Early Detroit Automobiles

Bullet · April-07-10, 10:01 AM

Here is a found collection of old car photos back from I guess the early 1900's. Any help in identifying them? I will upload a few at a time as the file limitations prohibit me from uploading the entire collection at one time.

**Packman41** · April-07-10, 10:16 AM

Hello Bullet:
Photo #2 is a Pierce Arrow - notice how the headlights are faired into the front fenders. This was a P-A styling "trademark." Could be an early 1920's model. I am much better with Packards, but check out this web page for a 1922 Pierce Arrow. Scroll down to see a 6-passenger touring car: http://www.pierce-arrow.org/art/art12/

Bullet · April-07-10, 10:26 AM

Nice job Packman41. Here are links to a larger view:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2766/4499653523_e6904621e4_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4063/...0e9274cd_o.jpg

**gnome** · April-07-10, 10:32 AM

the first pic looks like a flat dash oldsmobile, but the headlights are wrong.

The thing about the first pic, the engine is in the rear and it has a tiller instead of a wheel... which dates it to before 1910
for a look see at some interesting car pic, GM has a photo heritage site:
http://www.gmphotostore.com/

**canuck** · April-07-10, 12:56 PM

the top picture looks like a Baker or a Stanhope electric from the late 1890's early 1900's but it is probably neither.

Check out this early car site. Remember there were hundreds of manufacturers, I think up to 600 american in the twenties. There were many in Canada too. They were all to be sucked up by the bigger makes.

http://www.earlyamericanautomobiles.com

**Hermod** · April-07-10, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by canuck

the top picture looks like a Baker or a Stanhope electric from the late 1890's early 1900's but it is probably neither.

Check out this early car site. Remember there were hundreds of manufacturers, I think up to 600 american in the twenties. There were many in Canada too. They were all to be sucked up by the bigger makes.

http://www.earlyamericanautomobiles.com

The majority of makers who disappeared went under financially.

Bullet · April-07-10, 04:02 PM

Here is another view of the first car:

[[photo pending resizing...grrr)

Larger view :
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2742/...351a2eb8_o.jpg

**canuck** · April-07-10, 06:24 PM

Hermod

Youre right, I was a bit quick on that one. A few were picked up that had potential or a desirable marque and usually a bit of financial trouble. The rest went under.

It is interesting how many technologically advanced cars were made in that era. Spyker cars of Holland, the company that just bought Saab from GM made a car in 1903 that had the first 4wheel drive and brakes to all four wheels and the first 6 cylinder engine all-in one model.

**Packman41** · April-07-10, 06:56 PM

Gnome:
I think you are onto something with your photo of the 1906 straight-dash Oldsmobile. Your photo and the 1st photo have an emblem just below the seat. Clicking on Bullet's link with maximum zoom you can almost make out what it says. At first I thought it said Buick, but the more I looked at the emblem the more it resembled a very early Olds emblem. Then I went to the GM photo website and found the photo you posted. What do you think?

Bullet · April-07-10, 08:00 PM

Here is the resized first car, with a slightly different view:

Larger view:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2742/...351a2eb8_o.jpg

**gnome** · April-07-10, 08:10 PM

Packman, the headlights are throwing me off. But it certainly looks like a straight dash. The guys are interesting. One a businessman all proper in his bowler, then the mechanic looking tough guy. Wonder if one of them could be Ransom?

Bullet · April-07-10, 08:12 PM

Here is another car from this collection:

Larger view:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4032/...43a082be_o.jpg

Extra points to anyone who knows the locations of these shots.

**Packman41** · April-07-10, 08:19 PM

Gnome:
I understand what you are saying about the headlights, but those brass lamps are interchangable and easily switched out for a better lamp. They were mounted on a strut with a universal fitting. Take a look at the general lines[[?) of the two cars. Did you look at the emblem on the side of the car? Look at the flickr link in post #3 to zoom in close.

I am not even going to try on the photo posted in #12.

Bullet · April-07-10, 08:30 PM

I think Packman41 is on to something, Gnome. That car is a ringer 'cept for the lamps. And as Packman41 said, they can be changed out.

**gnome** · April-07-10, 09:11 PM

you guys are the experts, so if you think it is an Olds...

Bullet, where did you find these, anyway?

LDoolan · April-08-10, 12:33 AM

Originally Posted by Packman41

Gnome:
I understand what you are saying about the headlights, but those brass lamps are interchangable and easily switched out for a better lamp. They were mounted on a strut with a universal fitting. Take a look at the general lines[[?) of the two cars. Did you look at the emblem on the side of the car? Look at the flickr link in post #3 to zoom in close.

I am not even going to try on the photo posted in #12.

Not only that but the same lamps were supplied to several makers of cars. I learned that when I did a Model S Ford for a customer a few years back.

Bullet · April-08-10, 09:45 AM

Q gnome: These photos [[among other items) are from a life long collection of things found. Sorry I can't be more specific. Here is another car to ponder:

Larger view:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2784/...591ed268_o.jpg

**gnome** · April-08-10, 10:05 AM

Looks like those cats have just tapped a keg.

1911 Chalmers?
http://www.pbase.com/rpdoody/chalmers_detroit_00 great source of rehabbed classics

Bullet · April-08-10, 10:52 AM

Indeed they have gnome! This is more then likely prohibition, and so there is nothing like tapping some brew while driving along the country roads. Even the woman traveler drank up. In the other shots, we see our friends of the past smoking a "R G Dunn". I think the Chalmers guess is a damn good match my friend. Nice work.

Bullet · April-08-10, 11:10 AM

Here are two more views of this same car:
larger view:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2795/...342885ba_o.jpg

alternate larger view:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4001/...598d82c7_o.jpg

**gnome** · April-08-10, 12:21 PM

I think I'm wrong about the Chalmers guess. The rear fender of the Chalmers flairs out and flattens towards the rear. In the Mystery Car, the fender is rounded. Also along the hood cowl you can see in the Chalmers pic that there is straight seem where the dash or firewall meets the engine compartment. The Mystery Car's cowl shows a curved seem.

**EastsideAl** · April-08-10, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by Bullet

Extra points to anyone who knows the locations of these shots.

The Olds shots certainly appear to be somewhere in what we would now call Brush Park.

Bullet · April-08-10, 10:10 PM

You have a good eye for details, gnome. Some small differences for sure, but different none the less from the reference model.
With the obvious exception of the Pierce Arrow, all of these photos were taken in Detroit, so your guess is a pretty good one, EastsideAl. I don't know exact locations, so extra Hite points to you!