RimrockRandy

Howdy! If there's one thing I know in Life it's that the members of this esteemed Club and its fabulous forum REALLY know their antique autos. Every single time I've asked for help here, people have rallied up to answer my questions. You have NO idea how impressed I am with that and how much I appreciate it. It's something I can count on and it's AWESOME! THANK YOU! OK, here's today's question. What are the years of manufacture of these two autos? I am much more interested in their years than their makes and models, although that would help, too. So, why as I asking? Well, this building was once famous on the old Ocean-To-Ocean Highway that eventually became US Highway 60. The building started out its life in 1884 as a hand built log home tucked deep into a canyon in the Datil Mountains. Eventually, a boy* who grew up in the house became a wealthy New Mexico rancher* and had the house dismantled, moved and reassembled at the intersection of what's now New Mexico Highway 12 and US Highway 60 in Datil, New Mexico. The problem with the move of the house is that it is not documented anywhere in available historical records or old newspapers or anything I've been able to find in the past week. So, I am keeping an eye on eBay in hopes of coming across old postcard like this one. I suspect these two antique autos dates to the late teens or early 20's. Knowing their age for sure will allow me to say the lodge was definitely 100% in place and operating by that time. I hope I can find even older postcards showing even earlier autos but for now this will have to do. The rancher's name was William Raymond "Ray" Morley, Jr. I am in the process of completing a blog dedicated solely to "The Morleys of Datil" and will share it in this post once it's done. THANK YOU for your help! PS--The lodge shown in the postcard burned to the ground in the mid-40's. PPS--Source of card = https://www.ebay.com/itm/373984078599

Many HUGE Thanks to everyone who commented on and contributed thoughts and resources to this post. I am deeply grateful for your kind help and assistance. Early Tuesday evening (01/04/2022) I finished a lengthy article on the Plank Road. I wouldn't and couldn't have done it without your help. When I put up the first photo, I was simply looking for info to do a short Tweet about the car on the Plank Road. Your enthusiastic reception and reaction to the post totally changed my plans. A case could be made that all of you collectively sabotaged my weekend! But I thank you for doing so. It was a very fun and unexpected tangent. Anyway, even if you don't read the whole post, please scroll down to the end as I have a comment there about the AACA that I suspect you will enjoy reading. And, yes, it's true. Normally, when I do a longer article, I put in all the sources and citations as I go along. For this one I just wrote it in my own words without extracting journal quotes, etc. I think it works better in this case. A discussion of the sources is appended as a separate linked document. https://azitwas.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-plank-road.html THANK YOU SO MUCH! May Your Year 2022 be Your Best Ever! Carry on. John Parsons, Rimrock, Arizona.

Thanks SO Much, 30DodgePanel! Yes, I dote on those early Arizona Highways. When The AZ Centennial rolled around in 2012, the State created "The Arizona Memory Project." It was and remains a Great Success. Luckily, the project scanned a lot of those old AZ HYWS and has made them available online. If an issue has been scanned, you can download the entire issue! I make ongoing, frequent and extensive use of the project's resources. I'd be lost without it. Note that the picture I used to begin this post came from the project's files. You will really enjoy the vast resources available there! https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/

Thanks, 30DodgePanel! That's a Great resource and will take a long time to digest. However, I went right to a stretch I am familiar with and it's spot on for that time period. Back in 2017 we decided to study old and current US 89. Then in Spring 2018, we drove every piece of it from Nogales to Piegan, Montana. The Tucson-Nogales stretch was one of the earliest pieces to be improved for what eventually became US 89 in the mid-20's. I've always contended that the piece in front of Tumacacori Mission (although now paved) is one of the earliest remaining pieces of the original road that became US 89. This resource confirms that assertion and is Much Appreciated. THANK YOU!

