Sep 25

The Lane Steam Car

I have only been paying attention to steam cars for about 10 years. But in that time this is the only Lane I have seen for sale. This is the second time it has come to market recently, the other being in 2023. The Lane steam car was an American steamer built by the Lane Motor Vehicle Company in Poughkeepsie, New York, from 1900 to 1910. It is possible this is the only surviving Lane.

https://app.rumbleseat.com/marketplace/9701648

Sep 25, 2026

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Replies (10)

· Sep 25

Looks to be a 20HP model judging by this advertisement.

(edited)

· Sep 25

Imagine if one of these 40 HP roadsters survived?

· Sep 25

Given the size, I'm thinking this has to be a flash boiler more like a White than a big fire tube boiler like the Stanley. The White & Doble both heat up small amounts of water while the Stanley heats up a lot. The advantage of the flash boiler is the fast start. The disadvantage is if you push hard on the steam you can run out while the Stanley has a lot more stored steam.

· Sep 25

this is a really interesting car, it is in Holland and does run,, fantasic

· Sep 25

Be a nice additional to go with @DobleDudes collection.

· Sep 26

@chris I'm seeing references to this being a fire tube boiler? I'm confused by the size. It looks small, especially compares to the Stanley. Is it still a flash design with a small about of water? Just not putting the water in the tubes?

· Sep 27

there is a sight glass in your photo showing the hood off which indicates a water level boiler , I would of thought that there was a similar amount of space under there as a Stanley. Flash is a very misleading term, I have only ever seen one "Flash" steam vehicle which was a Turner miessse, the tubes were exposed to heat at a fairly constant rate with no water in them, very thick walled tubes 3/4 od with 1/4 walls, the tube was the heat source to boil the water,,,,, when you were ready to go you hand pumped two or three strokes of water into these dull red tubes and off you went, no throttle, the engine pump took over delivery and you adjusted a preloaded bypass to control the generator pressure, to stop you open a valve and dump the steam. this is Flash...instantaneous, all others should be described as monotube generators rather than flash (sorry for being pedantic)

· Sep 27

Thank you for the explanation. I will stop using "Flash" to describe systems that don't have 20 gallons of water in a tub (like Stanley).

· Sep 25

Fantastic!

· Sep 25

Here is a photo from the last time it was for sale showing the chain drive.