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Copley Plaza: 1912
... license plate on the cool roadster is a 1912 Rhode Island dealer's license number 1. Collectors would pay four-figures for that today. That Car! What make is that automobile in the foreground? It almost looks like an ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/05/2019 - 1:44pm -

Boston, Massachusetts, circa 1912. "Copley Plaza Hotel, Copley Square." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Tag on that "cool roadster"That black-on-white license plate on the cool roadster is a 1912 Rhode Island dealer's license number 1. Collectors would pay four-figures for that today. That Car!What make is that automobile in the foreground? It almost looks like an early model Jeep. I wonder if any Shorpy fan can identify it and what year it was manufactured? Granddad worked hereUntil his passing in 1960, my grandfather was maître d' in the Merry-Go-Round Room on the first floor just inside the righthand entrance. The lounge closed for a day in his honor. This grand old lady still stands. Still there todayPretty much everything else is gone, 'cepting the BPL (behind the trees) and Trinity Church (behind the photog). Cool roadsterI love the car at the curb. Probably hard to identify it here, and the bolt-on split windshield is something I've never seen before in my 40+ years in the antique car hobby. [That's some sort of fabric snap-on shroud. - Dave] Found a bird!I’m always trying to spot birds in these old photos whether they are in trees, on wires or on buildings. I have yet to find many in my several years of looking. I think Dave said it was mostly due to shutter speed? Anyway, I finally spy a pigeon on the grass in front! 1912 Rhode Island License Plate Number 11912–17 Black numbers on white porcelain plate; Design .............. vertical "RI" at left Slogan .............. none Serial format ...... 12345 1 to approximately ... 35000 Rhode Island reused numbers from earlier expired registrations. The reason being they did not want to exceed the 99,999 numbering scheme limit. They did exceed that limit in 1913. That said, this is the first 1912 registration. suggesting the auto is 1912 or earlier vintage. The auto at the curbOut on a limb. It looks like the 1912 Thomas Flyer Model MC 6-40 Roadster. radiator and spare tire mounts are similar. Cambridge FrontThe leatherette and isinglass windshield supported by brass rods was most likely made by a company in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Known as "Cambridge Windshields," they were mostly used on sporting type cars. Also note that the car appears to have Rhode Island license plate number 1. (The Gallery, Boston, Cars, Trucks, Buses, DPC)
L.A. to Yosemite: 1920
... Stumped Though I am now and have ever been a real car nut, somehow I cannot place this ride. The headlamp placement is vaguely ... radiator (theirs were air-cooled engines) in response to dealer demands that the car look like the competition. Fortunately, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/20/2014 - 11:03am -

May 1920. Yosemite National Park. "Prize Cup, Fourth Annual AAA Economy Run, Los Angeles to Camp Curry." An early test of fuel efficiency sponsored by Standard Oil of California. 8x6 inch glass negative originally from the Wyland Stanley collection of San Francisciana, acquired and scanned by Shorpy. View full size. One SurvivorOf all of the cars in the Yosemite Economy Run, only one manufacturer survives today. The Overland marque went away in 1926 and the Willys-Knight nameplate in 1932, but their parent company, Willys-Overland survived. After going through many transitions and owners we now know the firm as Jeep. There was an Overland trim package for the Jeep Grand Cherokee from 2002 - 2004. One other company survived until 2010: Commonwealth Cars. In 1922 Commonwealth became Checker who many of us know as makers of the Checker Cab (they also built some passenger cars and specialty vehicles like airport limousines). Although taxicab production ended in 1982, the firm continued producing automobile parts for General Motors and other firms. Checker filed for bankruptcy in early 2009 and ceased to exist on January 14, 2010. All of the other manufacturers participating in the Yosemite Economy Run were defunct by the close of 1926. All that's left of the treeStump & roof hole. StumpedThough I am now and have ever been a real car nut, somehow I cannot place this ride. The headlamp placement is vaguely reminiscent of Franklin, but in 1920 that marque had not yet adopted a phony radiator (theirs were air-cooled engines) in response to dealer demands that the car look like the competition. Fortunately, Shorpy's discerning clientele will quickly come in with not only the car's make and year but also the line foreman's census data and a Street View of his birthplace. Oh, and any ideas about what's written in the dust above the rear fender? Next Stop Atlantic CityIs that Nucky Thompson at the wheel? Camp CurrySounds delicious. DorrisI believe this is a 1920 Dorris made by the Dorris Motor Car Company of St. Louis. The combination of the two vents on top of the hood, slanted hood louvers, radiator shape, and lights leads me to this conclusion. There is a possibility of this being a 1919 model; however, since it was entered in an economy run, where most likely all vehicles were entered by manufacturers or dealerships, the 1919 model would have been an unlikely choice given these runs were highly publicized (why show off an outdated model?). Although the company started in 1906, its origins were in the St. Louis Motor Carriage Company founded by George Preston Dorris and John L. French. French decided to move the company to Peoria, Illinois in 1905, but Dorris decided to remain behind. Production from 1906 - 1926 was never large with only 3,100 cars and 900 trucks made during this time. Their company slogan, "Build up to a standard, not down to a price," was part of the reason their vehicles were so expensive (up to $7,000 for a closed car). Quality was very high. Although there were many distibutors 90% of production was sold in the St. Louis area. It appears that only sixteen Dorris cars still exist. The Dorris family still owns six of them. The building the cars were made in is now on the National Register of Historic Places (added February 10, 2000). The application form here, starting at Section 8, has a wealth of detail about the company and the building including some photos. Other online information is here and here. Another photo of a 1920 Dorris is shown below. And the Winners Are ...As Zcarstvnz (and tterrace!) correctly surmised, the rig in our photo is a Dorris touring car, Model 6-80. Click below to enlarge. Posted on the Porch"Hold On To Uncle Sam's Insurance" was a poster created by James Montgomery Flagg. He is also the person who created the "I Want You For U.S. Army" recruitment poster originally designed during WWI. An enlargement of the poster is below. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website says this. There have been several other life insurance programs for service members. Most notably National Service Life Insurance (WWII era), Veterans' Special Life Insurance (Korean War era); and since the Vietnam War era Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI). The SGLI now includes both Active Duty and Reserve members and the maximum insurance available is $400,000. (The Gallery, Camping, Cars, Trucks, Buses, W. Stanley)
Kirsti and Woody
... 1960's. View full size. Tell her to keep that car 1956 Ford Country Squire wagon. The smaller bit of wraparound chrome ... it was the model they wanted, but the only color the dealer had in stock. Kirsti's Kar Kolor Mr Mel may be correct in ... 
 
