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One granddad, four mystery cars..! (update: Overland, Pratt (-Elkhart), Model T, Velie?)

It's always great to have a photo of your grandfather with car. Especially if it's a photo of the brass era. Bob Apalsch from Alaska is taking things one, two, three steps further. He sent us four photos of his granddad Joseph Young posing with four(!) different cars; taken in Michigan in the period 1910-1914. We are afraid that Bob's love for old cars is incurable, it's in his genes. The proof is all over here. Just one little problem remains... none of the cars above are identified. So show us what you can. Tell us about the cars of Joseph Young.
When you send comments let's say the car above is car A, the cars below B,C,D. To us car A,B and D look fairly similar, but Bob is quite certain they are all different. We like to learn...

Today on PostWarClassic: JP's mystery racer.

Comments

#15 2013-02-26 21:15

Hi Ariejan Bos, i have seen such a windshield on a 1910 Buick. Is it maybe a aftermarket Windshield? I have sent a foto to prewarcar.

#14 2013-02-22 20:24

I would like to suggest a 1911 or 1912 Pratt(-Elkhart) as the make of photo B. Although I cannot find a full match, there are some characteristic details which can be found on cars of this make: the shape of the radiator (though the width of the radiator on the mystery photograph looks rather small), the shape and appearance of the front-axle and also these charateristical ly shaped handles on the upper part of the windshield (which I haven't seen on any other car till now).

#13 2013-02-21 17:06

Re post #12, I may know even less than Tony when it comes to 100-year-old cars, but it's been fascinating to watch the experts at work. And when you look closely, there are lots of differences - lhd or rhd, height of windshield, position of spare tires, rear fender lines, etc. Of course, it doesn't make the quiz any easier when Grandpa is sitting on the hood and hiding the grille!

#12 2013-02-20 23:51

Not knowing anything abour early American cars from around 1910 - I am fascinated how similar they are - at first look A,B and D could all have been built by the same company!

Tony.

#11 2013-02-20 19:25

B looks very Buick-like to me - about 1910 perhaps?

#10 2013-02-20 10:22

Ian your wright, A is a 1911 Reo and B is a mystery, the windshieldframe looks like a 1910 Buick, the radiator is too round for an Overland, so what?

#9 2013-02-20 04:13

I'll stick with 1911 Reo on Car A. 1912 had different rear fenders, no bead on the rear door, a vent under the windshield, no bar between frame horns, interior door handles instead of the exterior style on this car (rear).
Car B is not an Overland--it doesn't have the characteristic oval rad cap. The shape of the top tank doesn't say Overland to me, either.

All good guesses--the devil is in the details on these mysteries. At least we're agreeing on C being a T! I agree with the '12 Torpedo.

#8 2013-02-19 23:40

I think the D car is more like a 1910 Velie.
Note what appears to be an A.O. Smith ( the frame manufacturer)( stamped from plate and riveted together) front axle on the B car, rules out Overland.

#7 2013-02-19 18:10

A= Reo 1912
B= Overland 1910
C= Ford Model T torpedo 1912
D= Cadillac 1910

#6 2013-02-19 13:02

I think A is an Overland and D a Cadillac (30?)

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