Year and place: 1908-1934, Hemse

Lars Petter Siltberg seems to have been a technical genius. This mechanic made a number of machines, and he installed the first electric lights in the village. He visited the U.S.A. in 1895-1898 and 1902-1905, where Louis was used as his first name.

In 1908 the first registred car got the number I3, indicating that it was the third car registred on the island Gotland. This 4-seater had a 9hp petrol engine that Siltberg had made himself. The 280cm long car had narrow wheels, only 6cm.

It is not known what happened to the car after the registration. Another man asked the County Government Board for permission to traffic the road between two villages on Gotland with an automobile, the same day Siltberg registred his car. But no car was registred on him. Maybe Siltberg built the car on order, or found a buyer before the car was finished? Another source tells that Hemse got its first car in 1914. At least it is known that the car was registred.

Siltberg visited the U.S.A. again around 1921, and two years after returning home the next car was registred. This 1923 model was named Louis, a 4-seater with a 4-cylinder engine making around 15hp. He sold it in 1926, and it was scrapped around 1929.

Louis 3 was finished in 1934, and was registred on his son. An open 4-seater with a 25hp 4-cylinder engine, with most of the parts taken from scrapped Chevys and Fords. His son rebuilt the body 4 years later, making it a closed car.

Some owners later the car was scrapped in 1950.

2000-04-21. www.konditori100.se. Text/pictures: Arne Granfoss ©. Prod: AG Informice