I saw this photo hanging in Molly Malones Irish Pub in Launceston last night. I went back this morning for another look. I tried to take the framed picture outside to make a better copy but its screwed onto the wall. The guy running the pub was really helpful and gave me a screwdriver to undo the screws but it seems they have been glued in place. I guess things have a way of walking out the door if they are not bolted down.
The guy has worked there around 20 years but didn't know too much about Sohmer Garage.
I wonder if there are any locals on the forum familiar with this garage?
Apologies for the reflection in the photo.
Wow what a great picture. I love the Australian bodies, so stylish!
Ken
Here is a an exterior shot of Molly Malones. You can see the Sohmer Garage building on the left side, behind the red car. There is a fairly uninspired extension to the front of the original building The extension is full of poker machines. The Sohmer 1912 Garage lettering has been filled in.
Correction.
This is in Devonport not Launceston.
Here are some links to newspaper articles via Trove-
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/64914049?searchTerm=Sohmer Garage&searchLimits=exactPhrase
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/64465092?searchTerm=Sohmer Garage&searchLimits=exactPhrase
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/64611218?searchTerm=Sohmer Garage&searchLimits=exactPhrase
I suggest you do a Trove search, you will be surprised at what you will find.
Dane.
They sold SCAT too
(No, it wasn't crankshafts back then.. Societa Ceirano Automobili Torino made cars in Italy from 1906-32)
Thanks Andrew for sharing this picture. A group of us have been sharing photos of Aussie built T bodies for awhile now. Tasmanian built body pictures have been scarce. These ones look distinctly Tasmanian. No known survivors of that body style that I have seen.
Warwick.
The same photo cleaned up a bit.
I wonder if they sold many Scats?
I have only seen one and I thought they were called Newton & Bennets in the Commonwealth countries??
Manuel in Oz
I picked up a book at Hobart airport today called Tasmania's Bygone Years of Road Transport 1900-1929 by LJ Morley. It has a bunch of Model T photos in it. There are a few photos of Model T bodies being built at Robert Nettlefolds in Hobart.
The book doesn't list it's year of publication but I am guessing it came out in the last year or so.
Thank you for answering my PM Andrew. This is indeed a rare find.
We don't know too much about the Tasmanian coach builders. There is one in Launceston called Jackson. There is a lovely 1912 roadster we think may be from this body builder. It is gorgeous and can leak oil in my shed anytime...
The top pictured cars certainly have a lot of similar features as the southern states builders cars.
The "torpedo" shaped coachwork was all the rage just before the war. Not only on a Ford, but it can be found on all makes and models, not only in Australia but the UK too.
This just adds to the complex beauty that makes our Australian bodied just fabulous.
Cramp Bros Bodywork's here in Hobart Tasmania was established in 1892 making carts etc and then built many early car & truck bodies. They are still in business today as a repairer. I have one of there body styles on my T
Scott,
From your profile, it appears this is your first posting ... Welcome Aboard!
Thanks for sharing the photo of your surviving 1915. The wooden windshield frame with the curved wooden base appears to be the same as the one shown on the Australian bodied cars above.
Was it unique to the bodies made by Cramp Bros Bodywork's located in Hobart Tasmania? [For any of the USA folks who are not familiar with Australia, [that would be me] that is like Dallas, Texas with the City, then the state -- I learned that yesterday.
Great looking car. I am assuming you have had it for a while. If I guessed wrong and you are new to T's please let folks know as there are some safety suggestions etc. that can be helpful to new owners.
Respectfully submitted,
Hap, l9l5 cut off
Look at that one! Another one for the books!!!
Thanks Hap I have had the 1915 for only a few years and have plenty to lean. Tasmania is the island state off Australia. Don't know if Cramp bros were the only ones doing the wooden window frames. Have been enjoying the forum for awhile.
Just posting on an obscure post above about Ceirano.
I had the pleasure of driving a Ceirano in England at a friends, I believe it was a 1927.
I can't find a picture of me driving, I think it might be of the film & print version!
Here is the rad & interior.
I researched this quite a bit right after I drove it but didn't see any reference to SCAT at that time. One of the Ceirano brother's early companies became FIAT Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino.
This is what my book says--
SCAT: from Italy, 1906-14.
Giovanni Ceirano's Scat was a superb car whose production was partly financed by Newton and Bennett of Manchester.
The range included cars of 2722cc, 2949, 3052, 4710 and 4483cc four cylinder engines and 4 speed boxes.
---------
There is a bit more there about race victories.
Cheers,
Manuel in Oz
Scott,
Thanks for sharing the picture of your lovely Tasmanian built Roadster. Looks like I was wrong in my comment about no known survivors of the cars in the top pictures. Your car certainly looks like it came from the same factory! The mudguards on your car look like the standard Ford issue, unlike the custom ones in the above pictures but the body itself looks identical. That wooden windscreen frame is great, I have been wanting to come over and do a tour of Tassie in my T for a long time. Will have to look you up when I come over. Congratulations on owning such a nice Aussie bodied T.
I managed to get a copy of Tasmania's Bygone a years of Road Transport 1900 - 1929 as mentioned above. Found it on ABEBooks.com.
Cheers, Paul
You can possibly also buy the book direct from the distributor:
http://blackgum.com.au/
http://www.blackgum.com.au/stocklist/view_item.php?bic=WBP06