank you for that knowledge. judging by your name i think you might enjoy this little slide show i put together of family photos of the snow cruiser. my great grandfather worked directly with admiral byrd in designing and building the hydraulic suspension. ruclips.net/video/U0QP-uM6_sY/видео.html
I just want to say to whoever transferred this video to youtube, you did an excellent job. It’s hard to believe I’m looking at 480i video because it blows away other standard definition content on this website. Not AI deinterlaced, and shown properly at 60fps, that is how it should be done.
Agreed. I do transfers all the time, and this is one of the best-looking transfers I've seen. I'd like to know exactly how it was transferred and upscaled, and also what kind of source tape was used.
2 года назад+3
It could either be MiniDV or Betacam SX deinterlaced with a proprietary deinterlacing algorithm. Nowadays you can get similar or superior results with QTGMC which uses both algorithms and neural networks to deinterlace and upscale footage
As someone who have done quite a few remasterings of interlaced SD content, I must say there are still some jagged patterns left here and there. It's not really bad but would benefit from some refined techniques, both to retain more detail and overall looks.
in the 1950s, I saw a car like this baker parked on Lake street near Oak Park Avenue, In Oak Park Illinois. My Dad explained to me that it belonged to an elderly lady who drove it in town for many tears. It amazed me and your video refreshed that memory of Dad and I looking at that strange looking car. Years later he told me that he drove electric trucks. He worked for a trucking company that made deliveries for Marshal Fields. He drove the electric to deliver pianos. I asked about how long a battery charge lasted. He said that when the battery were low, they pulled into a charging station to let it charge over night and returned the next day and continued their delivery. There were charging stations all over Chicago at that time. At one time I did a search on the internet and found a Chicago map of charging stations in Chicago back in the day.
I love how hands on Jay is. He's not just a wealthy man with toys. He knows his shit and isn't afraid to get dirty. His tastes are so eclectic. Electric, steam, diesel, turbines, and he owns a couple of gasoline cars too. The best part of his collection is that it isn't trapped forever behind velvet ropes. He drives all this shit! So cool. He probably the only person that still wears out the brakes and tires on his model T.
Well, of course it was. Back then, going faster than that was going to cause all your internal organs to liquefy due to velocity causing the same damage as acceleration before scientists fixed those laws of physics for the modern era.
Leave it to Jay Leno to educate the general public about electric cars, and make it so normal and relaxing that you really do want to go 23 mph. What a guy...what a collection...what an episode. Thanks Jay ! P.S. (You"ll be getting a call from Elon Musk) 🤣
My dad saw an electric car when he was a teen in the early '40's. He was really impressed. It was driven by 2 teen girls, so I'm sure that helped get his attention. Many of the early cars were built by carriage makers, so it's no surprise that they look so similar to a carriage.
52montoya 6 days ago This car would be great for small towns or villages. I remember in the early '50s there were two spinster sisters who I would see from time to time driving by in a silent car that looked just like this one. I was told they were sisters and they both wore those old-fashioned black dresses and little flat black hats. I didn't realize it at the time, but I was witnessing history.
@@newmoon54 My grandfather, father and 2 of my brothers worked for Fisher Body in Flint. Remember the carriage logo that was on the chrome door sill cover? I used to have a Fisher Body tie-tack that had 3 gems (2 fake diamonds and a ruby) and was shaped like the carriage. Sadly, I've lost it.
In 1913 my grandfather went into business servicing Baker electric cars and eventually became a dealer. Nice to see the recognition that EVs have been around much longer than most people think.
There is a reason why the EV didn't catch on since it's been around so long. Not practical on charging times, cost and lack of interest for other reasons.
Jay bought this car from a friend of mine. He and I had restored a 1923 Model T which he eventually sold to pay for the Baker. When he got it we took batteries out of 4 cars wired them together and it worked. This was in the 1970s but even so pretty amazing. It took him over 20 years to restore it not sure how much Jay redid because I never saw the car restored until I saw this video. All the curved glass was intact when we got it by the way. Also that bell was an original and also just worked. Good to see it in such good hands. It's funny listening to this I remember that creaking sound as it drove.
I grew up in Pasadena in the 40s and 50s. there was an older lady who drove a Baker Electric. Always fresh flowers and she dressed to the nines with white gloves.
@@rosameryrojas-delcerro1059 They could easily make a modern, sleeker version and someone probably does, but I love the luxury and laid back method of control. It is like driving around in a living room, in fact I would replace one of the forward seats with a foldout (or otherwise deployable) TV on a table and the one in front of the driver with a foot rest, I might even find a way of reclining or laying down. *Comfort & style.*
@@rosameryrojas-delcerro1059 aerodynamics might not be so important at lower speeds . We are looking at an actual horseless carriage . Put horses in front and it looks very normal .
This car would be great for small towns or villages. I remember in the early '50s there were two spinster sisters who I would see from time to time driving by in a silent car that looked just like this one. I was told they were sisters and they both wore those old-fashioned black dresses and little flat black hats. I didn't realize it at the time, but I was witnessing history.
What a perfect respite for summer viewing. I just loved it. I especially loved how Jay kept mentioning he takes the Baker Electric with his wife to look at Christmas lights. Jay's face lit up like a Christmas tree. Above all, life is about making memories with loved ones. Thank you. ❤
Totally unlike today’s monsters! A true town car, and very lightweight and economical. This truly is the right way to go. Literally I was giving a presentation on EVs when this video came out, where I referred to the very similar Detroit Electric. The problem is the ridiculous safety regulations which protect the occupants of monster vehicles rather than those hit by a monster. New respect for Jay too. He is extremely knowledgeable.
traditional cars would need to be banned from inner cities and replaced with inner-city cars like something in this video. I think that's where autonomous cars will fit in. London is already banning engined vehicles and reducing most road speed limits to 20mph.
