Fords at the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup race

[Rob]

At least three Model K Ford owners attended the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup race held on Long Island. This is a photo story of one of them. Copies of the photos below were mailed to me after a gentleman read the story of our Model K in the AACA magazine a few months ago. A little “detective” work helped me learn about the owner.

First, the photos. According to information with the photos, several of the photos were taken during the journey with a group of automobile tourists to the race.


The intrepid travelers. The Ford Six owner is on the right, evidently studying the route:

Again, studying his map, with a few other automobiles along the route:

Stopped with the party. My guess is drying a duster on the radiator:

Next, loading on a ferry, and arriving at the races.

[KeithG]

Interesting pictures, Rob. Thanks for posting them.

Keith

[Rob]

Keith, my pleasure.

Stopped in a small town along the way. The owners monogrammed brass initials are on the radiator front:

At the ferry.

The back of the Ford as it waits to board the ferry. The New York license number will lead us to the owner. Notice the leather luggage between the rumble and front seat:

The cars find a spot along the Vanderbilt Cup route:

[perry kete]

I always enjoy looking back in history like this to see all the different towns and cars.

I spent three hours at 1908 Vanderbilt Road today and didn't see one darn car go by! How did you do it?

[Rob]

Perry, all you have to do is close your eyes, and listen...............

It’s hard to imagine the excitement that must have been these early road events like the Vanderbilt Cup.

Five more photos of the same car, but I don’t believe from the same trip:

Decked out in a fur coat with a friend. Another car is back in the distance:

On this photo and the one before, the back rumble seat may be off, with a trunk or something strapped in it’s place:

This last photo may show a progression over the years. Now the car has a rear tourabout seat added:

Usually I’m left wondering, who were these people, and what was their story? How long did they have the car? In this instance, we’ll learn more............

[Chris Paulsen]

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing. I would have presumed the owner was from New Jersey. There is a 1908 NJ plate on the front and back, and a New York pre-state plate only on the back presumably in order to drive in NY to and in the race.

[DHort]

Neat batch of photos. Looks like you and Julie need a raccoon coat and a duster just like that. Call Ed Archer and I am sure he can set you up with the appropriate clothing.

[Rob]

Dave, i agree, great period outfits. Julie learned pretty quickly it’s difficult to keep a big hat like the one who woman in wearing on at speed.

Chris, I wonder if New Jersey required two plates, and New York didn’t? I read one period article while researching this story that mentioned a tour that planned the route around New Jersey (originating in New York) because NJ required duplicate licensing if anyone from another state drove on their roads.

I’ll get back to the story after a few more cups of coffee.

[Rob]

Looking into this Model K roadster, I had two good clues to work from, the New York license plate and this:

An initial monogram. This is what I found.

Henry D. Bultman licensed this Ford in 1908, and again in 1910, matching the monogram, “HDB.”

That left several questions. How long did he own the car and what was his background?

We now know Henry Bultman graduated from Columbia University in 1895:

And we know what he looked like ten or eleven years after attending the Vandy Cup race:

And we’ll learn that he had something in common with several other owners of the “Ford Six.”

[Kaiser]

Darned Rob, you are doing it again,, I hate these "cliffhangers"
Now I'll be nervuosly checking this thread several times a day

[Rob]

Thanks Leo. I ended up going down a rabbit hole on this one. Sometimes it’s hard to find anything, and other times theres so much it’s difficult to know what to leave on the cutting room floor. Hope this doesn’t get too boring.

I couldn’t find evidence of Henry Bultman having a car before his 1908 Ford six-forty. We do learn that Henry graduated high school in Brooklyn, class of 88, and then was enrolled in what I think was a prep school, gaining a distinction in music:

His family lived at 144 Hewes, Brooklyn. Records indicate the home was built, or rebuilt in 1899. Henry would continue to live there, along with his sister for several years after college. The property still exists, and is estimated to be worth 2.4 million today. Imagine Henry’s Model K partied in front of this home:

While attending Columbia, Henry, accompanied by his sister, travelled to the 1893 worlds fair in Chicago. The family was involved in real estate, and appear to have been extremely well off:

Meanwhile, back at Columbia, Henry changed his major to dentistry, graduation Columbia Class of 95. Life seems to have included several trips a year, often accompanied by his sister:

And, Henry appeared to be one of the best “Duckpin” men around (yes, I had to look it up......):

Next, Henry gets his Ford, and his name in the papers.

[Rob]

Back to the Bultman Model K. We know Henry registered his Ford Six because Brooklyn Life listed registered cars by license plate number, May 23rd, 1908:

What we know now is Henry evidently had just purchased his Model K, and like many Ford Six owners, couldn’t keep his hand off the throttle. A $50 fine in 1908 equates to about $1,200 today:

This article covers the infraction in more detail. Apparently Harry Bultman had established a record of sorts with the court:

We also know Henry kept his Ford Six through 1909 and 1910. In 1910, two registrations reaffirm that the Ford is a 1908 model, and 40 hp (Model K):

Also, in 1910 the dentist has time to submit for patent rights:

Usually I find wealthy auto owners from this period often changed cars every year, or every other year. When I get back we’ll see how long Henry kept his Ford, and cover a little evolution of the car, and Henry.

[Rob]

As time marches on, we see the Bultman Model K evolve. Henry licenses the Ford again in early and late 1912. By now the Ford six is getting “up there” in years:

While we don’t have a timeline for the photos, changes are made to the car over the years. An additional tool box is added at some point to the right running board.

Without the toolbox:

The original rumble seat configuration:

Later, the tourabout configuration, and a step is added:

Henry Bultman kept his Ford through late 1912, while not licensing another car. But time of course will march on.

[It's Bill]

I'm curious: how would the value of the car vs. the value of the house then compare to the value of the car vs. the value of the house today? Great stuff Rob! Cheers, Bill

[John Warren]

Hi Rob, Love reading your posts. They taunt you and draw you into the stories. Thanks so much for taking the time to do such research and reporting it so elegantly.

[Duey_C]

What John said.
I find the digging and the details fascinating. Boring? Au contraire mon fraire.

[Rob]

Thanks guys. Bill, not sure how property values and early car values equate today vs. “the day.” We know the Model K, as with most cars throughout time, get to a point where they are worth virtually nothing, while home values continue a steady increase over time. I was surprised at the valuation of the N.Y. property (but shouldn’t have been).

Henry married later in life, and continued to live a life of leisure:

Oh, and the “Ford Six.” Henry Bultman licensed it in late 1912, but by 1914, it had moved on, and he was the owner of a Chalmers. Still, not a bad run for a car the other Henry “hated.”

(had a heck of a time finding this last registration, notice the last name spelling.......)