35cz8 Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 Looking for original photos of the 1930 Dodge Marathon Car. Need for a research project I am working on. Any help is appreciated 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nearchoclatetown Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 I am currently scanning literature at the AACA library which will be released on the DBC website in a few weeks. I do remember some pictures of it in letters from DB to the dealers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
35cz8 Posted March 10, 2019 Author Share Posted March 10, 2019 Thanks for this information Near, I will be waiting to see what they have. I appreciate the response to my needs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
35cz8 Posted March 26, 2019 Author Share Posted March 26, 2019 Great Dave, Which photos do you have? I have some already so looking for different pics to help track the travels of the Marathon Car and to confirm it was in those locations. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30DodgePanel Posted April 14, 2019 Share Posted April 14, 2019 Hi David and Bob, Forgive me as I may be pointing out the obvious here, but I think one clue would be, if either of you have any information that shows a listing for Dodge Brothers service stations for the NY area during this time frame, it may shed some light on the location. The sign hanging on the right of the photo assures us it is an approved service station and should be on a list somewhere (one would think..). I'll try and search through what I have to see if I may have an answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
35cz8 Posted April 14, 2019 Author Share Posted April 14, 2019 I do not have any of that kind of information but if a guy could find such a list, it would certainly be of great help. Great idea and now, something more to hunt for LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted April 23, 2019 Share Posted April 23, 2019 Are there any maps of where the car went? I have a feeling I have seen something, but maybe it was not that detailed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
35cz8 Posted April 23, 2019 Author Share Posted April 23, 2019 Great Photo Dave and thank you for sharing it with me. I don't think I have this one but will check my pictures and see. Spinny, There are a couple of photos, that I have seen, but not much detail in the photos - just rough road map is all I have seen. I am trying to find as many pictures as I can of the car so I can try to put a bit better map of it's travels together and with each photo, I look for new hints of where it was taken and try to figure the trip it was on. It is quite a project, but a fun one and when I find a picture I don't have, it sure is fun to examine and research. Still looking but not a lot out there to be found I guess LOL. Thanks for the interest and the help. Bob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted April 23, 2019 Share Posted April 23, 2019 What a great project! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30DodgePanel Posted April 25, 2019 Share Posted April 25, 2019 Hey Bob, Not sure if you have this photo yet but it was labeled Knoxville TN 1930 Also found various newspaper clippings on digital libraries, I'd recommend any researcher take advantage of those avenues of information if you're not already as most of the digital libraries are free to use. As an example I found articles that stated the Marathon car would be in Calexico CA on March 26th 1930 and another article saying it was in Atlanta on Sept 14th 1930. Are you looking for clues like these or just photos ? I also came across a dealer "George K Littlefield" who boasted of having a map up on display showing the route so folks could follow along daily. I would think there would have to be some sort of record of that map or a photo of the map somewhere. I would be happy forwarding what I come across to your email but the problem is knowing what you need or do not have so we don't waste your time with sending duplicates of anything. If you'd like, I'll continue to search through digital databases and send what I find. Let me know if you want me to continue to search for clues or if you're only interested in photos. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted April 25, 2019 Share Posted April 25, 2019 Good sleuthing Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
35cz8 Posted April 27, 2019 Author Share Posted April 27, 2019 Dave (30DodgePanel} I have a photo that is very close to the one you show here but it has some differences. I would love to have a full size copy of it for sure. I don't consider getting any information or photos (even if I have it already) as a waste of time because I love the search and research on this car and it's travels. Please feel free to send any and all information you find and are willing to share. I know that many of the dealerships would post a map of the travels in their showrooms for people to see and I even found one photo showing a map of the trips that was on a trailer that was quite large and (I assume) used for parades and such. I do use one old newspaper website looking for any articles from the 1930 / 1931 time frame about the car. I really enjoy seeing original photos and reading original articles from the people that were actually there and witnessed the event. I really appreciate any and all information I can get. Feel free to send anything and everything you want. Please let me know if I can be of any help to you. Thanks again. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
