Studebakers on the Roadways of the World (1852-1946)

[studeq]

Studebakers on the Roadways of the World (1852-1946)

From time to time I will be posting photos from my collection showing Studebakers in everyday use. Not factory publicity and engineering pictures but snapshots taken during the time when the cars were in daily use. I will be captioning each with pertinent information and will be confining the photos to the years 1852-1946. Feel free to post similar photos on this thread.

Photo #1

The model ES Big Six President was built between June 1926 and October 1927. 16,354 units were assembled in the U.S. and Canada. The President was built on the 127" wheelbase whereas a shorter version ES was built on a 120" wheelbase (production figures are for all ES models). The shorter wheelbase version was referred to simply as the Big Six Custom Brougham (later a Victoria was added to the lineup). Serial no. breakdown U.S. 2102301 to 2119209; Walkerville, Canada 2053101 to 2053545. Engine Six cyl 3 7/8" X 5" 353.8 c.i.

[keiser31]

I'll add this one of this preacher with his new Studebaker coupe........

[studeq]

Photo #2

A man and his wife pose proudly with their new 1914 model SC Studebaker Four. The SC (and the larger model EB Six) were distinguishable by the gas filler located on the exterior of the cowl. The SC was also available as a 2-passenger Landau-Roadster and panel delivery. Engine 3.5 X 4” 192.4 c.i., wheelbase 108.” Total production 17,976 (as compared to 7,625 for the model EB Six).

[Guest stude8]

This is a proud owner of his new 1930 Studebaker President 8 sedan with the family inside, photo was found on internet some years ago, location believed to be in Pennsylvania.

Stude8

[Guest stude8]

Another proud owner of a new 1929 Studebaker President 8 (they always wore wool suits for the photo?). This image was on Ebay a few years ago.

Stude8

[Guest stude8]

Nine adults and two kids is a pretty big load for a 1929 Studebaker President 8 roadster, looks like it was customary to pile every one on the new car for a family photo in those days.

Stude8

[Guest stude8]

Here is a better image of "Mom" driving her new 1929 Studebaker President 8 roadster without the whole family on board.

Stude8

[studeq]

John; That full frontal view is an interesting shot for several reasons. First it shows metal side mount covers seldom if ever seen on the FE/FH Presidents. Second the car does have the radiator shutters consistent with the 1930 model year but the bumper is the earlier style (and how about the "tilt" of that bumper?). Third it has an accessory spotlight, a pretty rare option for 1930.

[Guest stude8]

John; That full frontal view is an interesting shot for several reasons. First it shows metal side mount covers seldom if ever seen on the FE/FH Presidents. Second the car does have the radiator shutters consistent with the 1930 model year but the bumper is the earlier style (and how about the "tilt" of that bumper?). Third it has an accessory spotlight, a pretty rare option for 1930.

Richard

I have one other view of the same car, the gentleman has his hat on in this one and the camera angle shows a bit more of right side of the vehicle. Wish we could read the state and date of the license plate.

Stude8

[Guest stude8]

Here is another view of the 1929 President sedan previously posted here shown with a rather classy young lady. This image shows more of the left side of the car and was labled 1928 Studebaker, I suspect the smaller diam hubcaps indicate it is actually a 1928 not a 29.

Stude8

[Guest stude8]

Another view of the 1929 Studebaker President 8 roadster previously posted with 11 people on it. This time with a little girl perched on the hood, hope the radiator wasn't hot when they took this photo.

Stude8

[Guest stude8]

And yet one more of the 1929 Studebaker President 8 roadster seen before, this time with two buddies seated on the fenders.

Stude8

[Guest stude8]

A different 1929 Studebaker President 8 roadster, note the two tone paint scheme on the beltline of door. A couple and friend in rumble seat having a fun day on the road. Maybe the person behind the camera is another rumble seat rider?

Stude8

[Guest stude8]

What looks like a 1927 Studebaker Commander Victoria Big Six model EW on a mountain road a long time ago.

Stude8

[Guest stude8]

A partial view of a lady in a 1927 Studebaker Commander Victoria, on a forest road someplace.

Stude8

[Guest stude8]

Not on the road but down on the farm it looks like, in FINLAND. The bigger car on right looks to be a 1916 Studebaker Series 17 "Six - 50" 7 passenger Touring car. Can't ID the smaller car at left, diagonal hood louvers should help in figuring what it is.