Posted by Regulus - 09/19/2011 - 8:36pm -

Great aunt Kirsti with her wheels at my grandparents place at 830 Kings Highway, Lincoln Park, Michigan in the very early 1960's. View full size. Tell her to keep that car1956 Ford Country Squire wagon. The smaller bit of wraparound chrome (actually the front parking light/turn signal assembly) above the bumper distinguishes this from the 55s. Not real wood, of course, but still cool, and along with Aunt Kirsti's garb makes this photo scream 1950s at the top of its lungs. Great shot, thanks! Where is she from?Has she or her parents been born in Finland? Just asking because Kirsti is very common name here in Finland especially among elderly women. Choice of ColorI imagine that someone bought this car because it was the model they wanted, but the only color the dealer had in stock. Kirsti's Kar KolorMr Mel may be correct in his speculation, but as an evocation of 1950s color design, this could be right out of a Douglas Sirk Technicolor soapfest. Seafoam Greentterrace is right on the money. The 1958 house that I grew up in had both a kitchen and a bathroom in similar aqua-turquoise hues. US of AWe don't need no stinkin' electric cars! Back to the futureI'm always intrigued by how these old cars look like they're still from some distant, advanced future, especially compared to today's lackluster car designs. Great Aunt Kirsti rocks!I covet her car and every single thing she's wearing. And the neighborhood. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses)
Dairy King
... wagon is unique to Ontario - Quebec used an X prefix for dealer plates. Knowing that this is an Ontario plate restricts the date. ... Seeming to confirm this date is what looks to be a car with fins mostly hidden by the Mercury Monarch. License plates ... 
 
Posted by 4allofyou - 09/19/2011 - 9:06pm -

To be honest, I don't know when this picture was taken. I've tried to search the location but without success. View full size. Canadian Tire StoreIt must be in Canada somewhere. That upside down triangle sign is a Canadian Tire Store sign from the late 1950's 1958?Judging by the cars and fashions, I suspect that '58 was the year in question. Looks like Ontario, 1958 or 1960 or 1962Ontario license plates for station wagons all ended with X back then. I wonder if other states or provinces did the same? Back in the days before stick-on renewal tags, Ontario passenger vehicle plates were white with dark blue lettering in even-numbered years. The alternating years were dark blue plates with white letters. The red triangle Crappy Tire sign (hey, that's we actually call the store, and no longer derisively!) is still in use today. Dairy King cars and locationThe black hardtop at the left is a 1955 or 1956 Mercury Monarch, at the time a line marketed just in Canada. Then we have a 1957 Pontiac and a 1958 Chevrolet wagon. Haven't been able to nail down whether those are US or Canadian versions. Maybe a license plate expert will pop in. Swiftcurrent, Saskatchewan, perchance?That is definitely a Canadian Tire store next door. I was going for somewhere in the Prairies (can't see those license plates well enough). However, there is a Dairy King in Swiftcurrent that looks like it could be the same restaurant with a few modifications over the decades (the original building was probably a house, judging from the roof). View Larger Map Swift Current LibraryI sent a query to the Swift Current Library to see if they can identify the Dairy King. There are several other Dairy Kings in existence in Alberta and Manitoba but none appear to be the same building. Of course, this could be a building that has long been torn down. The Swift Current location, however, is right on the Trans Canada which agrees with the "Stop and Eat" sign as well as the angle of the parking area, and the building is the right shape and age. Ontario 1962-1966The Canadian Tire sign indicates that the photo was taken in Eastern Canada - east of the Manitoba-Ontario border because the company didn't expand west of the border until 1966. The X suffix on the station wagon is unique to Ontario - Quebec used an X prefix for dealer plates. Knowing that this is an Ontario plate restricts the date. Ontario plates were a dark blue with white letters from 1955-1961, and a slightly lighter blue with white letters from 1967-1972. Between 1962 and 1966 they were white with navy blue or black letters. Seeming to confirm this date is what looks to be a car with fins mostly hidden by the Mercury Monarch. License platesAccording to someone I contacted who is a license plate collector and expert... http://www.yomplates.ca/ "This is a bit tough, but I think I can narrow it down to a couple of years. From what I can see, these would definitely be 1956 or later. Reason being Ontario switched plate size in 1955 to conform to North American standards. Before 1955, plates were substantially larger than in the picture, and with a different lettering sequence. Also, Ontario alternated dark plates in odd years, and white plates in even years. So that rules out 1955 since it was dark blue. It also rules out 1957, 59, 61, 63 and so on. Another tip is that Ontario used black/black letters and white background in 1956, 58, 60, 62 and 64. In 1966, the plates changed to light blue letters, and the ones in the picture look dark blue or black. Further, in 1962 a black border was added around the plate. I zoomed in on the picture and these don't seem to have a border. So, now we're down to either 1956, 58 or 60. That's really all I can narrow it down to! Nice photo though. Was this taken in Pembroke or Renfrew? I seem to remember these Dairy Kings as a kid." So, we are looking at either 1958 or 1960.... I am interested in why he thought Renfrew or Pembroke. Not far from me... more or less. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses)
Road Closed: 1958
... streets that much hotter. 1952 Chevy I believe the car on the right is a 1952 Chevy. My father owned one for a few years in the ... glass could be _economically_ replaced by any glass dealer that carried laminated safety glass. Contrast that to replacing a modern ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/12/2015 - 10:41am -

Columbus, Georgia, circa 1958. "Highway detour." Note the Greyhound bus terminal that looks like someone's screened porch. Also: a big microwave relay tower. 4x5 acetate negative from the News Archive. View full size. Looking NorthThis is the corner of 4th Avenue (now Veterans) and 12th Street, looking north. This was the construction that would widen 4th to four lanes. The tower in the background is on top of the local AT&T switching building. The old Howard bus terminal is still there, only now it's covered in a thick layer of artificial stucco and used as a church annex. Before Flashing BarracadesNotice the small spheres that look like the cartoon image of a bomb that are placed around and on the dirt pile? I had forgotten about these. Before the advent of expensive flashing barracades they used to put these little jewels around. They had a wick that burned so they could be seen at night. Those smudge pots will soon disappearfrom road construction sites, to be replaced within a few years by portable reflective devices and battery-powered flashers, to warn drivers and others of the hazards. Thanks to KAP The worst changesLooking at all these old urban images, it's sad that so many of the interesting old buildings are gone, but the worst change I think is the lack of trees. Imagine how cool it would be under the shade of all those trees, now only a few are left. It makes the streets that much hotter. 1952 ChevyI believe the car on the right is a 1952 Chevy. My father owned one for a few years in the late 1960's. I was then a few years too young to drive it. Not visible in the photo, the '52 Chevy windshield was the old-fashioned divided type consisting of two flat glass plates with a vertical metal bar (muntin?) between them. (The 1953 Chevy had a curved glass windshield. There may have been a transition in which the regular model had the flat windshield and the deluxe model had the curved one. Not sure if this would have been '52 or '53) ) The theory was that the bar dividing the windshield was narrower than the distance between a person's eyes, and therefore it should always be possible for at least one eye to "see around" it. The windshield glass could be _economically_ replaced by any glass dealer that carried laminated safety glass. Contrast that to replacing a modern windshield, which costs an arm and a leg. AT&T Switching CenterThe AT&T switching center suffered a catastrophic failure in the early 1980's. The rear loading dock was built at ground level with a sunken ramp allowing for truck access. Flood waters filled the ramp and then the loading dock. Once inside the doors, the waters filled the basement to a depth of about four feet (if I remember correctly) The power plants failed and brought the office down. The water covered the tops of the battery cells located on the lower power plant shelves. Bell Labs removed the fresh water that entered the cells with syringes (large ones). Power plants were restored (after cleaning) and continued service for quite a spell. I was a supervisor in the power engineering group in Atlanta and visited the site with my manager. Smudge PotsAt least the smudge pots actually worked, I can't tell you how many of the battery operated new ones ever work. 1958 versus 2015It makes me sad to see the vast difference between the two Columbus photos. In the original picture everything (except possibly the telephone tower) is at a pleasing, human scale showing a seemingly endless row of trees, grassy lawns, and comfortable appearing old houses. Virtually all of that is missing in the current view, and could be showing any faceless suburban intersection, with nothing but the tower and highway markers to indicate its true location. (The Gallery, Columbus, Ga., Motorcycles, News Photo Archive)
A Couple of Cads: 1919
San Francisco circa 1919. "Cadillac touring car and sedan." Touring a veritable wonderland of chalk art. 5x7 glass negative ... standard colors were Cadillac Blue with black trim. The dealer license plate indicates the car was being sold by Don Lee Cadillac shown ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/11/2015 - 10:21pm -

