Pilot Motor Car Company Metal Bottle Opener
One size / Silver
$19.99
Product Details & Size Guide
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Bring a small piece of Richmond motoring history to your next gathering with a bottle opener inspired by the Pilot Motor Car Company. Founded in 1909 by buggy maker George Seidel, Pilot began building cars in its buggy factory while a separate automobile plant was under construction. The company’s “The Car Ahead” slogan reflected its ambition, while changing engine options and the 1922 Sportster marked its evolving range. Pilot’s story reached its final chapter in early 1924, making this a distinctive nod to a short-lived Indiana maker.
The Pilot Motor Car Company was founded in Richmond, Indiana, in 1909 and headed by George Seidel, of the Seidel Buggy Company. Its first cars were built in the buggy factory while a separate automobile plant was being constructed across town. The company name is believed to have reflected Seidel’s wish to become a riverboat pilot, and its advertising slogan was “The Car Ahead.” The new plant could initially build 500 cars a year; production approached 1,000 in some later years. Pilot first used four-cylinder Teetor-Hartley engines, adding a six-cylinder model in 1913. From 1915 through 1924, the range was six-cylinder, except for a V8 option offered for one year, 1916. A larger Herschell-Spillman six joined the line in 1920, and the Sportster followed in summer 1922. The company took over Richmond’s Lorraine automobile maker and briefly produced a few Lorraine hearses. The 1920–21 depression did not spare Pilot: the firm entered receivership in 1923, and its final cars were built in early 1924. The factory was then sold to a local businessman. Seidel’s own cars reflected his hometown ties: he drove a Richmond, then a Pilot, and later a Davis.
Bring a small piece of Richmond motoring history to your next gathering with a bottle opener inspired by the Pilot Motor Car Company. Founded in 1909 by buggy maker George Seidel, Pilot began building cars in its buggy factory while a separate automobile plant was under construction. The company’s “The Car Ahead” slogan reflected its ambition, while changing engine options and the 1922 Sportster marked its evolving range. Pilot’s story reached its final chapter in early 1924, making this a distinctive nod to a short-lived Indiana maker.
The Pilot Motor Car Company was founded in Richmond, Indiana, in 1909 and headed by George Seidel, of the Seidel Buggy Company. Its first cars were built in the buggy factory while a separate automobile plant was being constructed across town. The company name is believed to have reflected Seidel’s wish to become a riverboat pilot, and its advertising slogan was “The Car Ahead.” The new plant could initially build 500 cars a year; production approached 1,000 in some later years. Pilot first used four-cylinder Teetor-Hartley engines, adding a six-cylinder model in 1913. From 1915 through 1924, the range was six-cylinder, except for a V8 option offered for one year, 1916. A larger Herschell-Spillman six joined the line in 1920, and the Sportster followed in summer 1922. The company took over Richmond’s Lorraine automobile maker and briefly produced a few Lorraine hearses. The 1920–21 depression did not spare Pilot: the firm entered receivership in 1923, and its final cars were built in early 1924. The factory was then sold to a local businessman. Seidel’s own cars reflected his hometown ties: he drove a Richmond, then a Pilot, and later a Davis.
This slim, all-metal bottle opener feels like the trusted tool you reach for when friends gather and stories start. Forged from heavy-duty stainless steel, it slides into a pocket or bartending apron without bulk, then delivers confident leverage when a cold drink needs freeing. The flat surface accepts crisp laser engraving, so names, dates, or logos stay sharp through years of use. Use it behind the home bar, at backyard tailgates, or hand one to each member of your wedding party — it’s built to take commercial-level wear while still looking clean and refined. Simple, sturdy, and ready for the next toast.
Product features
- 100% heavy-duty stainless steel resists rust and bending
- Flat surface optimized for permanent precision laser engraving
- Ergonomic all-metal grip provides strong leverage
- Slim, ultra-flat profile fits pockets and bar drawers
- Commercial-grade durability for frequent use
| One size | |
| Width, in | 5.50 |
| Height, in | 1.50 |
EU representative: HONSON VENTURES LIMITED, gpsr@honsonventures.com, 3, Gnaftis House flat 102, Limassol, Mesa Geitonia, 4003, CY
Product information: Generic brand, two year warranty in the EU and Northern Ireland