The Postcard Ambulance Mystery (UPDATE: 1917/18 Buick or 1916 REO ?)
This group of three WW1 'Tommies' had their picture taken 'somewhere on the Western Front'. The guy in the middle is Thomas William Barringer, grandfather of our reader John Barringer. Thomas was born in 1880 and lived long enough (he died in 1956) for John to drive him around in his own car. This picture is printed on a postcard so John wonders if it was distributed commercially and if other copies still exist. But of course there’s also a puzzle to the picture. The ambulance is not a Ford because the front dumb irons give the game away. The wheels do look very American with wood spokes and detachable rims. It is a pity that the soldiers obscure the interesting bits at the front. A sign just visible states: "load not to exceed 15 cwt" (3/4 of an imperial ton). Any ideas? Tell us more!
Update III comes from Chris Holand: "I believe that the ambulance is a 1916 REO. The British army used REO's as ambulances. I have in the past restored one of these Reo's."
Update II by Ian Hagger: “I doubt this is a commercial postcard. Most photographers of this period printed their photos on a postcard format so people had the option of sending them by post (that does imply this photo was taken by a professional photographer rather than an amateur). The Ambulance itself could be anything, while the British and Imperial Armies had standardized patterns of vehicles (like the 3 ton lorry) made by different companies, ambulances came in many different forms. Early in the war large cars were purchased or donated and converted (such as Rolls Royce Ghosts) while later smaller companies turned out purpose built ambulances. In addition there were many charitable organizations (such as St. John's Ambulance) who either ran ambulances in France or raised money to purchase specially equipped ambulances to be donated to the Royal Army Medical Corp. From the look of the floppy caps this photo is probably 1916 or after. I have no idea what the make of the vehicle was, but with its small size and weight, pneumatic tyres and what appears to be very unmilitary acetylene lamps and windscreen, this could be a former car or donated ambulance.”
Update I by Jim Baird who suggests: “1917/18 Buick because of early Buick headlights and woodspoked wheels
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Editor's Choice:
Front Wheel Drive vintage racing is a rare-rare delight: 1928 Alvis TT Replica. Private sale, Australia.
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Solid weekend planning: Model A Pick-Up. Private sale, UK.
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