San Francisco circa 1919. "Cadillac touring car and sedan." Touring a veritable wonderland of chalk art. 5x7 glass negative by Christopher Helin. View full size. Yes, Good Riders?That appears to be the message displayed within the diamond-shaped decal on the passenger side windshield. What, pray tell, would be the meaning of that display? [It's "Yes Good Roads," a slogan in support of a 1919 California ballot proposition for a $40,000,000 bond issue to fund state highway construction. It passed. -tterrace] Board FenceThis is the definitive modelbuilder's reference for a board fence. They were common within my memory, and my wife remembers them too. You still see a few in old western PA towns. Note that some kid dragged chalk the length of the fence. Reproducing the faded "HORP" sign on the fence between the cars would be a modeling challenge. SlummingNot the most Cadillacky of neighborhoods. LocationAre you sure this isn't Oakland? Those two beauties look like they're just about to try to merge, the hard way. StandoutsStrange to see these two elegant, up-scale vehicles placed in a very humble neighborhood (with its ubiquitous chalk markings) as opposed to the previous auto portraits "uptown". GlossyI always admired the top coat finish on these cars. A mirror finish not displayed these days. New cars but old tiresCan't help but notice how worn the tires are on these apparently new vehicles. The front ones on the car on the right don't even match. I don't think that "optional" bumper on the coupe is really going to stop much. It's interesting to note that even on high end cars like Cadillacs there are rows of rivets along the edges of the hood. Auto designers today go out of their way to hide fasteners to the point it is sometimes difficult to figure out how to remove a piece for repair. Twins?Are the two gents in the touring car twins? CadillacsThe car on the left was previously shown here. This is one of the two touring cars models Cadillac sold in 1919. Both models were on the same 125 inch wheelbase, but one had jump seats and sat seven instead of four passengers. Both were priced at $2,805, and the standard colors were Cadillac Blue with black trim. The dealer license plate indicates the car was being sold by Don Lee Cadillac shown here. The second cars looks like a Convertible Victoria. The side window glass and center door post could be removed to create a semi-open car. This car was also on the 125 inch wheelbase and cost $3,205. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chris Helin, San Francisco)
The Outing: 1919
... gas!" San Francisco circa 1919. "Maxwell touring car." Transporting its tourists on what looks to be a chilly day. 5x7 glass ... man is a passenger...and the front plate on the car is a dealer plate. It makes me wonder if they were doing a test drive--or perhaps a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/12/2015 - 5:35pm -

        "Goodness, Isobel -- we seem to be out of gas!" San Francisco circa 1919. "Maxwell touring car." Transporting its tourists on what looks to be a chilly day. 5x7 glass negative by Christopher Helin. View full size. Gas or no gasFirst base is out of the question with those suits of armor. Test drive?Maybe it's the angle, but it appears the man is a passenger...and the front plate on the car is a dealer plate. It makes me wonder if they were doing a test drive--or perhaps a spouse is the one taking the picture and the ladies wanted to show off their stylish duds. I remember my grandmother wearing shoes like those for as long as she could get about. I'm not a clothes horse but I'd love to go back for a day to wear the hat and coat of the lady on the left. Just stunning! [The Christopher Helin photos were taken for his automotive articles in the San Francisco Examiner, generally using cars from local dealers. -tterrace] Could Be“The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” The coolest thing Mark Twain never said. RoadIt appears they have more problems than being out of gas. It seems the road kinda disappears. [The rather artificial look of the "rocks" suggests this was taken in Golden Gate Park. -tterrace] Oh, baloneyThose are some smooth front tires Front Sprocket?Can any automotive historians explain the purpose of the toothed sprocket that can be seen between the spokes of the right front wheel hub? Perhaps the speedometer drive? Stewart SpeedometerAs Goats Of Venus suggests, the visible gear and sprocket on the front wheel are indeed part of the drive mechanism for a speedometer—most likely a Stewart model (later Stewart Warner).  A very good discussion with pictures of fitting one on a Ford Model-T can be found here. SpeedoThe sprocket (actually, a gear) is part of the speedometer drive. The smaller gear, which can be seen in the photo, drove the angle drive which, in turn, spun the cable that connected to the speedo head, inside the car. In the early cars, like this Maxwell, the cable was a small inked chain that rode inside of an armored outer sleeve. Most cars used Warner speedometers at the time (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chris Helin, San Francisco)
Cash for Your Car (Colorized): 1942
... saw this photo in b&w...why do used cars on a used car lot have license plates on them? The dealer usually keeps a "dealer plate" or two in his desk drawer to use when ... 
 
Posted by SirCarl - 09/21/2015 - 11:37am -

Colorized from this Shorpy original. View full size. License PlatesNice colorization! I wondered this when I first saw this photo in b&w...why do used cars on a used car lot have license plates on them? The dealer usually keeps a "dealer plate" or two in his desk drawer to use when taking the car out for a test drive; even back in the 40s. [In California, the plates stay with the car. -tterrace] Thanks tterrace...okay! Now I remember that it's a big deal when vintage car owners mention a "black plate" California car. (Colorized Photos)
Ready to Go: 1929
... full size. Looks brand new What a magnificent car. I would love to have this roadster for weekend cruises. If it was ... was built around what was left of the Graham-Paige dealer and service support network immediately after WWII, both of those names ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/26/2016 - 2:04pm -

San Francisco circa 1929. "Graham-Paige at California Palace of the Legion of Honor, Lincoln Park." Which one is Paige, and which is Graham, we'll leave up to you. 5x7 glass negative by Christopher Helin. View full size. Looks brand newWhat a magnificent car. I would love to have this roadster for weekend cruises. If it was pre-loaded with two ladies dressed like these two, it would be all the better. Re: Looks Brand NewJust don't take it cruising in 1950's Oakland! SF Glamour, Oakland wrecksI too am struck by the elegant posed cars with beautiful people in the City, and the wrecks we have been seeing from Oakland. Having lived a few miles from each in Marin most of my life, the different kinds of images typify what I know of both. A true lossWe frequently saw one just like this in my Staten Island neighborhood in the late forties along with a Reo with same rumble seat and similar body style. Wonder where such substantial and beautiful makes disappeared to. Mergers or the Depression? Graham-Paige, 1928 CoupeThe Graham-Paige was a magnificent car indeed! The company was founded in 1927 and lasted as a trade name until the early 1960s. Re: True LossesGraham-Paige survived the Depression but in very reduced circumstances. Kaiser-Frazer was built around what was left of the Graham-Paige dealer and service support network immediately after WWII, both of those names wound up being dropped but Kaiser was behind Willys/Jeep until 1970. REO survived into the '60s as a truck brand, their lovely and elegant cars were discontinued after '34. What's a Great Depression?Waving goodbye to the roaring '20s. Hang on ladies, it's about to get tough all over. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chris Helin, San Francisco)
Culture Club: 1918
... 6 cylinder engines. Buick made 2,971 of the 3,100 pound car. Sources differ on price, but according to one company brochure it cost at ... a portion of the license plate is visible the only Buick dealer in California with a dealer number beginning with the number "5" was ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/12/2019 - 12:10pm -

