13White

Great Mechanical Catastrophe General Maintenance continuously

I don't really care for the tone of your reply; you have no idea what I participate in, or what clubs I have belonged to and for how long. I have done plenty of the work. Have a nice day.

I think I am probably as interested in old cars as I have ever been; but clubs just don't really appeal to me. Maybe others feel the same. I think I can participate and enjoy even though I don't have a matching jacket.

I have no personal knowledge of this car; however, my late Cousin was very close to my Dad when they were young, and Bert was delighted when he told me of riding in my dad's 1934 Ford coupe, and having a drag race with this car on Granville Street in Vancouver. Apparently the little Ford took him off the line, but once they got up to about 40 mph the Duesie was able to even up and then pull ahead. Not bad for a 21-stud flathead...

That Mea magneto was used on White cars 30-40 hp. circa 1910-14. I have a couple of similar ones.

If I keep learning like this my head is going to explode! thanks again!!!

I agree completely with all of this, but I have to add that although the transmission cases are the same, aluminum and cast iron, the Model 15 3/4 ton trucks have 3rd gear direct, and 4th gear overdrive, the same as the cars. The 1 1/2 ton model 20 truck transmission looks the same but 4th gear is direct and no overdrive.

While this is an unbelievable town car, I would respectfully say it is not a White

I'd sure like to meet your friend!

So.... Based on my continuing education, I would think the ebay photo is a 1911 White "forty" I sure would like to have it now!

Thank you that makes a lot of sense. The mystery car in the eBay photo is a 40hp for sure due to the larger hubs and heavier axle. That would explain the early style lamps, firewall and door handles. Most of my research has been on the 30 hp cars and that information is really good to know. Thanks again!

I have also seen over the years White cars (and trucks) of the 1913-14 era mis-identified as 1910-12. It’s even worse with White trucks models 15 and 20, as they retained the gas lights and early style hood and fenders etc up into the 1920s. But after many years of research I still am certain that LH drive was introduced for the 1913 model year for the “Thirty” model 30hp cars. The cone vs disc clutch is not as easy to be sure, as with the 30hp GK series engine and oil clutch being used in trucks up to the mid 1920s, many early cars had the cone clutch upgraded to disc as it is a virtual bolt-in conversion. It’s very interesting to try and sort out.

Well, this photo certainly has me questioning what I know about 1913 White cars. it is definitely left hand drive as the script on the radiator is not reversed. But the gas headlights and oil side lamps are earlier more like an 11-12. Also, the external door handle on the rear door is not found on a 1913. The top of the firewall and windshield look earlier like 1911 as well. The steering wheel has 4 spokes, where the earlier cars usually have 3 spokes. The large front hubs look like the larger 40hp car. And it definitely appears to be an original image from the past so that eliminates an inaccurate restoration. I just don’t know what to think.

Based on my research and literature I have collected over the years, I would offer the following; 1912- RH drive and cone clutch 1913- LH drive and cone clutch 1914- LH drive and disc clutch I have seen photos over the years of cars identified as "1912 White" that I would believe are 1913. I could be wrong, but I do have a fair bit of original information. I am fairly certain that 1913 is the first year of LH drive for the 30-40 HP cars.

Are you able to identify the guys in these photos?

Further to the One cylinder race, there actually was a fourth entry. Mike Simmons was riding a vintage bicycle dubbed “ The Spirit of Alcohol”. He did hold the lead at one point, until the chain fell off and he was unable to continue.

Thanks for the interesting history of this car; as you mentioned,it was owned by my father at one time. If I may, I can add a little from the time that Dad owned it. In addition to old cars, Dad had a couple of things he was very passionate about; steam, Colt revolvers, and Winchester rifles. He had a big safe in the basement full of Colts, and a pegboard wall in the den with a complete collection of Winchesters, rifles and carbines, from the model 1866 Yellow Boy all the way to the Model 1895 Flatside. Including a Model 1886 in .50-110 express but that’s another story. Anyway, If Dad decided that he wanted something, nothing was sacred, and all bets were off. I came home from school one day, and the pegboard wall was just empty hooks, and the safe was gone from the basement. But there was a 1926 Cadillac in the driveway. It wasn’t too long before Ram McGladrey had the remains of a 1905 Oldsmobile Light Tonneau. It was very rough, basically the bare engine and rusty frame. But Dad had to have it, and soon the Caddy was gone and the remains of the Olds was in the garage. The Cadillac was traded for the Olds. Dad did restore the Olds; it was Canadian built and is now in the museum in its birthplace; St. Catharine’s Ontario.

This is interesting no doubt, but it is getting off the topic of Pre-war cars that have survived.

I can’t believe it; I have a very early memory of riding in the rumble seat of that car myself! It was at a May tour at the Tally-Ho in Nanaimo in the 1960’s. It made an impression on me with how quiet it was as well. I have never seen that car since that ride.

That’s a great story and an exceptionally beautiful car! And interestingly enough it originated in the same town as the White. It’s something to think that they shared the same roads way back when. Here’s a photo of the White taken around Ashcroft back then. One time an “expert” told me the bail handled lamps I have are not correct. I showed him the photo and he said they must have changed them back in 1920. Lol

Please keep it coming; I could read stories like this all day long!!!

Thank you once again for posting. One thing for me is it makes me feel good to see that the White really wasn’t any worse than most of the cars of that era. Those guys weren’t easily intimidated!!! I’m so grateful that they salvaged so many early cars when they did.

I must say thank you to all those who have posted; I have certainly enjoyed this thread. Although I am from the island, I grew up around pretty much all of these characters and most of these cars. Some of these gentlemen I first met as a child and then went on to become friends as an adult. It was always interesting when Buck Rogers would pull into the driveway driving his " travelling swap meet" lol. Is Paul Bolam still alive? I have not seen him in many years. A really interesting thing would be to compile a roster of all of the vehicles that were discovered by Buck Rogers and passed through his possession to other collectors. That would be fascinating but maybe impossible to complete. Thanks again to everyone that has posted.