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Stand Back, Folks: 1917

Our third look at that circa 1917 car wreck at Massachusetts Avenue and 21st Street N.W. in Washington. As with so many of these old glass negatives, mold is colonizing the thicker parts of the emulsion. The result is an accident scene that looks like it's been dusted with flour. National Photo Company. View full size.

Our third look at that circa 1917 car wreck at Massachusetts Avenue and 21st Street N.W. in Washington. As with so many of these old glass negatives, mold is colonizing the thicker parts of the emulsion. The result is an accident scene that looks like it's been dusted with flour. National Photo Company. View full size.

 

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Automobile

1909 Columbia Model 29 Four-Passenger Toy Tonneau

Eagle Electric Company?

The radiator shape of the New Eagle and the car in the accident are vastly different. The radiator shape of the New Eagle is completely round at the top with no variation in the thickness of the grill surround.

The New Eagle that was made in Cheshire, England was only made from 1901 - 1907, and it seems very unlikely that any were imported into the U.S. There are also differences in the horn and side lights. A short history of these cars is here: http://www.3wheelers.com/eagle.html

Looking closely the hubcap looks like it might spell out "Electric Eagle Co." which was a brand made in Detroit, Michigan in 1915.

Also of note, District of Columbia license plate numbers 1 - 83 from 1907 - 1917 were issued to various automobile companies for demonstration purposes. Perhaps numbers 24 and 26 were out together on a demonstration ride.

Eagle

Dave, I think you got it. Other details (radiator cap, horn) match nicely. Well done.

The Car

Has anyone identified the make of this auto? I didn't see a manufacturer's logo. It seems to be right-hand drive with controls outside the cab -- probably emergency brake. That great horn could be an add-on. With the worn and slightly tattered top it probably is dated sometime earlier than 1917.

[The hubs are embossed with what looks like the word "Eagle." Or maybe "circle." There's one more photo of this car left to post. - Dave]

Below, the 1907 New Eagle, a four-cylinder car made in England.

Bottle

What's that bottle for on the running board? If it were 50 years later or more, I'd say it's a fire extinguisher, or it's an NOS bottle and this heap piled up while draggin' fer pinks.

[It's acetylene gas for the headlights. - Dave]

Wrecks

All these early car accidents make me think surely there were carriage/wagon wrecks. Any pics of those?

[Not that I've seen. But there are plenty of newspaper accounts of "runaway teams," which seem to have been a major hazard. - Dave]

Honk

While the horn is certainly cool, it is not a Klaxon. Klaxons are electric or hand powered. This could be a Rubes horn.

Klaxon

That horn is awesome.

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