T Flyer

Thanks George for the starting line-up photos 113 years ago today! They had no idea what was ahead of them, and many (including Henry Ford and Ransom Olds) said driving an automobile around the world couldn't be done. Fortunately, they were the type of men that said nothing was "impossible" and they proved it! We just have to remember that, the next time we hear "it's impossible".....

The picture above of the 1916 NJ license plate brings to mind the story of the Flyer license. Beginning in 1903, New York State started to require vehicle numeric identification. Prior to that time, the state would allow the owners’ initials to be displayed. However, that was difficult to control, so NY began to issue numbers. For several years it was the responsibility of the owners to fabricate their own plates using the state numbers. Leather was commonly used, as well as wood or metal backing. In this case, the plate for the E.R. Thomas Motor Company of Buffalo included the numeric 16490 with MFG (designating manufacturer) was issued by the state. The Thomas factory crew then crafted the leather plate and hand painted "16290MFG" just prior to the Flyer being shipped to Times Square for the start of the race. At that time, New York was one of the first states with a specific color requirement of black on a white background. Issued to the E.R. Thomas Motor Company of Buffalo, New York, the plate was carried around the world to victory for the United States in the 1908 New York to Paris Race. Unfortunately, the original plate has not yet been located. My hope is that with the story being told, someone reading it may have additional information on this particular plate? The exhibited leather plate was recreated for the 2008 Centennial of the 1908 New York to Paris Race. New York State’s decision to feature the leather plate in the new $20M WNY Welcome Center located in Grand Island NY, is a fitting tribute to the leading role the Buffalo area and it's only world champion The Thomas Flyer played in early automotive history.

You're right, Great Gramp would have done just that! Kind of makes today's "Ice Road Truckers" look pretty wimpy...

Those are the warehouses at the foot of the pier. As for the 12' of snow, look over the hood of the Flyer... The short planks are what was left of the long ones, after a ship's carpenter fabricated sail canvas to replace the leather fenders installed in Buffalo. Those had been taken by the crew of S.S. Shawmut to make new soles for their sandals...

If you look at an enlargement of the pier photo, you'll see that it's 08 with the APR 9 script quite different. The Flyer has not been back to Alaska since the day it first landed there in 1908. When Great Gramp asked the Wells Fargo agent Dan Kennedy what the trail was like to Fairbanks, Dan replied he had never seen an auto before and didn't know what they were capable of? He took George out on the trail in a sleigh, and you can see what happened to the sleigh. Imagine the 5,000+ pound Flyer on narrow balloon tires. George then telegraphed to Race headquarters in NYC that he could get across Alaska with the Thomas by taking it apart into 600 pound sections, then dog sledding it to Siberia. They would have to use 2 dog sleds in tandem for the frame. There he would reassemble the Flyer and drive on to the Eiffel Tower. That's "Yankee Ingenuity"! The cost to get it just to Fairbanks, $10,000 (approx. $250,000 in today's dollars). They had no idea what it would then cost to get to Nome, and across Bering Strait. The committee said return to Seattle, and ship the car to Japan. The Thomas and her crew were the only Team to make it to Alaska...

Graham's mention of Weed Chain was a significant part of their success. Invented in Canastota, NY by Harry Weed, they made it possible to navigate when faced with no snow plows or even roads across much of the world. There is a museum in Canastota which features the Flyer and her crew when they passed through town on February 14, 1908. As for the ladies aboard the Flyer, that was a photo op for the wives of local dignitaries. The Thomas never made it off the pier when it was offloaded from the S.S. Santa Clara on April 8. The first automobile in the Alaskan territory was no match for the snow up to 12 feet deep. The destination was to have been Nome, Alaska for the drive across Bering Strait. To this day, you still can't drive an automobile from Anchorage to Nome (even in summer)! And no automobile has ever driven across the frozen Bering Strait...