35cz8 Posted April 27, 2019 Author Share Posted April 27, 2019 David (DC-8dave) I have a cropped image of the first photo (the one of the car by the gas station in NY) but not a full size copy of it. I have look through my photos and do not find the one of the lady sitting behind the wheel of the car. I did have a computer crash several months ago so I may have had a digital copy at that time but lost when I had to replace my computer. I would love to have full size scans of both if you would. Hope you are doing ok there. Thanks for all your help. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30DodgePanel Posted May 3, 2019 Share Posted May 3, 2019 (edited) On 3/9/2019 at 11:51 PM, 35cz8 said: Looking for original photos of the 1930 Dodge Marathon Car. Need for a research project I am working on. Any help is appreciated Bob, check out the DBC website under the Garage section for photos. Doug W. recently scanned quite a few items and there are a few things relating to the MC that you may want to see. What a grueling trek driving this car must have been. Wore me out just reading it.... Good luck in your search Dave Edited May 3, 2019 by 30DodgePanel (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HBergh Posted May 3, 2019 Share Posted May 3, 2019 I too have had an interest in clearly defining the complete route taken by the 1930 Dodge Marathon Car. Here are some pictures I've collected over the years. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
35cz8 Posted May 5, 2019 Author Share Posted May 5, 2019 On 5/3/2019 at 9:18 AM, 30DodgePanel said: Dave, I am still looking through all the 1930 information scanned and have found quite a bit that is very helpful in my research. Thanks for the heads up on this. Bob On 5/3/2019 at 9:18 AM, 30DodgePanel said: Bob, check out the DBC website under the Garage section for photos. Doug W. recently scanned quite a few items and there are a few things relating to the MC that you may want to see. What a grueling trek driving this car must have been. Wore me out just reading it.... Good luck in your search Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
35cz8 Posted May 5, 2019 Author Share Posted May 5, 2019 On 5/3/2019 at 11:57 AM, HBergh said: WOW, you have some really great photographs. Would love to see the full size photos and have them in my collection for sure. Bob I too have had an interest in clearly defining the complete route taken by the 1930 Dodge Marathon Car. Here are some pictures I've collected over the years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 (edited) Here is one of the documents recently scanned and posted on the DBC web site by @nearchoclatetown. http://www.dodgebrothersclub.org/pictures/Documents/1930 DBC Papers_0020 (add .jpg to this to get the picture). So not only are there photographs of the car itself to find, there are other sign-written cars promoting the Marathon. Any photos of them anyone? Edited May 6, 2019 by Spinneyhill (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nearchoclatetown Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 I knew there was something in that stash on the Marathon car but hadn't read it. Holy crap there could be skatey eight of them out there according to this letter. If every dealer had one painted exactly alike how do you know the real one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
35cz8 Posted May 6, 2019 Author Share Posted May 6, 2019 3 hours ago, Spinneyhill said: I think I may have a picture of one of these copy cars that was used in a parade. I will have to go back and look to see if I still have it or if it is one of the pictures I lost when my computer crashed and I had to replace it. T don't think they copy cars were exactly like the original and many pictures also have the drivers and/or Ray priest of the AAA so those would be the real deal car for sure. Anyone have any full size pics they would share? This has turned into a project much bigger than I thought it would be but certainly one that I want to try and complete. Bob Here is one of the documents recently scanned and posted on the DBC web site by @nearchoclatetown. http://www.dodgebrothersclub.org/pictures/Documents/1930 DBC Papers_0020 (add .jpg to this to get the picture). So not only are there photographs of the car itself to find, there are other sign-written cars promoting the Marathon. Any photos of them anyone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 10 hours ago, 35cz8 said: This has turned into a project much bigger than I thought it would be but certainly one that I want to try and complete. Good on you !! Fun stuff to watch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
35cz8 Posted May 9, 2019 Author Share Posted May 9, 2019 Anyone have any Marathon Car photos they want to sell? High resolution scans work too for my use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
35cz8 Posted May 20, 2019 Author Share Posted May 20, 2019 Very cool info and great photo to show what the maps would have looked like displayed at the dealers. Each bit of information and each photo I see is a step closer in my research. Thanks Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30DodgePanel Posted May 20, 2019 Share Posted May 20, 2019 (edited) On 5/18/2019 at 1:50 PM, dc-8dave said: Hello Bob, We know for a fact that the Dodge Brothers Dealers would post maps in their windows to keep the general public abreast of the progress of the Marathon Car. These maps had to have been furnished by Dodge Brothers Corp since they match one magazine advertisement that I have. This is the best image I have found to date of a dealership window display map. So David, what would have been to the right of that map, directly behind the lady's ? Would it have been something like this as they would update it by each specific "Trip No" ? Edited May 20, 2019 by 30DodgePanel (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
35cz8 Posted May 20, 2019 Author Share Posted May 20, 2019 I really enjoy seeing these kind of historical display posters and photos and am going to continue my search to try and make my research finding as accurate as possible - no guessing. Love those "FLASH" poster and hope to find as many as I can, along with photos, for my project. Thanks David. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idrjoe_sandiego Posted May 20, 2019 Share Posted May 20, 2019 On 5/5/2019 at 7:24 PM, nearchoclatetown said: I knew there was something in that stash on the Marathon car but hadn't read it. Holy crap there could be skatey eight of them out there according to this letter. If every dealer had one painted exactly alike how do you know the real one? It's the one with most bugs in the honeycomb radiator. On 5/3/2019 at 9:18 AM, 30DodgePanel said: What a grueling trek driving this car must have been. Wore me out just reading it.... The daily mileage log shows they maintained their average speed of almost exactly 30mph every day. (Newark, NJ on August 12 =23mph, damn NJ traffic.) It obviously wasn't an Indy race, slow and steady gets you there. All told, this is a pretty good clip back in 1930, even for an 8 cylinder. Anyone know if they ever duplicated this with a six cylinder car? Who were the drivers and what were they paid? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
