The cars of Frank Lloyd Wright

Wright and his wife in his 1937 AC 16/80 “Ace” roadster (photo credit: The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation)

Ed Winkler of the Arizona Concours d'Elegance, with support from the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, is planning a special exhibition of Frank Lloyd Wright owned cars for the 2015 Arizona Concours - January 11, 2015 at the historic Arizona Biltmore. Of the 70 cars that have been identified as once being owned by Wright or his foundation, only 8 have been located! 

If you have any information about the whereabouts of a Wright car, please contact Ed Winkler at ewinkler@ArizonaConcours.com.

The Impressive Curve-Dash Olds

Three Oldsmobiles around Prescott, Arizona - circa 1903 (photo credit: Sharlot Hall Museum)

The Olds Motor Works introduced the "Oldsmobile" in 1901. Now known as the Curved-Dash Olds, the company first used the term "Oldsmobile" as a model name before reorganizing the company under the Oldsmobile name around 1904.

The company's fortunes were put in question when their Detroit factory burned - taking there inventory of cars with it. However, The Horseless Age of April 3, 1901 explains, "The destruction by fire of the Olds Motor Works, Detroit Mich., has not so seriously crippled the concern as at first supposed. In a circular just sent out the company state that all their automobile drawings and patterns were saved, and that by the last of April they hope to reach a capacity of ten machines a day. They propose to manufacture 1,000 "Oldsmobiles" before the snow flies again." 

Indeed they did and the car sold well. After reestablishing they Detroit and Lansing tactilities, the Olds Motor Works - lead by the Oldsmobile - would become the largest American producer of automobiles within a year. 

The Horseless Age of November 13, 1901 describes the car and it's very positive reception, "Among the light gasoline vehicles, the Oldsmobile, manufactured by the Olds Motor Works, of Detroit, Mich., is worthy of careful notice. The carriage is equipped with a four horse power single-cylinder horizontal engine… All three speeds are obtained by the movement of a single lever acting upon separate clutches, which give the two forward motions and the reverse."

The car had much going for it relative to the competition of the time. It was  affordable, basic in design and reliable. Further, The Olds Motor Works were aggressive in establishing   representation across the United States and in Europe as well. By 1903, around the time of the photos shown herein, it was the best selling car in America. The Horseless Age of January 21, 1903 notes, "The Olds Motor Works shows one of their 1903 Oldsmobile runabouts, which differs little from their last year's model, except that is has a slightly longer wheel base and wood wheels instead of wire wheels." 

Three Oldsmobiles entering Prescott, Arizona - circa 1903 (photo credit: Sharlot Hall Museum)

The three Oldsmobiles shown here wear wood wheels and are shown motoring about the countryside somewhere around Prescott, Arizona. It is interesting to note the trunks that have been placed behind the seat for storage. Many Oldsmobiles made to the west coast as illustrated by the news that "A single shipment of thirty-six (railroad) cars of automobiles, or 432 machines, is said to have been made to California last week by the Olds Motor Works." in The Horseless Age of April 8, 1903.

Today, driving a Curved-Dash Olds look down right scary compared to modern transportation. However, in the day, nothing could be finer that the freedom afforded those who could travel by car.

The Oldsmobile (photo credit: The Horseless Age, February 12, 1902)

Maxwell delivers the mail.

1922 Maxwell Model 25 Touring (photo credit: Sharlot Hall Museum)

As far back as 1914, the Postmaster General of the United States was encouraging the use of automobiles for rural mail carriers. In fact the Motor World of July 22, 1914 reported, "The Postmaster General has placed a premium upon those of his mail carriers who use motor cars… and as a result, motoring rural carriers are to receive annual salaries of $1,800 instead of $1,200." A 50% increase in pay is good reason to get a car! 

One of the popular and affordable brands at the time was the Maxwell - also the choice of our western rural mail carrier seen here (somewhere around the Sedona area of northern Arizona). Seen wearing a what looks to be a 1923 Arizona license plate (specifically Maricopa County), this is a 1922 Maxwell Model 25 Touring. 

Founded in 1903 by Jonathan Maxwell and Benjamin Briscoe (with financial backing from JP Morgan), in less than a decade the company was the third largest manufacturer behind Buick and Ford. However by 1920, Ford had just over 50% of the American market and Maxwell was deeply in debt. The following year the company went into receivership but managed to purchase the floundering Chalmers company at the same time - Maxwell needed Chalmers as they leased their manufacturing facilitates. However their fortune's changed when the board enticed Walter P. Chrysler to assume leadership of the company in exchange for controlling interest. 