Thanks for the great images George! One thing we all do at the end of each year is to look back. Sometimes, past history is more inspiring than recent. Following are a couple of photos of a person who made a difference, blazing a path we take for granted today. George at age 35 and 92 behind the wheel of the Thomas Flyer. A fine example of "Yankee Ingenuity" and "Can Do!" attitude, something we could use a lot more of even today....

The perception at the start of the Race was that unlikely as it was any would make it to Paris, the vastly "superior European engineering" would be favored to win. Of course the Flyer would prove that to be the wrong assumption. As good as the Thomas was (including most powerful of the entries), I think you now know it was the men onboard who made it happen. Great Gramp often said he never knew how far they would make it to Paris, but wherever the Race ended they would be in the lead. He started every one of the 169 days with that thought in mind, and let nothing get in the way of that goal. Today, in the Automotive Hall of Fame George stands next the Henry Ford and Ransom Olds who did not enter their marques saying driving automobiles around the world couldn't be done. With a lot of "Yankee ingenuity" and sheer will power George proved America had what it takes to do the impossible...

George did have extensive experience with both the '07 and '08 models. He was the final step in the Thomas "quality control" process. Before the vehicle left the factory, he would take it for a test run where he would climb Brewer Hill (a brick paved street adjacent to the Buffalo plant) in in high gear. Then a drive along Delaware Ave., where the new vehicle had to reach 60 mph. Making these two final tests, he would approve it for sale. The '07 used in the Race was taken right off the factory lot, just days before the start and shipped by rail to NYC. No special modifications were made, except iron bows and canvass to form a roof (much like a Conestoga wagon) and 2 long wooded planks which rode on the fenders to serve as bridges. As for Monty, Grerat Gramp considered him a very good driver and was sorry to see him go. Monty left the team in Cheyenne as he had committed to do the '08 Vanderbuilt Cup Race prior to knowing about the NY to Paris event. E.R. did send a telegram to George suggesting Monty could return to finish the European leg. Imagine for yourself, after driving 3/4 of the way around the world and enduring for over 5 months what they faced on a daily basis, with Paris just days away George's reaction to such a suggestion. He threw the telegram to the ground.... George did however insist that Monty be a part of the victory celebration upon their return to NYC. This is the only known rare photo taken at the steps of City Hall with the Flyer and those who made the victory possible. L-R George MacAdam, Monty Roberts (on the sidewalk), E.R Thomas (at the wheel), George Schuster, and George Miller. It was there that Great Gramp received a gold Key to NYC (it was real gold in those days) from Mayor McGowan. From there it was off to see President Teddy Roosevelt who actually sat behind the wheel of the Flyer at his Presidential compound in Sagamore Hill. The visit included brandy and cigars with Teddy....

The AACA 75th Anniversary Celebration was an amazing event in Louisville, and West Peterson did an excellent job in covering the story: Antique Automobile October 2010 - AACA 75th Jubilee

There are very few 1907 Thomas models in existence. One example is in the Stahl Museum 1907 Thomas Flyer , which at the time was referred to as the "Gentlemen's Model". George always considered the '07 models superior to the '08, with the latter which "leaked like a sieve". He was delighted to see the '07 Flyer Model 35 waiting for him at the starting line in Times Square!

Each of the three teams that made it to Paris overcame unbelievable obstacles in an automobile Race around the globe that has never been equaled. Nearly 6 months of pure endurance and determination tested these men to their limits, and often beyond. In sharing this epic story with groups, especially younger audiences I always try to leave them with one central thought. Today, some people get the notion that if Google doesn't have the answer, there is no answer. After hearing the story I hope they realize that we all have the ability these men displayed, even if it's buried somewhere pretty deep within us. We have to remember that anything is possible if we try hard enough, and never ever give up when faced with a challenge. I think that's what makes the saga so appealing to both men and women. As Paul Harvey would say; "You now know the rest of the story".... PS: You might enjoy a photo of Ruprecht v. Siemens with the Protos at the Deutches National Transportation Museum in Munich

