This story involves a Vanderbilt cup racer, Thomas Flyers, and a lowly Ford. It's going to take some time.....

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This story involves a Vanderbilt cup racer, Thomas Flyers, and a lowly Ford. It's going to take some time.....

Post by Rob » Wed Feb 17, 2021 10:07 pm

Meriden CT, 1903. Dr. Murdock, a local dentist, born in England and educated in the U.S. and England, was an early automobile enthusiast.
This story will include a Thomas Flyer 6 cyl. Vanderbilt Cup Racer along with two other Thomas Flyers, a Knox, Autocar, and a lowly Ford. I'm still uncovering information, so it may take a bit of time. Let's start with the Thomas Flyer six cylinder 1905 Vanderbilt Cup racer:
2D896BCA-DB4D-403D-8EAD-8201C73D1035.jpeg
Montague Roberts at the wheel of the Thomas Flyer 6 cyl. racer in 1906. It was a 75 h.p, racer with 90 plus mph speed that finished among the top five in the Vanderbilt Cup trials. However, the judges chose machines that made lower speeds, and the racer was destined to be an "also ran." Next, Montague Roberts (original driver of the New York to Paris Thomas Flyer team in 1908), meeting Gaston Plaintiff, Ford New York Branch manager on a Chicago to New York record attempt in the spring of 1906. Two of the earliest U.S. built six cylinder automobiles meeting on a road in upstate New York.
E90E9748-FFE6-4E12-B1E6-607FFBDD2A24.jpeg

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Re: This story involves a Vanderbilt cup racer, Thomas Flyers, and a lowly Ford. It's going to take some time.....

Post by perry kete » Thu Feb 18, 2021 8:20 am

Looking forward to reading this continuing story BUT ! ... I thought the Great Leslie (aka Tony Curtis ) drove the car from New York to Paris ! :roll:
1922 Coupe & 1927 Touring

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Re: This story involves a Vanderbilt cup racer, Thomas Flyers, and a lowly Ford. It's going to take some time.....

Post by Rob » Thu Feb 18, 2021 8:36 am

Let's begin at the beginning. Meriden CT is about 20 miles south of Hartford CT. One of Meriden's first automobilistes was Dr. Frederick L. Murdock. Dr. Murdock was born in England in 1864 (one year younger than Henry Ford). His family was unable to provide for him and he was shipped to Canada to work on a farm (by a "charitable foundation"). After a childhood and teenager he worked on a farm in Canada, eventually placing himself through high school and college. By 1888 he entered the U.S. and soon was practicing dentistry, settling in Meriden CT in 1891.

BD5E4959-7A37-499D-9B97-9781353FEED0.jpeg

By 1903, Dr. Murdock owns an automobile (1903 Meriden CT auto registration records). I've not determined the make of his first car. In 1904 he trades his first car for an Autocar:

DE6636B0-05C1-4C5E-AFA1-37A8AC7065CD.jpeg

1904 Autocar Type X:

81B1504B-E717-4AED-A558-D2B63E23213E.jpeg
81B1504B-E717-4AED-A558-D2B63E23213E.jpeg (53.55 KiB) Viewed 3083 times

As we'll see, Dr. Murdock has need for speed, and comfort.

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Re: This story involves a Vanderbilt cup racer, Thomas Flyers, and a lowly Ford. It's going to take some time.....

Post by Rob » Thu Feb 18, 2021 11:18 am

The Autocar doesn't last long. On the 18th of July, 1904 we learn Dr. Murdock has sold his Autocar and purchased a 1904 Thomas Flyer:

C4C3ED88-98FC-4D7B-B112-70AB5149D5E6.jpeg
F1EC38A6-5677-43B8-9722-720E4B96D563.jpeg

953D3BB2-919D-4470-9A66-DE82785994B9.jpeg

The Autocar lasted almost four months. We'll see how long the Flyer stays around...........

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Re: This story involves a Vanderbilt cup racer, Thomas Flyers, and a lowly Ford. It's going to take some time.....

Post by Rob » Thu Feb 18, 2021 12:21 pm

In January, 1906, Dr. Murdock joins other Meridan's at the New York Auto Show. It shouldn't be a surprise by now, but he's sold his six month Thomas:

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And purchases a new 50 hp Thomas Flyer touring car:

8335561B-3518-4F7D-BA2C-5DD829112B2B.jpeg

Next - still a need for more speed...........

