Automotive Car Magazine: Shorpy

Showing posts with label Shorpy. Show all posts

Friday, June 3, 2011

The Early years, real early

Just soak up the age on these...

The Fire Dept chief, was in a little accident in his Chevy.

These look like Mack trucks. Side curtains, chain drive on the rear tires, wood spokes, no fenders, no headlights, orphans on the move to try for new homes outside of New York. That's history. Deep, dusty, forgotten history.

Brought out of the old photo albums by http://www.shorpy.com/node/265 and me.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

1904 New York New York electric tour busses

from http://www.shorpy.com/node/8314?size=_original

1904 Cadillac Model B runabout with cool rear tire mountable tread covers

From the commentor KCMORon on http://www.shorpy.com/node/8316?size=_original : It's my speculation that the covers were more than just variations of tread design, they were an extra layer pf protection from sharp rocks (no pavement) and the frequent flats were a fact of life, that's why there were 2 spare tires

They appear to be "Billet" detachable tire protectors with "contre envelope" attachments or similar. ("The Horseless Age" Volume 15, January 4, 1905)

The "tread" part has flaps which extend over the sidewall on both sides and hold a wire extending around the circumference and fasten (tighten) in two places with a screw and nut.

At that time here were many types of tire protectors of various designs and attachment schemes. Some also claimed to improve traction.

It's my speculation that the covers were more than just variations of tread design, they were an extra layer pf protection from sharp rocks (no pavement) and the frequent flats were a fact of life, that's why there were 2 spare tires

1906 Altantic City boardwalk stollers, for kids vs adults

Above found on http://www.atomicantiques.com/2010/02/05/rolling-chairs-on-the-boardwalk and the stroller on the left is the same as the bottom photo, the one on the right another variation like the below photo

the above 2 from Shorpy http://www.shorpy.com/ , though the images have nothing to do with each other... I made the connection while looking through and saving the images I find interesting

Spitzler's Auto Supply with curbside gas pumps

From Shorpy

The Harlem River Speedway in 1902 (not a motorcar racetrack) was a carriage route, I'd love to drive along it (proabably doesn't exist anymore)

Black and white from Shorpy, the color images are postcards from http://www.coffeedrome.com/bobspeed.html

1922 Dodge touring in the Washington DC Fire Department

This is a 1922 Dodge Touring Car, DCFD Serial No. 05, assigned to the Superintendent of Machinery. The DCFD Repair Shop is in the background next to Engine Co. 8 quarters. The American LaFrance in one of Engine 8's apparatus bays may be a 1920 750 gpm pumper DCFD Serial No. 125 which was assigned to Engine 8

From Shorpy

Before the big boxy taxi, Checker made the Model A, here is a photo with a 1940 example

Via Shorpy. There are two in the photo, click on it for the full size, one is right behind the unbrella holder. Notice the antique 2 bulb stop light as well.

Early motorcycles

Sally Halterman, 1st woman to get Wash DC motorcycle permit

That's a machine gun mounted up there... remember, this was when prohibition was happening, tommy guns were being used by bank robbers, and "G Men" were trying to hunt down Bonnie and Clyde

1920 Penn Oil fuel station with " Lightning Motor Fuel " !.. I want me some of that!

from Shorpy

The way car dealerships were in the early 20's, very different from today. Elegant, indoors, and 9 types of cars

Via Shorpy

Graham Brothers trucks in the ice cream delivery business

Via Shorpy

Detroit Electric with tiller steering

Via Shorpy

1917 photos from Shorpy

The above is a Kissel Kar

The above is a Chevrolet model 490 ... that just returned from a trip to Florida.

1936 and 37 trailers

Via: Shorpy

the 5th Avenue Stage in 1900, just a year or two before the horses became obsolete

You wouldn't see these magnificent (if dangerous) horse carriages galloping up and down Fifth Avenue much longer at the time this photo was taken. 1900 was the year that the NY State Senate approved a bill allowing the Fifth Avenue Stage to run automobiles along the length of its newly-extended route.

By 1903, the horse carriages had been retired for "motor buses."

This was a relief to the residents of the apartment blocks near the "big stable" of the Fifth Avenue Stage located uptown. The stables took up the whole block between 88th and 89th Streets, were four stories tall, and housed over 250 horses. Its neighbors were continually filing complaints with the city because of the "noxious odors", as well as perpetual stamping and neighing of horses in their stalls, which made sleep impossible.

Commentary by Louise on http://www.shorpy.com/node/8588?size=_original

The Thew model O steam shovel from about 1898, self propelled and steered (all others were limited to working from railroads)

Above from Shorpy

The color photos and write up are from http://www.mylargescale.com/Community/Forums/tabid/56/aff/8/aft/111626/afv/topic/Default.aspx

Back in the 1890s, Thew, captain of an ore-carrying boat on the Great Lakes, often encountered the problem of handling iron ore once it was deposited on the docks. At that time, such work was done with "railroad-type" steam shovels that traveled on railroad tracks. They were heavy, cumbersome, and could only swing their booms from side to side in a half-circle. Much hand work was required to clean areas beyond the shovel's reach and also to frequently reposition the railroad tracks.

Captain Thew studied these problems of ore handling and conceived a unique machine that would overcome the former difficulties and restrictions. With the help of H.H. Harris, an experienced shovel designer, Thew built his first machine at the Variety Iron Works in Cleveland in 1895. His machine was a fully revolving steam excavator with a 5/8-cubic-yard shovel attachment that could swing in a full circle, the first with this capability built in America. To add even more flexibility, he mounted the machine on four steel traction wheels, which could steer and propel itself without the need for labor-intensive rail tracks. Now able to travel without restriction, the shovel was able to perform any loading or cleanup work over the entire dock property, doing away with most of the hand labor