35cz8 Posted May 20, 2019 Author Share Posted May 20, 2019 2 hours ago, idrjoe_sandiego said: It's the one with most bugs in the honeycomb radiator. The daily mileage log shows they maintained their average speed of almost exactly 30mph every day. (Newark, NJ on August 12 =23mph, damn NJ traffic.) It obviously wasn't an Indy race, slow and steady gets you there. All told, this is a pretty good clip back in 1930, even for an 8 cylinder. Anyone know if they ever duplicated this with a six cylinder car? Who were the drivers and what were they paid? These are just a couple of the questions I am seeking to find the right answers to. It was an amazing feat for 1930 / 1931 and all the weather changes and bad roads that had to be driven in and on would make us modern day drivers sick to even think about without AC, power steering - brakes and good heaters. I have taken on the project of trying to document the car, the drivers and the trips they made and this is why I am looking for any and all photos and articles I can find (from the day) that will give accurate information so I can actually document the event without guessing. There has to be more out there so I will continue my search and continue to put it all together - in order - as it happened. Thanks to all that have helped and I hope there will be more photos, articles, letters or any information or items found to help me work on this. I know the car would stop at dealers along the way for a short visit for advertising and advertise the visit ahead of time so people could go see the car and the drivers. As for there being many Marathon cars out there, there was only one and the others were not the same as the one running the marathon and there were some differences in the lettering and in the cars themselves. The "special painted" cars were done for the dealers to have as test drive cars for customers and were not identical to the real car. I have seen photos of a few of these "copy" cars and it didn't take too long to see several differences. So far, I have not found any documentation (positive) of a six cyl marathon car, only a couple of references to a 6 cyl - but not any documentation at all -- YET --- so will see if anything turns up on that question. Once again, I am asking if anyone out there has any photos or information from this event that they would be willing to share or sell? I prefer the original photos but a good high res scan will let me enlarge the photo and find the things I am looking for document all I can. Thanks to all that have / will help me with this. Bob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
35cz8 Posted May 25, 2019 Author Share Posted May 25, 2019 I want to thank everyone for their interest and for the photos shown here. It may not seem like it, but each photo helps me to document where the car was and as I study each one, I can usually find something that is helpful in my research. All of the original photos that I have found have had a note on the back telling something about where the car was in the photo and that is why I am trying to find originals if I can. This is a huge project but I am enjoying the task LOL. Thanks again. Bob 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 This was published in a number of newspapers in NZ in December 1930. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 This was in the Poverty Bay Herald on 4 Oct 1930: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 Otago Daily Times (ODT) 17 November 1930: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 The Press, 6 Nov 1931: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 ODT 18 May 1931. The yellow highlights are my search terms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 ODT 30 Mar 1931: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 The Press 8 Aug 1931: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 Australian papers are at Trove, the National Library of Australia, web site. Here is one, 8 March 1931, in Truth, Sydney, p. 9: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 The West Australian, Perth, 4 Dec 1930: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 (edited) One more for now. The Cairns Post, 13 March 1931: Edited May 27, 2019 by Spinneyhill (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
35cz8 Posted May 28, 2019 Author Share Posted May 28, 2019 There are MANY articles in the newspapers of the time and I am soon going to be going through them ALL to get as much information as I can to start putting my trip list together. I want to thank everyone for their interest and for the photos shown here. It may not seem like it, but each photo and article helps me to document where the car was and as I study each one, I can usually find something that is helpful in my research. All of the original photos that I have found have had a note on the back telling something about where the car was in the photo and that is why I am trying to find originals if I can. This is a huge project but I am enjoying the task LOL. Thanks again. Bob 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
35cz8 Posted May 31, 2019 Author Share Posted May 31, 2019 OK everyone, I found a photo of one of the "special marathon painted" DC 8's that were offered to the dealers to promote the Marathon event and to help sell the DC 8. There was only the one actual Marathon Car and as can be seen in the photo - the differences are very clear. No side mount spares and a different paint pattern from the real Marathon car and single wipers are the most obvious differences. So far, this is the only photo I have of the offered special painted car that dealers used to give test drives in. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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