Detroit Steam Motors Corporation


The Detroit Steam Motors Corporation of Detroit introduced its first steam cars, called Trask-Detroits, in 1922. The Trask-Detroit was an assembled, or built-up car, with its boiler, engine and related parts manufactured by Schlieder Manufacturing Co., a Detroit valve manufacturer. It was intended as a popular-priced steam car, something that had never been done. The basic model was to be a touring car with a selling price of $1,000.
For some time the company planned to have Trask-Detroits built in Canada by Windsor Steam Motors in Windsor, Ontario just across the river from Detroit. This would have allowed the cars to be sold in Canada with a minimum of tariffs, and allow favourable import treatment to other parts of the British Empire.
A larger model car was announced in late 1923, with a sedan priced at $1,900. A contemporary report in the Wall Street Journal stated that the car bodies "...will be made by the Packard Motor Car Co..". However, Packard quickly issued a denial and the Trask-Detroit soon vanished, reappearing in the form of the Brooks steam car in Canada.