Anyone heard of a 1924/25 Mayfair Model T based car?

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Luxford
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Anyone heard of a 1924/25 Mayfair Model T based car?

Post by Luxford » Thu Oct 10, 2024 10:12 pm

This article mentioned a new vehicle being built in Boston in 1924 called a "Mayfair" using Model T Ford parts. As per usual it didn't last too long (went bust in 1925 according to Clymer, see attached par of list)
Has anyone come across information on the Mayfair?
Attachments
Mayfair article 1924.png
Mayfair article 1924.png (281.36 KiB) Viewed 1248 times
Mayfair Clymer list.png
Mayfair Clymer list.png (13.97 KiB) Viewed 1248 times

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TRDxB2
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Re: Anyone heard of a 1924/25 Mayfair Model T based car?

Post by TRDxB2 » Thu Oct 10, 2024 11:46 pm

Mayfair Manufacturing Company was an American manufacturer of automobiles.
Foundation 1925
Resolution 1925
Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company history
W. S. Carruthers, M. K. Coates and Frank L. Hamilton founded the company in 1925. Jesse J. Billington was also involved. Its seat was in Boston, Massachusetts, and the factory in the Jamaica Plain district of Boston. They started producing automobiles. The brand name was Mayfair. Plans amounted to 3000 vehicles per year. In the same year, production ended. A total of about ten vehicles were built
Vehicles
The basis of the vehicles was a chassis of the with a wheelbase of 254 cm. The original four-cylinder engine with 20 hp power was retained. An essential technical difference was a disc clutch and an ordinary three-speed gearbox. The radiator grille was replaced. The petrol tank was in the stern. The vehicles were built 14 cm lower. The only body was a limousine with three doors. A picture shows two doors on the right side. Behind it was an oval window.
The new price was 485 US dollars. By sale: Ford demanded 100 dollars more for a new sedan.
Literature
Beverly Rae Kimes, Henry Austin Clark Jr.: Standard catalog of American Cars. 1805–1942. 3. edition. Krause Publications, Iola 1996, ISBN 0-87341-428-4, pp. 945 (English).
George Nicholas Georgano (Eds.): The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile. Volume 2 : G-O. Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, Chicago 2001, ISBN 1-57958-293-1, pp. 983 (English).
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mayfair boston.png
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Luxford
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Re: Anyone heard of a 1924/25 Mayfair Model T based car?

Post by Luxford » Fri Oct 11, 2024 3:22 am

From Franks specifications he supplied and also my article it appears the Ford chassis was used (254 cm is 100 inches) and the Mayfair probably used one of the available sliding transmissions such a the "Himico".
What would be great is a Photo of one of the Mayfair sedans.

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Re: Anyone heard of a 1924/25 Mayfair Model T based car?

Post by DanTreace » Fri Oct 11, 2024 6:03 pm

Luxford wrote:
Fri Oct 11, 2024 3:22 am
What would be great is a Photo of one of the Mayfair sedans.
This image from website allcars

Seems this single illustration meets the Mayfair description.
IMG_7729.jpeg

IMG_7730.jpeg
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Re: Anyone heard of a 1924/25 Mayfair Model T based car?

Post by Luxford » Sat Oct 12, 2024 3:33 am

As per usual it's Dan who has the answer, Dan you must have a great filing system, you always seem to be able to find the accessory ad from the day or an article or in this case the illustration, many thanks!!!
No doubt, the description is a perfect fit. Amazing how many people/companies though they could use a Model T Ford as a base to produce another car, obviously having huge supplies of cheap parts and ready access to also cheap replacement parts that were super high quality compared to any other make made the Ford the go to brand for a new entrant into the market.
Seems most customers did not think it was such a good idea, nice to have a standout vehicle but they probably thought it could be done to their own idears cheaper. So many reberthed vehicles entered and left in a very short time. Franks mention of "only about ten cars" seems odd when the company was stating they were going to make 3000 in a year, Haven't seen where that figure came from? Frank, do you have a reference stating that?

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