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[ SVVS NATIONAL
AND INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION ASSISTANCE
SERVICE ]
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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
30 below relates to enquiries received
during
2010. Click
on picture to enlarge
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1902
Weston Steamer Runabout
Photo received from Bill Lovelock from USA
currently in Jakarta (Indonesia) inherited
from an auntie in Essex UK. --
Appearance similar to many USA steamers but
unusual in having curly spring hangers, forward bodywork and central
tiller. Extremely
unusual car identified by John Warburton as a cca
1902 Grout Steamer Runabout made in
Orange Massachusetts and sold in the UK as a Weston. Later petrol.
Note the shiny foot bell under the floor.
Closed down in 1912.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1903
Automotor Runabout
'A rather fine photograph' provided by Charles Huff (UK)
of his grand parents and eldest aunt
in their two-seater. Mother thought it was the first privately owned car
in Bath. -- Could
well be. We have to thank Rory Sinclair for this very unusual
identification of a cca 1903 Automotor 4HP
Runabout. Made in
Springfield, Mass., USA, between 1901 and 1904. Bigger cars alluminium
bodied, Runabouts were made using single cylinder De Dion Bouton
engines. Designer went to Duryea.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1904
CGV 3/4 Landaulet Mulbacher
Another cinema screen grab of a vehicle
which appeared in an American Documentary " Horatio's Drive:
America's First Road Trip" made in 2003, where the vehicles are being investigated by IMCDB. --
This is a cca
1904 CGV Landaulet Trois Quarts 15 HP Mulbacher.
Charron, Giradot et Voigt were French and imported to USA (and for a
while made by) Smith and Mabley as American CGV. Local bodies were made
by J N Quinby in Rome, Newark.
Click for similar recent vehicle.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1906
Starling Two Seater
Another photo received from Juha
Kaitanen, Turku, (Finland) which
has done the rounds of AACA and many of our learned experts without
ident. --
Not really surprising because this is a
most unusual car. Juha found mention of it. British from Wolverhampton,
made by the Star Cycle Co between 1906 and 1908, it
is a cca
1906 Starling Two Seater using
a De Dion Bouton Engine with armoured
wood frame and chain drive. Part of Star Motors, Star Cycle Co
subsequently became 'Britton'.
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IDENTIFICATION & DATING:1908
International Harvester Runabout
Photo received from our Singer expert Simon
Bishop (UK) purchased
at a boot fair. Notated 'Yudnamutana March
1915', people are named and
'foot geologist'. A copper mine in the mid 1800s in arid bit of South
Australia; draught caused closure as water not available for the
animals. New attempt made in early 1900s but abandoned. Perhaps this was
part of attempt. The car is confirmed as a
cca 1908 International
Harvester Runabout , two cylinders opposed petrol, air cooled. Sq. tank.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1909
Belzize 14'16 Tourer
A jolly photo received from David
Milsom (UK) of
a car which belonged to his friend's Gt. Grandfather. It has a
Huddersfield registration and the photo was taken in Golcar. Could we
please provide any information of the model, horsepower etc.
--
Unfortunately no dating info available from the reg as
records have been lost, but we can advise that the car is a British
built in Manchester cca
1909 Belsize 14'16 Hp Tourer. Model was
introduced for the 1909 season, but
the car has an earlier feel.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1910
Kissel Kar Touring
Great photo posted by West Peterson, Dayton
(USA) on the
AACA 'What is it?' forum' which has been so helpful to us in the past.
Quite an unusual car identified by Chris Paulsen as a Kissel Kar. Photo
is titled 1905 Michigan but this is probably a mistake as Kissels only
started up in 1907. From the rounded mudguards and no driver's door, has
to be 1910/11
Kissel Kar Touring. Had front doors by
1912. Good quality car made by German emigree family in USA,
Hartford, Wisconsin, to 1931.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1911
Rothwell 15HP Tourer
A lovely photo sent to us by one of our regular
contributors and experts John Warburton (UK)
of a very unusual car indeed. This is a cca
1911 Rothwell 15HP Tourer made by
Eclipse Machinery Co, Oldham, Lancs. John has just written a book "Rothwell
of Oldham" published by Eclipse Publishing, Distributed by Dr.
Kershaw's Hospice (0161 624 9984). From sewing and knitting machines, to
cycles, motorcycles and motor vehicles. Several hundred Rothwell cars
and commercials 1901 to 1919.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1912
BSA 13.9 Tourer
Photo received from
Kevin Crowe of Rotorua, (New Zealand) showing
his grandfather and family members.
