The Daimler and the director’s daughter?

What do you do when a wheel of your big convertible decides to go its own way on a country road? You ask your daughter to smile and take a photo of her next to the stranded vehicle, of course. Well, with two spares at hand there’s nothing to worry about, is there?

But as so often, the information accompanying this beautiful photograph is limited. What we learn from the source is that the photo was probably taken near the town of Råda in the province of Värmland in Sweden and that “The car is possibly an English Daimler and may be related to the parliamentarian and director Edvard Lithander (1870 - 1944). Lithander owned several grand cars in the 1920s and onwards, such as a Rolls Royce. His wife, Mabel McClure-William, was from Jersey.”

We definitely think this is a Daimler and wonder if any of our Swedish readers know more about it? There can’t be many of them in Scandinavia. We did find that Lithander, a member of the Swedish parliament who also held a whole range of management positions and was a board member of numerous associations, did indeed owned a 1914 Rolls-Royce with limousine bodywork by Rothschild & Fils of Paris. He bought that particular car in 1923, when it was said to be the first Rolls-Royce in Sweden. One of Lithander’s daughters, Gertrud, is said to have learned to drive in the Rolls with Lithander’s chauffeur Mr Gustafsson as her teacher. Could it be her standing here next to the Daimler?

Words Jeroen Booij. Picture Bohusläns Museum.

Published:

Friday August 5th, 2022

Anthony Green

12 August 2022, 14:56

I’ve just found the book ’Svenska bilbilder 1890-1960’ [Swedish Car Pictures 1890-1960] that Anders Svenfelt refers to below, and there is indeed a photo of defence minister Per-Albin Hansson standing with his chauffeur next to a Daimler taken in 1920 when Hansson was reviewing manoeuvres in Södermanland County (WSW of Stockholm), where the caption says (translated from Swedish): “The car is a 6-cylinder Daimler that belonged to Erik Åkerlund and was probably manufactured in 1912.” [Erik Åkerlund was a member of the former second chamber of parliament at the time].

But unfortunately, the car pictured does not seem to be the same as in the article above due to a number of details (headlights, spare tyres and a number of other items) plus that the number plates are different although in those days a Swedish reg-number would change when a car was transferred to an address in another county.

I’m also enclosing a picture from the same book of Sweden’s first Rolls-Royce (a 40/50 HP Silver Ghost) that was imported in June 1912 by diplomat Harry Ax:son Johnson, pictured here in Stockholm.

I have photographed these pictures directly from the pages of the book. There is no mention at all of copyright or distribution on the inside cover, so presumably they can be published here.

Anders Svenfelt

05 August 2022, 14:48

Lithander's Rolls-Royce was hardly the first in Sweden. Probably the first R-R in Gothenburg, although.
Diplomat Harry Ax:son Johnson bought a new 40/50 in the Summer of 1912, it's considered as the first Rolls-Royce on Swedish soil and even the Royal Stables had aquired a second hand Rolls-Royce by 1919.

Jeroen Booij

07 August 2022, 09:32

Thank you for your comment Anders, sharing your knowledge here is much appreciated. Do you also happen to know more about the Daimler?

Anders Svenfelt

08 August 2022, 16:01

If I remember correctly there is a photo of Per Albin Hansson when he was defence minister in the early 1920s with this very Daimler in Björn-Eric Lindhs Svenska bilbilder 1890-1960.

Nick Simpson

05 August 2022, 14:27

I believe that plate is an extension of the wing (mudguard in old language!) downwards to prevent mud being splashed onto on the crank-handle when the wheels are turned on full lock. Enlargement and study shows there to be a similar plate on the opposite side.

Nick Simpson

Les Six Troenes

05 August 2022, 12:22

Interesting : the fork mount just in front of the windshield:
My guess was the fork is for mounting a spot light or maybe even a gun for hunting?
But I presume the windshield tilts towards the front , so the fork stand would be in the way ?

Leo Schildkamp

05 August 2022, 07:50

What is the meaning of that round plate, front right of the dumpiron to the back

Steve Diggins

05 August 2022, 02:03

Are you sure it lost a wheel? It looks to me like it is sitting in a bit of a ditch.

The Daimler and the director’s daughter?

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