Reo dealer in Minnesota

[Juha Paavo Kaita]

Hi!

I am collecting photos and post cards which relate to early Reo cars and Reo factory in Lansing. Enclosed is a card showing 1907 Reo. At the bottom of the photo there is information which I quess tells that the Reo dealer is C.A. Smith Agent Bristol MN. The abbreviation for the state seems a bit unclear but I think there are letters MN and not NH. Was there a such Reo dealer in this small Minnesotian town?

Juha Kaitanen

Turku, Finland

[West Peterson]

Looks like N.H. to me, in fact it looks like its spelled out as New Hampshire.

[Juha Paavo Kaita]

The photo is cutted into birch park. This made me wonder the state could be Minnesota. There is a small town called Bistoll in Southern Minnesota. Does anyone have any information about C. A. Smith Agent?

Juha Kaitanen

Turku, Finland

[Juha Paavo Kaita]

I just learned that Bristol in Minnesota is just a farming hamlet. So C. A. Smith Agent was located in New Hampshire. Life long learning process took a small step again.

Juha Kaitanen

Turku, Finland

[West Peterson]

Yes. Bristol, Minnesota is a small town, but so is Bristol, New Hampshire. Back then dealerships were in small towns. So I wouldn't discount it because of that. To me, it is clearly written out as New Hampshire.

[Juha Paavo Kaita]

I think that is quite neat way of advertise cars - romantic. It would be nice if we had a list of dealer; where and when operated. If I remember right PAC has a member who is listing Packard dealers. This is information which should be collected and stored somewhere.

Juha Kaitanen

Turku Finland

[Hudsy Wudsy]

The two letter state designation (in this case MN) is a very modern thing. Any address prior to the '70s would have had "Minn" for my lifelong home state of Minnesota. New Hampshire abbreviated as "N. H." would have just been a minimal formality in a home-area market. Juha, all of your distant relatives in Minnesota say Hi! We love our Finns!

[Guest bill murray]

Hejsan Juha:

I just found this thread and I have sent an email to the "Town Historian" for the village of Bristol New Hampshire.

If this person can be of any assistance, I will pass it on to you.

MVH

Bill Murray