Henry K. Holsman was born in 1866 in the small town of Dale, Iowa. He graduated with a degree in architecture from Iowa College, now Grinnell College. He built an impressive career based in Chicago and is said to have constructed over 1,000 homes, 10 churches, six banks, and 20 college buildings. Success in his profession afforded him the means to purchase an early motor car from back East. Holsman’s first car was a disappointment, so too was his next—a model acquired from a St. Louis firm. Both suffered the same issue: The inability to traverse the types of roads the Holsman family frequented. Holsman set out to build a better car.

Prototype construction began in 1901 and was finished in 1902. It featured tiller steering, an air-cooled engine, rope drive, and a lightweight high-wheel design that allowed the car to easily traverse unkept, rutted roads, cross shallow water, climb steep grades, and navigate through deep snow. The Holsman Automobile Company was officially founded in 1903 by H.K. Holsman and business partner C.H. Bryan. The new Holsman high-wheeler made its debut at the Chicago Auto Show in January 1903, which coincided with the first model year of production for the marque.

Brand awareness was augmented beyond auto shows by competing in highly publicized reliability runs. A powerful marketing tool, early motor car reliability runs converted public skepticism into adoption by demonstrating that automobiles could handle real-world conditions far more dependably than horses. Holsman took full advantage of this, with the company fielding cars at the 1906 Chicago 100-mile and 1907 Chicago 150-mile reliability runs, earning perfect scores both years. Holsman also achieved class wins in 1907, 1908, and 1909 at the Algonquin Hill Climb, revered in period as the most important hill climbing event in America. Sadly, in 1910, cash flow problems forced the company into receivership. Although his namesake company was short-lived, H.K. Holsman is celebrated today as the “father of the high-wheeler.”

This 1907 Holsman Model 11 is an original, unrestored survivor. While early ownership history is unknown, it was purchased on 30 November 1965 by William “Frank” Thompson of West Virginia. Thompson would go on to own the car until his passing in 2011. The car was subsequently purchased by Jim and Cindy Griggs of Florida. The Griggs would later show the Holsman at the 2013 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, winning the prestigious FIVA Award, which recognized preservation and historical importance. The Griggs later donated the Holsman to the Gilmore Car Museum in honor of Jim’s brother, John Griggs.

One of approximately 2,439 Holsmans produced from 1903 to 1910, this example offers a wonderful opportunity to continue careful preservation of a lovely survivor example.