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:: [ SVVS NATIONAL
AND INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION ASSISTANCE
SERVICE ] ::
The SVVS Website currently
receives approximately 500,000
hits a year and the "HELP
PAGE" is internationally the most
visited 'page' on the site. We receive numerous e-mails from historians
and motoring enthusiasts from all over the world with the request to
identify vehicles from old photographs. We can help with identification
of Classic cars because most of us are old enough to remember them as
new, and owning Vintage or Veteran vehicles, many of us, and/or our
associates, are also specialists in own make or type of vehicle -
These Help Pages are therefore devoted to some of the interesting
enquiries received, and information that we have provided :
Page 12 below relates to enquiries received
during
2007. Click
on picture to enlarge
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IDENTIFICATION AND DATING: cca
1904 Clement 7HP
A number of photos received from actor Graham
Hoadly (UK).
The photo is of his Grandfather and Great Uncle taken in Peckham in the
mid 1900s. He also attached a photo of his Grandfather tinkering with an
engine and wondered if it is the same car. We can confirm that it is the
same and that it is a
cca 1904
Clement, probably 7HP. The Clement
scuttle can be
recognised by having a handle on the scuttle bonnet. The
registration A 3013 was issued by London County
Council, late 1904.
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IDENTIFICATION AND DATING: cca
1907 Rover 8 Tourer
Photo received from Dennis Harrison (UK)
who thinks it is of a Rover. The car is in front of the Rookery Tavern,
Ettiley Heath, Sandbach Cheshire, and holds his great Grandad (driver
and pub owner), Grandma, and his father. The photo was taken in the
early part of 1913. Very evocative of the period. The Registration M
1493 was issued by Chester County Council in early 1907. The car is
indeed a Rover. Having no dumb-irons defines it as a cca
1907 Rover 8, body Four Seat Tourer.
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IDENTIFICATION AND DATING: 1907
Crossley 40 & 22
Two photos received from Bernard
Bolch of the Walhalla Heritage and
Development League (Australia)
who are preparing to commemorate the arrival of the first motor
car into what was one of the world's richest goldfields in the
inaccessible foothills of the Baw Baw Mountains.
This is the second photo, confirmed by Malcolm Asquith of the
Crossley
Register as,
the larger car being a cca
1907 Crossley 40HP, the smaller being a Crossley 22HP (20hp
as was sometimes advertised).
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IDENTIFICATION AND DATING: cca
1909 Humber
A number of photos received from actor Graham
Hoadly (UK).
This photo is of his Uncle Len Hoadly in an unidentified car. Len was a
driver for the post office before WW1, and also drove during the war.
Afterwards he worked as a pastry cook. Len loved cars, and was a better
driver than his father, who once knocked a milk cart over on Brixton
Hill ! Mother would only travel by car if Len was driving. The car is cca
1909 Humber, 12 or 15HP.
Registration was issued by London CC.
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IDENTIFICATION AND DATING: 1911
Unic Landaulette Taxi
Enquiry received from Ben McKenzie (UK), a
postcard collector, trying to identify this vehicle from a recent
acquisition. " It looks similar to the Belsize Landaulet Taxi
on your site. What an excellent web site you have providing much needed
reference material for generations to come." Thanks for your
compliments. Unfortunately we got no further response. General consensus
has it as a cca
1911 Unic Landaulette Taxi. Unic Taxis were
made in France and much used in
London for years.
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IDENTIFICATION AND DATING: 1911
Renault AG Taxi
One of two photos received from Gene Maurey
(USA) saying he would
love to know what kind of cars are shown on the two French postcards.
The first one is relatively easy as it shows a cca
1911 Renault AG Taxi. These were made
between 1904 and 14, and are frequently referred to as the "Renault
AG Landaulette Taxi de la Marne" because in 1914 Paris taxis were
requisitioned to take French troops to the battlefront at Marne 100km
from Paris, and moved over 5000 troops over three days.
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IDENTIFICATION AND DATING: cca
1912 Detroit Electric
Another of the photos received from
Christopher Bond (UK) which
could not be identified by our usual experts. The car is a cca
1912 Detroit Electric. Detroits had
curved solid fronts and were intended for women. Seems that for one year
they had a dummy rad and were a 'Gentleman's car'. Badge is not the
normal 'lightning' type. Detroits were also made in Scotland by Arrol
Johnson with scuttle bonnets. Numberplate is Birmingham CBC of approx
1917, about four years later.
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IDENTIFICATION AND DATING: cca
1912 FIAT Tippo Due
Lovely photo received from Connie
Dunnett (UK) trying
to find out the make of a car in a photograph that her father found. He
used to be an RAC patrolman and thought he should be able to recognise
the shape of car. It would make an old man very happy if you could help.
Initial thought was that it is a Lancia but our Tim Harding is
relatively sure it is a FIAT. If so, then a pre cca
1912 FIAT Tippo Due with a straight and more flat
bonnet. Cannot go by body shape as this would be by
others.