I'm excited to convert 1 of my cars to an EV, WITH no transmission, running gears, just direct thrust. I may need to keep the transmission for the speedometer
@@pistonburner6448 take a deep breath and calm down. Maybe do some internet searching to find out the information which you seek. Or maybe you are already aware and that's why you're so angry. Autonomous vehicles are already in active trial phases in many cities of the world. These have no driver and no fossil-fuel requirement to run on a day by day basis, ie they're powered by electricity and electric motor propulsion. Private companies have already implemented these same vehicles in live environments, for example taking people from their parked cars to the airport terminal from the airport car park. In my suburb, roads are already being closed during the day times, no vehicle access during restricted hours. Speed limits being reduced from 40mph to 20mph in many streets. The changes are already happening.
UPS is testing out an E-bike concept to deliver packages that may be of interest to you. Getting such vehicles classified as "bikes" is one way to get around those irritating safety regulations for cars. ruclips.net/video/apwwi0Rc28Y/видео.html
@@tonyppe unfortunately the vast majority of electricity is produced by burning fossil fuels and one of the essential laws of physics tells us that converting one energy source to another will always have losses. So to convert fossil to electricity to propulsion is inherently more wasteful than fossil straight to propulsion ☹️. I wish more places would put some research and effort into something like nuclear power generation that would be the ticket 👍
Whew.I was hoping this wasn't a "Ghandi moment" happening.I knew I'd seen this,but enjoyed watching it again.I was just hoping it wasn't for the 1st time.
@@matrox I know it's an old video and i never saw it before, just look at the quality of video and dimensions (480p, 4:3) it's clear to see that it's SD video and remastered to a fake 1080p
Very Cool, Mr. Leno, Very Cool! Your knowledge of electric cars and and your collection both impress me to no end, Sir! I believe that you are one of the few people on Earth who really gets the "True Value" on a planetary scale!
I had no idea that there were thousands of electric cars in NY, and CHARGING STATIONS were all over the place in the early 1900's as well. I can only wonder what the world would have been if things had remained this way.
Once they built automobile bridges and tunnels off Manhattan to motor in the quaint countryside without electricity....the Electric Car was dead. It was a big city carriage.
I'm not sure when NYC switched to ac current, but I've heard these were much easier to charge on the old dc systems. With ac you had to add a transformer.
We'd be pouring coal and oil into generators to produce electricity so not much different from today. Especially since electricity has had multiple incentives and chances to supersede gas it won't because it can't....
When I was growing up, I lived in Chicago from nine to eighteen, and would commonly go downtown to the Museum of Science and Industry, which was free for kids, and spend an hour or two on the "short street" set up with a dozen or so real cars from the 1905 or so era. To have one of his own, Jay has to preserve and maintain it. Thanks, Jay, you are truly appreciated.
I don't know what I would do without Dennis or Jay to entertain us gear heads. Im so sad I missed the Wings warbirds and wheels 2022, I wasn't able to finish my project on time for the show, i hope Dennis will come back again, we love ya Dennis
I just love that somebody is preserving automotive history. This car represents a starting point in EV technology. If it had been designed and marketed differently who knows what modern motoring would look like today...
@@davidhunternyc1 that's incorrect, over 110 years ago you could of brought yourself a 100 mile 2 seater in America for only $2000.. or a gas car for $750. just like today an electric car cost almost twice as much as a gas car
@@javic1979 Today electric cars are cheaper if you consider all the costs not just the purchase price. The Baker Electric that J has needed little maintenance for 100 years. Depends on your definition of cheaper. Have you considered all the people that died breathing car exhaust?😃
Baker was in Cleveland and in 1909, Shaker Heights was the richest city in the country. My grandmother lived in Shaker and used one of these to do all of her shopping. Strangely, the reason the Cleveland area was so prosperous at that time, was because of Standard Oil and JD Rockefeller, who founded Standard Oil in Cleveland.
Very cool car Jay, my electric bike tops out at 28mph, plenty fast. Incredible how efficient and practical for the time that old car is. Thank for showing it to the world Dennis.
One thing I love about Leno. He keeps his car collection in good working order, keeps them clean, and gets them out to drive them. Don't get me wrong, but cars, even the older ones, are meant to be driven. It breaks my heart to see a nice looking classic car just sitting in a museum essentially blocked up. The older ones are art pieces on wheels. Art is meant to be seen and shared.
After observing the top end speed times the rudder steering times the zero front end protection times the height one will be ejected from and being an odds guy I would bet the farm at top end 23 miles per hour times hitting anything, you name it, you're going to wish you never got in the thing. Still a beautiful piece of history! Much thanks J, always enjoy the videos!
What a great car! I live in Pennsylvania in the heart of Amish country. I would love to pass one of their carriages driving that! Their buggies are built very similarly to that!
I love that car. I've driven a Volt which is an electric/gas plug in hybrid. I have had one for 12 years now. I've had two of them and they are the best cars I've ever owned. My last one had 196,000 miles on it before I traded it off. I rarely had to do any maintenance on it and it goes really fast.
I'm sure a lot of places already do this but now in my small town (rural IL) you can get registration stickers to legally drive golf carts on streets within city limits. Really don't need a car for most local errands. With 100 miles range that baker would still be useful in a lot of places.
As a sailor, I love the idea of a car having a "tiller". I hate a "wheel" on a sailboat, a tiller gives the skippermuch more boat feedback than a steering wheel does. Leather was the "carbon fiber" of its time.
