J.B.Van Sciver Automobile Collection

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: J.B.Van Sciver Automobile Collection
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Don Watson -Florence,Colorado on Monday, September 22, 2014 - 03:13 pm:

I am curious to know if anyone knows anything about the J.B.Van Sciver Automobile Collection that was located in Philadelphia
Does it still exist?,if not,what happened to the Collection.
Did they have T's in it,they had some very Early Cars in it

-Don


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George_Cherry Hill NJ on Monday, September 22, 2014 - 03:37 pm:

J.B. Van Schiver as a company was a Philadelphia area fine furniture maker that spanned over 100 years of family ownership before falling into bankruptcy.

The last Van Sciver's collected antique cars at their estate in Chestnut Hill, PA (a section of Philadelphia)

Here is a write-up I found....

A pilot, yachtsman, and horseman, Joseph Bishop Van Sciver, Jr. was also recognized as one of the country’s pioneer collectors of antique and classic cars. Mr. Van Sciver was one of the founders of the Antique Auto Club of America, a car collector’s club. By 1980 he had over 30 vintage cars stored in his museum and on the grounds of his Chestnut Hill estate. Included in his collection were Stanley Steamers, a Maxwell, a Mercedes Raceabout, a 1902 Pierce-Arrow, a 1900 De Dion-Boutton, electric cars, and a 1909 six-cylinder Winton. The Van Scivers used the Winton as an open touring car, and had a Mercedes Daimler racer for tours and competitions. Their tours in post-war America included trips to Cape May, Atlantic City, Albany, and Detroit. World War I top American flying ace Eddie Rickenbacker, heavyweight boxing champion Gene Tunney, children’s book author Munroe Leaf, and founder of Firestone Tire and Rubber Company Harvey Firestone were antique automobile collectors, contemporaries and friends of Mr. Van Sciver. Together with an assortment of others, they participated in auto tours and friendly baseball games (umpired by Dale Carnegie).

Joseph Bishop Van Sciver, Jr. died on June 26, 1981 at age 87, at “Ingleside,” his Chestnut Hill estate formerly owned by his parents.

...

No mention as to what happened to the cars...but a guess would be AACA would know! I think maybe were sold off...as one of the Stanley's in the original collection went through RM Auctions last year


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By P. Jamison on Monday, September 22, 2014 - 07:55 pm:

His son retains most of the collection, I believe. He brought a Peerless Motorette to the AACA convention a couple years back and told of his entry in the Lond-Brighton run.

Phil


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Verne Shirk on Monday, September 22, 2014 - 10:05 pm:

I had a teacher in middle school named Raymond VanSciver in Wichita, KS. I kinda thought he had some early autos but he never would really come right out and say it. I wonder if he was related? I'd guess he has passed away by now because he seemed old to me 50 years ago.


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