old garage?

[adam1982]

[Bob40]

I'm thinking dealership or possibly car rental

[Kvinokor]

I'd say it looks like a dealer except I see no advertisements

[Dave@Moon]

That's a very wide variety of cars, all with what appear to be very similar tops. I think this may be a display from a coachbuilder or specialty top installer.

BTW, the Model T with the landau body appears to be some sort of taxi (see pennant in photo).

[Seldenguy]

It may be a storage garage. My father as a young man(in the early 20's) worked in a garage in Buffalo NY, as I remember it was the Acme Garage, and located downtown. His job was to bring the cars out of the storage area, wash, clean the interior,and check tires and lubes. These customers were the apartment dwellers whom lived downtown without the benefit of personal or one car garages. They came and drove them off, used them and brought them back to be stored again. Each time the clean procedure was repeated even if only a time lapse of a day. Also he said hired livered(sp) chauffers occasionally picked them up and returned them. It looks like that kind an operation to me. --Bob

[Layden B]

Bob has got it right. In addition they would in the early days remove the battery to be charged and drain the gas. Fire safety was a BIG concern. When you wanted the car you would let them know in advance or have a set schedule so they could replace the battery, fill the tank and have the car either ready at their door for your arrival or deliver to you. This was not for us of the working class, this was for the affluent before income tax.

[Seldenguy]

Layden,affluent, yes! There were no Fords,Maxwells, or Hupmobiles in the above photo. In Buffalo, my father drove a lot of expensive autos Pierces, Packards, and Cadillacs to name a few. But it was only from the 2nd & 3rd floor down the elevator to the wash bay and then to the pick up area. They were short trips but at eighteen years old he loved it.--Bob

[Guest miss68xr7]

I am in favor of the taxi company, based on the sign and the number on the back of the car below. and guys looking ready in front of their cars. There is a sign in the background, my best guess is mound hotel, St. Louis used to be nicknamed mound city, maybe it is from there.

[Guest prs519]

seldonguy, look more closely! that Landaulet is, I beleve, a model t ford (a tee not all that cheap, when equppd wth that body) Perry

[Guest doninabilene]

This is a photo of a 1914 Towncar in the middle of the Frame

Can whoever owns this photo PLEASE can you send a Good Clear photo of this car in the middle of the frame

Both views Coming & Going

-Don modelttowncarclub@yahoo.com or (719)784-1915

[Larry Schramm]

It might be a picture of a car distributor that serviced dealers in a specific territory.

[Hudsy Wudsy]

I, too, think that Bob has it right. In the city, cars left unguarded have always been subject to harm or theft. In some ways, its just the natural evolution of a livery stable.

[michaelod]

I am in agreement with Bob. Note that the Model T is parked outside of the building. You do not see it parked with the other customer cars. The Model T could have been a company vehicle.

Thanks,

[West Peterson]

I believe the banner on the Model T says "Taxi"