San Francisco, 1918. "Buick Model 46 four-passenger touring coupe at de Young Museum, Golden Gate Park." 5x7 glass negative by Chris Helin. View full size. Into The ClubThe hood louvers signify that this is a 1919 Buick Model H-46 Coupe instead of a 1918 Model E-46. The "H" models were introduced in August of 1918, and with them all new Buick models now had 6 cylinder engines. Buick made 2,971 of the 3,100 pound car. Sources differ on price, but according to one company brochure it cost at least $1,985 f.o.b. Flint, Michigan, where the Buick factory was located. Shown below is the interior of the coupe which could seat four. In addition to the individual driver's seat, the passenger seat could seat two. The fourth person would have to sit on the jump seat that collapsed into the cowl, and he would have faced backwards and blocked the driver's view. Behind the driver was a tool box, and the space could also be used to store parcels in addition to the trunk on this model. The interior was in a soft gray cloth. Although only a portion of the license plate is visible the only Buick dealer in California with a dealer number beginning with the number "5" was Howard Automobile Company at California and Van Ness Streets in San Francisco. The "R" indicates an additional plate issued to the firm. The owner of the firm, Charles S. Howard, Sr., (1877 - 1950) later bought and raced the horse Seabiscuit. His Howard Automobile Company was the Pacific Coast distributor for Buick automobiles. Two of his advertisements from city directories (1925 and 1930) are below. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chris Helin, San Francisco)
1948 Tucker
... this was the engine compartment of 1948 Tucker, a rare car indeed. I originally thought this picture was taken in a showroom, but the dealer plates on the car are from 1951 and the car appeared to have been driven ... 
 
Posted by prime_lens - 10/11/2008 - 4:23pm -

I found this Kodachrome slide in a old slide projector case a few years back. I could tell it was a rear-engine automobile and an older one at that. Upon inspection through a loupe it became obvious that this was the engine compartment of 1948 Tucker, a rare car indeed. I originally thought this picture was taken in a showroom, but the dealer plates on the car are from 1951 and the car appeared to have been driven (there's even some rust if you look carefully). So, I contacted Jay Follis, President of the Tucker Automobile Club of America and sent him the scan. He said, "from looking at the photo and the plate I would guess this car to be number #1048, which was part of a traveling exhibit in the 1950's." That's Tucker #48, there were only 51 cars made. In August of 2008, Tucker #1038 (also in Moss Green) sold for $1,017,500. I have since donated the original slide to the Tucker Historical Collection. View full size. You are a class act!It is outstanding of you to donate that slide! I wish we could make out more of the sticker in the rear window. Thanks.I thought it was least I could do. The sticker in the back window is some kind of auto club or hot rod association type deal. Thank youThis is a stunning contribution of a rare and important car. Well done, indeed. Foy Las Vegas 1948 TuckerWow, what a coincidence. This is the exact same Tucker that I saw on display at Hartford Auto Museum, winter of 2007. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses)
Dependable Spark Plugs: 1926
... Your ... Ford? Interesting to note that this Chevrolet dealer was stocking so many Model T Ford parts. The shelves are loaded with ... and no special schooling. Also, you didn't have to take a car apart simply to change a part. Last week, I spent 3 hours changing a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/16/2013 - 10:31am -

Rockville, Maryland, circa 1926. "Montgomery County Motor Co., Parts Dept." Our umpteenth visit to this Chevrolet dealership in the Washington suburbs. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. "A Name You Can Trust in Rubber"Was the Sieberling Tire Company's slogan during the 1940's and 1950's. They supplied a lot of heavy duty tires during WWII. I can't help but notice their logo looked a little too familiar. Eventually, someone in their marketing department must have felt the same. See the USA in Your ... Ford?Interesting to note that this Chevrolet dealer was stocking so many Model T Ford parts. The shelves are loaded with parts specific to the Model T. A hood, timer spark advance rods, front fender support arms, coil boxes etc. SeiberlingSeiberling is a well known name in Akron, Ohio. Frank Seiberling founded Goodyear Tire & Rubber and then later Seiberling Rubber, both of which were headquarted there. He build a mansion in Akron named Stan Hywet Hall which is today open to the public for tours. I visited many times as a boy, and my Boy Scout troop held campouts on the grounds there during which we cleared away underbrush in some of the areas that had become overgrown. Frank Seiberling's grandson John F. Seiberling served as Congressman for the Akron area from 1971 to 1987. SeiberlingI don't think Seiberling did much OEM business, but they were a popular aftermarket brand. My maternal grandfather was working for Seiberling when this picture was taken; he retired in 1964 as their chief engineer. Re: InventoryAnd every one of these parts could be installed by any shade tree mechanic like me with a minimum of tools and no special schooling. Also, you didn't have to take a car apart simply to change a part. Last week, I spent 3 hours changing a serpentine belt in a Cavalier and had to have my wife help at the end because I ran out of hands and it took nearly 2 hours the week before to change a headlight bulb. I used to do those jobs in minutes. I think my next car or truck will be pre-1980 (or way earlier if I can find one, preferably a Model A). Those were the days! InventoryAs a professional auto mechanic with over 35 years in the trade, I should recognize almost every part on view. However, the reverse is true. If it's not an oxygen sensor, brake caliper, fuel injector, variable valve timing actuator, or any of the myriad of electronics of modern motoring, then I would lose a contest of "what is it?" Bumper?Is that a bumper leaning against the parts cabinet? (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Natl Photo)
We Really Must Be Going: 1917
... mystery ride as a 1917 Olympian Motors "Tourist" touring car. The Olympian, made in Pontiac, Mich., lasted from 1917 to 1921; the image ... three known at the time of publication. The Olympian Dealer in San Francisco was the California Motor Sales Company at 1319 Van Ness ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/11/2018 - 12:09am -

