wmsue Posted October 4, 2021 Share Posted October 4, 2021 Thought I'd share this photo of an early car wash. What's the make and model of these cars? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted October 4, 2021 Share Posted October 4, 2021 The coupe looks to be a mid 1920's Ford T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
63RedBrier Posted October 4, 2021 Share Posted October 4, 2021 Would be cool to know where the Auto Wash Bowl was located? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandy Dave Posted October 4, 2021 Share Posted October 4, 2021 (edited) I've seen this photo before. It's a cool bit of history. Thanks for posting it again. No matter how many times it has been around it is always fun to see once again. Dandy Dave. Edited October 4, 2021 by Dandy Dave (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Stoneberg Posted October 4, 2021 Share Posted October 4, 2021 3 hours ago, 63RedBrier said: Would be cool to know where the Auto Wash Bowl was located? Here’s a photo from 1924 and shows a newfangled type of car wash that stood at the northwest corner of 42nd Street and South Michigan Avenue. There was at least one other auto wash bowl in Chicago–the concept actually originated in St. Paul, Minn. It was patented in 1921 by inventor C.P. Bohland, who opened two locations in St. Paul. He devised the bowl as an easy way to clean mud off of the underside of cars. Back in this early age of motoring, roads were often unpaved and muddy, and that mud would get caked on the underside of the car and the wheels–but a spin in the nifty Auto Wash Bowl took care of that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHuDWah Posted October 4, 2021 Share Posted October 4, 2021 The quarter for the Auto Wash Bowl is about $4 now - not unreasonable. I don't understand the purpose of the rubber radiator cover. Did it keep the water from quick-cooling a hot radiator, thereby possibly causing a leak? But it doesn't seem that would be any worse than driving through deep water on the road or during a hard rain. I used to frequent one of those drive-through tunnel washes with whirling brushes (yeah, I know - bad for the finish). It had jets that sprayed soap and rinse water on the wheels as you went through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayne sheldon Posted October 4, 2021 Share Posted October 4, 2021 The model T is most likely a 1924 model coupe. That particular body coupe was only used for 1924 and 1925. The 30 X 3 1/2 clincher wheels and tires were available both years, however, the new style 21 inch balloon style wheels and tires were only available in 1925 and beyond on the model T Ford. While a few people did option for the earlier style clinchers in 1925? Nearly all coupe and sedan buyers in 1925 went for the new style 21 inch wheels and tires. So, while the car could be a 1925, it is most likely a 1924. The other car I am not sure. A Cadillac has been suggested. I don't know if it may be a 'depth-of-field issue? But the other car looks a bit too small relative to the Ford. Being the guy that cleaned all that mud washed off the cars from the wash bowl would have been a 'fun' job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAKerry Posted October 4, 2021 Share Posted October 4, 2021 What is old becomes new again. I was working at a landfill and they have a drive through wash to clean the bottom and lower sides of the trucks off as they come out of the cell area. Somewhat similar. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hudsy Wudsy Posted October 5, 2021 Share Posted October 5, 2021 I find it amusingly ironic that such an invention dependent on liquid water was developed up here in the frozen north land. Maybe the inventor envisioned winter use as skating rink? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted October 5, 2021 Share Posted October 5, 2021 More than once I have turned on the lawn sprinklers after being at the beach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted October 5, 2021 Share Posted October 5, 2021 (edited) The other car could be (about a 1923) Cadillac as mentioned earlier. Edited October 5, 2021 by keiser31 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Man Posted October 6, 2021 Share Posted October 6, 2021 Can you imagine the poor guy who got to shovel out the mud from the bowl every night... 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
f.f.jones Posted October 6, 2021 Share Posted October 6, 2021 1 hour ago, Graham Man said: Can you imagine the poor guy who got to shovel out the mud from the bowl every night... There was probably a big gate valve at one end and a drain pipe that led directly to Lake Michigan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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