Period Photo Thread

[Earl B. 14]

The Duesenberg on the right has been discussed in these forums before. It was given by some ding-a-ling woman to the WW2 scrap drive, and it's at the receiving station for the scrap drive in the above picture.

[T-Head 18]

Photo of Gable in his Duesenberg which if I remember correctly he had restyled in CA. It still exists and took best of show at Amelia Island in 2008.

Note: Thanks Packard32 for letting me know. That means the photo is post 1941 so I deleted it.

Edited January 28, 2010 by T-Head (see edit history)

[T-Head 18]

Today for lunch let's go to coffee shop at the National Hotel up ahead on the left. I hear they have great soup and sandwiches. Photo taken in 1932.

[T-Head 18]

Clever marketing is nothing new.

[T-Head 18]

A couple of Fords' loaded with accessories, the left being a 1932 five window Model B with more than enough gee gaw's on it. The right one being a 1933-34 Tudor with after market wheels, skirts and mud flaps.

[T-Head 18]

Here is a nice set of four Packard assembly line photos. The second photo looks like possibly 1937 115 or 120 line. The last two photos appear to be a senior series line from perhaps 1940. I am sure some 30's Packard expert can tell us more and also something about the body line in the first photo.

[T-Head 18]

I found this photo the other day which is related to the set of photos of 1938 Plymouth factory shots. This shows the press in its entirety for stamping the one piece tops that we looked at a week or so ago. I have seen similar sized presses in a factory in the past that made parts for the big three back when they where actually that in the late 60's and they are very impressive in operation.

My dad was a tool & die and my brother is still in the field. They worked for a company in Waterbury, Conn. called Anchor Fastener that made stampings for the automakers and had a building the size of a football field filled with presses like this. It was the most impressive thing I have ever seen in operation. It is all gone now and finally closed last year.

PS. We passed 500 posts today and 16,000 views. Thanks for helping us get this far.

Edited January 28, 2010 by T-Head (see edit history)

[T-Head 18]

This Metz roadster is evidently involved in some type of contest or tour in Minnesota ( I think it was an AAA Reliability Tour) as indicated by the fifteen on the radiator. I love the action involved in this photo and also the fact that horses could help an automobile go somewhere it could not on it's way to totally replacing them.

Edited January 29, 2010 by T-Head (see edit history)

[fotofan 10]

Got to be one of the oddest "tow cars" I've ever seen, what with the boom added on without hacking off the back half of the sedan body. Any guesses about the make and year of the car or who made the boom? That bird on the radiator cap makes me want to say Chrysler, but I'm not bettin' the farm on it!

[Larry Schramm 2,260]

I think this is one of the best threads. Super good pictures.

[keiser31 3,299]

Not Chrysler. Maybe Pontiac with that oval quarter window.

[T-Head 18]

I think this is one of the best threads. Super good pictures.

Thanks Larry, I would like to take this opportunity to ask more people to get involved submitting photos. We are all looking forward to seeing whatever gems you have. We need your help to keep this thread going. Thanks, T-Head

Edited January 29, 2010 by T-Head (see edit history)

[fotofan 10]

Not Chrysler. Maybe Pontiac with that oval quarter window.

Thanx, Keiser31. Ever seen that kind of add-on boom before, or do you think it was a home built one-off?

[stude8 0]

1933 brought a wave of Studebaker powered cars to the Indy 500 lineup following the promising performances in 1932 by factory and independent entries.

The worsening economy of the depression reduced the winner’s purse and the lap fund awards went unsubscribed. To make it worse, 5 men died, 2 in qualifications and 3 in the race. Of the 42 starters 20 were Millers, 9 Studebaker, 5 Duesenberg, 4 Hudson, a Buick, a Chrysler & 2 Cooper.

<O:p</O:p

The Studebaker factory team was improved over 1932 with 4 team cars getting new aero dynamic bodies designed after University of Michigan wind tunnel tests showed they reduced wind drag over 20%. The engines were the latest “P” version President 9 main bearing 337 CID inline 8 cyl also relocated in the chassis for better balance. All engines were test run on dynamometer machines to confirm reliability and power output. The 5<SUP>th</SUP> car #47 was privately owned and only had mild changes its 1932 body.

<O:p</O:p

Independent Studebaker entries included the Art Rose #38 Commander 8 engine 260 CID with front wheel drive driven by Dave Evans who surprised everyone when he finished 6<SUP>th</SUP>. In the end of the 14 cars still running, 7 were Studebaker powered. The best factory finisher in 7<SUP>th</SUP> place was #34 driven by Tony Gulotta. Even with all positions from 6<SUP>th</SUP> thru 12<SUP>th</SUP> filled by Studebakers this was the last factory attempt to win at Indy, the company went into receivership later in 1933 and survived to manufacture cars until 1966.

<O:p</O:p

The images show A_One of the 1933 Rigling sample cars, Luther Johnson driving, *The metal wire spoke wheel covers were not used in the race;

B_Cutaway view of 1932 frame with new 1933 aero-body & bellypan;

C_One of the President race engines on dyno;

D_The factory five car team;

E_One of many “Promo” posed team images at Indy track Pagoda;

F_Another Pagoda pose featuring the Pierce Silver Arrow *A Studebaker Division at that time;

G_The Art Rose #38 car that finished 6<SUP>th</SUP> *Kirkpatrick Photo incorrectly inscribed “5<SUP>th</SUP> Place”; H_The #34 car that finished 7<SUP>th</SUP> in official factory photo *Note the white shirts and ties.

Stude8

[T-Head 18]

Why, it's Mr. Potato going off to market......

[T-Head 18]

Moving day came to a standstill quickly.

[T-Head 18]

This photo is labeled beach, it looks like someone had a slight miscalculation.

[Larry Schramm 2,260]

Looking at the last one, I might guess it is after a hurricane or something because it does not appear to be just in water, but buried in the sand.

[DeSoto Frank 0]

Got to be one of the oddest "tow cars" I've ever seen, what with the boom added on without hacking off the back half of the sedan body. Any guesses about the make and year of the car or who made the boom? That bird on the radiator cap makes me want to say Chrysler, but I'm not bettin' the farm on it!

1924 Cadillac 5-passenger Landau.

The "bird" on the radiator is an aftermarket ornament....

My first thought was Chrysler, but the "loop" door handles and combination of oval quarter window and landau irons identify it as a Caddy.

Wonder if they closed-in around the boom on the back, or just left a gaping hole in the coachwork ?

[T-Head 18]

More of freaky Friday, an English Rocket man.

[Roger Walling 350]

The Rocket Man is actually the new atom bomb delivery system developed by Iran

[T-Head 18]

Home James.

[T-Head 18]

And no monkey business.

[T-Head 18]

Two women inside of a plexiglass 1940 Pontiac show car. This car still exists today.

[T-Head 18]

And for our final Freaky Friday Lunch Special, the Standard Steel Tank Car. This was built during WW1 on an unknown chassis.