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IDENTIFICATION AND DATING: cca
1913 Mercedes Simplex
One of three photos received from
Christopher Bond (UK). All he
knows about them is that his father and an uncle owned the cars, guess
about 1915? All three photos gave us problems! This one carries a
Birmingham County Borough Council registration issued early 1913. The
car is shown in both an open tourer and interesting 'hardtop' version.
The latter appears to carry WW1 light masks. The badge, used only
briefly, confused but we are pretty sure that it is a cca1913
Mercedes Simplex.
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IDENTIFICATION AND DATING: 1914
Woods Mobilette
Enquiry received from Eskil van Loosdrecht
(Sweden) saying this is a photo of his
Grandfather taken around 1920 in Kallinge, Sweden. He contacted Peugeot
in France but they only had the Quadrillete around that time. This is in
fact an American car, a cca1914
Woods Mobilette, claimed as first US
cyclecar. Made initially in Chicago, it was less than 1m wide, staggered
tandem seats for two, water cooled 4 cylinder, 2 speed
epicyclic box, capable of 35mph. 1000 per month made in
1914.
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IDENTIFICATION AND DATING: Austro
Daimler Photos
Enquiry received from Monika saying: " This is is the BEST
website I have ever seen! Neat, organized, beautifully maintained !...
Maybe you could help me... I am looking for a photograph of an Austro
Daimler Phaeton from about 1915-1919. My great grandmother
lived in Austria, and this was her family car." The Phaeton
was an early name for a Tourer, a car where the roof comes down
completely. The body style and the radiator both
changed during the period, so both are shown.
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IDENTIFICATION AND DATING: cca
1920 Marmon and 1926 Talbot
Two photos received from Martin Lund from
Copenhagen (Denmark) who
is in the final stages of a book about the Royal Danish household cars
through 100 years. Two he cannot identify. The first is showing Prince
Axel in an open car and the other a Talbot. Our Bryan Goodman
identified the first as a cca
1920 Marmon (poss. 34a) and the Talbot as being French having
wood spoked wheels (until about 1930), probably a cca
1926 Talbot (poss. DS 15/40). In
England these cars were Darracq.
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IDENTIFICATION AND DATING: cca
1921 Standard SLO Two Seater
One of two photos received from Peter
Guyton (UK). This one shows his great uncle
Harold Hartley Wilberforce of York who appears to have been a keen
motorist and who owned a number of cars. This is another photo of a car
that we have identified previously
as a cca 1921
Standard two-seater. This picture gives
a full view from the other side. First Standard to be made in a batch of
1000 and became so popular that by 1928 when model was discontinued over
20,000 had been made.
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IDENTIFICATION AND DATING: cca
1922 Morris Cowley Bullnose
One of two photos received from Peter
Guyton (UK). This one shows his great uncle
Gerald Carr. Recognisable as a Bullnose Morris 1920-23, our Chas Moody
was able to tell lots more from the lamps on the wings. These are the
'Three lamp set' with two medium lamps on the front wings and one rear
light, and is a feature of the 1922/23
Morris Cowley. The car depicted appears to have a driver's
door but this is sham, being formed by beading tacked in place to
create the appearance of a door.
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IDENTIFICATION AND DATING: cca
1925 Renault Torpedo
One of two photos received from John
Phillips (UK)
which he found in an old photo album that belonged to his
grandparents. Above the photo is written 1932, and is the second car
they owned. The car they had previously in 1931 is the Chummy below.
This car has the distinctive Renault 'scuttle bonnett' and has the
circular Renault logo. The logo is in fact a grill behind which is
located the horn. Registration NM 5440 was issued by Bedford County
Council making this a 1925
Renault Torpedo.
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IDENTIFICATION AND DATING: cca
1926 Austin Seven Chummy
One of two photos received from John
Phillips (UK)
which he found in an old photo album that belonged to his
grandparents. He had identified the car as a Austin 7 Chummy of 1928,
but in case he is wrong, photo attached! He is quite right on the make
and model but bulkhead mounted headlamps suggest earlier. We would say
it is a cca
1925/6 Austin 7 "Chummy". The name came about
because of the very 'chummy' tight interior that the
four passengers had to squeeze into !
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IDENTIFICATION AND DATING: 1925+
Charabanc
Photo received from Brian Legg (UK)
asking for identification of the car based
on a rear wheel ! From the people, Mrs Legg's grandparents John
and Florence Law and mother Marjorie, who looks about 16 or so,
it suggests that photo was taken in about 1929. Gramps was a Scotsman
and Gran from Rothwell. We repaired
photo and think this is the rear of a
mid range commercial vehicle, a charabanc, of the late 1920s. Many makes
were about, but suggestion is that this could have been Dennis.
