Doble Steam Motors (now Besler Building)

The Besler Building at 4053 Harlan Street was once home to the pinnacle of steam car technology that might have changed the world had it not been for the great depression and some poor financial decisions.

Abner Doble, born in San Francisco in 1891, became obsessed with steam-powered automobiles at an early age. Doble attended MIT, where he established a machine shop and built his very first steam car dubbed the Model A.

With his younger brother John, he established the Abner Doble Motor Vehicle Company. Only 5 Model A’s were manufactured before he left MIT.

Doble next developed a Model B and refined it to what he called the Model C, a steam car that was as easy to drive as a gasoline driven machine.

The car was a smash hit, but could not be mass-produced because of material shortages during World War I.

Doble went on to develop the Model “D”, which was the most advanced and exotic steam car on the road.

The Model “E” was his masterpiece though, with four steam cylinders, a flashnmono-tube boiler producing instant start-up. All components were the absolute best. A large efficient condenser allowed 1500 miles of driving on a 24-gallon tank of water. The 120 horsepower motor propelled the Model “E” to a top speed of 95 mph.

Doble established the Doble Steam Motors in 1920. He decided to build a plant in Emeryville to manufacture his Model E. The original plant was built in 1923 with two stories. A third was added in the 30s.

The structure was built of concrete and numerous windows permitted light to flood the building. The first floor consisted of a parts and service department. The second floor was used for assembly purposes.

Large elevators were installed to move parts and cars from one floor to another. Production of the vehicle began in 1924.

The Doble factory manufactured the motor and chassis. The Murphy Company of Pasadena built the bodies. The naked chassis, when completed, was driven to Pasadena where it received the body, trim and upholstery.

The Emeryville plant was supposed to have an annual capacity of 300 cars, but less than 40 of these magnificent cars were built before the company went out of business. The Doble company went bankrupt in 1931 because of the Great Depression, stockholder lawsuits, and charges against the Doble brothers for security violations.

The plant was bought by Bill and George Besler, who continued making steam operated products from it. However, steam power could not compete against the internal combustion engine and the steam engine became obsolete.

The building was converted to loft condominiums in 1979.