        UPDATE: Commenter 426hemi has identified our mystery ride as a 1917 Olympian Motors "Tourist" touring car. The Olympian, made in Pontiac, Mich., lasted from 1917 to 1921; the image above might be, as far as the Internet is concerned, one of the very few (if not only) surviving contemporary photographs of this rare bird. Circa 1917 San Francisco is the backdrop for this unlabeled shot of four motorists in their anonymous auto, bound for points unknown. With, by the look of things, not a moment to spare! 5x7 glass negative by Christopher Helin. View full size. Merrily We Roll AlongSince Hugh (Woo-Woo!) Herbert seems to be along for the ride, perhaps they're on their way to Warner Bros. for a Busby Berkeley musical or a Merrie Melodies cartoon. A Whatzit.Come on people, somebody's got to identify this thang. My first guess is a Star built by Durant; a smallish inexpensive, light, no frills car to compete with the Model T. [We already have several examples of the Star Car on these pages, none of which match this vehicle. Which also lacks the Star Car's star hubcaps. - Dave] Cellular distractionsIt's clear the front and rear passengers are distracted by their status updates on Facebook. Five LouversSeems similar to 1916-1917 Detroiter Automobiles, fender lines look the same, door shapes, angled windshield, wheels, hubs, etc., only difference I see is sharper radiator lines in this pic. Possible different year. Not many have only five large louvers. Could it bea Saxon Six? I would say that ...This 5 seater is a 1917 Olympian Tourist Touring car. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any photos of this model, but based on this advertising illustration, the car had similar details including the spotlight, and moreover, other 1917 Olympian models sported five vertical hood louvers. [Excellent detective work! - Dave] AdvertisingA lot of automobile companies went bankrupt before they discovered advertising with pretty girls. It's alive. It's ALIVE!Well, at least on display, rather. The very rare 1917 Olympian Tourist as part of the private Mark Thomas collection here in Michigan. Thomas has made it his stated goal to collect at least one of the 13 different makes that have hailed from his hometown of Pontiac over the past century plus. And he has the Olympian on display. More OlympiansMark Thomas actually owns two Olympians, and it's possible that there may be others. The 1957 Register of Antique Automobiles shows that there were at least three known at the time of publication. The Olympian Dealer in San Francisco was the California Motor Sales Company at 1319 Van Ness Avenue. During World War I, Olympian produced aerial bombs for the U.S. Government. They also made an armored car in hopes of selling additional examples to the U.S. military, but it appears that none were actually sold. Instead the vehicle shown below was used to help sell Liberty Bonds during the third bond drive in 1918. A couple of Olympian coupes, both open and closed, are also shown below. The Olympian ceased production in 1920, it then became the Friend for 1921, and then it became defunct. Olympian production is thought to have been approximately 2,070 cars although some sources estimate up to 3,000. Friend production was approximately 50 autos, and at least one still exists. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chris Helin, San Francisco)
Temple of Beauty: 1908
... of Beauty ("Corns removed, 25¢"); William E. Metzger, dealer in "Motorcycles Bicycles Phonographs"; an outpost of the Singer Sewing ... my dad managed. Almost new 1908 Cadillac The first car I see is unmistakably a 1908 Cadillac Model S Runabout, the last year for ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/23/2017 - 11:03pm -

Detroit circa 1908. "Mather Block, Woodward Avenue." Where merchants vying for your trade include Madame Mattlar's Temple of Beauty ("Corns removed, 25¢"); William E. Metzger, dealer in "Motorcycles Bicycles Phonographs"; an outpost of the Singer Sewing Machine Co.; Tuomy Bros. (suits and cloaks) and the eyeball-bedizened offices of L. Kaplan Optician ("I Glassed Detroit"). 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. AG Spalding storeThe most interesting to me is the first store on the left, the AG Spalding Sporting Goods. The Spalding trademark sign which caught my eye, is right there. That logo goes back to 1876 and their baseballs were used by the National League for 100 years. As a kid I can recall getting a signed Spalding ball from Dusty Rhodes, who, during the off season, worked as salesman at the brokerage firm that my dad managed. Almost new 1908 CadillacThe first car I see is unmistakably a 1908 Cadillac Model S Runabout, the last year for their simple and high quality single cylinder automobile. This photo has to be at least 1908. The 1907 Cadillac single cylinder is distinctive enough to tell apart from the 1908. I have a complete but unrestored 1906 Cadillac runabout. Still standing (sort of)Looks like parts of that block are still there. Detroit addresses were renumbered in 1921 so these businesses correlate approximately with the addresses on The Mather Block. Woodward looking southThis appears to be the first block south of Grand Circus, on the east side of Woodward. In the distance is the original Pontchartrain Hotel. AG Spalding!Those merchants vying for your trade also includes an A G Spalding sporting goods store! Spalding - one of the founders of the National League of Professional Baseball Clubs and of the company that made the some of the gear I (and millions of others) used for years as a young ball player. LOVE the baseball sign he's got hanging there! 1905? Maybe not.The Hotel Ponchatrain opened October 29, 1907 and since we can see folk in Summer frocks I suggest the earliest this photo could be taken would have been the summer of 1908. I know Shorpy isn't really worried about carbon dating every photo but thought a revised date might help other Shorpyites (shorpyologists?) identity those vehicles. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Detroit Photos, DPC, Stores & Markets)
Semmes City: 1926
... Cannon Co. truck at Semmes Motor Co., Florida Avenue N.E." Dealer in Dodge Brothers cars and Graham Brothers trucks. National Photo ... straight. Is there more to this? I'm no old-time car buff, beyond admiring them. I was, ahem, captured by the title, Semmes ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/22/2018 - 11:28am -

Washington, D.C., 1926. "T.A. Cannon Co. truck at Semmes Motor Co., Florida Avenue N.E." Dealer in Dodge Brothers cars and Graham Brothers trucks. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. NICESimple, straightforward façade design. Well done. The SemmesesRaphael Semmes, president of the Semmes Motor Co., was born 1889 in D.C., one of six children, to Christopher Columbus Semmes (1844-1911) and Symphronia Coombs Bryan (1847-1918). The 1910 Census lists 21-year-old Raphael still living at home at 336 10th Street working as a manager of a garage. He married Mary McClearon (b 1895) in 1911; their first child, Mary Jane, was born in 1914. By 1930 Raphael is president of the company, living at 336 Raymond Street in Bethesda, Maryland, with his wife, four kids and mother-in-law. 1940 sees him as a real estate salesman in Miami Beach, with most of his children still with him, but no mother-in-law. Mary died in 1963 and Raphael in 1972, both interred at Congressional Cemetery in D.C. And Dave, honest, I am not making these names up! Handsome BuildingNot so sure its later replacement at 1424 Florida Ave. NE is an architectural improvement. ConnectionsMr. Semmes was well connected, I believe, the grandson of a Confederate admiral and a chum/colleague of George Patton in the two World Wars. Or else I don't have my Semmeses straight. Is there more to this?I'm no old-time car buff, beyond admiring them. I was, ahem, captured by the title, Semmes Motor Company, of Washington, D.C., and started speculating. Raphael Semmes, former U.S. Navy officer, born in nearby Maryland, switched allegiances in the Civil War and captained the famous commerce raider CSS Alabama, which was finally sunk in a French harbor after creating havoc to Union shipping on various oceans. Whether that Semmes was any relation to the motor company family, I have no idea, but it's not a common name. Half the fun of Shorpy is the speculation that it creates in me. More on the SemmesesAs far as I can tell from this, the maritime and the auto Semmeses don't appear to be related. Admiral Semmes' book is here. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo)
Smith Garage: 1920
... D.C., circa 1920. "Group, Wayne Smith garage." At this dealer in Haynes automobiles, management and labor pose for posterity. View ... be given over entirely to the sale and service of this car. The car is built in both six and twelve cylinder models and furnished ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/14/2011 - 5:37pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1920. "Group, Wayne Smith garage." At this dealer in Haynes automobiles, management and labor pose for posterity. View full size. At Your Service Washington Post, May 23, 1920 To Distribute Haynes Cars. Wayne Smith Auto Co. Will Handle Line in This Territory. Haynes cars will be distributed in Washington, northern Virginia, central West Virginia and part of Maryland by Wayne Smith & Co. This concern, which is headed by Wayne Smith, well known in local automotive circles, has just completed a new building at the corner of Twenty-second and M streets, which will be given over entirely to the sale and service of this car. The car is built in both six and twelve cylinder models and furnished in both types in open and closed models, roadsters and touring cars. Service for this car will be in charge of Harry E. Hartung and Earl Ennis, both well-known service men. No guessing hereWe can most definitely tell which of these men are part of management and which are the "grease monkeys"! Royal GarageIf you had told me that this was a photo of the staff at the facility that was preparing the Coaches for the Coronation of King George VI in 1937, I would have absolutely believed it. Pecking orderFrom left to right, a visual Organization Chart. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo)
Scout Kar: 1918
... Coast, has donated the famous Kissel military scout car, recently used to blaze the "three nation run," to the government ... "Scout Kar" last seen here , with 1918 Washington State dealer plates. 5x7 glass negative by Christopher Helin. View full size. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/11/2014 - 7:38pm -

