I just purchased this 1913 STAVER roadster body with a few parts 2 cyl. chain driven rear end, if it does not sell on tbay it might be another speedster project, what do you guys think? Bob
I hope it sells on EBay to someone who can complete a restoration. It's a tough go when you only have parts but I hate to unusual see early cars chopped up for other purposes.
Are you sure that is a Staver?
1913 Stavers were pretty substantial, four cylinder cars.
Also, that patent leather dash is out of place for a 1913 Staver.
I think you may have a horse drawn buggy body. In the teens, there were buggies with bodies designed to emulate roadster automobiles.
There is one in Farmington, MN. I wish I had a photo of it so I could post it.
The sill plates say STAVER and from documents I got with this it was part buggy but in 1913 they also built a electric car, this has some of the original wire on the dash, I am just going by what I have been told, they made a lot of body styles, Bob
I believe what you have is a Staver carriage body, not a Staver automobile body.
I think you have a rare piece there and it would be a shame to turn it into a speedster. You could probably get some good money from the horse drawn buggy crowd if you do a little research and stage it properly when you sell it.
The wiring and switch is for electric sidelights.
There is something similar if not exactly the same at the "Dakota City Heritage Village" museum in Farmington, MN. It is unrestored.
I need to visit my father and look at his copy of "Standard Catalog of American Cars" to obtain more definitive information.
In the meantime, this is what you have. (The buggy in the photo is in a different collection and identified as a 1905 Staver Autobuggy. Note that it has a rather crude electric motor drive and steering set-up. My opinion is that is debatable that it is original to this buggy. I will have to do some research to see if Staver actually built an electric vehicle.)
Staver story and more photos here . . .
http://www.hemmings.com/hcc/stories/2010/01/01/hmn_feature16.html
Regards
Art
In about 1950, in Minneapolis, there was a four wheel trailer sitting by a home in south Minneapolis. I looked at the hub caps and noted that they read "Staver Chicago. I may have obtained a hub cap from the chassis. My list is a home and I am at my store.
My dad collects automobile sheet music and I'm pretty sure he has "Staver March" in his collection.
Thank you for all the information, I would like to sell it to someone who could finish this like it should, I have so much invested in this project that if it does not sell I will have to sell the rear and, wheels and springs and use it for a speedster, I cant afford to do both at this time with family issues, thanks Bob
I believe have a rare and probably highly desirable item for the high end buggy collector. I think it would be foolish to use the body for a speedster.
I believe that if you did a little research, contacted some knowledgeable buggy collectors and advertised it through appropriate venues, you could get much more money for it than simply putting it on eBay as a speedster project.
As a starting point, I suggest contacting Todd Frey at Frey Carriage Company - Colonial Carriage Works in Columbus, WI and see if he has any advice. He does high end buggy restoration:
http://www.colonialcarriage.com/
Another place could be the FL Carriage Museum, worlds largest, Weirsdale FL, 352.750.5500. Collects all kinds.
Here is another Staver buggy that is being auctioned on October 6 in Cologne, MN:
http://www.vanderbrinkauctions.com/auctions_details.php?detail=121&allimages=NO
Cool I hope some one buys the one I have on T BAY, Bob