@@ivanolsen8596 True, but i worry you'd steer hard to the left if you slid forward in your seat cause the carriage slowed suddenly. Though with a top speed in the 20s, slowing suddenly probably means you are almost at a dead stop anyway so pulling hard to the left uncontrollably isn't as big of an issue as it'd usually be.
William Morrison developed the first electric car In 1890 1890!!, It's crazy that they've been around for so long. 130 years later EVs are just now being mass produced.
Back then top speed in an urban area (with electric plant to supply it, rural had no electricity) was 5 mph with potholes all over the place, people jaywalking and horses pulling wagons. Nobody was going 20 mph when this was built. Streets were brick or cobblestone if they were paved at all. That's why it's got a tiller and opposite facing seating.
What I like about this car is that it reminds me a lot of my grandmother's electric tricycle (if you live in south east asia you know what I mean but basically its like a small tuk tuk) and it really is just convenient really easy to use all she has to do is turn the key and release the hand brake and away she goes and she like in her late 60s as of the time and it made me think that electric vehicles would really work well if they were just marketed as simple convinience ways to get around but obviously thats just me. How ever as the years pass by their becoming more popular I just wish they'd be in better quality atleast in appearance wise
Jay made a bit of an understatement, that car is revolutionary today.. even now with modern EVs.. i mean its a 1905 Metro town car essentially.. that is a fairly new automotive concept, this thing was 100 years ahead of its time..
I Love Jay Leno! I met Dennis Gage years ago in Hershey Pa. when he was checking in to the famous Hotel where I worked. He was far less than pleasant but in fairness to him it was about 10 or so pm and I am sure he was tired after a day at the Massive and World Famous Hershey car show. Completely aside, the Most Pleasant famous person I Ever met was Little Richard ( Penneman) he was Great and I treasure the autograph he gave me! I knew he was coming but rushing out the door, I forgot my 78rpm Specialty label copy of Jenny Jenny which I wanted him to autograph but his business manager with him had an 8x10 which he made out to me. Lots of famous people and wonderful memories!
i guess it's all about your personality comedy is a very rare talent the really good ones are like pulling chicken teeth its a gift that is not generously given out. and the bad ones are a dime a dozen for instance i can't stand bob hope he is king of dry humor if you don't remember him search that name and see for yourself he's an an fogey starting about 1930 nearly 100 years ago born in 1903 died 2003
In a Dennis the Menace episode, Dennis was able to get one of these for his mother and the previous owner was a Victorian era woman alive in the 1960s.
Great video! Takes me back many years to Oak Park, IL in the mid/late '40's, where two spinster sisters who lived at the end of our block had a Baker Electric.
I can't believe I didn't hit the like button on this before? This is the third or fouth time I've watched it I simply love this car. and just think it was only 113 years ahead of its time. At the rate we are going we will someday be totally away from the internal combustion engine and on electric or some other non-polluting fuel. Sad it took this long and we're still not there we should have been there 50 yrs ago or sooner. Thanks for showing this Jay. Fantastic God speed. ECF
The Edison battery is really a remarkable battery when compared with the now ubiqutose leadd acid variety. Hower its larger, heavier and much more expensive that the L.A. variety. If looked after 'a bit' it lasts 'for ever'. I have 50 cells on my narrowboat, but they only provide the domestic services - which the have done for some 20+ years and will mebe for a further 20....
I bought an old wooden boat in the 70s that used batteries recovered from a submarine. Each cell was approximately 2vdc. I drained and flushed each cell and order 20 gallons of new fluid from a local chemical company. With 48 cells connected to produce 12vdc boat could run all the lighting for days at a time. You could then at dock hook up your marine charger or use the diesel engine alternator to recharge them. These were batteries built by Edison if my memory is correct.
@@stevevarholy2011 Since this type of use is low risk, it is not astronomical. He has a camera car in front or somewhere around so there is some protection from other cars. I'll bet he has never crashed, I've seem him driving around without a following car though. At those speeds it looks pretty safe. These are museum pieces after all. I'm talking about liability insurance, not insurance for priceless antiques.
I got to tour Jay's whole garage..in burbank ca at burbank airport..it was ausome to see all his cars and everything...I delivered a air compressor there...thank you mechanic for the tour....
God bless Jay Leno and his garage man he is got some of the coolest stuff in the world. And it's really probably some of the most educational too so we don't forget about some of these techniques of engineering and stop just because something might seem older outdated doesn't mean it wasn't a great design that car is so cool I bet at one time in New York City it was it
Thanks for sharing. I work for Minnetrista in Muncie In. We are funded by The Ball Brothers Foundation. Francis W Ball wife of GA Ball had a Baker Electric car. Bertha Ball wife of Edmund Ball also had an electric car, I don't know maker of that one. I wish those cars were part of our collection.
Jay, you have lost weight and are looking so healthy and great! Very nice to see!! This is an amazing car. Baker Electric started up in 1897 and by 1905 had an annual production of 400 cars. To think we had to wait till the next century was well under way to revive electric cars is an infamy. All that global pollution could have been prevented by electric motors. Thank you for this lovely demo and all the work you do in preserving these old cars which are pieces of history. Well done!
I absolutely LOVE this car! Looks like it would be incredibly easy and fun to drive. Probably fits into most parking spaces, too. Awesome for checking out Christmas lights. Would love to show up at Musso and Frank's driving this little beauty!
Can't even believe i see this in my recommended. My auto tech teacher would put this on the touchscreen board in the classroom usually around the long school holidays or when we are finished early with cleaning up the shop on Friday.
Omg! I so need this car here in Alaska to drive around my little town that's only about 10 by 6 miles! I now get around in what I call the "Beast", my mobility scooter on steroids! One major drawback...rain and snow. The Baker car would easily fit our paved wide trails, and provide for weather protection. How I wish we had a covered electric vehicle!
