Picture of the prototype Model T, December 1907 (kind of)

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2013: Picture of the prototype Model T, December 1907 (kind of)
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen - Nebraska on Wednesday, October 16, 2013 - 06:29 pm:

I've been looking ro a photo of the Pre Ts (or ST, or whatever one chooses to call the T before it was a T). Turns out, we had a photo all along. The only problem, it's not very clear.

The "pre T" was mentioned in both the New York and Detroit Auto show reports. Unfortunately, we only had drawings shown in newspaper advertising. As it turns out, I think the cars car be seen (somewhat) in a photo of the the Ford booth at the Detroit show, Dec 9-14, 1907.

The photo



blown up. On the left is a touring car, and on the right, under a cover, is a type of enclosed car. It appears both cars are on this side of the two pillars. The touring car plainly shows a front (no doors) and rear seat. The covered car is more difficult to make out, but might be the "taximeter" described as being in the Ford booth in the description following the photos.





Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erik Johnson on Wednesday, October 16, 2013 - 08:27 pm:

If you could get a print of the photo struck from the original negative, using a magnifying glass you could probably see much more detail than a digital scan could provide.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen - Nebraska on Wednesday, October 16, 2013 - 08:39 pm:

Erik,
I agree, a negative would be much better to work from. I'm hopeful another photo will turn up. As popular as the new Fords seem to be (according to the article) there should be some photographs somewhere (another newspaper or magazine).

Also, the Detroit director is also Ford's marketing manager, so I would think he would have lined up press shots of the Ford cars too.
Rob


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erik Johnson on Wednesday, October 16, 2013 - 09:21 pm:

The picture you posted appears to be a scan of an original print, not a scan of a picture from a periodical or book. I presume you found it on the internet. Where is it posted?

If you know who or what organization has the print in its possession, in my opinion making another print with a traditional camera and roll film would be preferable to a high resolution scan.

Are you sure it is the 1907 Detroit Auto Show? In a prior post, you show the same photo, which appears to have been scanned from a periodical, not an original print, but you indicate it is the 1907 New York Auto show. See below.

http://www.mtfca.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=331880&post=560919

If it is the Detroit Auto Show, my first guess is that the original print is in the National Automotive History Collection of the Detroit Public Library. My second guess is that the print is in the Benson Ford Research Center.

If it is the New York Auto show, one guess would be that the print is in the Library of Congress photo collection.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen - Nebraska on Thursday, October 17, 2013 - 12:18 am:

Erik,
Your right, it is the New York show. Both listed the 1908 Fords as shown, and somehow I mixed them up. Following is the first copy of the picture I had, from a "Cycle and Automobile" article. The better photo came from the National Automotive Research (Detroit) Library. However, it is just a copy of a copy, no photograph or negative.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Don Watson -Florence,Colorado on Thursday, October 17, 2013 - 12:56 am:

This Latest photo is a DIFFERENT VIEW than the one previously shown as it does not show the (possible) K Roadster to the far right just a Table is seen
-Don


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen - Nebraska on Thursday, October 17, 2013 - 09:14 am:

Don,
Your right, they appear to be two different photos.

I dug this one out too. I'm not sure where it came from (very poor, and when I first came across it, I was looking for Model Ks). It is a view from the upper level. A touring car is seen to the right, below the "Ford Motor" sign. It looks like there is/are people sitting in the back seat of what I think is the prototype T touring.

Again, we need negatives or more pictures.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Sheldon, Grass Valley, CA on Thursday, October 17, 2013 - 04:26 pm:

The seat back on that car (seen from above) looks very high. Could that be the cab with the top removed? (Imagining the top is removable) Cars would have had to have been moved around from the other photo to make that so.
One of the earlier photos appears to show the back half of a touring, the back on it looks as I would expect a touring around 1908. That photo also shows another car said to may be a cab under cover. When I look at that picture, I can't help but wonder if the covered car may not be in the next display back which the signs say is Marmon. The covered car appears to me to be on the backside of the pillar. The touring is clearly on the near side of its pillar.
It is tough sometimes looking at these old photos when all we have is a magazine print of poor quality. Knowing a clue we have been searching for is there, but so fuzzy, is frustrating. However do not stop showing and sharing them. It all helps. Besides, someone may recognize it and realize they have a better print in some obscure book or other source.
My thanks as always.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2


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