The image was on AACA site years ago and labeled as in Finland.

Stude8

[Guest stude8]

A family photo with what looks to be a chauffeur driving them in a 1918 Studebaker. Note the lady in rear seat has the family dog on her lap. Image appeared on AACA forum years ago.

Stude8

[Guest stude8]

These images came from Europe and shows a 1918 Studebaker Custom Coupe, very racey styling for 1918 period. Car is left hand drive but appeared in a foreign sales album.

Stude8

[Guest stude8]

A really early image, 1909 Studebaker EMF marked as the 1909 Glidden Pathfinder Tour Press Car. Postcards of the period show this car up to its axles in rain soaked muddy country roads.

Stude8

[Guest stude8]

One of my favorite images, an unhappy chauffeur leaning against the side, waiting outside the hat shop for the lady of the house on a shopping spree. The car is a 1914 Studebaker 7 passenger Limousine.

Stude8

[Guest stude8]

Another early image from a local history book, a 1910 Studebaker EMF model 30 pictured in Eldorado, IL at that time.

Eldorado is the next town North of Harrisburg on US45. I have driven around Eldorado hoping the building in the photo still exists but haven't found it yet.

[Guest stude8]

This photo I believe was made in Kansas somewhere, the car at left is said to be a 1912 Studebaker EMF. It has a strong appearance of that model, front fender shape, cowl lights and Acetylene head lights. Unfortunately they hung the license plate in front of the radiator emblem location.

Stude8<!-- google_ad_section_end -->

[studeq]

#3

The EMF was named for its three founders Barney Everitt, William Metzger and Walter Flanders. Studebaker signed a marketing agreement with this company in 1908 and between that date and 1912 sold 39,295 EMF’s and another 30,555 of the smaller Flanders “20’s.” The EMF was available in a number of body styles including the 5 passenger touring, Roadster, Demi Tonneau and Coupe. The cars were built principally in Detroit but there was also an assembly plant in Walkerville, Ont Canada. Engines were four cylinder producing 25 horsepower. Wheelbase was 106.”

We do not know the details behind this chance meeting of two five passenger EMF “30” touring cars, their occupants or the location. The cars look nearly new so it is likely there was an active dealer nearby. The dirt street and wooden sidewalks gives evidence of its early origin. My guess as to the date of the photo is 1912, or 100 years ago.

[Guest stude8]

Another view of the 1909 Studebaker EMF Glidden Pathfinder Tour Press Car #80 at speed with six people on board tearing up a dirt road somewhere on the tour.

Stude8

[Guest stude8]

Here is a special girls day out ride, 4 ladies and 5 gentlemen in a 1921 Studebaker with a "Manufacturers License Plate" on it. Could be a dealer's office employee's going out to lunch?

Stude8

[Guest stude8]

This photo came out of a magazine and is dated 1931 in Manitowoc, WI. The family was testing the 1927 Studebaker on a recent snow covered road, Wisconsin winter roads are pretty rugged.

Stude8

[Guest stude8]

An interesting situation with a 1928 Studebaker President FB Roadster in the lobby of a DuBois, PA hotel. The second image is a magazine ad for the hotel showing the art glass window from the outside that is seen behind the Studebaker.

Stude8

[studeq]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]150060[/ATTACH]

Here is a special girls day out ride, 4 ladies and 5 gentlemen in a 1921 Studebaker with a "Manufacturers License Plate" on it. Could be a dealer's office employee's going out to lunch?

Stude8

John; This is a 1913.

[Guest stude8]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]150060[/ATTACH]

Here is a special girls day out ride, 4 ladies and 5 gentlemen in a 1921 Studebaker with a "Manufacturers License Plate" on it. Could be a dealer's office employee's going out to lunch?

Stude8

*We have been advised by Richard Quinn the vehicle in the photo is a 1913 Studebaker and not a 1921 as described on the photo when acquired.

[Guest stude8]

Photograph by Willard R. Culver

Studebaker was thinking big in 1931. On the field outside the auto company's Indiana proving ground, this wooden model of the President Four Season Roadster served as both advertisement and tourist attraction. More than twice the length of a normal Studebaker, the 11,000-pound (5,000-kilogram) giant could fit 50 people on its running boards and occasionally hosted an orchestra—the 25-piece Studebaker Champions—in its cockpit. But by September 1936, when this photo was published in the Geographic, the oversize roadster was no more. "Studebaker styling had progressed to a point where it no longer bore even a passing resemblance to the big car," says Andrew Beckman, archivist at South Bend's Studebaker National Museum. "In the spring of 1936, the fender was ignited, and in less than half an hour the President was reduced to ashes."

