1904 Sommer

[Chris Paulsen]

We purchased this 1904 Sommer about a year and a half ago. We were in the middle of restoring our 1910 Auburn, so this one had to wait. Now that the Auburn is finished, it's onto the Sommer.

It's amazingly complete and authentic. Through newspaper articles, we know it was owned by a gentleman (L.L. Rice) in Roswell, NM in 1931, and he displayed it at the California Carnival in Los Angeles. From there he took it to Dallas, TX. It was called a 29-year-old car at that time (already misdated). He had bought it from a tourist camp owner.  

The next time it shows up in the newspapers is in the car collection of Lea Abbott in Dallas TX. It was purchased in Dallas in the mid-1990's and made its way to Kansas shortly after. 

Here are a couple photos when we got it. 

[Chris Paulsen]

The Sommer Motor Co was in Detroit. They were born out of the Hammer-Sommer Auto Carriage Co. The Sommer Motor Co filed incorporation papers on April 30, 1904. Exactly one year later, an advertisement dated April 30, 1905, announced cars were available at manufacturer's cost. On June 11, 1905, it was announced that they would soon build their one-hundredth car. That was the end of their advertising. Ours is car #14. 

 

[Mike "Hubbie" Stearns]

Looks like a fun project. Is it steam?

[Chris Paulsen]

It's 2-cylinder gasoline with a 2-speed planetary transmission, and single-chain drive.

[Chris Paulsen]

We've got it completely disassembled. I've taken nearly 1,000 photos to this point. I'll share some of the random details that I've found to be fascinating. Here's the car number painted inside the rear door using yellow chassis paint. 

 

 

Details of the green paint on the body and frame, along with a wide black stripe and gold pin stripe.

 

[stretch cab]

Looking forward to seeing your updates!

 

[Chris Paulsen]

Stretch cab- here it is today…

[Chris Paulsen]

I’m always amazed at how crude some of these early cars are/were. The cross-members on the frame were shortened with a chisel to clear the body. 

 

The front hubs were exceptionally rough. Not pitted at all, just really rough original machine marks. Do I fill them, and over-restore them? Or paint them as is? 
 

[JFranklin]

I would keep things as original for authenticity.

[Luv2Wrench]

46 minutes ago, JFranklin said:

I would keep things as original for authenticity.

I very much agree with this, I think it provides critical details for those in the future as to how the car/parts were created. 

[Chris Paulsen]

JFrankin and Luv2wrench - I agree completely. It's just unfortunate that many people (including judges) will just view it as rough paint (and therefore poor restoration) rather than an attempt at a very accurate restoration. Even if I document every bit of the car, few people will ever take the time to ask, much less want to view photos.

[Luv2Wrench]

If you document the car and post the photos here they will be found in the future.  Search engines are incredible these days.  I can't tell you how many details I've found during my searches and most of them came from very obscure corners of the Internet.  One thing that helps these pictures to be found later is to describe them well as it is generally the text that will get index.  I know often when I look at a picture someone took I'm often wondering why they took the picture from that angle, what are they pointing out, etc, etc.  A picture may be worth a thousand word but sometimes it is the words with the picture that give it the right context and provide extra value.  The photos and details you've provided so far will be a gold mine for someone in the future.

[JV Puleo]

On 12/20/2022 at 9:38 PM, Chris Paulsen said:

...It's just unfortunate that many people (including judges) will just view it as rough paint (and therefore poor restoration) rather than an attempt at a very accurate restoration. Even if I document every bit of the car, few people will ever take the time to ask, much less want to view photos.

It's clear you grasp the irony of "judging]" in an antique auto world where people who know really early cars — say pre-1905 — is infinitesimal. It's pretty much the same pre-1910 for everything that isn't a Ford or one of the the more common makes and even there the application of 1940s or 50s standards to pre-WWI production is misleading.

Edited December 23, 2022 by JV Puleo (see edit history)

[sagefinds]

Chris,

  Is this the one Billy Hamilton found in a backyard shed a couple or three decades ago? He said it took quite a while to even figure out what it was. 

Steve G.

[Chris Paulsen]

Sagefinds- 

I’m not sure. I know Mark Freimiller (Model T Haven) bought it in Dallas, TX around 1996-97. I know the history since then, but not between the 1950’s-1990’s. 
I’m not familiar with Billy Hamilton. Did he have a Sommer? 

[Chris Paulsen]

More interesting bits (at least to us). It uses a "Kingston Muffler" with built-in cut-out or tuning valve. Was it the same company that built the carburetor? 

[Chris Paulsen]

Timken axles…. As marked on the front spindles. 
 

[Chris Paulsen]

Gentle cleaning to reveal the original pinstriping. 

[mikewest]

Chris , The car will make a beauty! You are the right one to fix it. 

[JV Puleo]

I am impressed by your methodical "forensic" examination of this obscure car. Sadly, this has happened far too little in the past where important details are lost to a sandblaster in the urge to make things "new" again.

[edinmass]

Great project. Please keep the photos coming. Restore it to please yourself. The hell with the judges. Document everything and make a book for the show field. Been there, done that.

[Chris Paulsen]

Thanks for the comments. I made a book for the Auburn we just finished. It shows some of the authentic details we tried to retain. None of the judges at Hershey or Pebble wanted to see it. Even when I referenced it. 
Here are a couple more interesting details. Cast bronze spring hangers. And all of the brackets attached to the frame are punched with corresponding marks. All the way up to 10 pin punch marks. 

 

And an example of rough the rear axle casting is compared to the axle tube. No pitting. 

[edinmass]

I would like to comment on judges…….but I’m still active in competitive showing, so I shall say they are all 100 percent correct and fair. Otherwise I would say something different. 😎

 

We peruse perfection, in the attempt to achieve excellence. 

[hursst]

Great to see such and old and unusual car being restored.  Looking forward to seeing your progress.

[Akstraw]

A fascinating project.  Thank you for taking the time to share this story.  Please keep us in the loop!

[Chris Paulsen]

A quick update…. 
The disassembly, inspection, archeology, and assessment continues….

 Stamped inside the body, upside down, in Roman numerals is the number 14 (XIV), corresponding with the painted number 14 inside the rear door (shown in an earlier post). It was stamped (presumably) as someone was standing behind the car, leaning into the car. That’s why it’s upside down. It’s stamped on the main body, and removable tonneau, right next to each other.