George was quick to point out that claims of any advantage the American Team might have had crossing the US, were offset by advantages the Germans and Italians had crossing Europe. As for the 15 day Alaska penalty, that was part of the original route. The only reason it was changed is that the Flyer actually went to Alaska to discover it was impassable. The other teams did not take the time and effort to do that, so the penalty was just. It's hard for us to imagine with the virtually instant 24/7 news of today, that keeping track of each team in 1908 was nearly impossible. Newspapers were days behind and often the accounts were inaccurate. As to the win, the Germans did claim victory when they arrived in Paris on July 26. However, the French knew who really won when the Americans arrived on the 30th. I think the win was validated 110 years later. On our way to Paris in 2011, we stopped at the Deutches Museum in Munich Germany. There we were greeted by Ruprecht v Siemens former CEO of Siemens International. The Siemens company acquired the original Protos when they bought the Protos company in 1909, and they still own it. I asked Ruprecht why the Protos featured exhibit had a wall sized image of the Flyer crossing a rail line outside of Chicago as part of the display? He said quite assuredly that it was only fitting as the Americans won the Race....

Goddard was best described as a "scoundrel" by George. At the finish of the 1907 Peking to Paris Race, the police arrested him for a trail of debts he had accumulated in that event. He must have had a good lawyer, as he was released in time to make it to New York for the start of the 1908 NY to Paris Race. Not much changed in his operation across the US, and Great Gramp felt he deserved his fate....

The young Italian lads were also terrified! Their cellmates included murders, and they feared for their lives. During their captivity they did not eat, and one of them always remained awake. It was a witness at the accident scene that came forward during the investigation that led to their release. It is incredible that three of the six starting teams actually made it around the world with their automobiles. While there were no fatalities among the participants, there were plenty of injuries and numerous cases of serious illness. Lt. Koeppen of the German Protos, nearly died of "mountain fever" in the Rockies. He collapsed while walking on a mountain trail looking for help, and was found by a cowboy who took Koeppen to safety. Great Gramp experienced food poisoning several times. Dr. Shaw gave him a "first aid kit" in Seattle, likely the very first use of a medical kit designed to be carried on an automobile for passengers. It contained 24 viles of drug medications, a suture with a small book of instructions. The vile for dysentery was quickly used up. George discovered that quickly drinking a pint of the local beverage (whiskey in North America or vodka in Asia), running after the Flyer until he broke a sweat, then falling asleep in Thomas was an effective cure. The 1908 Race was the ultimate test of both men and their machines...

Teddy was the reason the US entered a team. After Henry Ford and Ransom Olds said such a Race was impossible, Teddy prevailed upon his friendship with E.R. Great Gramp always said Teddy "encouraged" E.R, but given the President's "big stick" reputation E.R. agreed to enter a Thomas. Great Gramp was in Providence RI when he received a phone call on FEB 11, 1908 (one day before the start) that he was to be in Times Square the next morning to begin a Race around the world with the Flyer. George had a cold and a suitcase full of dirty laundry, but upon hearing that his boss and especially the President wanted this to happen he agreed. George had two heroes in life, one was Teddy and the other was John Wayne. The rest is history.....

Hans Hansen (a Norwegian ship Captain) began the Race with the French team. He proposed mounting a sail on the De Dion and skis on the front wheels, using favorable winds to sail the car across the frozen tundra of Siberia. Hans transferred to the American Flyer well before that could ever be attempted. Jules Vern would have liked Hansen's imagination...

When the Flyer leather fenders were taken by the ship's crew to make their sandals, the Captain ordered sail canvass replacements to be made by the Ship's carpenter. The SHAWMUT was a steam ship, but they still carried sail canvass onboard....

Jim; Pike's Peak was little challenge for the Flyer, and yes it made it to the top in the 1964 Glidden. During the 1908 Race, mountains were a real obstacle with no paved roads, guard rails, etc. In Japan George hired over 30 locals (men and women) to attach the rope carried on the cowl, and in low gear pull the 5,000 pound Flyer to the summit of a mountain. At the top they posted a guard that night to protect the Flyer from wild monkeys that roamed the country side. The next morning the villagers returned to attach the rope to the rear of the Flyer, and step-by-step lowered the Thomas down the back of the mountain. They were paid $25 for their labor, and very happy with the American's generosity!

