A celebration of peace with an Armistice motorcade

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We admit the title of this article is a little bit presumptive, but as we commemorate the Armistice of the First World War, it seems an appropriate time to bring it out because we cannot imagine what this motor parade is in aid of, if it is not a celebration of post-bellum peace. The preponderance of American cars and Stars & Stripes flags means the occasion must have taken place in America, but there is clearly some sense of international well-wishing, as we may judge from the Union Jack, what appears to be the top of the Australian flag, and another flag which closeley resembles the civil flag then used by the Kingdom of Italy.

Is there any chance our American readers might recognise such an occasion as this? Though the photograph is faded, it is very clear, and there is a very useful clue as to the location in the letters "HON" which can be read on the number plates. Since there were no American states beginning with "H" at the time, we can't make anything of it, but we're sure one of our readers will be able to interpret it.

Lastly, we must come to the cars. It looks like there's at least one Model T Ford, on the left of the picture, and the car behind that looks like a T, too. What about the others? It's a nuisance that the flags conceal the radiator of the car in the foreground, but there's a very clear view of the char-à-banc behind it. We've seen Pierce-Arrows with similar radiators, but not with a bonnet that matches. Can anyone make any suggestions?

Words: Zack Stiling
Photograph: Stiling Collection

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