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Re: This story involves a Vanderbilt cup racer, Thomas Flyers, and a lowly Ford. It's going to take some time.....

Post by perry kete » Thu Feb 18, 2021 1:10 pm

When Dr. F.L. Murdock purchased his car in 1905 the article states "The purchase price is not given out but it is said that $4,000 will about strike it." So I looked up a chart and $4,000 in 1905 is $118,900.91 in todays money! Big bucks for a car.
1922 Coupe & 1927 Touring

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Re: This story involves a Vanderbilt cup racer, Thomas Flyers, and a lowly Ford. It's going to take some time.....

Post by Rob » Thu Feb 18, 2021 1:56 pm

Perry, yes, a lot of money. Dr. Murdock is about the most prolific car buyer I've found. There were other who kept quite a few cars at one time, but he buys and sells often, averaging less than a year a car usually. And now is when it starts to get interesting.

Dr. Murdock buys one of the most famous cars at that time. The 1905 Thomas Flyer six cylinder Vanderbilt Cup racer. It was driven in the Vanderbilt time trials by Montague Roberts. Roberts will be the lead driver of a Thomas Flyer in 1908 when it leaves New York, for Paris.

The 1905 Vanderbilt Cup races were widely contested, with several race car builders crying foul. The Thomas Flyer Cup racer finished third in the competition, but wasn't chosen as one of the five contestants by the selection committee.

803ED6AA-221F-40A6-9909-4D94FB5450B5.jpeg

Below, Dr. Murdock purchases the race car directly from the E. R. Thomas company, selling his 50 hp Thomas Flyer. The famous racer will be delivered after the fuel tank is removed and a custom body built for the chassis:

3CEDC3E5-9F97-4137-A1D6-D5EEAEBC8EB6.jpeg

During the summer of 1906 we learn there are now six Thomas Flyers in Meriden, including Dr. Murdock's, and another person who will factor into this story, Adam Engelhart:

948B1947-829A-49E9-A26E-2AC9A4D9350F.jpeg

Finally, in October 1906 the remade Vandy Cup racer is made over into a "74 horsepower" Gentleman's tourabout and delivered to Dr. Murdock. Almost immediately the Doctor injures his back "while at work on the big machine."

09C01D81-2BCE-4FE2-9FE8-AA7498D3C118.jpeg

1907 is approaching. What does a person do who has one of the fastest cars on the road do? Dr. Murdock has owned five cars since 1903, including three Thomas Flyers, each larger and faster than the other.

Now's when this gets interesting, for a number of reasons.


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Re: This story involves a Vanderbilt cup racer, Thomas Flyers, and a lowly Ford. It's going to take some time.....

Post by DHort » Thu Feb 18, 2021 3:22 pm

Interesting that even back then, Dentists made a lot of money. Wonder if he was some kind of specialist?

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Re: This story involves a Vanderbilt cup racer, Thomas Flyers, and a lowly Ford. It's going to take some time.....

Post by Rob » Thu Feb 18, 2021 4:11 pm

Dave,
Thanks for the post. As I'm researching (this is a work in progress) I'm finding two stories about Dr. Murdock's dental background. One modern genealogy site says he had no formal education in dentistry, while another (period article) indicated he was educated in England following a B.A. degree in the U.S.. It seems Dr. Murdock and his wife were well established citizens of Meriden. In 1907 he was one of four organizers of a new bank in town.

In 1918 he submitted this patent:

BEC19DB1-368A-4C25-BC89-AAB5BCCCB9C7.jpeg

I'll get back to this is a bit.

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Re: This story involves a Vanderbilt cup racer, Thomas Flyers, and a lowly Ford. It's going to take some time.....

Post by Thorlick » Thu Feb 18, 2021 6:04 pm

Rob, I love your posts.

I have “sprained” my back before. My disc damage never happened whilst treating my dental patients. The worst was whilst operating a shovel in my yard.

Terrie will confirm that I have NEVER blamed a car... ESPECIALLY A MODEL T for injuring my back! (I am creative enough and just smart enough to find something else to attribute my stupid actions to!

