http://cgi.ebay.com/early-1900s-photo-Missionary-and-Ford-Car-Egypt-/25065312417 0?pt=Art_Photo_Images&hash=item3a5c17264a

Just an example of how the model T was spread around the world.

Herb

Hi Herb,
You can get this picture also from Library of Congress. A high res version can be downloaded.
Cheers
Adrian

The ole Magic CAR pit ride.

Can anyone read Egyptian? What does that sign say above the car? Dick Lodge where are you?

Nope, I don't do Arabic. I see VACUUM [something] and that's pretty much it....

I suppose the sign is like the Rosetta stone = the same message in different languages. In this case Vacuum Oil Co both in english and in arabic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosetta_Stone

Having talked about the Rosetta stone for many years with my family (and they think me totally NUTS) my wife and I finally saw it at the museum in London and I was vindicated!

I don't recall it had anything to say about Vacuum Oil though!

It's the principle, John
And both were egyptian

That was probably the local bitumen distributor.

Roger, so is my local liquor store clerk...(Egyptian) but he doesn't sell Vacuum oil either!
(tongue firmly planted in cheek)

John,

You have "Liquor" in California? We don't even have a Egyptian in the U.P. of Michigan let alone Liquor. Must be that inch of snow we get keeps us from modern times! Heck we just got Jaws at the theater....! No Vacuum oil either! I feel very deprived.

John,

Oops! I guess I blew my cover! We... er... all drink wine here in CA.

I meant to say I've heard the nice folks who visit from other places say there's a liquor store in these parts.

Heck all my friends are liquor farmers any way.(we all grow wine grapes and drive model T's).

COOL

I thought I saw a bottle of wine once, but it turned out to be Bituminous Ashpalt Tar Remover! I have never tasted Liquor! Really!

Nope John, You did see a bottle of wine! Around here we slap a $40.00 price on it and sell it to the out of towners. Cuts grease real good too!

Just think of what you'll never miss! Really!

VAC UUM is from the ancient Hebrew, the translation: to see, view or observe. The bottom text is advertising half day trip(s) to the Giza Plateau to see the pyramids via a Model T Ford.

Vacuum Oil Company was a petroleum company in the United States, founded in 1866. It later merged with Socony, which eventually changed its name to Mobil, and today is part of ExxonMobil.

And this of course includes a free oil change for participating cars ......

That picture reminds me of three business trips I made to Cairo and the surrounding area in 2007. I worked the oil patch until I retired in 2008.
It is sad, but a lot of the streets still look like that picture only the Model T was not there. There are a lot of small cars in egypt, but there also a lot of donkeys, oxen, water buffalo and camels used by the "have nots" and there are a lot of very poor people there.
One trip there will make you really appreciate the good old USA.

This thread reminds me of a wartime joke. A British army vehicle in Egypt has been involved in an accident with a local vehicle, and the sergeant is explaining to his captain what happened.

"Well, Sir, we were goin' around a corner and we collided with a Land Rover carryin' four wogs..."

"Careful, Sergeant! Be more respectful. One of the occupants of the other vehicle was His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince of Egypt."

"Yes, Sir. Sorry, sir. Well, Sir, we were goin' around a corner and we collided with a Land Rover carryin' 'Is Royal 'Ighness the Crown Prince of Egypt and three other wogs..."