Mark Smith auction April 7th, this Friday, who on this forum is going?

[Joe in Canada]

10 hours ago, 1937hd45 said:

I think the total number of tinning K's is a bit higher.

The number is a little higher but I said only 5 touring's left.

[1937hd45]

4 minutes ago, Joe in Canada said:

The number is a little higher but I said only 5 touring's left.

The Tim Kelly K Touring is still in his family, the former Bill Harrah Touring. 

[Joe in Canada]

I stand corrected again as  I am used to it as my wife corrects me all the time.  Thanks Bob and will pass the info along.

[1937hd45]

There was a K touring owned by a fellow who's last name was Church, is that the same car Mark Smith owned?

[Rob H.]

Hugo owns the former Church K.  There are currently 22 Model K “known.”  This includes one that may be in South America, but the location is not known definitively.   Elmer Bemis owned two Model K at a point, the Kelly K (1907 touring) and a roadster (1907) currently in the Sacramento museum (former Towe collection).  Four K currently tour routinely, two in the US and the two in Canada.  One in Australia is tour ready and proven (1907 touring), another is a proven tourer, however currently disabled due to recent flood damage (1906 touring).

 

The Smith K was purchased new in eastern Iowa in May, 1907.

 

Of the known “K,” there are 6 1906 cars.  These include a 1907 style roadster body on 06 chassis, 06 touring with 07 motor, and 06 chassis /motor with custom period speedster.    There are 8 1907/08 tourings and 8 1907/08 roadsters.

 

with 1,000 K produced, a survival rate of 2.2% is quite good.  In 1907, the biggest production year, approximately 500 were sold.  This is a comparable number to Pope Toledo (50 hp, $5000 retail) and Thomas Flyers (60 hp, $4200), two well known and more expensive competitors.

 

Ford set a 24 hour world speed record with the K in 1907, defeating both the above named models in that particular race.  Ford also won several hill climb and track races with their 6 cylinder K in 07.

 

The Model K made significant profits for Ford each production year, garnering over 80% of FMC profits in 1906 (due in part to Model N production lag and under pricing), and 23% of new car profit for Ford in 1907.

 

Yearly sales (approximate):  

1906 - 300 (largest 6 cyl production in the world)

1907 - 500 (again world leader in “6” production)

1908 - 120

1909 - 42

1910 - 4

In a 1922 Ford approved biography, Henry Ford said FMC had just sold the last K, and that it was still running, while mentioning previous models to the T.

 

The K touring at The Henry Ford museum is reported (Reminiscences) to be Henry Fords personal Model K.  The Reminiscence reports the car was maroon with blue wheels and gold pin striping.  Unfortunately, the car is off display.

More than anyone wishes to know about these incredible, strong runners.

cheers,

Rob

former owner of two K tourings.  Current owner of one 1907 K roadster.

 

Photo - Four 1907 K, three tourings and one roadster.  Photo by Tracy Lesher, all rights apply.

[wayne sheldon]

Thank you Rob!

[1937hd45]

Bill Harrah had two K Touring cars  Tim Kelly later had one and toured in it a lot. The other K had the early high radiator, is that the same K that Bill Lasiter had maybe 20 years ago? 

[Rob H.]

The K the Kelly family owns was a Harrahs car, and Elmer Bemis before that.  I’m not sure on the other 06 touring. 

[1937hd45]

3 hours ago, Rob H. said:

The K the Kelly family owns was a Harrahs car, and Elmer Bemis before that.  I’m not sure on the other 06 touring. 

So, the Elmer Bemis K is NOT the K Mark Smith owned??????? Ever since 1961 I've thought this was the Bemis K, and it has a lot of features of the former Mark Smith K. Henry Austin Clark took the photo and on the back of the card states the car was restored by Joseph W. Suydam.

Edited May 31, 2023 by 1937hd45 (see edit history)

[Rob H.]

Elmer Bemis owned two K at the same time.  One, the touring, is now the Kelly family car.  The other, a roadster, is in the Sacramento museum.

 

the H A Clark/Mark Smith car is the same on the postcard pic above.  Elmer Bemis may have “touched” or owned other Model K over the years, or had a hand in their restoration or preservation.  That’s all I know.

respectfully submitted,

rob

[Rob H.]

The four K above with owners:

Photo courtesy of T. Lesher, all rights apply.