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Re: This story involves a Vanderbilt cup racer, Thomas Flyers, and a lowly Ford. It's going to take some time.....

Post by Wayne Sheldon » Thu Feb 18, 2021 7:05 pm

Such wonderful stuff! I have seen a few pictures of that Vanderbilt Thomas over the years, but didn't know that much of its history. Very interesting.

Looking forward to more of the story!

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Re: This story involves a Vanderbilt cup racer, Thomas Flyers, and a lowly Ford. It's going to take some time.....

Post by Rob » Thu Feb 18, 2021 8:40 pm

Thanks guys. We had our weekly "Ford and Friends" Zoom meeting this afternoon, so I'm afraid I had to disengage from this story. Also, Pat, a MTFCA reader, kindly let me know the pic I scammed (yes, it's true) off the internet wasn't an Autocar X after all. Thank you Pat, and my apologies to anyone reading this thread.

I hope this is a 1904 Type 10 Autocar.......

808B007B-85AD-4B5C-931B-F6A08D074678.jpeg

Thank you all. This is a good story, and I'll be back on it tomorrow. There are some surprising twists......
Rob


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Re: This story involves a Vanderbilt cup racer, Thomas Flyers, and a lowly Ford. It's going to take some time.....

Post by Wayne Sheldon » Fri Feb 19, 2021 1:43 am

I wasn't going to say anything about that. However, I believe that other car photo could be argued to keep this thread "model T related". I am sure it is a "French front" Oldsmobile, and most likely an Oldsmobile model T (believe it or not). A good friend has one. Interesting car to ride in (I rode in the back!).

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Re: This story involves a Vanderbilt cup racer, Thomas Flyers, and a lowly Ford. It's going to take some time.....

Post by Rob » Fri Feb 19, 2021 8:26 am

Thanks Wayne, yes, Pat told me the same (Olds). I know my Model K's pretty well, can't say the same for other marquees..... :shock:

Dr. Murdock received his Thomas Cup Racer in October 1906. The question is, will this be a car he keeps longer than he has in the past? It appears he's making a long term commitment to the unique and powerful machine in this April 1907 article. The report indicates the racer is being modified again, describing it's new colors of colonial yellow with russet striping, with rear folding double tourer seat and yellow leather. The article goes on to read "When the autoist gets out on the road with this car it's beautiful lines and enormous speed will make it a thing to be respected by every one who comes in contact with it and there is no doubt but that it will command immediate respect.

The article goes on to mention a new Stevens six cylinder and Pope Toledo runabout now in Meriden.

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We also learn there's now a Ford dealer in town. Adam Engelhart (I've found several different spellings for Mr. Engelhart in Meriden newspapers) is now the Ford and Knox agent. We last saw Mr Engelhart driving a Thomas Flyer.

03061EC4-AD75-482B-979C-80C2A48D0DB0.jpeg

Next, two twists to this story. One I suspect anyone reading this may expect (if they've read my posts before), and one I suspect no one sees coming.


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Re: This story involves a Vanderbilt cup racer, Thomas Flyers, and a lowly Ford. It's going to take some time.....

Post by Bud Delong » Fri Feb 19, 2021 8:42 am

I really enjoy reading these stories!! Bud. :D

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Re: This story involves a Vanderbilt cup racer, Thomas Flyers, and a lowly Ford. It's going to take some time.....

Post by Rob » Fri Feb 19, 2021 10:08 am

Thank you Bud. I enjoy learning about the people who owned and drove our cars so long ago. This story will end with a degree of poignancy, but also continuity.

Now, for the part that may not surprise anyone.

Dr. Murdock once again trades his car after less than one year. He has now owned 7 cars over a 5 year period. And those cars weren't slouches, the first being of unknown make, then the largest model Autocar available, a 26 hp Thomas Flyer, 50 hp Thomas and 74 hp Vanderbilt Cup Thomas racer. What's next? You guessed it, a man who knows cars chooses a six cylinder Ford:

5CDFAEA9-F7A5-4424-8EDE-6DA2A1D83717.jpeg
1907 Ford six cylinder (Model K):
105FADB1-62F9-4EED-92B5-A67C03CA1F06.jpeg

He bought his new Ford from new Ford agent Adam Engelhart. The Vanderbilt Racer goes to Adam in trade. Two obvious questions for me when I came across this story were, first, how long will Dr. Murdock keep his new Ford six? Will this be a short lived purchase like his Autocar and first Thomas Flyer, only a few months? The second question, what does Adam Engelhart do with the Thomas Vanderbilt racer?

