MTFCA Forum

As found in a pile of old family photographs.

The man in the back ground must be the dad thinking” what did they do to my car? “ Neat speedster.

It's certainly a serious attempt at a speed vehicle in an era where Stutz Bearcats and Mercer Racabouts were the rage. Taking fun photos with the wife and kids is a wise move to have them buy in on the project.
Rich
Someone will have to explain the "White Rat" connotation to me.

I know of one other reference to While Rats in early 1900's history. There was a section of railroad in Michigan's upper peninsula called the White Rat Grade. The story I read, was that the lumbermen and rail employees had a few white rats as pets. The rats had reproduced rapidly, and became a nuisance. It became common for the men to use stove pipe around their lower legs to prevent the rats from climbing up.

I think the car is painted white and I can just imagine someone saying “that car looks like a mouse on wheels” and someone else chiming in with “more like rat!”

First rat rod?

There is what looks like a camera looking at the camera. Is this some promotional shoot for a movie or business doing setup bocking to due the shoot ?
Did they call little children, rug rats, back then ?
I'm just kidding a little.

The first "rat-rod"?

I like the speedster!

Any relation Dan? Lotsa kids. Nice speedster, thanks for posting. jw

The White Rat is the nickname for Whitey Herzog. He is one of the former and beloved manager of the St. Louis Cardinals. This has nothing to do with the car in the photo I suppose unless that is where he got the nickname.

Kevin -
I think the thing that looks like a camera is a black acetylene spot light in the center of the cowl.

Dan, Yes you are right it is a gas spot light. It is hard to tell on this small phone screen. Thanks.

Just think, there is a small chance that the White Rat is quietly sitting abandoned in some barn on an old family farm somewhere...

Not sure who it is in the photograph, but it was likely taken up in one of the the “coal region” towns of central Pennsylvania where part of my family is from.

It was cheap entertainment for someone I’m sure!