Several years back, I'd watched another video on Jay's Baker that wasn't as long. I really enjoyed this rerun of a longer video. I could have watched an hour or more on this car. I'd like to know more about it. Was a heater an option? Windshield wiper? Were there any made with a steering wheel and accellerator pedal?
This is a delight. I hope my Tesla can last as long as the Baker. Probably would if I stay under 25mph, but that wouldn't be as fun after awhile. Thank you Jay Leno! You are a gift to car loving folks!
@@MyClassicCarTV That explains a lot. I looked at the publish date and made an inappropriate assumption. I wondered what health spa he had started using. Oh well, thanks for getting back to me. The Barker is most likely in about the same condition. Makes the Citroën Ami somewhat redundant including specs as well as looks.
Looks like I just need to find an old Amish buggy, some model T wheels, electric motor and a few boat trolling motor batteries and charger to get to work
The 1909 Baker, could've been a great inner city super affordable taxi or autonomous request tourism, with a rechargeable point locations around, but modified of non perishable materials on the exterior. Quite a time machine. An *electric inspiration dream*
Loving the show! As long as it moves or makes noises I get interested in it especially something so quiet and still moves pretty quick and hell if I had one so well kept, I'd probably get about 3 or 4 days a weeks worth of use each week on a single charge too I believe. Something so cool and historical as this IS REALLY worth driving and having fun with on the weekends with the kids on the slower back roads around here..
When growing up in Walla Walla ,WA, in the mid 40's to early 50's, there was an older, we'll to do lady, that would drive into town in her Baker Electric. She would park at the then "Marcus Whitman" garage for charging while she went shopping. My mother called her the "Great Northern" lady, apparently referring to the railroad and investments. Also in that garage you would often see a blue Tucker that was owned by a local. The garage is long gone and now a parking lot.
You looked a little nervous when you got behind the tiller! I think your mustache straightened out a little when you took that turn a little fast near the end of the drive!
Little known fact- Walter Baker built an electric racecar. It crashed in 1902, killing the driver and some spectators. In response, he built another car with straps on the seat to keep the driver from flying out of the car in a crash- the world's first car seat belt.
That Baker guy was clearly ahead of his time - by about a century. 😳
@@taxiuniversum most "tech" is super old ideas revised. people have no idea
thank you for that knowledge. judging by your name i think you might enjoy this little slide show i put together of family photos of the snow cruiser. my great grandfather worked directly with admiral byrd in designing and building the hydraulic suspension. ruclips.net/video/U0QP-uM6_sY/видео.html
I’m pretty sure the Roman chariots invented the seatbelt but sure
@@KCJbomberFTW The Romans stole the idea from the Volvo though
I just want to say to whoever transferred this video to youtube, you did an excellent job. It’s hard to believe I’m looking at 480i video because it blows away other standard definition content on this website. Not AI deinterlaced, and shown properly at 60fps, that is how it should be done.
Agreed. I do transfers all the time, and this is one of the best-looking transfers I've seen. I'd like to know exactly how it was transferred and upscaled, and also what kind of source tape was used.
It could either be MiniDV or Betacam SX deinterlaced with a proprietary deinterlacing algorithm. Nowadays you can get similar or superior results with QTGMC which uses both algorithms and neural networks to deinterlace and upscale footage
I'm watching it in 1080p60.
High definition.
It’s a remastered clip😐
As someone who have done quite a few remasterings of interlaced SD content, I must say there are still some jagged patterns left here and there. It's not really bad but would benefit from some refined techniques, both to retain more detail and overall looks.
in the 1950s, I saw a car like this baker parked on Lake street near Oak Park Avenue, In Oak Park Illinois. My Dad explained to me that it belonged to an elderly lady who drove it in town for many tears. It amazed me and your video refreshed that memory of Dad and I looking at that strange looking car. Years later he told me that he drove electric trucks. He worked for a trucking company that made deliveries for Marshal Fields. He drove the electric to deliver pianos. I asked about how long a battery charge lasted. He said that when the battery were low, they pulled into a charging station to let it charge over night and returned the next day and continued their delivery. There were charging stations all over Chicago at that time. At one time I did a search on the internet and found a Chicago map of charging stations in Chicago back in the day.
I love how hands on Jay is. He's not just a wealthy man with toys. He knows his shit and isn't afraid to get dirty. His tastes are so eclectic. Electric, steam, diesel, turbines, and he owns a couple of gasoline cars too. The best part of his collection is that it isn't trapped forever behind velvet ropes. He drives all this shit! So cool. He probably the only person that still wears out the brakes and tires on his model T.
The Steam cars are the show stealers for me. External Combustion Engines.
Imagine what it costs just to insure all of these cars!
@@deltatango5765 Oh my Lord! I get a nice post card at Christmas from my agent. Jay probably gets superbowl tickets from his.
Leno is truly a classic antique gear head
@@Neojhun Damn lol I never looked at it like that, but that's exactly what it is
Jay has the most amazing collection of cars in the world. This electric is awesome.
Jay too is a national treasure.
@@Lt_Tragg I agree
The quality of life one has generally revolves upon how much money he or she has.
Look at the Jay Leno 1916 Owens magnetic..
I believe this is a ancient Toyota Prius without the batteries…!! .
I’d love to tour his garage!!! Every car he shows is AMAZING!
We car guys owe Leno such a debt of gratitude for just being amazing with his cars.
I believe the speed limit in 1900 was 12 mph in New York City. So this little buggy could really tear it up!