He used the car as a taxi in Hamilton, New Zealand around 1920.
--
From the logo on the rad the car is a cca
1912 BSA 13.9HP Tourer. Birmingham
Small Arms Co made guns, cars, and the BSA Motorcycle. During
this period BSA had taken over Daimler who thereafter built
badged cars, of which this is one. One model policy of
13.9HP but with body type and shape of rad changes.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1912
Paige Beverley Roadster
A photo received so long ago that we have
lost the details of the sender from the (USA).
The photo has been on the Unidentified Page for some time but we have
now had contact from Noel Adams who says that what looks like a
home built roadster is in fact a cca
1912 Paige Beverley. The body may have
been factory fitted as he has one of these bodies and it is the third he
has seen. Regretfully we do not have very much information on Paige
Beverley, so cannot confirm positively.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1913
Wolseley 16'20 Tourer
Photo received from
Tim Groome of Fareham, (UK) showing
his recently "discovered" uncle Hamilton Denman Groom
with an unidentified lady in Australia during the First World War. He
had been suitor of Dame Nellie Melba, but DNM Museum in Melbourne said
not her. --
Registration looks British, Tynemouth
CBC, cca '04, and the AA badge is British pre 1911; but this is a cca
1912 Wolseley Tourer, probably the 16'20. Reg and AA badge
transferred to new car, and then trans-shipped to Oz??
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1914
Delage Type A Tourer
Another cinema screen grab of a vehicle which
appeared in a
French Film "Toute Une Vie" made
in 1974, where the vehicles are being investigated by IMCDB. Film begins
in pre World War 1 era and was shot separately in French and English.
--
The photo is a bit blurred but the twin
fillers on the bulkhead suggest a Delage, as does the rad. Delage
produced vehicles for the French amy during WW1. Relatively sure sure
that the vehicle depicted is a French cca
1914 Delage Type A.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1915
Detroiter Touring
A photo received from Juha Kaitanen,
Turku, (Finland) and
also sent to AACA. --
The AACA did not come up with anything
which meant that the car was very unusual. It has a highly unusual
'upper lip' type of radiator header tank (some refer to it as "cro-magnon"
upper radiator "brow"). Our experts came up with nowt, but my
diligent searching came up with it being a cca
1915 Detroiter Touring; wheel hubs
match, bonnet without louvers, coachwork, and they had distributor in
Finland.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1918
Republic Motor Bus
An interesting period photo received from
Bruce Kirby editor of the Triumph Owner's Club newsletter (South
Africa) saying he found it on the web and
is hoping to have it in their Mag. Could we advise the make of the bus,
and where. -- Cannot
help on where, but British Empire. From circular pattern of
fins and double opening 'windscreen' we are relatively sure the vehicle
was made in USA, Alma, Michigan by the Republic
Motor Truck cca 1918/9. The bike is a UK Triumph of cca
1920.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1920
Spyker Coach
A lovely period photo received from our
regular contributor Fer Cools (Holland). He
says the bus company exisited untill 1983. In the 60's they had great
two tone busses (blue/creme) with an very big chromed Falcon (Valk)
mounted on the side. the License plate is from the province of
Noord Holland Area around Amsterdam. --
We are relatively sure this is a cca
1920 Spyker Coach. Spyker were a Dutch
quality car manufacturer who made a few busses under Saurer licence.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1920
Opel 8'25 Tulip Bodied Phaeton
Another cinema screen grab of a vehicle which
appeared in a 1985 German TV
Documentary "Unser Auto wird 100", where the vehicles are
being investigated by IMCDB. -- The
car depicted is a cca 1920 Opel 8'25
Tulip Bodied Phaeton. Opel's history was sewing machines, bicycles and
then making Lutzmann cars. Then sold Darraccq with own bodies. Nearly
destroyed by fire in 1911, then became 6th largest producers in Europe,
occupied by the French in 1918. Became General Motors 1930.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1923
Oldsmobile Touring
One of three photo sent to us by Jell Vos
(Holland) who
has been asked to make a 1/8th scale off one of the cars. The cars
belonged to an owner of a paper mill in Gransholm in Sweden and the
Grandson has commissioned the model. Jell needs to know more about the
year/make/model. --
This one is American and we received help from Casper Friedrich from
Finland who confirmed that this is a cca 1923 Oldsmobile
Tourer, poss
30A, 6 cylinder. Unusual windscreen mounting.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1925
Chevrolet Coupe
Nice period postcard received from
Gordon Page Jr. of his parent's house circa 1920's at Ash
Point ME, USA, when it was an inn. He thinks the car belonged to the
photographer. What was it? Photo was © Eastern Illustrating &
Publishing Co., Belfast, Maine. --
Easy ! He then emailed with the answer, that it is a cca 1925 Chevrolet
Coupe. Which indeed it was. K series had the new curve
down at the centre rad top, had dished wheels at the hub, and had
no bar between the headlamps.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1931
Singer Super Six Saloon
A lovely period photo received from David
Parkinson from Guildford (UK) who is almost
certain that the lady at the wheel is her great aunt but it is unlikely
that she owned the car as she was in service. The true owner was
probably a Lord. The background could be Scotland.