This photo appeared in National Geographic Magazine in 1936 and shows a 1935 Studebaker Sedan driven alongside the wooden display model of a 1931 Studebaker Roadster adjacent to Indiana state highway 2 at New Carlisle, IN. It was chosen to add some color to this collection of pre-1946 images which are mostly black & white.

Stude8

[keiser31]

Yep....that was a shame that they torched that big wooden car. I wonder if the drawings for that car are still in existence???

Edited August 17, 2012 by keiser31 (see edit history)

[studeq]

I most enjoy seeing old Studebakers in period photos with old gas stations a close second. When I find a photo that shows both Studebakers and an old gas station well….!!! This shot was taken in or around Martinsville, Indiana. All of the vehicles are 1937 model year Studebakers and include three Dictators (two 2 door models and one four door) plus a J5 Coupe Express and what looks to be a large 11/2 ton J20 Shell gas truck. The station was owned by Roy V. Martin and the gas truck by W.E. Reeves. At least that’s what I gleaned from using a magnifier.

[studeq]

If you recognize this car as a 1925-26 Big Six model EP sedan you are up on your 1920s Studebakers. The EP models came in several body styles and were produced from August 1924 thru August 1926. All were powered by the 353.8 cubic inch Big 6 engine. Take a close look and tell me which kid is not too excited about being in a parade??

[bifda]

Is it the kid looking out of the passenger front door window?

As an aside can you tell me why some fenders have 2 swages and some only one, is this a design characteristic between two years? I have a car which has the single swage for front fenders and the rear have the double swage, but the rear ones are not original to the car and are in a mess.

[commander Dave]

:cool:Interesting: I was born in DuBois Pa. 1949 Now living in Alabama and working on 27 Commander Sport Roadster. Commander Dave

[Guest John.McMaster]

Hi John, Regarding the photo(s) you posted of the President (#4 and #9). What are the radiator shutters mentioned? What is the difference in bumper bars mentioned? What type of spotlight would this likely be? Would it be remote controlled from inside the cab? Is it contempory with the car or is the picture perhaps later than 1930?

Sorry about all the questions.

(This is such an interesting thread)

Regards, John.

[studerex]

The interesting thing on that 1930 President that you are asking about is that it has the 1930 radiator shutters, the 1930 beaded fenders and the 1930 wheels with the large hubcaps but the 1929 bumper. From the list of running changes made by John (stude8) you can figure the date this car was made. About Feb 1930.

[Guest stude8]

Hello John down under:

To answer your question about the radiator shutter system on 1930 Studebaker President and Commander models I scanned the page from the factory catalog that illustrates the feature on those models. The shutters were a one year feature for 1930 and then they went back to the common thermostat valve in the engine radiator water hose feed outlet.

Also I attached a photo of a 1930 President Victoria at a car show that shows its shutters open and its correct front bumper (Orange and Brown car).

The shutter system used a large thermostatic mechanism in the top radiator tank to open and close the shutters according to temperature of the engine coolant. With age when the shutter pivots got rusted or bent from road debris hitting them it took more power to open them so the system didn't age well.

As for the spotlight details I scanned a page from a 1931 Approved Accessories Catalog for Studebakers. It shows the "Sportlight" that came in 4 different versions AC52 to AC55 shown on the lower right list. You can see how the handle to operate the light was positioned inside the car.

Stude8

[Guest John.McMaster]

Hi John,

Thanks for all that comprehensive information. The radiator shutters are similar to some I have seen on a Rolls Royce but have never heard of them on a Stude. I guess we don't have the extremes of climate you do and maybe they never made it down here. I can see that they would be a source of problems in anything less than good condition.

The only variation I have seen with the bumper was a slightly different (two piece) centre spreader. The photo is the same as mine.

The spotlight looks like an interesting accessory for something a bit different and I will keep a look out for one. However I can't remember the last time my car was out after dark...but one must be prepared!!

Thanks again for the info and especially the pictures. I haven't seen that colour combination before

John

[Guest stude8]

To John McMaster: For your interest, I once owned a 1930 FH President Victoria but sold it sometime ago, something I should not have done but it is gone now. Here are some photos to show the 1930 details.

Stude8