Yup it was the Tesla Plaid of its day🤣
speed limit has not changed in NYC. 12 is considered fast because you are MOVING.
marathon record guys do that for 26.2 miles
So you could out run the cops lol that's hilarious
Well, of course it was. Back then, going faster than that was going to cause all your internal organs to liquefy due to velocity causing the same damage as acceleration before scientists fixed those laws of physics for the modern era.
Leave it to Jay Leno to educate the general public about electric cars, and make it so normal and relaxing that you really do want to go 23 mph. What a guy...what a collection...what an episode.
Thanks Jay !
P.S. (You"ll be getting a call from Elon Musk) 🤣
My dad saw an electric car when he was a teen in the early '40's. He was really impressed. It was driven by 2 teen girls, so I'm sure that helped get his attention. Many of the early cars were built by carriage makers, so it's no surprise that they look so similar to a carriage.
Yes! The company, ~Body By Fisher~ which always made GM's car body's was a Carriage maker before automobiles!!!!!!!!!!
52montoya
6 days ago
This car would be great for small towns or villages. I remember in the early '50s there were two spinster sisters who I would see from time to time driving by in a silent car that looked just like this one. I was told they were sisters and they both wore those old-fashioned black dresses and little flat black hats. I didn't realize it at the time, but I was witnessing history.
Studebaker started out making wagons.
@@newmoon54 My grandfather, father and 2 of my brothers worked for Fisher Body in Flint. Remember the carriage logo that was on the chrome door sill cover? I used to have a Fisher Body tie-tack that had 3 gems (2 fake diamonds and a ruby) and was shaped like the carriage. Sadly, I've lost it.
@@newmoon54 Even had a little picture of a carriage on the bottom of the door jam.
I could listen to Jay talk all the time,, his collection of cars is awesome,, and this 1909 Baker is a "beaut"
In 1913 my grandfather went into business servicing Baker electric cars and eventually became a dealer. Nice to see the recognition that EVs have been around much longer than most people think.
There is a reason why the EV didn't catch on since it's been around so long. Not practical on charging times, cost and lack of interest for other reasons.
Range was the issue and no longer is as evidenced by its current take up.
Jay bought this car from a friend of mine. He and I had restored a 1923 Model T which he eventually sold to pay for the Baker. When he got it we took batteries out of 4 cars wired them together and it worked. This was in the 1970s but even so pretty amazing. It took him over 20 years to restore it not sure how much Jay redid because I never saw the car restored until I saw this video. All the curved glass was intact when we got it by the way. Also that bell was an original and also just worked. Good to see it in such good hands. It's funny listening to this I remember that creaking sound as it drove.
I love that Jay actually drives all these cars. They're not just oversized nick nacks sitting around to be gawked at.
I grew up in Pasadena in the 40s and 50s. there was an older lady who drove a Baker Electric. Always fresh flowers and she dressed to the nines with white gloves.
This Baker must be so rare and takes unique to a whole new level.
I would love one of these for errands, it is bloody fantastic.
I am sure that they could do new ones for better safety and aerodynamics etc and be just fine for a suburban errand-getter.
This car would look right at home driving down those old timey streets in London.
@@rosameryrojas-delcerro1059 They could easily make a modern, sleeker version and someone probably does, but I love the luxury and laid back method of control. It is like driving around in a living room, in fact I would replace one of the forward seats with a foldout (or otherwise deployable) TV on a table and the one in front of the driver with a foot rest, I might even find a way of reclining or laying down. *Comfort & style.*
Golf cart?
@@rosameryrojas-delcerro1059 aerodynamics might not be so important at lower speeds . We are looking at an actual horseless carriage . Put horses in front and it looks very normal .
This car would be great for small towns or villages. I remember in the early '50s there were two spinster sisters who I would see from time to time driving by in a silent car that looked just like this one. I was told they were sisters and they both wore those old-fashioned black dresses and little flat black hats. I didn't realize it at the time, but I was witnessing history.
One of the coolest cars Leno has had on his channel.
What a perfect respite for summer viewing. I just loved it. I especially loved how Jay kept mentioning he takes the Baker Electric with his wife to look at Christmas lights. Jay's face lit up like a Christmas tree. Above all, life is about making memories with loved ones. Thank you. ❤
Totally unlike today’s monsters! A true town car, and very lightweight and economical. This truly is the right way to go. Literally I was giving a presentation on EVs when this video came out, where I referred to the very similar Detroit Electric. The problem is the ridiculous safety regulations which protect the occupants of monster vehicles rather than those hit by a monster. New respect for Jay too. He is extremely knowledgeable.
traditional cars would need to be banned from inner cities and replaced with inner-city cars like something in this video. I think that's where autonomous cars will fit in. London is already banning engined vehicles and reducing most road speed limits to 20mph.
I'm excited to convert 1 of my cars to an EV, WITH no transmission, running gears, just direct thrust. I may need to keep the transmission for the speedometer
@@pistonburner6448 take a deep breath and calm down. Maybe do some internet searching to find out the information which you seek. Or maybe you are already aware and that's why you're so angry.
Autonomous vehicles are already in active trial phases in many cities of the world. These have no driver and no fossil-fuel requirement to run on a day by day basis, ie they're powered by electricity and electric motor propulsion. Private companies have already implemented these same vehicles in live environments, for example taking people from their parked cars to the airport terminal from the airport car park.
In my suburb, roads are already being closed during the day times, no vehicle access during restricted hours. Speed limits being reduced from 40mph to 20mph in many streets. The changes are already happening.
UPS is testing out an E-bike concept to deliver packages that may be of interest to you. Getting such vehicles classified as "bikes" is one way to get around those irritating safety regulations for cars.
ruclips.net/video/apwwi0Rc28Y/видео.html
@@tonyppe unfortunately the vast majority of electricity is produced by burning fossil fuels and one of the essential laws of physics tells us that converting one energy source to another will always have losses. So to convert fossil to electricity to propulsion is inherently more wasteful than fossil straight to propulsion ☹️. I wish more places would put some research and effort into something like nuclear power generation that would be the ticket 👍
I remember this episode. Thanks for bringing it back!