        America's first camouflaged automobile has been let loose, and is now on the war path. The inhabitants of the Pacific Coast from Seattle to San Diego swear they are "seeing things." A sheriff who has a record for pinching speeders is out after the camoufleurs who committed "camouflage" to prove that America's automobiles are as chameleon-like while on the war path as those in Europe. -- Oakland Tribune, Oct. 28, 1917         W.L. Hughson, of KisselKar fame upon the Pacific Coast, has donated the famous Kissel military scout car, recently used to blaze the "three nation run," to the government department having the new operations of "camouflage" in its charge. A committee of three prominent San Francisco artists will paint this car with color patches, which suggests nothing except the surrounding earth, trees, grain fields, sky, etc., making an exact fac-simile of the cars now being used by the allies along the various war fronts -- Motor West, Oct. 15, 1917 "Kissel Military Highway Scout Kar." From somewhere in the woodsy Pacific Northwest comes the "Scout Kar" last seen here, with 1918 Washington State dealer plates. 5x7 glass negative by Christopher Helin. View full size. What car?All I see is a bunch of Trees. October 28, 1917Slow news day in Oakland. Word of the day:Camoufleurs. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chris Helin)
O Little Town: 1907
... pause at Merrow's Souvenir Store and photography studio, dealer in Views, Novelties and "Bric-Brac." 8x10 inch glass negative. View ... little wagon look like the equivalent of today's Smart Car. Time Warp Church...check. Storefronts..check. Horse ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/12/2019 - 2:55pm -

Circa 1907. "Bethlehem Street looking east. Bethlehem, White Mountains, New Hampshire." Continuing our visit to the Granite State we pause at Merrow's Souvenir Store and photography studio, dealer in Views, Novelties and "Bric-Brac." 8x10 inch glass negative. View full size. Smart Wagon?That short little wagon look like the equivalent of today's Smart Car. Time WarpChurch...check. Storefronts..check. Horse fountain...check! Church entrance has been updated...and the horse and wagon moved on. Bric-BracNot to be confused with rick-rack! (The Gallery, DPC, Rural America, Stores & Markets)
The Universal Truck: 1925
... glass negative. View full size. Ironic The car parked in front of the Ford dealer appears to be a 1923 - 1925 Chevrolet Superior Series with DeLuxe trim ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/18/2014 - 12:22am -

Washington, D.C., 1925. "Parkway Motor Co. -- Ford truck." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. IronicThe car parked in front of the Ford dealer appears to be a 1923 - 1925 Chevrolet Superior Series with DeLuxe trim including disc wheels, bright nickel radiator shell, cowl lights, and several other items (not all of which are visible in this photo). For those that know their Ford history, at least it wasn't a Dodge Brothers Car. Easily speakingI'd say that's a pretty darn clean tank on that rig. I wonder what business that fellow's in anyway? 1067 Wisconsin AveParkway Motor was located at 1065-67 Wisconsin Ave NW. View Larger Map UniversalIs that the proper term, just where else in the universe did Ford sell vehicles? Would that include all countries in the universe in 1925? (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo)
All Repairs Strictly Cash: 1925
... County Motor Co." Our sixth look behind the scenes at this car dealer. 8x10 glass negative. View full size. Punching in I love the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/08/2014 - 12:52pm -

Rockville, Maryland, circa 1925. "Montgomery County Motor Co." Our sixth look behind the scenes at this car dealer. 8x10 glass negative. View full size. Punching inI love the early time clock, which looks like an International Time Recording machine or a Bundy. Great shot! Amazingly modern!The cars have changed far more in the past 86 years than the repair facilities! This area could still be used effectively today! (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Natl Photo)
The Rolling Dead: 1921
... 20's and 30's shot in San Francisco. We tend to think of car production back then happening in the east, especially Detroit. Did these ... Francisco Examiner, illustrating them with these photos of dealer and owner vehicles. -tterrace] Yes, We Can Be Frank The car was ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/13/2017 - 1:24pm -

San Francisco circa 1921. "Dorris 6-80 touring sedan at Spreckels Mansion." Latest entry in the Shorpy Compendium of Cretaceous Conveyances; by 1924 the Dorris would be extinct. 5x7 glass negative by Christopher Helin. View full size. Top Of The Hill And Behind The HedgerowOne does not get the full understanding of this being at the top of a hill until seeing: https://sf.curbed.com/2014/11/25/10018636/behind-the-hedges-and-inside-t... And the historic view will never be seen again until the fortress-like privacy hedgerow is removed. https://sf.curbed.com/2014/7/31/10065838/here-now-a-photo-tribute-to-dan... An Impressive BeastCan anyone say what those two small panels on top of the hood are for? Putting on AirsThe doors on the hood are vents, as noted by Shorpy reader Zcarstvnz in an earlier Dorris post. The little compartment below and in front of the driver's door housed an air compressor for supplying air to the tires. Ready for our close-upsJust curious....We have seen many pictures of new cars from various manufacturers in the 20's and 30's shot in San Francisco. We tend to think of car production back then happening in the east, especially Detroit. Did these early car manufacturers ship cars to San Francisco for promotion shoots or did California have a thriving car industry we never heard about? [Christopher Helin wrote a continuing series of automobile feature articles for the San Francisco Examiner, illustrating them with these photos of dealer and owner vehicles. -tterrace] Yes, We Can Be FrankThe car was registered to Mrs. Mattie A. Frank (1877 - 1962) of 2555 Webster Street, San Francisco. Her husband was Albert Frank the president of S. H. Frank and Company who was being driven around in a Locomobile Town Car at this time. S. H. Frank and Company sold shoe supplies along with shoe findings, and they were also tanners and leather dealers. The firm is still in business today (founded 1857). (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chris Helin, San Francisco)
Minute Man Men: 1921
... San Francisco circa 1921. "Lexington 'Minute Man Six' dealer window, Van Ness Avenue." Another of those promotional events whose ... the event being commemorated and used to promote the car is the Lexington's 1st and 2nd Place finishes in the 1920 Pike's Peak climb ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/04/2015 - 9:02pm -

