Dave Mellor NJ Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 These two cars, posted on The Old Motor | Old car photos are in need of IDTwo photos that we have here in our files which we hope you can help us identify. Above is a quite sporty, circa 1912 small car of unknown origin. Below is a photo of a real oddity, again from about the same time as the car above, which features an unusual round device on it’s rear deck, along with being decorated by many fasteners used in the construction of the bodywork. We have faith that you, our readers will be able to help us with these latest two mystery photos. The Old Motor photos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 Just a guess on the small car: Trumbull? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manuel Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 What is that furry thing in front of the ladies??A coat or a big dog??Manuel in Oz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozstatman Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 Is it possible the second car is an armoured car with the round device being the base of a gun turret? I've seen photo's of RR's converted for use as armoured cars in WW1 and WW2 but from memory they had enclosed bodies. Just throwing a thought out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldford Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 I think the round object on the back of the armored car is really a round trunk that is usually found in a fender mounted spare tire. It is merely laying on its side on the rear deck. The first car might be a Model T Ford with a home made body. I think I see the throttle and spark levers on the steering wheel. I'll try to enhance the photo and see more...Frank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 It is not an armored car. It my be a boiler if it is a steam car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Mellor NJ Posted October 27, 2011 Author Share Posted October 27, 2011 My thoughts were that the top car was a Model T speedster but the grille seems too rounded. He would have had to take a lot of parts off a more expensive,racy car and waste them on a T. I agree it would be counterproductive to armor an open car but there sure are a lot of rivets for a sporty car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidAU Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 On the second car I think the rivet heads are just decoration or they wanted to make darn sure no one ever opened the door. Could be a water tank on the back. I can't figure out what the thing on the top of it is but it sort of looks like a tap on the front of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drwatson Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 (edited) Mr. Chronis on "The Old Motor forum" suggests 1912-13 Abbott-Detroit Battleship Roadster for #2. This appears to be confirmed by a period Auto topics write up which also explains the device on the rear deck as a trunk for holding 2 extra casings & spare rims.As quoted from: Automobile topics - Google Books"ABBOTT-DETROIT for 1913........... The battleship roadster body is the one which made such a hit at the New York and Chicago shows, having a V-shaped radiator and a sheet steel body with the rivets plainly showing. "......The battleship roadster has a tire trunk and two extra casings on spare rims as part of the regular equipment, these being mounted on the deck in the rear of the seats." Edited October 27, 2011 by drwatson (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 36chev Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 (edited) Just a guess on the small car: Trumbull?Trumbull looks very, very close. In The Complete Encyclopedia of Motorcars 1885-1968 there is a picture of a 1915 Trumbull roadster--with doors and top. The fenders and wheels of the 1915 appear identical, the radiator shell has the same shape and the hood has the same slope. Looks to be the same size. Even more of a clincher is that hood on both have plain sides--no venting. But the radiator shell of the 1915 Trumbull in the book is plated/brass. I don't think this car is Model T based--wheelbase looks short--looks too small for even Henry! Edited October 27, 2011 by 36chev (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzcarnerd Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 That box on tha back of the second car does not look big enough to hold spare rims. Maybe it is a hatbox! Any clues on what that is sticking out the top of it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drwatson Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 (edited) How about this on car #2 ? The two rims (with mounted tires) fit around the outside of the box. The thing sticking out of top is a hold-down clamp for the spares. Edited October 27, 2011 by drwatson (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest prs519 Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Looks to me like ol Shep is looking back at the camera man. The driver looks fondly on ol shep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest De Soto Frank Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 I don't have the proper term for it, but the gizmo across the top of the rear "tub" on the rivetted-runabout looks similar to a strut or clamp-bar used to secure a cover across a hatch or inspection cover...Sure is an interesting, if industrial-looking, body design... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest nyleb Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 (edited) The first car is definitely a 1914/1915 Trumbull speedster. It has the same fenders, hubcaps, radiator, hood etc. of Trumbulls. Supposedly they only made one speedster for Alexander Trumbull, brother of Isaac and Jonathan Trumbull. That is Alexander in the driver seat. I think it was originally grey with red wheels. Edited September 6, 2012 by nyleb (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete K. Posted October 2, 2012 Share Posted October 2, 2012 An armored convertible!! I love it! This needs to go down with the screen door on a submarine jive. (I think poor Trident is lost at sea). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest nyleb Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 I'm not sure how to send a photo to The Old Motor to show that it is a Trumbull, but here is scan of a brochure including the speedster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwells Posted February 8, 2013 Share Posted February 8, 2013 (edited) Regarding photo #2, I think it can be confirmed as an Abbot-Detroit Battleship roadster based on this picture from Motor World Wholesale, vol 32 (1912) found on Google eBooks. Most every unique details matches as best I can tell. Sorry for the small size; I enlarged it as much as I dared and tweaked it a little. Edited February 9, 2013 by gwells (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted February 8, 2013 Share Posted February 8, 2013 Regarding photo #2, I think it can be confirmed as an Abbot-Betroit Battleship roadster based on this picture from Motor World Wholesale, vol 32 (1912) found on Google eBooks. Most every unique details matches as best I can tell. Sorry for the small size; I enlarged it as much as I dared and tweaked it a little.You nailed it......Abbott Detroit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwells Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 Anyone know whether one of these fantastic cars still exists? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcarfudd Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 The current HCCA roster shows 4 Trumbull roadsters and one coupe. The coupe got a first junior at Hershey last fall. The roster shows 11 pre-16 Abbott-Detroits.Gil Fitzhugh, Morristown, NJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwells Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 Thanks, Gil.What I was asking, and didn't make clear, was whether one of the Battleship Roadsters still exists. I've never seen one... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest nyleb Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 (edited) The current HCCA roster shows 4 Trumbull roadsters and one coupe. The coupe got a first junior at Hershey last fall. The roster shows 11 pre-16 Abbott-Detroits.Gil Fitzhugh, Morristown, NJI think there are about 10 Trumbull roadsters, 2 coupes, and 1 or 2 pickups left. Some of the roadsters are in England and New Zealand. Edited February 14, 2013 by nyleb (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Casper Friedrich Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 I think there are about 10 Trumbull roadsters, 2 coupes, and 1 or 2 pickups left. Some of the roadsters are in England and New Zealand.There is a 1914 roadster in Norway.BTW Isaac Trumbull was on board on Lusitania when it was torpedoed by the Germans on May 7th 1915. That was the end for the company. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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