Jammy motorists: introducing the Davies family and their mystery tourer

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We're pleased to have received from Philip Stock this photograph of a rather large family of Edwardian motorists, who look particularly proud of their new acquisition. The image was originally posted by Alison Clegg in the Old Ledbury Facebook group, dedicated to the history of the Herefordshire market town of Ledbury, with the caption, "This is a photo of my great-grandfather Tom Davies, owner of the jam factory, taken in the early '20s, with his new car." It is most probable that the other people in the picture are all Davies, too.

Our first observation would be that, if this really was a new car, and the lengths gone to set up the photograph would suggest that it was, then the picture must be about ten or fifteen years older than has been supposed. Coming to the question of its identity, we think we'd be correct to say it's a Humber of some description. Variations of the flat, octagon-design radiator were distinctive features of Humbers from 1906 up to shortly before the Kaiser War, and the dimensions of this one seem to fit the bill. Considering this car has an enclosed body sides but lacks a scuttle panel, sometime roundabout 1910 would seem a likely date for it.

If we've got that much right, the next question is a bit harder. Can we pinpoint it to a particular model? Humber made all sorts of models during the period concerned, ranging from an 8hp to a 30hp. Could this be a top-of-the-range 30hp (1907-1909) or 28hp (1911-1914)? To confuse matters, up to 1908 there were both Coventry Humbers and Beeston Humbers, the latter being more upmarket. Was Mr. Davies making enough jam to justify the purchase of a big 30hp in 1909?

We'll leave that question to the experts. The point that interests us most of all is that of the coachwork. From the catalogue, the larger Humbers could, at varying stages, be bought as open tourers, Roi-des-Belges, double phaetons, landaulets, cabriolets, 'cabrio-phaetons', and limousines. One might call the Davies car a large tourer or a double phaeton, but we cannot believe such a strange design would ever have appeared in a catalogue. The square, angular and slab-sided treatment of the dash and the front bodywork is not like anything else we can recall seeing. It is not exactly elegant, so we wonder, could there be some functional reason for such a design which has eluded us?

It's fascinating one to ponder and we look forward to hearing what our readers have to say about it.

Words: Zack Stiling; Photograph: Alison Clegg

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