We'll find the answer to both questions next.

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Re: This story involves a Vanderbilt cup racer, Thomas Flyers, and a lowly Ford. It's going to take some time.....

Post by Rob » Fri Feb 19, 2021 12:26 pm

Regarding the question of how long will Dr. Murdock keep this one (Ford "K"), time will tell. Reference the famous Thomas Vandy Cup racer, what happens next may be more of a surprise than anything else in this story.

Adam Englehart announces he will overhaul the racer, replacing the transmission with one from a Ford. That's correct, the often maligned Ford Model K transmission will replace the Thomas 3 speed sliding gear transmission. Maybe it's a typo.........

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No, a month later, in September 1907, the racer is back on the road, with a Ford planetary transmission. From the article below: "in it instead of the old Thomas racing gears and the car has demonstrated it's great power and its flexibility since the new transmission was installed."

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A month later, Englehart placed ads in national motoring magazines offering the converted racer for sale, with two bodies. I haven't found anything more on this racer, and presume it's lost to history:

A23B4DCB-4907-4CFF-9AF8-78EDF24A5440.jpeg
Meanwhile, 1907 finishes with no additional information of Dr. Murdock's Ford six.

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Re: This story involves a Vanderbilt cup racer, Thomas Flyers, and a lowly Ford. It's going to take some time.....

Post by Rob » Fri Feb 19, 2021 4:27 pm

Back for a little more of the story.

First thing I need to mention, the new Ford agent, Adam Englehart, didn't advertise Model Ks, only Ford runabouts. Then, when Dr. Murdock bought a Ford Six, he went to New York to drive the car home. This tells me that Adam was a smaller agent, and conducted his business through the Ford New York branch. Many smaller dealers couldn't afford the advance $400 required to have a Model K at their shop/dealership/home.

In July 1908, Dr. and Mrs. Murdock have an accident with their vehicle, and have it towed to Adam Engelhart's garage. We don't know from this article if it's still the venerable Model K.

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Then, in early November 1908, disaster strikes for the Murdock's Ford Six. We learn they did indeed still possess their Ford Six. Unfortunately it's badly damaged by fire as the Dr. was preparing to take it on an outing:

DF8F57DE-85DF-427B-8030-BEF7CC1988A2.jpeg
Still, not a bad run for the Ford six, August 1907 into Nov 1908, with an auto owner who rarely kept a car over a year at a time. In fact, we learn (below) that Dr. Murdock must not have planned to make a change soon. He orders a Knox in late November 1908, but it isn't ready until early 1909:

74A233B0-869E-416D-9F66-FC04801C0787.jpeg

Normally, this would be the end of the story. Dr. Murdock has moved on, and the Ford six returned to the dealer he bought it and the Knox from. However, this isn't a normal story. In fact, the old Ford six and new Knox will meet on the field of competition.
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Re: This story involves a Vanderbilt cup racer, Thomas Flyers, and a lowly Ford. It's going to take some time.....

Post by Wayne Sheldon » Fri Feb 19, 2021 6:59 pm

A very interesting story!
One detail in particular caught my attention.
In the Journal's 16 February 1907 article "FORD RUNABOUTS CARLOAD COMING", it describes the new Ford four cylinder runabout as having "a long wheelbase". I needed to chuckle at that! As always, it is important to remember to keep historic records and events in a context of their time. Not in our modern perception of things. Even by the model T's time only two years later, the new 1907 four cylinder runabout would not have been considered a long wheelbase automobile. However, 1907 was also the last year of Oldsmobile's famous curved dash model which had a very short wheelbase! Probably still a hundred marques including Brush and a bunch of high wheel horseless carriages were still being manufactured and sold with wheelbases between 60 and 80 inches. Even many of the larger and very expensive cars in 1906 still had wheelbases only slightly larger than 110 inches. It is interesting to see up close a 1906 Locomobile, considered a large car in 1906, and then stand next to a 1907 Thomas Flyer and feel the difference one year made! Both of those as well as Rolls Royce and Pierce Arrow along with a dozen other well known cars grew nearly a foot in length in about two years.
The change from the middle of 1906 production to the late 1908 '09's production was simply amazing.

