What is it?

[Xander Wildeisen]

Anyone know the year and make of this car? 

[jeff_a]

 

It could be a Buick or a Peerless, I suppose. Probably way out "in the provinces" where cars were still a novelty to get such a turnout. Where I live the first "skunk wagon" didn't appear until 1904, and half the town turned out to see it when some crazy guy drove over the Continental Divide from Montana.

Edited November 11, 2019 by jeff_a (see edit history)

[1912Staver]

It looks rather small to be a Peerless.  The one in the advert is a 45 HP car , the one in the photo is more like a 20 HP car. If they were side by side you would see a substantial difference in size.  Not sure if Peerless built anything that small but there is a definite resemblance.

 

Greg in Canada

[Ivan Saxton]

The nature of the front axle beam may be definitive.  If they had been thoughtful enough to open the hood before the photo it may have been more helpful.  The relative scale of car and people might indicate that a smaller Buick is more likely.

[oldcarfudd]

The ten-spoke front wheels suggest Cadillac Model G to me.

[3macboys]

I agree with oldcarfudd

 

From the Detroit Library, almost looks like it's the same car, even the crank handle is in the same position

 

https://digitalcollections.detroitpubliclibrary.org/islandora/object/islandora%3A229754

[padgett]

Looking at the high front fenders and the running board below the axles am reminded of an American Underslung. Or maybe all of the people load it down that much.

[Xander Wildeisen]

It was a picture on the wall where I stopped to get something to eat. The photo made me laugh, because of how many people were smiling. Maybe you would have to say cheese for a full minute before the camera flash went off. 

[JACK M]

18 hours ago, 3macboys said:

I agree with oldcarfudd

 

From the Detroit Library, almost looks like it's the same car, even the crank handle is in the same position

 

https://digitalcollections.detroitpubliclibrary.org/islandora/object/islandora%3A229754

 

 

Lamps are different.

[3macboys]

46 minutes ago, JACK M said:

 

 

Lamps are different.

You are absolutely correct - completely missed that - i was looking at the top portion thinking they didn't have the handle part and missed that the actual lamp is square instead of round

[oldcarfudd]

Lamps often were different.  I have an entry-level 1912 Buick with bale-handled side lamps.  I'm often asked if they're original to the car, since bale-handled side lamps weren't seen much after about 1910.  And, in fact, I have no provenance on the car.  But a few years ago I saw a similar car with similar lights, and I knew that car's prior owner.  I called the prior owner to ask about the lamps.  It turns out his father had been a Buick dealer back in the day.  He said cars often came from the factory without lamps, and the dealer sourced the lamps locally.  But the other car and mine couldn't have come from the same place, since my acquaintance is in Minnesota and my car is a southern wide-track with 60-inch tread.  Go figure!