History Photos taken before WW2 - history in black and white

Guess we'll let Mart caption this one since I can't think of any thing.

 

Detroit Electric (1907 - 1939) was an automobile brand produced by the Anderson Electric Car Company in Detroit, Michigan. Anderson had previously been known as the Anderson Carriage Company (until 1911), producing carriages and buggies since 1884. Production of the electric automobile, powered by a rechargeable lead acid battery, began in 1907. For an additional $600.00 an Edison nickel-iron battery was available from 1911 to 1916. The cars were advertised as reliably getting 80 miles (130 km) between battery recharging, although in one test a Detroit Electric ran 211.3 miles (340.1 km) on a single charge. Top speed was only about 20 miles per hour (32 km/h), but this was considered adequate for driving within city or town limits at the time.

The Detroit Electric was mainly sold to women drivers and physicians who desired the dependable and immediate start without the physically demanding hand cranking of the engine that was required with early internal combustion engine autos. A statement of the car's refinement was subtly made to the public through its design which included the first use of curved window glass in a production automobile, an expensive and complex feature to produce.

The company production was at its peak in the 1910s selling around 1000 to 2000 cars a year. Towards the end of the decade the Electric was helped by the high price of gasoline during World War I. In 1920 the name of the Anderson company was changed to "The Detroit Electric Car Company" as the car maker separated from the body business (it became part of Murray Body) and the motor/controller business (Elwell-Parker).

As improved internal combustion engine automobiles became more common and inexpensive, sales of the Electric dropped in the 1920s but the company stayed in business producing Detroit Electrics until after the stock market crash of 1929.

The company filed for bankruptcy, but was acquired and kept in business on a more limited scale for some years building cars in response to special orders. The last Detroit Electric was shipped on February 23, 1939, (though they were still available until 1942), but in its final years the cars were manufactured only in very small numbers.

Notable people who owned Detroit Electrics cars included Thomas Edison, Charles Proteus Steinmetz and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. who had a pair of Model 46 roadsters. Clara Ford, the wife of Henry Ford, drove Detroit Electrics from 1908, when Henry bought her a Model C coupe with a special child seat, through the late teens. Her third car was a 1914 Model 47 brougham.

 

D.C. Fire Chief Wreck

 

When: 1937
Speed: between 90 and 150 km/h
Result: 6 weeks in hospital

1937 Ford Cabriolet

 

Is the second mystery car challenge done? MrModelT - do we have a winner? I was stumped on all 3 cars.

 

A Sentinel steam waggon (factory spelling), in Bristol, England. Not sure if it's a DG or a Super. Can anyone help zero in on it?

 

Workin' for a livin'...

 

Yes we do have a winner! Thank you for reminding me Twin6, had planned to get the answer post written and posted on Wednesday night...life just got in the way a bit.

Anywho... without further delay, the Grand Prize winner of this weeks "Triple Threat" quiz is (envelope please)

Cannuck! Who nailed #2 and 3 and was real close on #1

and in second place with Honorable mention to...

MrFire

For knowing #1 dead on.

The answers are as follows

Car #1: A 1914 experimental Ford electric car using Thomas Edison's newly perfected Nickle-Iron Batteries. These cars were intended to be a joint venture between Edison and Ford. Ford Engineer Fred Allison is seen behind the wheel.

Car #2: A 1914 White GAF "30" 4 cylinder touring car (seen here in front of the White House in about 1917)

Car #3: A 1905 (some were actually produced in late 1904) Buick Model C 2-cylinder touring. These cars are surprisingly fast for a 2-cylinder car.

I guess that this means that it is Cannuck's turn to take the rains on the next quiz.

Congrats!

 

Great work, lads. Ok Cannuck you're on with the next challenge...

 

...

 

-----------------------------------------
Damn,mad I've got a real good one for
that one too....but I don't dare post
it for fear of getting banned!

Mart3406 (who is now lifting his sick,
filthy, perverted mind back out of the
gutter and placing it firmly back on
the curb where it belongs!)

 

Montgomery County Motor Co - Part 2
-Rockville, Maryland, circa 1926.

"Montgomery County Motor Company
- Your Headquarters for "quality at
low cost - "New Chevrolets in stock."

Mart3406
=====================

 

Montgomery County Motor Co - Part 3
-Rockville, Maryland, circa 1926.

"Montgomery County Motor
Company - A backstage look
at this fine establishment"

Mart3406
============================

 

Washington, D.C., circa 1924.
"Overman Cushion Tire Co., 'The
Velvet Kind Creamery Company'
truck."

Mart3406
===================

 

New York City, Circa 1904.

"Seeing New York - Electric omnibuses
at the Flatiron Building"

Mart3406
========================

 

This is an extremely rare car. Until about a year ago, I wondered whether any were ever actually produced, as it did appear as drawings in sales literature, but I had never seen a photo of one. Then I stumbled onto an old copy (circa 1968 Hemmings) and sure enough, there was a coupe for sale. I've seen several 4 doors over the years, even some in person, but never a coupe. Thanks for sharing!

 

I love this thread,,but if you don't check it out every couple of days you can get way behind!

This one is strange,,just what the heck is this in the upper left hand corner,,,,a U.F.O.? HRP

 

It might be a street light (suspended from wire we cannot see). Offhand, I can only think of the photo in post 1601 for another view of one (not great) on this thread. Maybe someone has a different idea or photo to offer...

 

Duesenberg Model J Town Car - Undated
Circa early-30's Duesenberg Factory
Photograph
--------------------------
A couple of questions.
First, a hopefully, relatively 'easy' one. Can
anybody positively identify the building in
this undated, early-30's Duesenberg 'Model
J' factory photograph? I'm guessing by the
arched windows, that the building in the
background is the 'Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg'
factory, office and showroom in Auburn
Indiana. Anyone know for sure?

Next a really hard and *probably impossible*
one, just for the real Duesenberg experts
here. Can anybody I.D - (or even hazard a
good guess on the I.D) of this specific 'Model
J' Town Car shown in the photograph, as to
the probable chassis number, the coachwork
builder and the history and eventual fate of
this actual car???

Mart3406
==========================

 

The only problem with that theory is I don't see and wires for street lights and only see this one,,,

Photo without the circle around object.,,,HRP

 

Charles G. Hennings, mechanic, posing in a chain drive ?

 

...

 

Tim,

I hope it's OK if i post this video from the 1919 Cornfield Marion {Indiana} Motorcycle Road Race.

 

Great stuff, kurtis, and it is a welcome addition. I have to remind myself, that while we have an active group of followers and contributors, who have stood fast to the "rule" that photos being posted should pre-date WW2, sometimes newcomers or even enthusiastic regulars occasionally post modern, color pix with the best of intentions and with no goal of upsetting the status quo. They have kindly obliged, and changed their posts when given a friendly nudge by PM, and dropped the post war pix. It's become a long thread, so maybe I/we should toss in a reminder now and again (if the thread title isn't enough). One key to the thread's success is that it IS different from all others on the HAMB. Post 2451 should help newcomers. Please - all - keep the great oldies coming!

 

An early Reo adapted for pumping water.

 

-------------------------------------
Hmmm?? Either that, or the very first 'Rat
Rod'!

Mart3406
============================

 

T bakery truck in Brookhaven, MS. Sorry it's so dark - I am not a photoshopper.

 

September 1941.

 

The second general of the Salvation Army, Bramwell Booth and his sister Evangeline in a Packard model 30 (1912). LOC photos.

 

I guess some people don't like to read.