San Francisco circa 1921. "Lexington 'Minute Man Six' dealer window, Van Ness Avenue." Another of those promotional events whose significance has vanished along with the product. 5x7 glass negative by Christopher Helin. View full size. I'm bettingthe event being commemorated and used to promote the car is the Lexington's 1st and 2nd Place finishes in the 1920 Pike's Peak climb and that the guy sitting up on the seat is one of the drivers. Aptly namedI'm pleased to report without any irony that this is the Kaar showroom. (From 1921 Crocker-Langley directory) Just saying...A car like this is one of the best props ever. It gives a pose depth and balance, while the participants look really focused, lacking, fortunately, that touch of uselessness so frequent with group photos. Subject of the MeetingGiven the utilitarian garb of the three occupants of the car, I suspect that some endurance run or other was being celebrated. Though the practice had become less frequent by the time World War I came to pass, in the first decades of the 20th Century many manufacturers sought publicity (and attendant increased sales) by demonstrating their products' ability to travel long distances in record time or over rough terrain or consuming less fuel than competitors or while towing heavy loads, etc. Never a major "assembler," Lexington became part of the United States Automotive Corporation, was acquired by E.L Cord (of Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg fame) in the mid-1920s, and was extinct as a marque by 1927. ADDED: And I am betting that rickfred wins his bet! (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chris Helin, San Francisco)
A Good Turn: 1936
... saw an almost as impressive development as he was a Ford dealer from 1925 'till 1970--he experienced a year-by-year progression from the ... (all of them having been demolished long ago). The Car 1935 Ford Standard coupe. John Hillen Hunter Everything I have ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/18/2014 - 12:42pm -

Washington, D.C. -- "Safest driver of 1936, John W. Hunter." View full size. Safest D.C. Autoist Is Chosen; Drove 32 Years Without Crash Washington Post, August 13, 1936         Thirty-two years of automobile driving without an accident or a parking ticket yesterday brought its reward when John Hunter, a merchant living at 7336 Fourteenth street northwest, was selected as Washington's safest driver by a committee headed by Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen. The choice was made in the District Building at the request of the American Automobile Association, which will hold a traffic safety clinic in New York City on August 31. Hunter, who is 57, has estimated that he had driven 600,000 miles. He has never been arrested on a traffic charge or received a parking ticket. Imagine!The changes he'd seen in the same time difference between 1982 and today! He began driving when cars were no more than veritable puddle-jumpers as compared to the sleek, modern chariot he sits in in 1936! He was so busy adjusting to the year by year changes and improvements in those early years he didn't have time to break the law, and he looks no worse for the wear. My father's oldest brother saw an almost as impressive development as he was a Ford dealer from 1925 'till 1970--he experienced a year-by-year progression from the Model T to the LTD, then passed away in November of that year. How did he do it?Mr. Hunter attributed this outstanding achievement to the fact that cell phones had not yet been invented. Silver Spring's John H. Hunter John H. Hunter might have lived in DC but his business, Hunter Bros. Hardware, was located in downtown Silver Spring, MD at 8126 Georgia Avenue. This photo was taken in front of his store (structure still extant but probably not for long) with the buildings in the background being on the east side of the street (all of them having been demolished long ago). The Car1935 Ford Standard coupe. John Hillen HunterEverything I have found in the U.S. Census data shows his middle initial as "H" instead of "W" (1880, 1910, 1920, and 1930) as well as his WWI Draft Registration document which shows his middle name as "Hillen." He was born on June 9, 1879. He married Francis "Fannie" Lacey Clarke on July 9, 1902 in Washington, D.C. and they had at least three children: Frances Louise, Gertrude I, and John H. Hunter, Jr. His parents were Thomas and Hannah Hunter and his siblings were Mary L., Thomas, and William P. Hunter. His occupation is consistently shown as farm or agricultural supplies/implements from 1910 - 1930, so he may have added a hardware line or changed his line of business at some point. He died in 1960 and was laid to rest at Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church Cemetery, Forest Glen, Maryland. His wife is buried in the same burial plot which is online here. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Harris + Ewing)
Turkeys to Washington: 1929
... It was made by General Motors as a more upscale companion car in the Oldsmobile line and introduced for the 1929 model year. It even had ... Their escorts were Roy D. Drake, West Duluth automobile dealer, and Hiram P. McBride, correspondent of the Duluth Herald. New 90 ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/27/2014 - 11:10am -

November 26, 1929. "Thanksgiving turkeys for the President." Two feathered and one automotive. National Photo Company glass negative. View full size. In Defense of VikingsThe Viking was no turkey, though it ended up having a very short automotive life (thanks to a little economic problem in October 1929). It was made by General Motors as a more upscale companion car in the Oldsmobile line and introduced for the 1929 model year. It even had some mechanical innovation to its engine. Unfortunately, introducing a luxury car line in 1929 was really, really bad timing. GM continued making the Viking in 1930, but all new car sales were dismal that year. Though there is such a thing as a 1931 Viking, the 1931 model is said to be the leftover parts from the 1930 cars that were never made, because they didn't sell. The marque was discontinued in 1931. The Hoovers' real turkeys of late 1929President Herbert Hoover's turkey that year came from the "Lake Shore Manor" farm of Mrs. August Neubauer on Lost Lake near Gilbert, Minnesota. The First Lady's turkey came from the farm of Walter Bernsten near Duluth. The Arrowhead Association's original plan was to fly in a single flightless bird for the president (with C.R. "Dusty" Rhodes as the pilot). However, after a second bird was added, the resulting shortage of "crate space" in the plane (and fear that cold temps in the air would endanger their lives) transformed the expedition into a road trip. Their escorts were Roy D. Drake, West Duluth automobile dealer, and Hiram P. McBride, correspondent of the Duluth Herald. New 90 degree Viking EightSaturday Evening Post ad for the Viking. Click to enlarge. The Viking Next DoorIn 1956 when I was in middle school, a retired neighbor couple had a Viking automobile that was still in great condition. Nearer My POTUS to TheeBehind these estimable fellows is the State, War, and Navy Building (known today as the Eisenhower Executive Office Building), so they are quite near their ultimate destination, the White House. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo, Thanksgiving)
The Good Gulf Gas Man
... Gulf station in Gulfport Where else? The Car The car 1950 Chevrolet Fleetline, with dealer plate under trunk handle. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, Gas Stations) ... 
 
