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An Opel in the woods (UPDATE: The Fingers Mystery?)
This is the kind of picture we like! A lovely lady posing with her new motor car. According to Hans Veenenbos, who sends this photo, she’s the daughter of Mr. Penders, the Dutch importer of Delahaye. But why then is she driving an Opel? Looking at the landaulette we suspect the photo was taken around 1913/1914 but you may correct us if we are wrong. (RB)
Update II by editor Rutger Booy: “... |
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The Pierce Arrow Lamp Mystery (UPDATE: 1910-1920)
While standholders have their build-up day at Hershey, we pick up a question about a lighting gem one could expect to find there. Kate Hoffman works for Remains, an antique lighting restoration and reproduction company in Manhattan. Recently she purchased a pair of lights with the intent of turning these into pendant lighting. When stripping the lamps she noticed a makers stamp. She realized these... |
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The Pretending Mystery
Another mystery sent to us by Vlad Capotescu, who lives in Timisoara, Romania. These slightly torn pictures were bought on an antiques market in Bucharest. Although woman drivers were certainly no exception in those days, here we wonder if the lady behind the steering wheel was really the chauffeur. To us it looks like she is just pretending. But the real question is of course: what make of automo... |
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The Double Barrel Mystery (UPDATE : Winton !)
These headlamps give the impression that someone’s pointing a double barrel shotgun. Fortunately their only output is light! This picture was one of a collection bought by Hans Veenenbos from the Penders family estate. The driver of the car is probably Mr. Penders, who was the Dutch importer of Delahaye. But Hans is almost certain this car is no Delahaye. Could be American, because it’s left h... |
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Mystery drophead by Joss Neuss, Berlin. <br>UPDATE III: Gropius was never a coachbuilder!
Michael from Denmark sends this photo: "I have this body which is built by Joss Neuss Berlin. Where I bought it they told me that it used to be with a Buick (chassis) but now we know that that was wrong and others told me it was with a Hispano. Could you post it, maybe somebody can see from the cowl section where the hood meets the body to what car it once may have belonged... These are the measur... |
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The Harvest Mystery <br> (UPDATE: Lanz Bulldog + 1932 Buick)
Don’t be afraid, PreWarCar doesn’t go agricultural. But now and then we do like to show you a pre-war tractor. The make of this one is not difficult. On the front it says Lanz Bulldog, although we haven’t got a clue about the year it was built. But there’s more to enjoy on this picture (click for enlargement). At the rear there’s also an automobile of which we are not so sure of the make... |
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The Argentinean Junkyard Mystery (Update: Hillman by Carbodies)
Close to his home Fernando Godoy from Argentina found a nice small car that instantly caught his eye. The problem however is that there are no badges, no engine numbers, no serial numbers or dashboard marks to be found on the car. From the side its body looks British designed, like a Morris 8, but the doors are not the same and the rear of the car seems of German influence. The engine looks like a... |
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Peugeot Mystery gauge (UPDATE IV : and even oil pressure!)
Tony Haycock sends this nice gauge made to measure... to measure, yes what? "I am restoring a 1915 Peugeot type 153A and I have recently obtained this unidentified gauge. It has a brass housing and a white enamel face 6.5 cm in diameter. There is a threaded fitting at the bottom for a pipe of some description. Does anyone have any idea what it measures?"
(photo Tony Haycock)
Contact PreWarCa... |
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The No Problem Mystery.... UPDATE: Spyker? Fiat? Brasier ? Alldays?
This period picture of a Limousine about to embark on a long trip (note the spare tires on the roof rack) was sent to us by Nico Claerhout from Belgium. He wrote: “I don’t know in which year the picture was taken, but that’s no problem. I don’t know who is pictured, but that’s also no problem. I don’t know where the picture was taken, but that’s no problem either. I don’t know what... |
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A Mystery Carby ? <br>(UPDATE II: tank switch or vacuum control?)
Is it a carburettor? Maybe it is a fuel valve or for all we know it could even be a part from a steam engine. These photos were mailed to us by Brendan Boyle who picked up this thing from a box of mixed autojumble parts at a car boot sale. It appears to be made of bronze and the top has some small markings that read as follows: SM Co Ltd, PROT, PROV, 1196. On the side it is marked LV. The piston, ... |
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The northern Spain touring mystery. (UPDATE VI: Elizalde T25, a T.H. 15CV... or...?)
