Vintage Car in Jackson, Michigan

[Braedyn Kelley]

Hi,

 

I am going through some of my old family photos, and I came across two interesting vintage cars that were photographed c. 1920 in Jackson, Michigan.  Of note is that the house in the background on the first three images is immediately across the street from the old Jackson Automobile Company plant on what is now East Michigan Ave. (East Main St. back then).  

 

The first three photos are of one car, and the fourth photos is of the second.  Any help is most appreciated.  

[auburnseeker]

That bottom car looks pretty cool though I have no idea what it is. 

[keiser31]

Bottom car looks like a Moon.

 

Edited December 27, 2019 by keiser31 (see edit history)

[keiser31]

First few photos are of a Model T Ford.

[Mark Wetherbee]

First few are either a 1915 or a 1916 Model T Ford with the cowling and brass radiator.

 

The other car is very unusual, but Dagmar comes to mind even though I have only ever seen one and it was 30+ years ago.

[keiser31]

7 minutes ago, Mark Wetherbee said:

First few are either a 1915 or a 1916 Model T Ford with the cowling and brass radiator.

 

The other car is very unusual, but Dagmar comes to mind even though I have only ever seen one and it was 30+ years ago.

The Dagmar had more of a Packard style radiator shell.

[auburnseeker]

Some similarities to the Moon but just enough differences.  Belt line looks different at the door.  Hinge location on the hood looks lower. 5 bolt wheels VS 4 on the moon.  I'm the furthest thing from Knowledgable on stuff this old but I think it's something different than a Moon though similar styling.  Of course could have been one of only a few made.  Definitely a very big car. 

[auburnseeker]

A few Moons did seem to have 5 bolt hubs so that shouldn't be a factor.  Could be a moon.  The radiator does have that similarity in shape. 

[keiser31]

Rolls Royce, Roamer and Moon had that radiator shell design.

[auburnseeker]

Maybe it's a custom bodied rolls.  Those Louvres look hand made. I didn't see any cars with those type of louvres. 

That's a long hood.  Should be either a 6 or 8 under it. 

Edited December 27, 2019 by auburnseeker (see edit history)

[keiser31]

Hub cap looks like a Moon cap....

[Braedyn Kelley]

I don't know if it will help or not, but I found another image of what I think is the same car (Moon, Rolls Royce, or Roamer).  Maybe there is clue in this shot.

 

I also zoomed in on the hood ornament in the picture I first posted.  Any help?

[Stude17]

Perhaps a circa 1917-18  rare Bour-Davis 21-S

 

https://american-automobiles.com/bour-davis/

 

The wheels look close to me although it is only an artists sketch

Edited December 27, 2019 by Stude17
Further information (see edit history)

[auburnseeker]

Could it be a Roamer?  There was one just listed in Hemmings and boy there are some similarities. 

Though none I found used disc wheels.  They did have those really high splash aprons , similar fender and radiator shroud shape.  Almost all seemed to only have louvres at teh back of the hood as well. 

Edited December 28, 2019 by auburnseeker (see edit history)

[Stude17]

 

I still tend towards a Bour-Davis.  The first photo of the unidentified car shows an unusually high and curved dash area.  The 1921 Bour-Davis in the attached link shows a similar dash but it does not appear as high to me.

 

http://laexhibitmuseum.org/historic-objects/the-bour-davis/

[keiser31]

This 1918 Moon has the exposed fender bolt heads on the flat, side area of the front fender like the car in question....

[1912Staver]

I also tend toward something like a Roamer. Moon cars are nice but not quite of the size of the mystery car.  There is also a definite possibility it is a 1 off custom body, if so it could be almost any higher quality car under the bodywork.

 

Greg in Canada

[Braedyn Kelley]

I found a picture of a 

On 12/27/2019 at 7:48 PM, Stude17 said:

 

I still tend towards a Bour-Davis.  The first photo of the unidentified car shows an unusually high and curved dash area.  The 1921 Bour-Davis in the attached link shows a similar dash but it does not appear as high to me.

 

http://laexhibitmuseum.org/historic-objects/the-bour-davis/

That higher angle of the curved dashboard could be the result of lens compression.  The brick street in the background is now called Michigan Ave., and it was a very wide street even back then, based upon other historic photographs I've found.  However, in the photo, it looks like a narrow neighborhood street.  

 

I'm the furthest things from a car expert, but the evidence leads me to believe that the car is a Bour-Davis.  Factor out the high angle of the curved dash, and everything else seems to line up.  

[Marty Roth]

I tend toward Bour-Davis-

we had what is believed to be the lone survivor displayed at the HOUMA, Louisiana Civic Auditorium during the 2015 AACA Central Division Fall Meet (Nationals)

[1937hd45]

I can't find and hood side photos but will add McFarlan as a possibility. Bob