Abner Doble

Abner Doble (March 26, 1890 – July 17, 1961), was an American mechanical engineer who built and sold steam-powered automobiles. His steam engine design was used in various automobiles from the early 1900s, including a 1969 GM prototype and the first successful steam powered aeroplane. His father was William Ashton Doble, inventor of the Doble water wheel.

Doble was born on 26 March 1890 in San Francisco, one of four brothers. Doble's forebears had migrated from England to the US in the mid-1700s. Doble's grandfather (also named Abner) was born in Indiana. He had been a sailor, a smith, and a lumberman, who became a journeyman blacksmith and subsequently became partner in Nelson and Doble. Nelson and Doble company became one of the biggest manufacturers of miner's and blacksmith's tools on the Pacific coast during the California Gold Rush. The company went on to become famous manufacturing William Doble's water wheel turbines for mining applications. The company expanded to make drays and street cars for San Francisco, as well as being involved in operating a local railroad company. In about 1892 Doble's grandfather formed the Abner Doble Company assigning his interests to his sons Robert and William, Abner's father.

Doble apprenticed at his family's factory at the age of eight. Between 1906 and 1909, while attending high school, Doble and brothers John, Warren, and Bill built their first steam car in their parents' basement. It was composed of parts taken from a wrecked White steamer, but reconfigured to drive an engine of their own design. Though it did not run well, the Doble brothers went on to build a second and third prototype in the following years.

In 1909 Doble graduated from high school and attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He dropped out after less than a year of studies, and with his brother, began to design his own steam car. By 1912 they had built their first car in Waltham, Massachusetts. The car was based on an American Underslung chassis, their own engine and a Stanley Steamer boiler.

Waltham was near to the Stanley works and its factory at Watertown nearby. Doble attempted to interest the Stanley twins in his condensing boiler. However, Francis would not hire Doble because he didn't trust him. Although recognized as a steam genius, Doble was considered by some as arrogant and conceited.

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