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IDENTIFICATION AND DATING: 1927
Nash
Part of a photo received from Don Heffner (USA)
showing his great grandfather and believed
taken in the early 1930. He is trying to identify the car and wondered
if our experts can help. We are not much into American cars, especially
when all the relevant bits are not in the shot. However, in view that
the small side lamps are on the side of the car rather than below the
windscreen, rudimentary bonnet hinge, bigish louvres, disc
wheels, kicking plates etc, I think this is a cca
1927 Nash.
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DATING OF PHOTO: cca
1930 Charabanc
Photo received from Sean MacKenna (UK)
who is digitising the archive of the Dallmeyer Lens manufacturer
and wanted to know the date of the works outing. The top of the
bus is convertible so charabanc era. The windows are glass operable by a
central strap, in use in the mid/late1920's. The wheels are metal
dished, in use by about 1927. Windows and solid roof busses were in use
by very early 1930's. The bus looks 'new' so all the pointers
suggest about 1930,
or soon thereafter.
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IDENTIFICATION AND DATING: cca
1930 Chevrolet Trucks
Two postcards received from Carl Van
Houche (Belgium)
showing delivery trucks with the J. Fryns & Cie livery. They were
used by grand-grand father, a Gin manufacturer in Belgium,
possibly in the mid 1920s. Although the Belgian FN Company made lorries
of similar size, we feel that both are European Chevrolets. The top
could be a cca
1929/30 Chevrolet and the bottom
one a cca
1931/2 Chevrolet. It could even
be one the first "British Bedfords" as there is a
badge on the bonnet side.
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INVESTIGATING HISTORY: 1934
Morris 25 HP
A photo received from Linzi Madusa (UK)
writing on behalf of her father who has restored the 1934
MORRIS 25, to its former glory. Engine No 1091, Chassis 7433,
first taxed on 24.9.1934. We can confirm that AAD78 is Gloucester County
Council registration issued late 1934. Our Chas Moody advises that
Morris 25 was produced between 1933-35. They were the most luxurious
models of the Morris range. Few were made. For more, try the
Morris Register (www.morrisregister.co.uk
).
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IDENTIFICATION AND DATING: cca
1935 Chrysler Van
Another of the photos from Graham
Hoadly (UK) showing
part of the Australian branch of the family. GG Uncle Arthur Ebenezer
Cooper and all his family were glove dyers and cleaners, also for the
Court apparently. He and his family emigrated to Australia about 1914
and his son continued the business; photo is of his van in Australia.
Chrysler was beginning 'badge engineering' at the time, Dodge
/Plymouth/De Soto, but we think this is a cca
1935 Chrysler Van, as per Coupe
below.
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IDENTIFICATION AND DATING: cca
1935 Chrysler C5
A photo received from J P Lott (USA).
" I am writing in regards to having trouble identifying my
vehicle. I believe it is a 1936, but all of the styling cues and hood
ornament are closest to a 1936 dodge. The problem is I have no vin, no
title, or anything to give me a clue, this car was basically free, but
is there any way you can point me in a direction to figure out what this
is?". We are not specialist on American cars but, from same family,
probably the coupe version of the 1935
Chrysler C5.
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IDENTIFICATION AND DATING: Automobile
Charms
Unusual enquiry from Ian A. (UK?) who
stated: " I have recently got some old French charms of
vintage cars but can find no information on them. I was hoping you could
help me in identifying the models of these cars." We are not
into jewelry but automobile
charms are widely available and
only indicative of the car. Guess the car with hard top is a Georges
Richard cca 1903, one with soft top is a De Dion Bouton cca
1903, and open top car is of a much later, being Stutz Bearcat cca 1913.
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IDENTIFICATION AND DATING: cca
1949 Ford Thames - Martin Walter
Photo received from Sammy Buhagiar but we
do not know the country or anything about the car apart from that it is
a Ford
Fordson 5cwt estate, manufactured in
1949. We have already done a detailed item on Martin
Walter and their conversions which
tells about the history of the company. In the UK this van was called a
'Thames 5cwt' so name 'Fordson' suggests the Commonwealth. Visit to an interesting
site on Ford
vans, including Martin Walter conversions
will explain much more.
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PHOTOS NOT YET IDENTIFIED:
 YOUR
H E L P IS NEEDED PLEASE !
As can be seen from our Help Pages we
normally do succeed in identifying practically all vehicle photos which
we receive. Occasionally some photos may take time and very occasionally
we get stuck. Clicking on the photo on the right opens the page
containing some photos we are yet to crack ! Any
help would be very much appreciated.
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| WEDDING
CARS
: Number of Emails asking
if any SVVS Members do weddings. Yes ! |
| Links to interesting sites: Click
on any hyperlink below to be taken direct to their site. |
Fascinating site on all things steam: http://stanleysteamers.com/
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Identification of Mystery
Motors - Mystery Cars requiring Identification - Identification
of old Motorcars - Identification of old Car Photographs - Photos
requiring Identification -
Oldtimers from times gone by - Mystery Vehicles - Mystery
Motorcars -
Identify Classic Cars - Recognize Cars - Recognise Old Cars -
25 - |
| © Copyright
Copying & reproduction of photographs on the Help Pages is
prohibited © Copyright. |
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The information
contained in these pages has come from many different sources including
books, magazines, advertisements, sales brochures, web sites,
manufacturers and personal contacts. While we have tried to make sure
that any information given is as accurate as possible, we cannot take responsibility for any errors or omissions. If you
know of any facts which are incorrect or any subjects or details which can be elaborated on,
please
contact us.
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