Posted by DoninVa - 09/20/2011 - 9:19pm -

My father at the grand opening of his Gulf Gas station in Gulfport, Miss., circa 1955. You will notice that as a former U.S. Marine he has the thumb and forefinger of his right hand properly along the seam of his right trouser leg. View full size. Funny...My grandfather was a Marine and that was the way he naturally stood. I never realized until now that it was because he was a Marine! Thanks. Gulf station in GulfportWhere else? The CarThe car 1950 Chevrolet Fleetline, with dealer plate under trunk handle. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, Gas Stations)
Flivver Jordan: 1917
Circa 1917. "Jordan touring car." Sweetheart, we're out of gas. And BTW do we want kids? Like, 19 of ... of Jordan auto photos (as evidenced by the banner and dealer plates), a muddy road must have been far more emblematic of adventure ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/04/2014 - 4:30pm -

Circa 1917. "Jordan touring car." Sweetheart, we're out of gas. And BTW do we want kids? Like, 19 of them? Our fourth and final look at this muddy motorcar. From the Wyland Stanley collection of San Francisciana. View full size. "Our fourth and final look"Good! Quercus QueryWho can ID the tree? [Looks like valley oak, Quercus lobata. -tterrace] Mud and Romance?Considering the apparent promotional purpose of this group of Jordan auto photos (as evidenced by the banner and dealer plates), a muddy road must have been far more emblematic of adventure and wanderlust in the 1920s than is the case today. After all, Ned Jordan was the first to make a fortune selling the romance rather than the reality of his products -- but he certainly wasn't the last. License plateThe bear on the left side of the license plate is the annual validation tab for 1916. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, W. Stanley)
The Lincoln Store: 1925
... circa 1925. "Exterior, Warfield Motor Co." The Lincoln dealer whose service garage we recently saw here . In 1927 the company moved ... — possessing a complete understanding of the car, and working with Lincoln designed service tools, handles the work quickly ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/06/2013 - 9:24pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1925. "Exterior, Warfield Motor Co." The Lincoln dealer whose service garage we recently saw here. In 1927 the company moved next door into the building on the left. National Photo Co. View full size. Well-Nigh Faultless Performance Washington Post, October 25, 1925. If you have owned fine cars, you will appreciate the service we put back of the Lincoln. Competently trained mechanics — possessing a complete understanding of the car, and working with Lincoln designed service tools, handles the work quickly and expertly. Your car is inspected periodically with absolute thoroughness — and for the first four months there is no charge for this. As a consequence you enjoy at all times the well-nigh faultless performance of this superbly designed and built automobile. … Warfield Motor Company 1132-1134 Connecticut Ave. PhotographerOne of the few times we get to see the photographer of the photo being taken at the same time. Pretty cool! InterestingThat's an interesting phantasm to the right...someone skipping along and stopped? [The exposure stopped, not the ghost. -tterrace] (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo)
A Night at the Round Table: 1967
... this gentleman also known as Claude Baugher, the Chevrolet dealer? Everybody called him "CO". Maybe Oliver was his brother? I knew C.O. in ... (which I shared, and still do). It probably also sold a car or two! Reading material: House Beautiful ("1001 Drapery Ideas"). ... 
 
Posted by ChuckB - 01/29/2018 - 10:04am -

1967. Susie and Oliver Baugher relaxing in their Waynesboro, Virginia, home. Their house was genuine mid-century modern but their style and grace were from another era. The perfect hosts, they always made you feel good about yourself (style and grace Rule 1). Susie lived to be 100. View full size. I knew Mr. BaugherIs this gentleman also known as Claude Baugher, the Chevrolet dealer? Everybody called him "CO". Maybe Oliver was his brother? I knew C.O. in the mid to late 60's and visited in Waynesboro. C.O. collected early Virginia license plates and had them plastered all over the exterior of a 1967 Chevy in order to attract attention to his hobby (which I shared, and still do). It probably also sold a car or two! Reading material:House Beautiful ("1001 Drapery Ideas"). Yes, one and the same.It's great to see your comment. Friends and people in the business called him C.O. I remember the Chevy that was completely covered in license plates. And yes, it was probably another one of his marketing tools that led to a sale! (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Keyless Entry: 1918
... Motors was located at 1417 Van Ness with the Studebaker dealer up and across the street at 1560 Van Ness. [The building at the ... now thoroughly remodeled. -tterrace] Rare car I wasn't familiar with this marque, so I looked them up. Well, it turns ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/04/2016 - 1:12pm -

San Francisco circa 1918, and what seems to be a demonstration of the paparazzi- proof Mitchell sedan. 5x7 glass negative by Christopher Helin. View full size. Van Ness & FernAccording to a 1919 directory, Mitchell Motors was located at 1417 Van Ness with the Studebaker dealer up and across the street at 1560 Van Ness. [The building at the corner, 1395 Van Ness, is the same, built 1916 and now thoroughly remodeled. -tterrace] Rare carI wasn't familiar with this marque, so I looked them up. Well, it turns out that today, while some cars are still around, only a single sedan survives. And, with somebody taking sledgehammers to them, it's no wonder. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chris Helin, San Francisco)
At Anchor: 1919
...       Saxon, the seventh largest American car maker in 1917, went wheels-up in 1922. San Francisco, 1919. ... Getting in on the ground floor... as a Saxon dealer in the small town of Waldron, Arkansas, circa 1914. (The Gallery, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/31/2017 - 5:59pm -

        Saxon, the seventh largest American car maker in 1917, went wheels-up in 1922. San Francisco, 1919. "Saxon touring car at boatyard." Today's entry on the Shorpy Roster of Musty Marques. 5x7 glass negative by Chris Helin. View full size. Star Plated in 1919The encore of the car and gentlemen previously seen along the docks here. With the license plate now visible we know that the vehicle belonged to Mr. Charles E. O'Day of 1763 Geary Blvd., San Francisco. At the time the photo was taken he was a salesman at DuBroy Motor Company, Inc. DuBroy Motors started out as the Saxon Sales Company circa 1916 at 690 Van Ness. President and general manger was Francis Louis DuBroy. By 1917 the company had moved to 1529 Van Ness Ave which was the southeast corner of Van Ness and California at the time. In addition to the Saxon the dealership was also selling Nash automobiles. By 1920 the firm had relocated again to 1290 Sutter with a service department at 1615 Pine. The old location on Van Ness became the Pacific Nash Motor Company so it appears that DuBroy either lost or sold his Nash distributorship. Prior to working at DuBroy Motors Charles O'Day had worked as a chauffeur since at least 1909. He stayed on at Pacific Nash when DuBroy moved his business, and he later became the sales manager for the dealership. We know he left that firm around the year 1933 as he had become the sales manager for James W. McAlister Chrysler and Plymouth by sometime in either 1933 or 1934. He remained there into at least 1944. By 1945-1946 he was with George S. Daniels Pontiac Motor Sales which became Weltner Pontiac circa 1954. Weltner was located across the street from the former DuBroy dealership when it was on Van Ness with an address at 1560 Van Ness (with street renumbering still at California & Van Ness). So, 25 years after O'Day started selling cars, he was right back where he began. He remained at Weltner into at least 1954, but he later sold cars at McAlister Buick from about 1955 - 1958 and Volkswagen cars for Reynold C. Johnson during the years 1959 - 1968. By 1971 he was retired, he died on September 2, 1982, and he was buried in Colma, California along with his wife Leona who died in 1976. A feature in the UPI archives on the 75th anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake included a story from O'Day. "Charles O'Day told of how his family lost their house but happened to have crates of dishes in the wreckage. In the following months, the dishes were sold piece by piece and produced $1,600 with which the family opened a restaurant." Vanity License PlateThe 'STAR' embossed on the license plate indicates the men were law enforcement officers, detectives, etc. [No, the star is a validation tab to indicate vehicle registration for the year 1919. -tterrace] Getting in on the ground floor...as a Saxon dealer in the small town of Waldron, Arkansas, circa 1914. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chris Helin, San Francisco)
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