Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Mystery Car & Driver



I don't know the who, what, or why of this photo. The man certainly doesn't look like he is dressed for driving an old open car, especially in winter with snow on the ground. His hands are blurry like they are moving and don't appear to have gloves.

What kind of car is it? Does the car belong to him, a friend, a photographer, or a garage? Could he have had this photo taken to send out at Christmas? Anyone care to speculate?

The only thing I know about this real photo postcard is that it probably was made circa 1908-1910. That is the dating given to this style of Kruxo back by Playle's Guide to dating real photo stamp boxes.



For More Vintage Images

24 comments:

  1. How fortunate that you were able to get such an accurate date estimate from the PC card type. I've never achieved better than about a decade from the Playle's guide, but then I usually have one of those AZO cards - common as dirt.

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  2. Whoever he is, he's intense. No one will accuse him of texting while driving. Don't you love that horn?

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  3. The most impressive thing in this picture is his mustache. However cold it may have been, I'm sure his upper lip didn't suffer from that weather condition.

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  4. You would have to be hardy to drive that grand old car in the snow.

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  5. He doesn't look as if he's going anywhere soon. A very smart car and a rather stiff driver.

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  6. I'm surprised that he actually got the car to start. The cars I recall in the fifties and sixties had a great deal of problem starting in the cold.

    The 'tache is something else.

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  7. He looks like he's a man on a mission! I wonder what that mission was?

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  8. Perhaps he was the equivalent of the advertising girl draped over the bonnet of the new car!

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  9. I can't imagine how on earth that hat could stay in place if he was actually driving that car. I remember one cold winter my moustache actually froze solid : not a pleasant experience.

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  10. I've never heard of Playle's guide. I'll have to check it out.

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  11. Postcardy, I have been trying to catch up with you. Any chance you can email me today? I have an important question for you.

    lbsutton
    sunrisebarncreations@gmail.com

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  12. Unless that steering wheel is adjustable, the whole car looks make to fit him. He, though, doesn't look dressed appropriately for real road driving. I agree that it was likely some kind of advertising shot.

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  13. Sometimes even when there is snow on the ground it isn't that cold, when you are acclimated to the weather. That snow could have been there for a month, and the weather that day could have been 45*. That is how it works around here ... we just wear sweatshirts to drive to the store for the most part.

    I love the picture though. Maybe he backed it out of the garage because he was considering buying it and wanted to make sure that it really ran.

    Have a great weekend!

    Kathy M.

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  14. Maybe a friend purchased the car and he is just getting a view from the driver's seat. Neat picture!

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  15. I wonder if all cars from that period were open to the elements. That changed real soon. I can't imagine even driving a convertible. Too cold, too windy even in sunny California.
    Nancy

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  16. The poor mans hands were shaking so hard from the cold that they look blurry.

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  17. he looks a scary dude! I bet ,with a glare like that, he never needed to use his horn...........

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  18. I think one had to be a bit younger than this guy to really enjoy that new fangled infernal internal combustion machine. Both of my grandfathers had that same look every time they got behind the wheel of a car. Both were about 35 when the families acquire a car. My dad and uncles took to the automobile like a duck to water.

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  19. maybe it is a friend's car, and he just wanted to have his picture taken in a car. Who knows for sure? Great card.

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  20. It would be wonderful if someone here could pop up and say- that's my Uncle Harry! You never know, the buildings are quite interesting too, as each one is shaped nearly alike but not the most common style at all! It's a fine photo!

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  21. I would like to squeeze in that horn, that should give a great effect!

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  22. When I took your image and dumped it into Google Images; added "automobile"; it produced several similar sepia car photos from:
    http://www.earlyamericanautomobiles.com/massautos.htm

    The car that best resembles your postcard is a Metz Plan Car sold from 1908-11. It was first a kit that the buyer assembled themselves. More, with a good image to compare, is found here:
    http://home.earthlink.net/~metz1914/metzplan.html

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  23. His expression is pretty intense.
    MUST BE his car.
    Men are funny when their car is concerned...
    :)~
    HUGZ

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  24. It looks so small from this angle. Barely enough room for a partner to ride along. Can't you just imagine him tearing across the tundra (dirt road covered in slush) kicking snow up into the faces of the poor horses dragging folks in sleighs.

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