3rd Reo ever built?

[Juha Paavo Kaita]

Hi!

I bought this Reo photo from ebay. On the back it says that the car in the photo is the 3rd Reo ever built and that the Reo is owned by Nick Pearson of Ellsworth Iowa. Photo was sent to some place by Dr. Salloway in 1946. Is this Reo still running and who might own it today.

Best wishes

Juha Kaitanen

Turku, Finland

[Juha Paavo Kaita]

Hi!

For some reason I missed the enclosed photos. I try once more.

Juha

[Juha Paavo Kaita]

Hi!

Hope to get the back side of the photo enclosed, too.

Juha

[keiser31]

Maybe the 3rd 1906 REO ever built as they made REOs before this model.

[West Peterson]

I'm not following you, Keiser. Where does it say it's a 1906?

[keiser31]

I'm not following you, Keiser. Where does it say it's a 1906?

It does not say 1906. What I am saying is that REOs were made earlier than 1906, which is what the pictured car looks like to me, so that is why I said maybe it's the "3rd 1906 REO" built, not actually the third REO built from the beginning of REO production. I hope that is more clear of an explanation.

Edited October 24, 2010 by keiser31 (see edit history)

[West Peterson]

I'm not sure why you think it's an '06 though, as opposed to an '05???

[West Peterson]

It may be the 3rd one-cylinder REO built in 1905, but the first REOs were two-cylinder cars. In any event, I don't believe the pictured car is known to exist if in fact it is the 3rd one-cylinder built.

We own a very, very early one-cylinder 1905 REO, the 60th, and it is the third oldest known to exist. The other two are no where near as low as 3rd (if memory serves me correctly). I will post this question down in the REO forum, and see if we can get an answer as to the lowest number known to exist.

Edited October 24, 2010 by West Peterson (see edit history)

[keiser31]

For all I know about REOs (not much), I would not be surprised if it was anywhere from a 1905 to 1909. I am merely saying that I find it very hard to believe that the first car pictured is "the 3rd REO ever built".

[West Peterson]

Photo was sent to some place by Dr. Salloway in 1946.

"Sent in by Dr. M.B. Galloway, Webster City, Iowa. March 22, 1946."

Neat photo, by the way.

[Juha Paavo Kaita]

I showed the photo to James Neal while visiting Lansing about a week ago. He said that the Reo is 1905. I think the photo may well be taken round 1940´s judging the clothing people are wearing. So this Reo may still be rpund somewhere. Perhaps there is somebody in this area of Iowa who can recall something. Many odd things can be found in this world if you look from right place and right time.

Juha

Turku, Finland

It sure has been dark day today - no sunlight - kaamos

[nzcarnerd]

The clothing style of the people in the pic is much earlier than the 1940s. More like the late teens or early 1920s.

[allcars]

Interesting thread about the early Reo. Coincidentally, a late 1905 (per the auction listing) single-cylinder Reo Runabout (engine #1138) is to be offered at auction in California on Nov. 13. It has a nifty and apparently original flip-and-stow rear seat. A later 2-cylinder Reo touring is also to be offered. Both are from the estate of the late Bud Ekins, a well-known car/bike stunt man and early motorcycle collector.

Here's the link to the Bonham's page on the '05:

Lot Details

[Juha Paavo Kaita]

Looked for serial numbers for Reo in 1905. This is what the record says:

Touring, Model A, 2-cylinder, 1 - 400

Roadster, Model A, 2-cylinder, 1201-1800

Runabout, Model B, 1-cylinder, 701-1200

It looks to me that the Reo on the photo is Runabout. So it seems that the car can´t be the 3rd Reo ever built since based on records the 3rd Reo should be Touring. Anyway it would be nice to learn about this Reos later live and the man who used to own it.

Juha

Turku