Framed or unframed, desk size to sofa size, printed by us in Arizona and Alabama since 2007. Explore now.
Shorpy is funded by you. Patreon contributors get an ad-free experience.
Learn more.
- Baked goods to go
- Tires
- A Certain Robot
- Still Standing
- All wound up?
- Springy
- This one is inspirational.
- Seasonal Work
- Tomaeto, Tomahto
- Truck ID
- Horton Hears a ...
- From a buggy company came ...
- They call me Mister Horton
- Still Run
- Someone fed Jack some bad info.
- A Beautiful Machine
- It's official.
- Olive Brand Sportswear
- I still have a grudge against Texaco
- No GPS?
- CFG Bank Arena
- Van Lines
- Closed Station?
- John Vachon
- Folding Chairs
- TEXAGO
- Fragi-lay
- Classy
- Passenger seat
- No tipping
Photos submitted by Shorpy members!
Printporium
Gutter Ball: 1916
February 4, 1916. Washington, D.C. "Auto wreck at 14th & T," under a light dusting of snow and mold. Continuing the thread of vehicular mayhem we started earlier today. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.
The Good News...
They didn't have to go very far to hire a new car!
Front Tire Chain Explanation
Its easy to see why the tire chain is only on the left front tire - the tire is bald! The rear tires still have tread, but trying to steer with a smooth front tire would be nearly impossible. Its also on the wheel which is attached directly to the steering gear.
At least
Those beautiful side lamps can be salvaged. Amazing to read that clipping and realize that no one in either car was seriously injured.
The Chauffeur was Fined $20
From the Washington Evening Star, February 4, 1916:
The Building
Seems to be pretty much intact under the ugly red paint. The decorative facade is still visible. I'm not sure about the 3 stacked bowling balls and pin. I think I see them when I move in front of the building but it's hard to get a good view through the tree and shadows.
Beware
The tree huggers are going to raise Hell.
Glass and chains
Auto safety glass was a *huge* advance - considering no seat belts, either.
Interesting that the chains are on the front wheels. In my early driving years, before snow tires, the chains on passenger cars went on the rear wheels, for propulsion. I do remember fire trucks and police cars with chains front and rear....
Chains
Weren't those cars rear wheel drive? Why put chains only on the front tires?
Terrifying
Two features about this wreck as well as the earlier one that scare me witless: the body torn right off the chassis (which, if wooden, disintegrates), and the shards of windshield glass.
How fortunate for the driver
there was a car rental place just a few steps away.
Shorpy.com is a vintage photography site featuring thousands of high-definition images. The site is named after Shorpy Higginbotham, a teenage coal miner who lived 100 years ago. Contact us | Privacy policy | Accessibility Statement | Site © 2024 Shorpy Inc.
On Shorpy:
Today’s Top 5