Many Thanks to Walt G & Grimy for joining this thread. We appreciate your comments. The collective discussion on this post has led me to do a deeper dive into the Plank Road than I had planned. As a result, I found a great 52-year-old article in the The Journal of San Diego History SAN DIEGO HISTORICAL SOCIETY QUARTERLY Spring 1970, Volume 16, Number 2. (Link is below.) Anyway, I figured everyone would thoroughly enjoy this quote from the article! "From 1915 to 1919, travel to and from Yuma could be accomplished in three or four hours, but due to increasingly heavy traffic from 1919 to 1927, the trip length­ened considerably. Many fights broke out over who had the right of way which caused traffic jams of eight to ten cars that could not move until the antagonists settled their argument. Quite often it took many hours to back up the jammed cars to a turnout so the other cars could pass. These fights occurred more frequently the farther one traveled down the road. During this period, trips took as long as two days as traffic jams, fights, and weather caused many delays. Many travelers camped in the middle of the dunes where today a state campground has been pre­served to accommodate weary travelers as in the past. Standard equipment for a trip to Yuma in 1920 to 1927 consisted of extra boards, two auto jacks, gunny sacks, a shovel, food and water for at least two days, and lastly—to be totally prepared—a set of boxing gloves." https://sandiegohistory.org/journal/1970/april/plank/

GOSH! Where do I begin to say THANKS to all who have made this post come alive with new information and delightful views of a highway oddity. Many HUGE THANKS to: joe_padavano, ply33 and 30DodgePanel for their awesome insights into the plank road itself. And a Huge Shout out to Bloo for identification of the vehicle. Chalk up another great score for Team AACA Forum's "What Is it?". You have given me far more than I ever hoped or expected. Now my challenge is to write up your information in a meaningful manner for my Arizona History Stories Facebook page. The old adage "ask * you shall receive" always takes on a whole new meaning every time I pose a question on the AACA Forum. THANK YOU for helping History come alive. Your thoughtful consideration and time spent in reply to my query is MUCH appreciated. THANK YOU!

Thanks for the links, Joe. I found a 1926 photo of construction of the "real" road across the sand. Note the sign at right. Here's the source: https://digitallibrary.usc.edu/Share/15678i71016vcocr7givj8r2p5ahq30i

The archive does not list a date for this photo. The earliest plank road across the sand dunes near Yuma supposedly were built around 1910. California supposedly took over mgmt. of the plank road in 1915 and installed a much "better" plank system. So, I am guessing this photo is circa 1910-1915. I am hoping the ever-astute members of this esteemed Forum can ID this vehicle. There "should" be enough features visible to determine its make, model and vintage. I am working on trying to get a match using the faint license plate. (Note added after initial post: Looks like maybe a 1914-1915 California plate.) In any event, it would have been a genuine adventure crossing those sand dunes on planks 'back in the day'. The source of the photo is here: https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/digital/collection/histphotos/id/27915/rec/298 Thank YOU for your help! John Parsons Here's some background on the plank road: https://azdot.gov/adot-blog/plank-road-was-once-way-between-yuma-and-san-diego

Well, here's a regular buffet of early autos to identify. The archive data says it's a 1904 photo. Chances are pretty good the ages of the cars range from 1902 to 1904. At least the original photo was high enough resolution we could enlarge it and get some decent detail. Thank You for your help!!! Source of photo: http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p15799coll65/id/20637

Thank You, keiser31 & dictator27! Much appreciated! I stumbled across the photo of the Rambler yesterday in regard to a early 20th Century photographer. Here's an article about him: https://www.usbr.gov/lc/phoenix/AZ100/1910/the_man_behind_the_camera.html The Rambler shows up in some of his other photos so it's going to be great to be able to have the name of the vehicle. It's interesting that the name "Rambler" took a 36 year haitus! https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/rambler-gamble

I've probably spent at least two hours online today trying to ID this car. No luck. Now it's your turn. Thank You!

Thanks, Randy, unfortunately, that's the highest resolution available from the archive there I found the photo. I truly wish I had a higher resolution photo.

We are so Thankful for this Forum. We don't use it often, but when we do, you've never let us down. It's so great to know that the people on this Forum will ride to the rescue and identify whatever it is that shows up here. THANK YOU! OK, so we have one here that's totally stumped us. As always, we do quite a bit of online study before we come here. What are the makes and years of the four race cars shown lined up in Prescott, Arizona? We know for 100% certain sure that they were not affiliated with the 1914 Cactus Derby that passed through Prescott. We've searched Prescott newspaper for the years 1909-10-11-12 to attempt to determine if there were any auto races. There was one proposed for 1909 but it never happened. There "might" have been a Prescott-Phoenix race in 1911 but we haven't proven that yet. Judging from various online race car photos, we think these cars are circa 1910-1911. Other than that, we're clueless. THANK YOU for your help--it is MUCH appreciated!

