Is it Ford or special bodied?
I would say it is special bodied car.
Maybe late 1912, commercial roadster (curved fenders) but the spark lever has no hard rubber end, so it would be very late 1912, or early 1913. Are the lamps brass or black and brass?
Nice picture, Herbster
: ^ )
looks like Firestone wheels. What is the brace on running board?
And curved rear fenders?
Early California top?
That was the first Tardis? Doesn't look factory Ford.
Best photo of the Year for us!
Great find Herb
-Don
Eric, it doesn't say Police Box on it.....LOL
Here is the auction:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370951296359&fromMakeTrack=tr ue&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en
Great pic Herb, Thanks
Clearly modified from the original factory delivered car. But very nice postcard. Below is a zoomed in image of the postcard:
We can clearly see the curved in portion at the rear and the small turtle deck which is typical of the 1913-1922 runabouts/roadsters. Notice that it tapers both from the aft towards the front as well as from the top and gets less wide as the body panel goes towards the bottom. That eliminates the 1912 runabouts as they went straight down on the sides and only curved in on the back. With the wooden dash and hood without louvers that leaves a 1913-1914 runabout. and I’m 75% sure I can see a faint door line even in height with the turtle deck floor (see page 175 of Bruce’s book for a similar photo of a 1914 and how the bottom of the door and the bottom of the turtle deck ar approximately the same height.) Based on that I believe it is likely a 1914 runabout that has been fitted with a permanent California style top. Note if it had been a complete coupe body – the door hinges could have been spaced more evenly or even reduced to 3 or 2 hinges – rather than the original two for the standard runabout door and the additional two for the added door above the runabout door.
Fenders – curved in the back? Not standard 1913-1914 style. From an earlier 1912 or a later 1915? I’m not sure. Front fenders – with bills? Again left over 1912 or mid 1914s-1916s – I cannot tell. Note, I tried to read the date on the license plate. If it was 1913 then that would indicate earlier rather than later parts.
Great post card. (And I bet a little bit top heavy going around the corners compared to a standard runabout.) If someone does purchase it – please check the door area and license plate and let us know what you find.
Respectfully submitted,
Hap l9l5 cut off
Several manufacturers offered accessory coupe body conversions for the 1913 - 1922 Runabout body style. The car on the postcard has one of those accessories bolted to it. As Hap says it is clearly a 1913 - 14. I think the lower door hinge position makes it clearly a '14. The fenders appear to be later ones.
Here's a similar winter top seen at Speedy Bill's museum in Lincoln, Nebraska:
Here's a similar car, a 1913 again seen at Speedy Bill's museum recently. This car has lots of incorrect parts on it including earlier reproduction lamps and many miscellaneous later drive train parts, but it sure is nice:
Well as I always say, I'm no expert here, being just a beginner, but in Herbs pic I'd swear those rims are de-mountable. If they are, I thought those didn't come out till quite a bit later? Beats me!
That is a nice car Royce, even if it does have earlier brass on it.
Tim,
Those are Firestone demountable wheels. They were introduced by Firestone perhaps as early as 1910, and supplied as original equipment on some non - Ford products. They were offered as a period accessory for the Model T in those same years.
Must be that lady's coupe. . . it has curtains instead of shades. Thanks for the picture Herb! This season I'm thankful for all ya'll !!
How easily do those "winter tops" come on and off? What a neat accessory!
That "brace" is actually an accessory made by Milady Mfg. that was much favored by women drivers. She stepped on the running board and the door automatically opened as a cultured and refined recorded voice said "Allow me, Madam."
As the lady stepped up, the deluxe X-2 model would then say "What feather has just alighted?"
The same outfit also sold extra voice cylinders. Their most popular was Model XL-300 which was usually purchased by chaps who would then sneak over and install it on an ex-girlfriend's car.
This one would yell out "HEY! ONE AT A TIME!"
The description say it... "shows a Mass. License plate 1916"
It is probably is a '14 with '15 rear fenders.
: ^ )