Whew.I was hoping this wasn't a "Ghandi moment" happening.I knew I'd seen this,but enjoyed watching it again.I was just hoping it wasn't for the 1st time.
I thought it was a new episode, then realized I had already seen this years ago.😡
@@matrox I know it's an old video and i never saw it before, just look at the quality of video and dimensions (480p, 4:3) it's clear to see that it's SD video and remastered to a fake 1080p
Very Cool, Mr. Leno, Very Cool! Your knowledge of electric cars and and your collection both impress me to no end, Sir! I believe that you are one of the few people on Earth who really gets the "True Value" on a planetary scale!
I had no idea that there were thousands of electric cars in NY, and CHARGING STATIONS were all over the place in the early 1900's as well. I can only wonder what the world would have been if things had remained this way.
Look up the 1890s New York Electric Car Company and its larger than life celebrity millionaire founder and president...it'll really ring familiar
Once they built automobile bridges and tunnels off Manhattan to motor in the quaint countryside without electricity....the Electric Car was dead. It was a big city carriage.
I'm not sure when NYC switched to ac current, but I've heard these were much easier to charge on the old dc systems. With ac you had to add a transformer.
We'd be pouring coal and oil into generators to produce electricity so not much different from today. Especially since electricity has had multiple incentives and chances to supersede gas it won't because it can't....
Don't forget, NYC was the first electrified city in the world, thanks to Edison.
When I was growing up, I lived in Chicago from nine to eighteen, and would commonly go downtown to the Museum of Science and Industry, which was free for kids, and spend an hour or two on the "short street" set up with a dozen or so real cars from the 1905 or so era. To have one of his own, Jay has to preserve and maintain it. Thanks, Jay, you are truly appreciated.
I don't know what I would do without Dennis or Jay to entertain us gear heads. Im so sad I missed the Wings warbirds and wheels 2022, I wasn't able to finish my project on time for the show, i hope Dennis will come back again, we love ya Dennis
I just love that somebody is preserving automotive history. This car represents a starting point in EV technology. If it had been designed and marketed differently who knows what modern motoring would look like today...
The electric carriage had been around for about 15 years when this was made. 1890 was when the 1st recorded electric horseless carriage was invented.
@@javic1979 Actually the FIRST EV was in 1836.
Only recently are EVs made with 100 miles of range. Only in the last few years are we now getting ranges of 300 miles with a few cars getting 400.
@@davidhunternyc1 that's incorrect, over 110 years ago you could of brought yourself a 100 mile 2 seater in America for only $2000.. or a gas car for $750.
just like today an electric car cost almost twice as much as a gas car
@@javic1979 Today electric cars are cheaper if you consider all the costs not just the purchase price. The Baker Electric that J has needed little maintenance for 100 years. Depends on your definition of cheaper. Have you considered all the people that died breathing car exhaust?😃
Baker was in Cleveland and in 1909, Shaker Heights was the richest city in the country. My grandmother lived in Shaker and used one of these to do all of her shopping. Strangely, the reason the Cleveland area was so prosperous at that time, was because of Standard Oil and JD Rockefeller, who founded Standard Oil in Cleveland.
Very cool car Jay, my electric bike tops out at 28mph, plenty fast. Incredible how efficient and practical for the time that old car is. Thank for showing it to the world Dennis.
Jay Leno, I love your thorough collecting of the automobiles, accessories, posters and you test drive the vehicles for us...Wow!
Thank you Jay!
I would love to spend a day with Jay Leno in his car collection. So much history there.
Jay, thanks for restoring this and thanks for the ride. Really enjoyed this video.
One thing I love about Leno. He keeps his car collection in good working order, keeps them clean, and gets them out to drive them. Don't get me wrong, but cars, even the older ones, are meant to be driven. It breaks my heart to see a nice looking classic car just sitting in a museum essentially blocked up. The older ones are art pieces on wheels. Art is meant to be seen and shared.
After observing the top end speed times the rudder steering times the zero front end protection times the height one will be ejected from and being an odds guy I would bet the farm at top end 23 miles per hour times hitting anything, you name it, you're going to wish you never got in the thing. Still a beautiful piece of history! Much thanks J, always enjoy the videos!
What a great car! I live in Pennsylvania in the heart of Amish country. I would love to pass one of their carriages driving that! Their buggies are built very similarly to that!
A 1909 'back-to-the-future' moment. Cool!
I love that car. I've driven a Volt which is an electric/gas plug in hybrid. I have had one for 12 years now. I've had two of them and they are the best cars I've ever owned. My last one had 196,000 miles on it before I traded it off. I rarely had to do any maintenance on it and it goes really fast.
Lovely solution. That’s all the speed and range anyone needs for most daily jobs
I'm sure a lot of places already do this but now in my small town (rural IL) you can get registration stickers to legally drive golf carts on streets within city limits. Really don't need a car for most local errands. With 100 miles range that baker would still be useful in a lot of places.
As a sailor, I love the idea of a car having a "tiller". I hate a "wheel" on a sailboat, a tiller gives the skippermuch more boat feedback than a steering wheel does. Leather was the "carbon fiber" of its time.
Your dead right, Harry, a wheel looks good but feels lifeless.
@@ivanolsen8596 True, but i worry you'd steer hard to the left if you slid forward in your seat cause the carriage slowed suddenly. Though with a top speed in the 20s, slowing suddenly probably means you are almost at a dead stop anyway so pulling hard to the left uncontrollably isn't as big of an issue as it'd usually be.
