1910-1912 mystery touring car

[Ariejan NL]

Help needed for the identification of this car! Based on its appearance it is a 1910-1912 touring car. The license plate was issued in Ohio in either 1912 or 1913 based on the pattern. Although the last digit of the year is hardly readable, my impression is that it is 1913. The image is not very sharp, but the round emblem with light triangle is clearly visible. Does anyone ever come across a similar emblem? Also the radiator and shell are distinctive with the segmented cooling block and the half circle indent for the crank handle. Its make however remains a mystery for me despite an intensive search. 

[keiser31]

Hudson.

[dustycrusty]

30 minutes ago, keiser31 said:

Hudson.

That triangle emblem seems to be pointing the wrong way (up) to be a Hudson...?

[Ariejan NL]

That is the point. There are several triangles in car emblem history, but always pointing down, never up.

[keiser31]

32 minutes ago, dustycrusty said:

That triangle emblem seems to be pointing the wrong way (up) to be a Hudson...?

Yep. I saw that after my misidentification.

[Varun Coutinho]

1909 - 1910 Croxton-Keeton Model 45 German Touring

 

 

Manufacturer : 
1909 - 1910 Croxton-Keeton Motor Co. - Massilon, Ohio. 
1910 - 1911 Croxton Motor Co. - Cleveland, Ohio. 
1912 - 1914 Croxton Motor Co. - Washington, Pennsylvania.

[Ariejan NL]

Hi Varun, you're amazing! I must have missed the logo, because I remember to have searched in my Croxton-Keeton file. Probably I was focussed then too much on the rad shape. The problem with the German type of Croxton-Keeton is that 1) the French type (with the Renault-type bonnet) is very dominant and 2) bonnet frontal images of the German type are virtually absent: in my files several side views are present (the US are the champion side views of cars in ads) and then I had two photos taken from three-quarters rear side, which doesn't help either. Your picture from the DPL-archive is the only other picture taken partly from the front. Though not sharp, all details seem to fit, so you must be correct. This means that we're looking at a very rare frontal image of a 1909-1910 Croxton-Keeton 45hp German type touring car! You made my day!

[nzcarnerd]

On 7/6/2023 at 4:58 AM, Ariejan NL said:

That is the point. There are several triangles in car emblem history, but always pointing down, never up.

Hi Ariejan, I know your specialty is the more obscure early European cars. By the way thanks for many of the ones you have done for Bozi, some of which I have sent him. I thought it uncharacteristic for you to struggle with an identification so I messaged Varun about it. He seems to have got that one very quickly. The US brass era stuff appears to be his forte.

[Ariejan NL]

12 hours ago, nzcarnerd said:

Hi Ariejan, I know your specialty is the more obscure early European cars. By the way thanks for many of the ones you have done for Bozi, some of which I have sent him. I thought it uncharacteristic for you to struggle with an identification so I messaged Varun about it. He seems to have got that one very quickly. The US brass era stuff appears to be his forte.

Hi Mark, you're welcome. Indeed my specialty is pre-WW1 European cars, but I have a good background in American material of that period as well. And indeed, I do not ask for help normally. However, I'm glad I asked for it, because now I know there is somebody out there (Varun!) with the same focus on this old stuff 😉

Edited July 8, 2023 by Ariejan NL (see edit history)

[1912Staver]

Have either of the two of you early car specialists { Ariejan  , Varun } come across much for Staver Chicago ? I have a fair bit of factory advertising material, yearly catalogs etc.. But almost no period photo's other than those that appeared in the various trade journals of the day. Usually quite grainy reproductions of photo's. There was a scrap book of photo's of some of Staver's racing team cars and drivers on ebay several years ago. However I was soundly out bid and just have a few downloads of photo's. No idea of who bought it.

Genuine photo's of Staver automobiles around the time they were in daily use seem quite rare.

Here is one from the Detroit Public Library Digital collection. Unfortunately it is a 30 H.P. car and not the 40 H.P. like my basket case project.

 

Edited July 9, 2023 by 1912Staver (see edit history)

[1912Staver]

This one is probably a 40 H.P. but it is hard to know for sure. And probably 1912 or 13. Also Detroit P.L. Digital Collection.

Edited July 9, 2023 by 1912Staver (see edit history)

[Varun Coutinho]

@1912Staver  1)   https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10221772368847516&set=pb.1505304468.-2207520000.&type=3

 

2)  https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10221777901265823&set=pb.1505304468.-2207520000.

[1912Staver]

Thanks ! Those are two I have never seen before. Both great pictures.

[Ariejan NL]

There were a few posts on Staver at TheOldMotor.com. That's all I can add. 

Edited July 9, 2023 by Ariejan NL (see edit history)

[1912Staver]

Thanks Ariejan ! Those I have previously seen. Staver Chicago seems to be one of those makes that are all but forgotten. Croxton - Keeton is at a similar state of obscurity.  Both just a tiny footnote of automotive history.

Edited July 9, 2023 by 1912Staver (see edit history)