Pre-1914 mobility on the road and in the air

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The pre-1914 history of the automobile has always fascinated me. The old black-and-white photographs of the owners and their background in that particular zeitgeist truly capture my imagination. When horse and carriage had only just been replaced by these modern travelling machines — it must have been magnificent.

Humankind has always sought adventure, and the wealthiest were able to afford it. Yet they did not confine themselves to the old cart tracks, for at the same time they also took to the skies.

Ballooning was another of those challenges embraced by the elite of the day, although they often could not manage without support from the ground. The automobile proved a splendid machine to assist with the logistics. Some owners even commissioned special balloon car bodies to optimise this pastime. A very well-known example can be found at Rolls-Royce.

Recently, several fine photographs resurfaced, bearing the inscription ‘Balloon hunt’ on the reverse, alongside the names of the automobile marques: De Dion-Bouton, Royal Star and Mercedes.

How I would have loved to have been there when this took place in 1911.

Are there any readers who would also like to share this kind of imagery?

Text and photographs: Ivo Braeken

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