Thank you Rob!

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Re: This story involves a Vanderbilt cup racer, Thomas Flyers, and a lowly Ford. It's going to take some time.....

Post by Rob » Sat Feb 20, 2021 9:25 am

Wayne, thank you, as always for your informative post and kind comments. It seems technology was moving rapidly with automobiles and as a result, many of the motorists I research only keep a car one to two years. On rare occasion I find an owner who will keep a car four or five years, but that seems to be the exception. Evidence of the improvements in automobiles is born out on the track and hill climbs. It's rare to find a two or three year old car competing with new car in events. Part of the reason may be manufacturers and dealers are putting their new cars up to the line to show their speed and effectiveness, and who would run an "old" car in such events.

However, in this story we get to witness an exception to the standard. Meriden held a hill climb in June 1909. I'll let the reporter tell about it:

C4EB8310-A4C0-4D37-9778-5D552A8280B3.jpeg

The Meriden Journal reported "while Dr. Murdock's Knox, although not stripped made the course in smashing time under the piloting of Albert Denison, the famous Knox racer. Also mentioned as expected leaders in the competition were Corbins, Thomas-Detroits, Pope-Hartford and a Rambler. No mention of our lowly old Ford six.........

Below is a photo of one of the Corbin cars participating. My guess is, since the fenders and aprons are stripped, this photo may have been taken the day of the hill climb:

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We're fortunate to have some photos from the hill climb still remain today. The reason for this may be that Spooner and Wells, period photographers, were at the event taking photos:

C187E697-AA25-410D-9B7F-EA782BF14E32.jpeg

National automobile magazines carried the story and photos of the event:

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Next - the results of the hill climb.

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Re: This story involves a Vanderbilt cup racer, Thomas Flyers, and a lowly Ford. It's going to take some time.....

Post by Rob » Sat Feb 20, 2021 11:03 am

As it turned out, Fords carried the day, in the 161 - 230 cubic inch class, with Adam Englehart winning the cup with a Ford runabout.

Corbin was the big winner, winning cups in both the 301 - 450 c.i. Class and the Free-For-All. However, our Ford six was right in the mix of things, placing 3rd in the 301 - 450 class and 2nd in the Free For All event. In fact, the Ford six had the 3rd best time overall.

6751F31C-244B-427A-BE12-6238602EF976.jpeg

Winning Corbin:

292325C5-EF51-4139-8B69-5CFD65F7B6C4.jpeg

While I can't be sure, I believe this may be a photo of Englehart on the hill climb. I found this photo in a file at THF several years ago, and always hoped I might discover who and what it was. It's a photo of a 1907-08 Model K touring, stripped, and on what appears to be a hill climb.

DBC32A68-4354-42BF-A524-B5F5C49951C1.jpeg

I have two photos that may corroborate this theory. First, a photo of the Englehart family in a parade, driving what may be a 1904 Autocar:

0AC7EA5E-66F6-43A4-9198-35A479469D75.jpeg

Then, a side by side of the a younger Englehart in the parade car, with a closeup from what may be him driving the Model K in 1909:
01D7069F-88EA-4F7A-94AF-13ACF9CC32F3.jpeg

I'll follow with one other comparison. Anyone reading this may give your opinions too.

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Re: This story involves a Vanderbilt cup racer, Thomas Flyers, and a lowly Ford. It's going to take some time.....

Post by Rob » Sat Feb 20, 2021 11:34 am

Two more comparisons between the winning Corbin and what may be the 2nd place Ford six. I think the photographer may have been in about the same spot for both cars, while the cars are at different spots when the photos were snapped. I've circled two men watching the hill climb.
356E9EDA-D75C-48A2-A694-C7CB679C013B.jpeg
51D5D7D7-7628-463D-BD32-28DF4853F070.jpeg
Side by side.