-- Car
is British, model was made for only one year, the horizontal louvers are
correct and the wheels are correct. It is a cca
1931 Singer Super Six Saloon. In the 1920s
Singer were the third biggest car seller in the UK.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1937
Ford 7w Tourer
Another cinema screen grab of a vehicle
which appeared in an American Film "The Uninvited", where the vehicles are being investigated by
IMCDB. --
Very puzzling dating on this one because
the numberplate was issued August 1936 and the car was not introduced
until April 1937. Seems the film was made in the USA in 1944 about
Southern England happening supposedly in May 1937.
Just goes to show that film producers should get their facts right, - or
they will be caught !
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INTERESTING PHOTO:1938
Nash LaFayette 400 Saloon
A dramatic period photo received from Iurii
Cuzmin of Bucharest (Romania)
showing his Grandfather on 28th February 1942. Grandfather was born 1910
in Chircaesti and in 1928 he came to Bucharest and attended "The
school of professional drivers". He got his driving licence for
motobikes, cars and trucks. In 1941 he got a diploma as auto-mechanic.
Car is cca
1938 Nash LaFayette at the "Opening of the bridge over
river Nistru 1942." Note ice and frozen mud underside!
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1938
Atalanta Sports
We were contacted by Martyn Corfield (UK)
"attaching a photo of my Atalanta
car that was raced in Le Mans 1938. I'm
seeking any information and particularly photos relating to Atalanta
Motors who built cars in Staines 1936-1939. I'm
particularly interested in finding photos of the works/factory that was
a purpose built white art deco building with a clock tower on
London Road in Staines." --
If anybody has any such information, - we will be pleased to
pass it on to Martyn.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1943
Svenska Electrobil Truck
Another of a number of very interesting
photos submitted by Jan Lundin (Sweden)
showing vehicles in the 20s and 30s Scandinavia, for which he is seeking
identification and dating. Jan has habit of unearthing unusual vehicles
and this really is no exception. -- Electric
delivery vehicle built in southern Stockholm in
1943 by Svenska
Elektrobil AB. Company was founded by ASEA. Capacity 2.5 tons
off 250Ah Tudor batteries. Top speed 25
km/h. Range about 60-70 km.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1945
Ford Prefect Saloon
Photo submitted by Jayne Shrimpton (UK)
dress historian and regular columnist for Practical Family History
magazine. Her Mother (left) with her sister and brother-in-law in what
she thinks was their first car. -- It is
a Prefect and our Ford specialist Tony Russell noted the badge surround
which has pinpointed it to a cca
1945 Ford Prefect E93A Saloon. Same
body 1938 to 48. Later E 493A Prefects had chrome rads.
Part of the reg #ME advises Middlesex CC but no help to confirm dating.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:Spitzkuhler
Tourer
One of three photo sent to us by Jell Vos
(Holland) who
has been asked to make a 1/8th scale off one of the cars. The cars
belonged to an owner of a paper mill in Gransholm in Sweden and the
Grandson has commissioned the model. Very blurry photo with pointed
radiator, style common of the period. --
This one is German but we do not have unanimity on the identification.
Some of our experts think it is a NAG Model C4 of 1921-3,
while others a Stoewer 1923-4 D12 Tulip Phaeton.
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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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| Links to interesting sites: Click
on any hyperlink 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
Antique Autos, Classic Cars, Anciennes -
25 - 707 |
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Copying & reproduction of photographs on the Help Pages is
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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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