THANK YOU keiser31! That's it. Your kind help is really MUCH appreciated! The photo you found and posted seals the ID.

The archive photo title says: "Blanche and Emery Kolb with 1920 auto." Indeed, the front license plate resembles a 1920 Arizona issue. Legendary Grand Canyon photographer Emery Kolb was making good enough money then to afford a new car. So, we're wondering what you think the manufacturer of this auto was. Here is the source of the photo: https://archive.library.nau.edu/digital/collection/cpa/id/21739/rec/197 And here's a good short article on The Kolb Brothers if you are interested: https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/pittsburghs-kolb-brothers-brought-the-world-to-the-grand-canyon/ THANK YOU for your assistance--it is MUCH appreciated! John Parsons

Greetings, AACA Members! The archival data on this photo states it is a 1908 Overland. However, the radiator geometry and the radiator emblem do not seem to match up with what a 1908 Overland appeared to look like. I've tried to search 1908 radiator emblems to find what it might be but have had no luck. So, that's why we're turning to The AACA Experts! THANK YOU for your help!! The photo shows a wealthy Jerome, Arizona, Doctor (or Dentist), with what is said to be the first vehicle ever driven in that famous copper mining town. You can see the archival data here: https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/digital/collection/jermmm/id/7/rec/1

Thanks Bloo! That curved front axle is pretty distinctive. I think you nailed it! THANK YOU!

It's always a pleasure to bring an ID question to this Forum. We appreciate your help so very much. This is a rather odd postcard. The card itself is postmarked 1930 but the vehicle on the "view" side of the postcard is much older. We're speculating that it was simply left over from earlier publication. So-called "Local View" postcards were hot items beginning early in the 20th Century. Interestingly, each community's drug store(s) were the main (and sometimes only) vendors of "local view" postcards. It was a way to draw customers into their store(s). In Prescott, Arizona, there were eventually five drug stores that competed for "local view" postcard business. Each of the drug stores often tried various gimmicks to generate interest. This card bears the name of Heil Drug Store, started by Frederick J. Heil Jr. around 1912, plus or minus. Erwin Baer took the picture. We're guessing the auto is around 1913-1914 vintage. Anyway, I am hoping that you will ID this vehicle for me. Once the vehicle is identified, I will be posting the card on the Prescott History Facebook group and, of course, as always we give credit to the Esteemed AACA for your awesome help and assistance. THANK YOU!

Many HUGE Thanks to nzcarnerd & Tinindian for helping me ID those vehicles. It's utterly fascinating those two air-cooled vehicles were in that location at that time. The water level in the Colorado River (as indicated by the dog at the edge of the sandbar) indicates a probable late July time frame--easily the hottest time of the year. Temps at Lees Ferry in July are well above 100. The Franklin was very lightweight and that helps explain how it cold have been driven across the Paria River as well as that muddy sandbar without bogging down and getting stuck. We put together a post using the two photos plus two more we found here: https://www.facebook.com/pg/US89Team/photos/?tab=album&album_id=682764762197391

We appreciate this forum so much. It's been awhile since we've asked for help to ID a vehicle (or two). Your help when we were in the thick of our US 89 project was incredibly valuable, helpful, and remarkable. We are especially interested in the sedan. It appears the people near the vehicles are well dressed for that location. The photo is said to date from 1926. That year would be just before Lees Ferry became part of US 89. Knowing the year, make and model of this vehicle will hep us "attempt" to track down what it might have been doing in that truly remote location. Thank you for your help. John Parsons Idaho Falls

Holiday Greetings! We appreciate the help of AACA Members in identifying vintage vehicles. Its been over a year since we asked your help in ID-ing a vehicle. Lately, we've been delving into the Idaho Transportation Dept. digital photo archives. These photos are from 1922. We think the Highway Dept back then sent one or more photographers around the state in the same vehicle...or perhaps two or more of the same make & model. The first photo is a close up of the vehicle and the second is a distant shot of the rear of what we think is the same vehicle. Source for the first close up i taken 11-25-1922 s: http://cdm16876.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p16876coll2/id/2690/rec/35 Source for the 2nd distant photo taken 10-24-1922 is: http://cdm16876.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p16876coll2/id/4990/rec/33 THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!!!