@@planetfall5056 Sorry I never made myself clear, I was meaning on a boat.
I would dread to steer a fast car with a tiller!!!
William Morrison developed the first electric car In 1890 1890!!, It's crazy that they've been around for so long. 130 years later EVs are just now being mass produced.
Verry cool
Back then top speed in an urban area (with electric plant to supply it, rural had no electricity) was 5 mph with potholes all over the place, people jaywalking and horses pulling wagons. Nobody was going 20 mph when this was built. Streets were brick or cobblestone if they were paved at all. That's why it's got a tiller and opposite facing seating.
Cool ride. Slow motion. Old School. Thanks for sharing.
What I like about this car is that it reminds me a lot of my grandmother's electric tricycle (if you live in south east asia you know what I mean but basically its like a small tuk tuk) and it really is just convenient really easy to use all she has to do is turn the key and release the hand brake and away she goes and she like in her late 60s as of the time and it made me think that electric vehicles would really work well if they were just marketed as simple convinience ways to get around but obviously thats just me. How ever as the years pass by their becoming more popular I just wish they'd be in better quality atleast in appearance wise
Jay made a bit of an understatement, that car is revolutionary today.. even now with modern EVs.. i mean its a 1905 Metro town car essentially.. that is a fairly new automotive concept, this thing was 100 years ahead of its time..
I never cared for Leno as a comedian but I think he’s a great car guy. Quite possibly one of the greatest car guys out there.
I Love Jay Leno! I met Dennis Gage years ago in Hershey Pa. when he was checking in to the famous Hotel where I worked. He was far less than pleasant but in fairness to him it was about 10 or so pm and I am sure he was tired after a day at the Massive and World Famous Hershey car show. Completely aside, the Most Pleasant famous person I Ever met was Little Richard ( Penneman) he was Great and I treasure the autograph he gave me! I knew he was coming but rushing out the door, I forgot my 78rpm Specialty label copy of Jenny Jenny which I wanted him to autograph but his business manager with him had an 8x10 which he made out to me. Lots of famous people and wonderful memories!
Comedians consider him quite possibly one of the greatest comedians of all time.
I miss Leno hosting the TONIGHT SHOW. I have not watched it since he left. His replacements have been AWFUL!!!
i guess it's all about your personality comedy is a very rare talent the really good ones are like pulling chicken teeth
its a gift that is not generously given out. and the bad ones are a dime a dozen for instance i can't stand bob hope
he is king of dry humor if you don't remember him search that name and see for yourself he's an an fogey
starting about 1930 nearly 100 years ago born in 1903 died 2003
Can you tell us who you DO think is a good comedian?
I can't help.but smile seeing this car operate! Fun!
In a Dennis the Menace episode, Dennis was able to get one of these for his mother and the previous owner was a Victorian era woman alive in the 1960s.
There was also a Perry Mason episode where a little old lady was driving one of these...it drove absolutely quiet...
WOW! A great car for the cities or for local (seniors) driving.
Great video! Takes me back many years to Oak Park, IL in the mid/late '40's, where two spinster sisters who lived at the end of our block had a Baker Electric.
I like hoy Jay honks the horn every 3 minutes right on time
Wonderful history lesson!
We need history!
That car is perfect for a small town drive, how I wish I could have one
Thanks Mr. Leno, I love old things.
Of all the cars in Leno's garage, this is among my top favorites.
I can't believe I didn't hit the like button on this before? This is the third or fouth time I've watched it I simply love this car. and just think it was only 113 years ahead of its time. At the rate we are going we will someday be totally away from the internal combustion engine and on electric or some other non-polluting fuel. Sad it took this long and we're still not there we should have been there 50 yrs ago or sooner. Thanks for showing this Jay. Fantastic God speed. ECF
Wow, what a great little car. Why isn't something like this available today?
Truly my favorite auto of all times! What a beauty!
The Edison battery is really a remarkable battery when compared with the now ubiqutose leadd acid variety. Hower its larger, heavier and much more expensive that the L.A. variety. If looked after 'a bit' it lasts 'for ever'. I have 50 cells on my narrowboat, but they only provide the domestic services - which the have done for some 20+ years and will mebe for a further 20....
I heard that looked after they would still be providing service after a century.
I agree they just don't make them like they use to
I bought an old wooden boat in the 70s that used batteries recovered from a submarine. Each cell was approximately 2vdc. I drained and flushed each cell and order 20 gallons of new fluid from a local chemical company. With 48 cells connected to produce 12vdc boat could run all the lighting for days at a time. You could then at dock hook up your marine charger or use the diesel engine alternator to recharge them. These were batteries built by Edison if my memory is correct.
I appreciate all you have done for the automobile industries, old to current
I can’t imagine the insurance cost Jay must pay to drive cars like this around L.A.
Probably has a "blanket" garage policy covering everything he owns, much like a car dealership or a business with a fleet.
@@stevevarholy2011 Since this type of use is low risk, it is not astronomical. He has a camera car in front or somewhere around so there is some protection from other cars. I'll bet he has never crashed, I've seem him driving around without a following car though. At those speeds it looks pretty safe. These are museum pieces after all. I'm talking about liability insurance, not insurance for priceless antiques.
I got to tour Jay's whole garage..in burbank ca at burbank airport..it was ausome to see all his cars and everything...I delivered a air compressor there...thank you mechanic for the tour....
