Bear bear Posted August 18, 2018 Share Posted August 18, 2018 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunsmoke Posted August 18, 2018 Share Posted August 18, 2018 Don't we all hate when a poster titles his subject "what is it" in the What Is It forum! C'mon man! give it a proper title, just go in and edit. Title like "Circa 1900 9-Passenger Vehicle. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bear bear Posted August 18, 2018 Author Share Posted August 18, 2018 I would title it if I knew what it was! I don't so it fits. Do you know? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
28 Chrysler Posted August 18, 2018 Share Posted August 18, 2018 It is an early bus from about 1903, water-cooled gasoline-powered (crank and early radiator), with chains on the rear wheels for traction on the muddy slope. What country is the photo from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bear bear Posted August 18, 2018 Author Share Posted August 18, 2018 I wish I knew more about this picture. It was found in a collection of my family photographs. The family is centered around Cambria and Bedford County, Pennsylvania. My thoughts are that it might be steam-powered by looking at the bottom of the running board you can see a rather heavy pipe and fittings but I have no proof of that. What strikes me as odd is the double steering wheel on the column; it makes me think it may be a hand throttle. That is why I am curious as to the make and type of power it used. I can see that this one is going to be fun to figure out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ragtop4two Posted August 18, 2018 Share Posted August 18, 2018 I was also thinking some kind of steam vehicle, one steering wheel and the other a throttle for adjusting the steam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
28 Chrysler Posted August 18, 2018 Share Posted August 18, 2018 In the front the finned tubing under the hand crank and above the license plate is to small for a condenser. There appears to be a spark or throttle lever down on the column. It has some characteristics of some of the early Knox cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwells Posted August 19, 2018 Share Posted August 19, 2018 I've adjusted the image for a little clearer detail. While I agree with 28 Chrysler that the crank and the radiator strongly suggest a gasoline-engined car, what strikes me most is the large diameter twenty-spoke artillery wheels with hard rubber tires. Can't recall another car with such wheels and tires and I initially thought they would indicate an electric car with a heavy set of batteries. Also, I find it curious that the car seems to have a front license plate, although that may not be what it actually is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bear bear Posted August 19, 2018 Author Share Posted August 19, 2018 I found a new picture that is very similar to mine. Unfortunately, no other identification is given. The picture was taken in Wynfield, Kansas. I am thinking this bus may be a domestic manufacturer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwells Posted August 19, 2018 Share Posted August 19, 2018 Bear bear, Please post that picture if you can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunsmoke Posted August 19, 2018 Share Posted August 19, 2018 The primary reason for a specific title is so people can easily find the post later, and also so people don't keep opening a topic they have already seen. In the past year or so, there must have been a dozen posts called "What is it." "Circa 1900's High-Wheeled Bus" would do. While vehicle may be early as 1903, picture is most likely from later on, perhaps 1910s thus the license plate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bear bear Posted August 20, 2018 Author Share Posted August 20, 2018 To gwells: Here it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikewest Posted August 20, 2018 Share Posted August 20, 2018 The guy is a newbie, give him a break! He isn't an old seasoned critic like most of the responses here. It's a great picture, thanks for posting it! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
28 Chrysler Posted August 20, 2018 Share Posted August 20, 2018 The bottom belly pan is most likely a mud/dirt shield for the flywheel and transmission. Notice the 1 inch flat bar with the two bolts behind and in front of the side vents. They are hooked at the bottom, not bolted to the pan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzcarnerd Posted August 20, 2018 Share Posted August 20, 2018 There are visible differences between the two vehicles but they look to be from the same maker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bear bear Posted August 20, 2018 Author Share Posted August 20, 2018 Thank you for understanding and I will get better with time, I promise! To: nzcarnerd yes I see the differences like the tambour woodwork, but there are similarities also, such as the heavy duty rims appear to be the same along with the Ironwork for the surrey top supports and the dual steering wheels. We may be looking at model year differences. I am finding this search to be a lot of fun. This is for 28Chrysler I found a bus from Knox. I see some similarities but quite a few differences also. Let me know what you think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzcarnerd Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 I think the double steering wheel is a distinctive feature. Keep looking for that. There were many one-off and limited production commercials in that era. Vehicles built for specific purposes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 The front sure looks like a 1900s Knox Waterless. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwells Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 Perhaps, but I've never seen a Knox pic showing twenty-spoke wheels with hard rubber tires. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dosmo Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 On 8/18/2018 at 10:22 AM, Gunsmoke said: Don't we all hate when a poster titles his subject "what is it" in the What Is It forum! C'mon man! give it a proper title, just go in and edit. Title like "Circa 1900 9-Passenger Vehicle. You bring up a valid point. I'm a major offender about putting "What Is It" in the subject box - it seemed appropriate at the time. I never gave a thought to going back to edit the title, which is a good idea, as it would let others know the question has been solved. I will go back and edit some of my previous posts. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bear bear Posted August 21, 2018 Author Share Posted August 21, 2018 Maybe if you change the name of the forum heading? It infers the subject "What is it" as a place to put your picture of an Item you don't know how to describe. So your inclination is to post the picture in the heading. That is how I interpreted that forum heading? Sorry for the annoyance this post has caused! I was not intentional! Please note I am appreciative of the responses I have received on this post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
54vicky Posted August 30, 2018 Share Posted August 30, 2018 Do not let it bother you. His wife brought him a new bowl of cornflakes and fresh milk. ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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