"Could any reader identify this sporty car? Found the period image recently in a semi- abandoned mountain barn in northern Spain. No clue of the people or the place shown. Wheels and cantilever spring layout could help to ascertain the manufacturer." A photo sent in by Manel Baró from Spain. Please click the main photo for more detail. The rounded air-vents are highly characteristic and so is the... |
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The Brass Horn Mystery (UPDATE: Rolls Royce or boat, and still available?)
Bob Kirby in South Africa owns this 12 Volt Brass horn, but has not a single clue as to what it is. What we do have is a lot of details which might help you tell us more about it. The nameplate says KLAXON LTD. 36 Blandford st, London W.1. Its serial number is 160304AI. The horn has a three hole base plate for mounting and it has very old looking 12V connectors. The mechanism consists of an electr... |
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The Robert Golet mystery hardtop UPDATE: Robert Goelet IV and Decauville?)
Mike Leahy sends this great photo from the Halbauer/Miller collection. On the back side was written "Robert Golet car" and nothing else. From the sharpness of the photo and the printing, it appears to be a professional photo. But let's concentrate on the car and coachwork with its most elegant and highly distinguishable details. Look at the open front hardtop! Click the photo for more details and... |
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The Gordon Wilkins Mystery (see Update)
This picture comes from the estate of racing driver and journalist Gordon Wilkins who passed away earlier this year. The car is an MG VA and the person standing next to it is obviously Gordon Wilkins. On the back of the photo is written: “Le Mans” and the sticker on the windscreen of the car shows the year 1939. However, Gordon does not show up in the list of entrants for the 1939 Le Mans 24 h... |
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The Presto Mystery (UPDATE: 1914 10/30)
Stephan Mühlberger from Germany sends us this picture and asks us to identify it. In this case we think we have it easy, because the make is written on the bonnet…Presto. But if it’s painted on the bonnet or handwritten on the photograph, we can’t see. But is it really a Presto? And can you tell us from what year it dates?
events@PreWarCar.com (RB)
UPDATE IV by John Barringer: “... |
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The Rod and Piston Mystery (UPDATE: Curtiss Aircraft engine?)
Back in 1967 Ivan Saxton salvaged eight conrods and pistons (click image for enlargement) from a car wrecking yard in Geelong (Australia). Although he kept them safely all these years, the problem is he doesn’t know what engine they are from. Ivan reckons they are pre-World War I, because it was an old yard and the proprietor of the business was then already in his mid-eighties. The engine t... |
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The Kenya Headgear Mystery (UPDATE: Napier)
Last week Edward Farnham Mystery was very quickly identified as a Sunbeam, so Charles Farnham has sent us another picture. Again not much is known about this touring car, except that the picture was taken in 1911. The location could possibly be somewhere in Kenya, maybe because of the ladies headgear. Apart from the AA badge, the car looks certainly British to us, but for the rest we haven’t... |
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The Pencil Mystery (UPDATES: Hardtmuth and Steyr)
Sometimes the old family album yields unexpected surprises. Henrik Schou-Nielsen from Denmark found this snapshot in his father’s album. The date is around 1930 or 1931 when his father (standing on the running board) would have been 3 or 4 years old. His Grandmother, Henrik’s great grandmother, is standing beside the pencil shaped automobile (click image for enlargement). The story is that she... |
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The Mystery China Chap (Update: Billiken)
Recently we came across this friendly smiling sitting Chinese. So far we have not seen a second one. The usual radiator mascot websites (like Mascot Mania ) have not yet produced the answer. Any suggestions? Height is about 12 cm (4,5 inches), weight 1 kilo (massive brass). The China chap is seated at his but with the feet pointing forward. He is showing resemblance with a smiling Buddha. Is he ju... |
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The 6 passenger touring Mystery. (UPDATE IV: more about LaSalle styling )
A nice sunny day, somewhere in India. Six people are about to take off for a nice ride in their comfortable RHD tourer. The overall appearance suggests an American made product. Maybe it is even as simple as Ford, Studebaker or Chevy. The funny thing is that the angle of photography gives a more European feel to the coachwork. Please enlighten us. Contact Us (photo collection Harit) UPDATE IV by I... |
