In the very foreground of this Shorpy photograph appear a pair of interesting cars, or perhaps mobile chassis. They appear to be of the same make. Can anyone suggest who the manufacturer is/was?
http://www.shorpy.com/node/18635?size=_original#caption
They appear to be early electric delivery trucks before the body is fitted.
Comparing the two of them to the blur of walking pedestrians (slow film), the one truck must be stopped, and the other passing it at no more than about four miles per hour (7 kph). An average pedestrian walks at about 3 mph (I walk considerably faster). Several pedestrians in the full photo are blurred more than the moving truck and driver indicating that they are moving faster than the truck is. The truck that is stopped? Even the wheel spokes are not blurred.
The moving truck's driver appears to be turning toward the other fellow. I wonder if he is slowing for a stop and talk?
Great photo! Thank you Dane H!
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
Neat photo Dane. Thanks for posting it!!!
So, perhaps the new all electric UPS delivery trucks are not such a new idea after all.
Most delivery trucks in use before about 1906 were electric. Gasoline power was difficult to start and transmissions were hard to shift. Almost anyone could learn to drive an electric. Because businesses were looking for the most efficient way to move products, and most deliveries were close by (well within the range of an electric truck), The electric was it.
As engines and transmissions became easier to use, and most people became more familiar with using them, gasoline power became more popular for its greater power and range. Just as with cars.
Electric trucks were still commonly manufactured and used throughout the '10s, and for some things, through the '20s.
Interesting to note. Gasoline/electric hybrids were also common throughout the '20s and into the '30s. For things like milk, bread, and ice routes with many stops, the hybrids were found to be the fastest and most efficient. They were also found to get much better gas mileage than a typical gasoline truck. Too bad that technology was not followed up on for so long.
Other than the added efficiency the speed of a computer can give us? There really isn't much new under the sun.
Too bad most of society prefers to not learn from history.
Thanks again Dane and Henry!
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
Thanks Wayne and Henry. I could see the electric motor at the rear of the stopped truck. There also are large boxes at the side, one would guess for batteries. Your analysis of speed, Wayne is very clever. Certainly an interesting pair of vehicles.
Even by 1915 electric was still in some demand, in Michigan alone 1658 passenger cars of some 26 manufactures had been registered that year, +118 commercial electrics.