JO BO Posted September 14, 2022 Share Posted September 14, 2022 Beautiful early tiller steering auto. What is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JO BO Posted September 14, 2022 Author Share Posted September 14, 2022 (edited) Wish I had access to the Pennsylvania license plate registry as that is either a 1908 or 09 Penna tag hanging from front axle. Looks like 3941 or perhaps 13941 If the pic was in color could tell if 08/09 but no color then. We could see what it was registered as. Think John Shoemaker owner Edited September 15, 2022 by JO BO (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldtech Posted September 15, 2022 Share Posted September 15, 2022 Looks Stevens-Duryea to me but haven't found a match. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modela28 Posted September 15, 2022 Share Posted September 15, 2022 16 hours ago, Oldtech said: Looks Stevens-Duryea to me but haven't found a match. My first thought was Stevens Duryea, but I don't think the SD had the louvers under the seat. The SD did have the front seating area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JO BO Posted September 15, 2022 Author Share Posted September 15, 2022 I tried to do some research via the license plate number (Pennsylvania 1908 or09) and found early plates for Penn cars were just licenses issued for the driver and not the machine...so disappointing to learn that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3makes Posted September 17, 2022 Share Posted September 17, 2022 Not a Stevens Duryea which had full elliptic springs on all four corners and a radiator in front of the front axle. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95Cardinal Posted September 17, 2022 Share Posted September 17, 2022 This is close, but I'm not sure this is correct. These images are 1902-1904 Union Runabout and Touring cars. Fenders are a good match, but the front of dash board lacks the border that shows up on the OP images. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JO BO Posted September 17, 2022 Author Share Posted September 17, 2022 Thanks for the Union guess but yes lots of differences ...tiller steering comes off the side in mystery car while Union holds the steering in the middle of car. Panels have vertical position where mystery car has fewer in number and horizontal. Front seat shape is different etc. thanks everyone for chasing the I’d of this car....it means a lot to me. Hopefully someone will find the answer. Wish they would have written it on the back of one of the pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95Cardinal Posted September 18, 2022 Share Posted September 18, 2022 (edited) I think it is one of the 1901 - 1905 Columbia electric vehicles. The vehicle shown in this ad is a different body style, but there was a wide variety of body styles offered by Columbia. This might even be the correct body style. The ad states that the tonneau was removeable and could be replaced by a luggage hamper or a couple of different seat options. Edited September 18, 2022 by 95Cardinal Added comment (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JO BO Posted September 19, 2022 Author Share Posted September 19, 2022 I will see if I can find more early Columbia ads to compare ..thanks for the lead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JO BO Posted September 21, 2022 Author Share Posted September 21, 2022 Can't find a Columbia model that matches the mystery car. Lots of detail/design differences. Hope the search continues with success at some point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JO BO Posted October 7, 2022 Author Share Posted October 7, 2022 Still can't pin this puppy down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JO BO Posted October 7, 2022 Author Share Posted October 7, 2022 Kinda funny how they are holding a sheet behind the car for photos as the car is meant to be primary subject. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JO BO Posted October 7, 2022 Author Share Posted October 7, 2022 Kinda funny how they are holding a sheet behind the car for photos as the car is meant to be primary subject. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JO BO Posted October 7, 2022 Author Share Posted October 7, 2022 Does anyone have skills to make the pictures lighter/clearer to get more detail? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JO BO Posted October 15, 2022 Author Share Posted October 15, 2022 Difficult one isn't it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caddyshack Posted October 19, 2022 Share Posted October 19, 2022 My first thought was a 1904 Knox runabout. Very interesting photos, thanks for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JO BO Posted November 3, 2022 Author Share Posted November 3, 2022 (edited) Would anyone here on this forum be able to access Pennsylvania registration records for 1910-11 to see what vehicles John Shoemaker owned then if that info exists. I would be willing to pay for your time. thanks Edited November 3, 2022 by JO BO (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lump Posted November 15, 2022 Share Posted November 15, 2022 Interestingly, the "backdrop" being held up is directly behind the rear seat in each of the photos. I suspect that they were trying to show the seat option...or perhaps advertise upholstery services? (I've had to hold up backdrops behind clients' products before for professional photo sessions). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikewest Posted November 16, 2022 Share Posted November 16, 2022 On 9/17/2022 at 4:35 PM, 95Cardinal said: This is close, but I'm not sure this is correct. These images are 1902-1904 Union Runabout and Touring cars. Fenders are a good match, but the front of dash board lacks the border that shows up on the OP images. These three cars above all have replacement FISK Bolt on tires. Notice the bolts around the circumference of the rim. This was a fad for easy changing of tires. The tire had steel vulcanized within, I know I have a 1903 car in my shop that has the same setup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
58L-Y8 Posted November 16, 2022 Share Posted November 16, 2022 On 10/7/2022 at 1:25 PM, JO BO said: Does anyone have skills to make the pictures lighter/clearer to get more detail? Thanks Here is as good as I can get the images to come out: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JO BO Posted November 17, 2022 Author Share Posted November 17, 2022 Thanks so much for the work on them....helps. Wish the PA license plate could be tracked to a registry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibarlaw Posted November 18, 2022 Share Posted November 18, 2022 By the dress of the women in the backround the photos may date from the early 1930s. Possibly to document an early "barn find". 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JO BO Posted November 18, 2022 Author Share Posted November 18, 2022 What interests me also is particular attention is shown to the car by holding up a sheet etc to block background(s). So was it special to them? Being offered for sale? Other? It appears tires are either flat or bad so was it sitting awhile hence the layer clothing aspect? I believe the PA plate to be either 1910 or 1911 from what research I have done. I have a special need to know. Thanks so much. I only hope records exist for plate/ registration or the name John Shoemaker appears somewhere in the state/ county registry with yr/make now where do I find those records? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whtbaron Posted November 20, 2022 Share Posted November 20, 2022 There are also groups on Facebook that cater to the license plate collectors. You might try there, but sometimes you get the level of information you paid for... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JO BO Posted November 20, 2022 Author Share Posted November 20, 2022 On 11/15/2022 at 8:34 PM, mikewest said: These three cars above all have replacement FISK Bolt on tires. Notice the bolts around the circumference of the rim. This was a fad for easy changing of tires. The tire had steel vulcanized within, I know I have a 1903 car in my shop that has the same setup. 1902 Union is what it was misidentified as for years. Tiller steering is not on side. Several other differences as you noted some. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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