0044824D-881D-4809-A75B-C57CAF18D27F.jpeg

At any rate, the Ford six presented quite well on the hill climb, beating Chalmers-Detroit (previously Thomas-Detroit), Pope-Hartford, Corbin, Rambler, Stevens Duryea 6 cyl, Packard and even Dr. Murdock's new Knox.

I'll wrap this up on the next post. The story ends in tragedy, and a new beginning for an old Ford Six.


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Re: This story involves a Vanderbilt cup racer, Thomas Flyers, and a lowly Ford. It's going to take some time.....

Post by Bud Delong » Sat Feb 20, 2021 12:46 pm

The Thomas car was very high quality but with a crash box trans??? I think there were many planetary trans of the time but Ford was the best to handle the power of the racer?? Thank you sir!! Bud.
:D

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Rob
Posts: 1431
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 1:53 pm
First Name: Rob
Last Name: Heyen
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Models B, F, K, N, Ford racer and 3 Model T
Location: Eastern Nebraska

Re: This story involves a Vanderbilt cup racer, Thomas Flyers, and a lowly Ford. It's going to take some time.....

Post by Rob » Sat Feb 20, 2021 12:56 pm

Thank you Bud.

Now, for the end of this lengthy story. In 1912, Adam Englehart (as mentioned earlier, there are at least three spellings used by media of the day) is killed instantly. The shop acetylene welder is suspected.

86DAD841-870D-40B8-BC77-F3077C10BEA7.jpeg

Adam's widow and 19 year old son take over, and Meriden Auto Station survives under son Leon's management until the late 1950's.


And the Ford Six (K)? It also gets a new lease on life in 1913, still at the same garage:
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Chris Barker
Posts: 275
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 5:08 pm
First Name: Chris
Last Name: Barker
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Coupe
Location: Somerset, Eng;and

Re: This story involves a Vanderbilt cup racer, Thomas Flyers, and a lowly Ford. It's going to take some time.....

Post by Chris Barker » Sat Feb 20, 2021 1:11 pm

Denison in Murdock's Knox isn't listed in the Motor Age report.
Do you think it wasn't an official entry, or the report only gives the fastest?

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Topic author
Rob
Posts: 1431
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 1:53 pm
First Name: Rob
Last Name: Heyen
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Models B, F, K, N, Ford racer and 3 Model T
Location: Eastern Nebraska

Re: This story involves a Vanderbilt cup racer, Thomas Flyers, and a lowly Ford. It's going to take some time.....

Post by Rob » Sat Feb 20, 2021 2:01 pm

Chris,
I suspect sometimes names are mismatched and mistaken. Initial newspaper reports wrote that Duffy was driving Dr. Murdock's Knox. Duffy, by the way, was Adam Englehart's brother in law, and was reported driving the Stevens six during the climb.

I just found a better photo of the winning Corbin (Detroit Public Library digital collection). It wasn't identified except 1909 racing. It gives better look at the two young men I believe help tie the Ford Six photo to the hill climb:

New Detroit Public Library photo:

87CD6C63-BA86-4434-91A0-BB86CF2878BA.jpeg

Comparison between Model K photo and new pic. It looks like the man with white shirt has a program or paper in his left hand in both photos. It also looks like both men have their shirt sleeves rolled up.
B705342B-B0BE-49B3-9E2B-EA214FF506CE.jpeg


Bud Delong
Posts: 468
Joined: Tue Feb 26, 2019 9:09 pm
First Name: Kenneth
Last Name: DeLong
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1914 touring,1915 roadster
Location: Wheeler, MI

Re: This story involves a Vanderbilt cup racer, Thomas Flyers, and a lowly Ford. It's going to take some time.....

Post by Bud Delong » Mon Feb 22, 2021 10:44 am

This story of the owners and the garage man remind me of the old book Dim Thunder!! Thank you Sir!!! Bud. :D


Dave Sullivan
Posts: 60
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 7:35 pm
First Name: David
Last Name: Sullivan
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923
Location: Bellingham WA

Re: This story involves a Vanderbilt cup racer, Thomas Flyers, and a lowly Ford. It's going to take some time.....

Post by Dave Sullivan » Sat Feb 27, 2021 11:03 am

Thank you, Rob, that was very interesting. Dave in Bellingham

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