History Photos taken before WW2 - history in black and white

MrModelT, I think you hit the nail on the head, as far as
the connection between the French Berlit and the American
ALCO. Here's a quote from American-Automobiles.com:

"In 1905 automobile manufacture began in a Providence,
RI, plant using the French Berliet as a model. The American
Locomotive Automobile Co. of Providence, RI was formed
in 1905 and their early automobiles were known as the
American Berliet. A couple of years later, the Berliet
license was abandoned, and the American Locomotive
Automobile Co. began to produce its own designs."

1908 American Locomotive Automobile Co. magazine ad ​

 

According to The Standard Catalog, Alco built Berliets under licence from 1906-08 and called them American Berliets - although their official title was American Locomotive Motor Cars. For the first two years they were chain drive fours and for 1908 they got shaft drive and a 60 hp six was also built. Seems that by 1908 the Alco engineers knew all they needed to know, the licence was suspended and Alco did their own thing from there on. I think all old car buffs recognise the Alco as one of the best cars of its era. Unfortunately in 1913 the company worked out that each of the 5000 or so cars that had built to date had cost it an average of $460 - production was ceased forthwith. On 22 August 1913 Alco announced its desire "to sever as completely and as soon as possible, all connections with the automobile branch of the business" and Alco remained in the locomotive business.

Alco built several different size models. I guess they did not change much over the few years of production. Most well known are the 40hp four (453 cid) and the 60 hp six (579 cid), although they also made 16 and 22 hp fours as landaulet taxis.

 

Great infos but it reads like there was no chain drive six. How long did Berliet build locos?

 

You maybe correct but can you provide us with some concrete background info on this? I have done quite a bit of research on Berliet in the past as I used to own an Alco and I do not recall Berliet building large cars early on. The hubcaps on a Berliet also had their name spelled out.

If you study the racing photo and some of the others there are differences on this car, the radiator it is shaped differently from the Berliet and the radiator cap and filler tube are also different. The Berliet also had a round white badge on the radiator and there is none on the B car. There are just to many differences in my mind to be able to label this car a Berliet quite yet...... unless someone can come up with some images of a very similar Berliet.

I do not believe it is an Alco either as there are to many differences in the chassis details and also on the radiator.

Look at the photos of these Berliet's to see what their hubcaps and radiators look like....

http://catterlit.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/berliet-047.png

http://www.flickr.com/photos/84744892@N00/2081644960/sizes/l/in/photostream/

http://www.fondationberliet.org/evenements/actualites/berliet-aumusee-gallo-romain/

Myself and others from all over the world have studied this photo for years and no one has come up with a positive ID.

The closest match looking at chassis details is a 6-70 Thomas. I have a very original one here in the shop to study and size wise it matches but the shape of the front frame horns on the B car have much more of a curve downward and the radiator on this car is not a Thomas radiator. I also have compared the chassis details with several good original Thomas photos and it does not match.

1908 Berliet Racing Car.....

 

The caption for this photo in the Saturday, December 11, 1926 Portland Evening Express read, "The Evening Express Santa Claus with his reindeer team will come to town Monday. A staff photographer today met the jovial saint some distance to the North and snapped his picture for the hundreds of Portland children who will soon see him."

Santa and his four reindeer drove up and down Congress Street in daytime hours once a day for a week to meet children and hear their Christmas wishes.




A U.S. Post Office mail delivery truck, loaded with holiday mail at Christmas time in 1926 in Portland.

 

Found the photo caption:

"World War I Victory celebration in Market Square in Houlton on July 4th, 1919. A large U.S. flag is suspended across the street. The parade featured an M1917 tank, also known as the "Six-ton Special Tractor" or "Six-ton tank" (modeled after the French built, Renault char léger FT-17).

The M1917 used the first successful caterpillar tread that was first used on the steam log hauler invented by Alvin O. Lombard, Waterville (see: A Salute to Maine, by Daphne Winslow Merrill, 1983, p.127)."

 

One of the things I appreciate about this forum is that guys really try and look for answers, rather than getting contentious (or, worse, high-handed and knowing).

We may STILL not know -- yet -- what this car is, but everybody seems intent on putting their energies into FINDING the eventual, and correct, answer, rather than jumping to conclusions or jumping on one another for floating ideas out for consideration. The HAMB is a COOL place to hang out! THANKS, guys. We'll keep on looking for the answer!

 

Right on, Tee. Sounds as if this one has stumped a ton of people, not just here.

ONE THING that bugs me is that obvious TANK mounted below. It doesn't appear stock, and that lady doesn't seem like a racer or cross-country driver who's need "extra" fuel.

 

The sheet metal under the frame in the hood area is a belly pan and on the side between the tool box and chain case is what I believe is the muffler.....

 

Okay, but belly pans must have been an option back that early. Just speculating, buddy. I didn't mention a chain case, and I wouldn't know on on this early, mysterious car.

 

http://www.old-picture.com/american-legacy/007/Blevins-Elinor.htm

 

http://www.old-picture.com/american-legacy/006/pictures/Driving-Woman-Car.jpg

 

Rhea, daughter of Charles Duryea.

http://explorepahistory.com/displayimage.php?imgId=7356

 

http://www.brosen.com/files/1900 elec car.png

 

http://babyccinokids.com/2009/08/31/car-sing-a-long/

 

http://www.svvs.org/genpics9/1900s_Photographer's_Prop.jpg

 

http://www.strangeoldepictures.com/content/item/161889.html

 

http://melrosemirror.media.mit.edu/...530303757656250616765303032696430303439303636

 

http://drx.typepad.com/psychotherapyblog/2008/05/photo-of-the-da.html



http://www.coastal181.com/2008_Bits/250-The-Crowd-Roars.jpg



http://2009and-scene.blogspot.com/2009/07/crowd-roars-1932.html



http://www.indymotorspeedway.com/500movie.htm

 

http://filmnoirphotos.blogspot.com/2009/02/happy-birthday-ann-sheridan-1915-1967.html

 

Daytona Beach


Tommy Milton designed and built. Twin 300 inch Duesenbergs mounted side by side. April 27, 1920 Milton set a new record of 156.046 mph.

 

car at the left is the Blitzen Benz built in 1909.

 

more Barney 1910

 

That's a 1904 Cadillac, nice photo.