up on the roof

[Dave Mellor NJ]

This was on HAMB by Southpaw. Anybody figure out what it is?

[mribbich@wi.rr.com]

My guess he is driving a bus and it is some type of paper recorder with a lock on it to keep the driver from speeding.

Marv.

[keiser31]

Looks like about a 1951 Plymouth to me. Don't know what the machine is.

[Larry Schramm]

Maybe for a taxi?

[Grandpa]

Dave,

Some observations: (1) The cylindrical device seems to be connected by a coax cable. (2) The cylindrical device is facing the rear view mirror, but the device is blocking the view to the rear of the car by the driver. (3) The rear view mirror seems to be angled such that the cylindrical device can view the driver's face while also being able to view the road ahead.

Conclusion: The cylindrical device is a video camera installed to view the driver's face and the road ahead during a road test of some sorts. The note pad may be for logging traffic events encountered during the test. The locked box may be the electronics package for the camera. Video recording in the mid to late 1950s would have required more equipment (located in other areas within the car).

Grandpa

[rhb1999]

Grandpa might be on the right track. In the '60's tv show "The Fugitive" in one episode, Jack Klugman playing a truck driver is being followed by an insurance man with a similar device.