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I recently was able to purchase an early Ford artifact and this original photo came with it. The seller told me it was of Henry Ford. The seller admittedly didn’t have much interest in things Ford, and the items were handed down in his family.
I believe it could be Edward “spider” Huff. In the side by side picture, the left one is a known passport photo of Ed Huff, dated 1922. I have so far been unable to find a later picture of Ed. Any help will be appreciated.

Tim, to me the ears don't match.
Also the area around the eye(s) are different.

Thanks for any comments. My guess is about 10 years between photos. Edward died in 1933 , I believe. He led a rough life.

This is a possibility for an identification.

You may want to try an online facial identification program, such as - https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/3-fascina ... rch-faces/

Lost of discussion about Huff here http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/50 ... 1217854459
By James A. Golden on Sunday, August 03, 2008 - 09:40 pm:
It is amazing what you can find in Washington, DC and on the Internet!
Edward S. Huff's Passport Application kind of closes the case for his nationality.
1795-1925 U.S. Passport Applications
Name: Edward S. Huff
Birth Date: 20 July 1877
Birth Place: Coal City, Illinois
Occupation: Electrical Engineer
Residence: Miami, Florida
Passport Issue Date: 30 March 1921
Father Name: Erastus H. Huff
Father's Birth Location: New York State
Father's Residence: Deceased
Passport Includes a Photo: Yes
Source: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925 (M1490)
If the Passport photo is from 1922 and he died in 1933 (55?) the age of the person on the photo doesn't match, nor do the ears. Perhaps the photo is tied to the item purchased

I agree with the things that don’t look right, but I also see some close similarities in the photos. I thought about facial recognition. If anyone is good enough to try it, have at it. It’s too complicated for me. The 1921 known photo of Huff shows a pretty scruffy looking fellow. Remember , he was also known to live a pretty rough life. He would have been around 66 at his death, if my math is correct. The artifact is a working model of the model T engine magneto that sat on Henry’s desk. The photo and a booklet from the Edison Institute came along with it. The book identifies special items on display there, including the magneto. I will send copies of the original photo to Mark Osterman, perhaps he can date it.
Huff was the inventor and patent owner of the magneto. Prof. Trent has written that Ed was the only man that could call the boss Henry. He was also a pretty free soul, and allowed Henry to cheat him out of millions in royalties he was owed. Somewhere around $13 million. It’s interesting to me the ford museum ( Edison Institute) has very little on Ed Huff. Just some very small bits when Henry hired him back in later years. ( which he did many times) almost like he had been expunged.
Huff finally sued right before his death in 1933 and the courts ruled he had waited too long. He died a beaten, broken man ( Henry’s plan? Just a guess )

Dropacent wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 15, 2021 1:10 pm

... He would have been around 66 at his death, if my math is correct. ...

If he died in 1933 and was born in 1877 then 1933 - 1877 = 56 not 66

Tim,

I shouldn't volunteer someone else BUT you may want to contact Rob Heyen who has done a lot of research on the early Ford employees. He may have a photo to match yours with.

Original from Henry ford collection.
Also found at:https://www.firstsuperspeedway.com/phot ... pider-huff

THF32037 / Ed "Spider" Huff at Work at Edison Illuminating Company, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1896

I have seen a picture of the person in the B & W picture before.
Could it be Henry's other son?

Manuel in Oz

Thanks Manual. That will be easy to chase down. Last name Dahlinger or something like that.

I found some pictures pretty easily of Ray Dahlinger , Henry’s chauffeur, and married to Evangline (spel?) and John Cotes Dahlinger, their son. I don’t see a resemblance but will keep looking. Another great story for another thread perhaps.

Trying to date the photo based in the gentleman's clothes.m There is a strikingly close match to the wide lapel design, heavy suit fabric, shirt collar/tie combination. The attached photo is supposed to be from the 1900-1915. If that match is close and given the apparent age of the gentlemen, he would have been born in the late 1800's. I also tried Google's new image search - nothing https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=g ... AvIePXnjHM

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