[1] E. C. Stearns & Company was a manufacturer of hardware and bicycles and entered the automobile business producing an electric car from 1899 to 1900.

[1] The Stearns was powered by a compound twin-cylinder 8-hp engine, with a chain drive and tiller steering.

By November of 1901, the Stearns Steam Carriage Company reported to have produced over 100 cars.

Stearns displayed at the Pan-American Exposition, and exhibited in the major motor shows.

[5][6] In 1902 a Stearns participated in the 500 Mile Boston-New York Reliability Run without any penalized stops.