Bill; There is no doubt bringing a "trailer queen" out on tour is something special. There is much to be said for the experience it gives to folks, watching (and hearing) a 110 year old automobile like the Thomas pass by especially when they don't expect it! It leaves a lasting memory you just don't get from seeing the same classic behind velvet ropes... Sometimes I feel I must have inherited that "what's over the horizon" gene myself from Great Gramp? Since taking THE Flyer across country is no longer an option, I have to settle for the next best thing. My 1929 Model A Roadster pickup has made the original route from NY to San Francisco. The goal is simple (when the world stabilizes medically and politically) to park it at the Eiffel Tower...

Though I'm new as a forum contributor, I see a great value in this resource. Fortunately, with many real events on hold the virtual classic car world is still alive and well. The Flyer did extremely well in a 2020 event, and was awarded the Most Historically Significant Car out of 245 world class automobiles with judges including Wayne Carini, McKeel Hagerty, Lyn St. James and Bill Warner: 1907 Thomas flyer Model 35 - Concours Virtual Hopefully, we can get back to the "real world events" soon!

It has been suggested recently that a Thomas Registry might be a good idea. Since the marque is relatively rare in terms of limited production compared with some other surviving brands, it might become an important resource in the future. Any thoughts?

Important to note, the actual "Race weight" of the Flyer was much heavier than published specs., with 35 gals. of extra fuel, extra tires, jacks, tools, planks, food, water plus 4 passengers with their luggage. Great Gramp estimated the gross weight exceeded 5,000 pounds on many occasions. You can imagine the problems associated with a vehicle of this weight on balloon tires, when there were no roads. Add the pounding the vehicle and crew took, when straddling the rails to ride on railroad ties (which were un-ballasted in those days). George lost count of the dozens of tires he had to replace along the route, or the near train collisions when changing tires on the rails.....

More interesting questions! As to the number of known remaining Thomas, that number stands at approximately 50. Harold Coker at one point led the list with 8 in his personal collection. He said always favored the Thomas marque as his wife Lill's maiden name was Thomas. Corky even built an outstanding replica, which was used in the 75th AACA Anniversary Celebration in Louisville. I do recall great conversations with Terry, and the lack of souvenirs was due largely to space and weight considerations aboard the Flyer. At an overloaded 5,000 pounds, anything that was not needed to keep the car running was tossed. That included two of the passengers (MacAdam the NYT reporter and Hansen) who were transferred to a train in Russia, as Miller and George tried to catch up with the Germans. However, Great Gramp did keep items he used on the Race. Several have been on exhibit at the Henry Ford Museum including the Medical Kit Dr. Shaw gave him in Seattle, the brass compass and hand made sextant he used to navigate around the globe. He also kept the map he purchased in Vladivostok, the only one they had to transit Asia and Europe as well as the daily log of locations and events he carried in his pocket. George did bring home a silk dress from Japan for his wife Rose...

Good to hear from my friends in Vancouver. The Zust was often called the "Children's Car" by the other competitors, but the young Italian lads (teens and early 20's) proved their worth by coming in third at Paris. None of the 3 French teams made it past Vladivostok. As for the E.R. Thomas Company, their success contributed to their failure. With the victory in Paris, they were world famous, but the US Flyer success in July proved to be one of the best things that could have happened for Henry's launch of the Model T in October 1908. That victory dispelled many lingering doubts about the "horseless carriage", and with an alternative at roughly 1/10 the price of custom built automobiles the Thomas company went from record sales to bankruptcy. Great Gramp walked up the Buffalo street and took a position with the Pierce Arrow. He opened Asia sales in Shanghai with Pierce trucks primarily destined for the British army. He then took a ship load of Pierce trucks to Morocco bound for the French Foreign Legion. George often said it was the Pierce truck sales that kept them going in the later years. They were seen as far better than those of other manufacturers...