MTFCA Forum

I have been asked if anyone can provide an approximate date for this school bus. The photo was probably taken in the Aberdeen, Idaho area

Running board brackets look to be 1920+ as well as the crowned fenders which of course were earlier than '20. Looks like a high radiator making it probly mid '23 onward I would say.

The high radiator and crowned fenders are 23 and later, and as the TT's never went to the improved car fenders, it could be up to 1927. Perhaps others will find something more definitive. Then you need to add on a few years to account for its used look.

Allan from down under.

Wide radiator apron could be 24-27 on a TT. It also looks like balloon tires, so they fit 25-27. Tires and wheels could have been changed. So my guess is 24-27

Was discussed 10 years ago https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/3 ... 1365185816

Trying to date the license plate as a method of end dating the car
It appears that there may be vertical lettering on he right side of the plate. Id so it would be a date and the State across the bottom of the plate. Also the background of the plate is light, possibly white. --
I checked all States West of the Mississippi - Arizona looks very close for the State name to be below the numbers as opposed to Texas

Thanks for the replies. My niece in Aberdeen, Idaho is working through a pile of old local newspapers to rescue them before they fall apart, and is also doing a local history. I assume this is something that needs to be dated to help date related info.

Ok so this has opened up a lot of questions. Jay links to a thread from ten years ago, my niece finds the same photo in an early Idaho local newspaper. Did the Aberdeen newspaper poach the photo, or had it been copied on to the web which is where Jay found it? Where was the photo actually taken?

Playswithbrass wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 20, 2023 10:45 am

Ok so this has opened up a lot of questions. Jay links to a thread from ten years ago, my niece finds the same photo in an early Idaho local newspaper. Did the Aberdeen newspaper poach the photo, or had it been copied on to the web which is where Jay found it? Where was the photo actually taken?

I added a close up of the license plate in my response above. If you agree with the possibility of multiple vertical numbers on the right side of the plate, than the Bus wasn't registered in Idaho. That doesn't necessarily mean where the photo was taken. It would help to add the story associated with the photo in the Aberdeen newspaper here.

I think I was asked to date the bus as a simple request but now knowing that the picture had been published elsewhere with a different caption, and that the licence plate is not Idaho, the researcher has no idea why it seemed a good idea to attach this photo to the retirement announcement. From what I assume is his obituary Mr. Wonderly was very much a car man. I can only pass the information along and my niece can decide how far down the rabbit hole she wants to go! The joys of research! Thanks for all your help and interest