God bless Jay Leno and his garage man he is got some of the coolest stuff in the world. And it's really probably some of the most educational too so we don't forget about some of these techniques of engineering and stop just because something might seem older outdated doesn't mean it wasn't a great design that car is so cool I bet at one time in New York City it was it
Probably one of the few vids I don't skip on,,, because I feel myself relaxed by just listening to the motor hum
Thanks for sharing. I work for Minnetrista in Muncie In. We are funded by The Ball Brothers Foundation. Francis W Ball wife of GA Ball had a Baker Electric car. Bertha Ball wife of Edmund Ball also had an electric car, I don't know maker of that one. I wish those cars were part of our collection.
Jay, you have lost weight and are looking so healthy and great! Very nice to see!!
This is an amazing car. Baker Electric started up in 1897 and by 1905 had an annual production of 400 cars. To think we had to wait till the next century was well under way to revive electric cars is an infamy. All that global pollution could have been prevented by electric motors. Thank you for this lovely demo and all the work you do in preserving these old cars which are pieces of history. Well done!
This was shot back in 2004. We all looked better then.
@@MyClassicCarTV Ahhhh! Too bad. I thought Jay Leno had gone Keto! Apparently not, eh?
HAVE watched this 3 times and ALWAYS fun to see again
I absolutely LOVE this car! Looks like it would be incredibly easy and fun to drive. Probably fits into most parking spaces, too. Awesome for checking out Christmas lights. Would love to show up at Musso and Frank's driving this little beauty!
Jay, Please take care of yourself, as we care about you!
Can't even believe i see this in my recommended. My auto tech teacher would put this on the touchscreen board in the classroom usually around the long school holidays or when we are finished early with cleaning up the shop on Friday.
If he was anyone else, I would say lose the stash but you know, he works it. Love his topics and of course, Jay's as well.
Thank you Jay, nice of you to share that.
So good to see both you fine gentlemen in your "youth"! I cant decide whom is more iconic. "The Denim Sensation" or "The stash"
This is an exceptional history lesson. Jay is a true historian...
I like the looks of that car. Leno has a great idea in revitalizing this car. The Baker is a definite look then do a double-take.
Omg! I so need this car here in Alaska to drive around my little town that's only about 10 by 6 miles! I now get around in what I call the "Beast", my mobility scooter on steroids! One major drawback...rain and snow. The Baker car would easily fit our paved wide trails, and provide for weather protection. How I wish we had a covered electric vehicle!
Several years back, I'd watched another video on Jay's Baker that wasn't as long. I really enjoyed this rerun of a longer video. I could have watched an hour or more on this car. I'd like to know more about it. Was a heater an option? Windshield wiper? Were there any made with a steering wheel and accellerator pedal?
This is a delight. I hope my Tesla can last as long as the Baker. Probably would if I stay under 25mph, but that wouldn't be as fun after awhile.
Thank you Jay Leno! You are a gift to car loving folks!
Really interesting car ! So compact and maneuverable !
and to say that we had it right but had to wait 100 years to figure it out! the ingenuity of mankind! beautiful car!
Two of the greatest car guys. Who needs a Tesla when ya can drive à Baker! True classic!
Wow! You look great Jay. Keep up the good work.
This was shot back in 2004. We all looked better then. 🙂
@@MyClassicCarTV That explains a lot. I looked at the publish date and made an inappropriate assumption. I wondered what health spa he had started using. Oh well, thanks for getting back to me. The Barker is most likely in about the same condition. Makes the Citroën Ami somewhat redundant including specs as well as looks.
Looks like I just need to find an old Amish buggy, some model T wheels, electric motor and a few boat trolling motor batteries and charger to get to work
Jay Leno, many thanks, NOW YOU DID IT. You've got me thinking all kinds of new ideas for new types of electric cars
The 1909 Baker, could've been a great inner city super affordable taxi or autonomous request tourism, with a rechargeable point locations around, but modified of non perishable materials on the exterior. Quite a time machine. An *electric inspiration dream*
I have watched a lot of Jay Leno garage, I think this is the most impressive car I have seen.
I love it and I want one but I'm glad Jay Leno has it.
Truly awesome.
Keith Kuhn
One of the ~Best~ ~Blue-Jay Leno~ videos ~!~ Thanks Blue-Jay~!~
That's so cool ! Love Leno's garage !
This is fantastic. Thanks Jay.
Always the perfect restoration
As long as it looked exactly like this (with allowances made for choice of colors and mandatory modern safety equipment) I'm sold.
They should start producing them again, they’re neat.
They pretty much are. Check out the Renault Twizy.
(Edit: Misspelled "Twizy")
They do make them in China. But not street legal
@@laserpmr you mean the chang li?
Guy from jalopnik bought one for around $1200 of of some site.
Batteries not included.
@@Brianfightingmad yes. Chang li. Those things are death traps on a road
Loving the show! As long as it moves or makes noises I get interested in it especially something so quiet and still moves pretty quick and hell if I had one so well kept, I'd probably get about 3 or 4 days a weeks worth of use each week on a single charge too I believe. Something so cool and historical as this IS REALLY worth driving and having fun with on the weekends with the kids on the slower back roads around here..
Love the bloopers! Nice car guys!
When growing up in Walla Walla ,WA, in the mid 40's to early 50's, there was an older, we'll to do lady, that would drive into town in her Baker Electric. She would park at the then "Marcus Whitman" garage for charging while she went shopping. My mother called her the "Great Northern" lady, apparently referring to the railroad and investments. Also in that garage you would often see a blue Tucker that was owned by a local. The garage is long gone and now a parking lot.
Jay Leno has got to be one of the bravest people ever...I mean to let that dude drive? WOW.
Totally!
Brings new meaning to the phrase: "Back seat driver"
It would be fun to go to the theatre in this little carriage!
You looked a little nervous when you got behind the tiller! I think your mustache straightened out a little when you took that turn a little fast near the end of the drive!
I want one! Thank you for sharing mr Leno. Very enjoyable video.