sperryr Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 Can anyone tell me about the automobile in the attached photograph. It was taken in west virginia. The year would be helpful. I am going through some old photographs.B. S. Romig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcarfudd Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 1920-ish Hudson Super Six.Gil Fitzhugh, Morristown, NJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sperryr Posted October 29, 2012 Author Share Posted October 29, 2012 Is this something a farm family would normally have? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Layden B Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 A bit upscale for most farm families but they may be raising cotton and making money off the oil well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john2dameron Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Farming probably paid better in the 1920's than it did after the depression. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave@Moon Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 (edited) License plates indicate the car was registered in Texas in 1920, not West Virginia. The "short" style rear fenders mark this car as a 1917, 1918, or very early 1919 model Hudson Super Six. Also the top is different than any of those shown in The History of Hudson (from which I also referenced the "short" fenders) for these model years, so the car was likely old enough already to require a replacement top. That said, the sidemount spares and bumpers on the car are accessories that made the car even more expensive when new. At the time a 1920 Hudson touring car ($2400) was almost twice the price of a Buick 6 touring car ($1295). Most farm families would have had to strain to afford a $300 Model T. If these people were farmers and that's their car, I think it's likely that they just sold the mineral rights and/or the farm to the local coal company. Edited October 30, 2012 by Dave@Moon (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bud Tierney Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 John2: Actually, there was a serious farm depression in the 20s, which just continued into the 30s--WWI markets led to increased production, high debt levels for land, eqpmt; the bubble burst when the war ended, the increased prod and Europe growing crops again resulted in gluts, etc.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulrhd29nz Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 The Hudson in the photo is a 1917 model J four passenger phaeton. The 16 has different style of fenders and the 18 was the first year for Hudson to use the out side of cowl, wind shield mount, and the Hudson in the photo has the , through the cowl windshield mount, making it a 17. A very nice photo, thanks for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
28 Chrysler Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 It appears that they were maybe getting revenue from the oil well in the background. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeC5 Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Isn't that what the Joad family used in Grapes of Wrath? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Yes it was. They could afford an old Hudson."Don't buy a Chrysler. High compression's got lots of snap for a while but the metal ain't made that will stand it" Okie wisdom from the dirty thirties. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sperryr Posted October 30, 2012 Author Share Posted October 30, 2012 Wow! My great uncle and other relatives went to Texas and worked in the oil fields. I heard they did very well. Unfortunately my grandmother missed her brother and insisted that he come back so he gave it all up. They must have been close! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rons49 Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 This thread got me going. The model J Hudson Super Six( one of the great cars of all time... I'm an HET member) sold for about $1400, the 1917 Cadillac Touring for $2080( I'm a CLC member also). Go foward to 1920. The 1920 Hudson sold for, get this, $2400 ( after being reduced from $2600) and the equivilent Cadillac model for $3700. Wow! that is INFLATION. War is hell... and expensive. It's no wonder 1921 saw a large recession. Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sperryr Posted November 2, 2012 Author Share Posted November 2, 2012 I forgot all about the inflation after WWI. I know my grandfather lost his job as a machinist making torpedoes. Not much call for torpedoes after the war.</SPAN>Since the picture was not of a relative I’m thinking that one of my great uncle’s friend’s was trying to show him what he was missing by leaving the Texas oil fields!</SPAN> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now