In 1922, the model 25 featured a new engine - 34hp, 186 cu. in. inline four-cylinder - and sold well. Chrysler re-organized in 1925, forming the Chrysler Corporation and would use the Maxwell design as the foundation for his new Chrysler car. The Maxwell and Chalmers were absorbed into the new Chrysler Corporation and the Maxwell brand was retired.

photo credit: Automobile Trade Journal

1904 Road Trip Through Prescott, Arizona

1904 Rambler and curved-dash Olds near Prescott, AZ (photo credit: Sharlot Hall Museum)

One of the keepers of Arizona's territorial history (Arizona didn't become a state until 1912) is the Sharlot Hall Museum in Prescott, Arizona. Included among their holdings are these photos of two cars traveling through Arizona (the photos were taken in the Prescott area circa 1904).  The museum notes that Frank Foster and Mrs. O. A. Helsa are traveling in an Oldsmobile along with a 1903 Cadillac. The museum dates the image around 1915.

I feel the images are earlier as the two vehicles shown are a 1903 Oldsmobile model R (or 1904 Oldsmobile model 6C) - commonly referred to today as a "curved-dash" Olds and a 1904 Rambler model K (not a Cadillac). Not surprisingly, these two brands were among the top sellers at the time with fairly extensive dealer representation. I'm not sure if Prescott had an Olds or Rambler dealer at the time, but either could have been acquired on the west coast. The pictures would indicate that they are out for more than a day trip given the luggage they're hauling.

Ransom E. Olds is one of our nation's earliest and most import automobile pioneers. After experiments with automobiles in the late 1890's, he set up a manufacturing enterprise only to have it burn to the ground in 1900 (Detroit factory). However, he was soon re-established in Lansing with the Horseless Age of May 14, 1902 reporting "The Olds Motor Works shipped the first carload of Oldsmobiles from its Lansing factory last week." The company gave the "Oldsmobile" name to its curved-dash model prior to reorganizing under that name soon after. The popularity of the curved-dash model kept it in production for 7 years and made The Olds Motor Works the largest automobile manufacturer in the United States. In fact, Olds introduced a new model (the French Front) in 1904, but the curved-dash continued to sell strong. The Horseless Age of December 9, 1903 estimated the top American Automobile producers to be: The Olds Motor Works with 6,000 to 7,000 vehicles, the Cadillac with 4000, the Ford with 3000, the Jeffery with 3000, and Winton with 2000.

Which brings us to another of the top five and the second car shown - the Rambler.  Thomas B. Jeffery & Company of Kenosha, Wisconsin was another early automotive pioneer. Jeffery had also experimented with cars in the late 1890's, and with much interest in his prototypes of 1900 and 1901, entered production in 1902. Thomas Jeffery sold his interest in the successful bicycle manufacturing enterprise, Gormily & Jeffery to the American Bicycle Company to fund his automobile factory. Interestingly, Thomas B. Jeffery & Company was the second automobile manufacturer to adopt the assembly - soon after The Olds Motor Works.

A curved-dash Olds and 1904 Rambler near Prescott, AZ (photo credit: Sharlot Hall Museum)

2014 Piece-Arrow Society Annual Meeting

The 2014 Piece-Arrow Society's Annual Meeting is just wrapping up. For the 57th year, the PAS has gathered to tour, show their cars, and connect with friends. This year's event in Warwick, RI enjoyed wonderful whether and interesting sites. Dad was there driving a friends 1918 model 48 touring and reported a good turnout and good fun.  

Here's a few pictures of this year's attendees:

Two 1936 Model 1601's (photo credit: From the author's collection)

Very interesting LaBaron bodied Pierce-Arrow (photo credit: From the author's collection)

1918 Pierce-Arrow model 48 (photo credit: From the author's collection)

1931 Pierce-Arrow model C (photo credit: From the author's collection)

Lovely Pierce-Arrow model 80 dual cowl (photo credit: From the author's collection)

1910 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Shooting-Brake

Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Shooting-Brake in the Louwman Museum (from the collection of the author) 

The term Shooting-Brake originates with the English use of a "brake" or heavy chassis harnessed to spirited horses to "break" them. The term was then picked up to describe a wagon in which to haul people, dogs, and their guns on a hunt. As the automobile came into fashion, the English upper-class ordered custom coachbuilders to construct Shooting-Brake bodes on some of the finest chassis of the day. 

This 1910 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost (chassis #1246) is a perfect example of this very English trend. Although Rolls-Royce's Sliver Ghost chassis was a frequent platform for this body style, few remain, as most have been re-bodied to suite today's taste for open touring cars. This car is one of the very few pre-WWI Silver Ghost's that retains its original body (and one of the few Shooting-Brakes to survive). 

This car was bodied for the 7th Duke of Buccleuch by Croall & Croall. Croall & Croall, an off-shoot of John Croall & Sons, was a logical choice. This Edinburgh, Scotland firm had begun back in the 1850s as funeral undertakers and carriage company. They entered into the coach building business prior to the automobile and extended their reach by purchasing a controlling interest in H.J. Mulliner & Co. At the time Croall & Croall carried out this commission, they had facilities in Edinburgh and Kelso, and were run by Peter, John, and Robert Croall.

Peter Croall & Sons - Coachbuilders of Edinburgh, Scotland (photo credit: Andrew Carnegie Archives)

John Charles Montagu Douglas Scott, the 7th Duke of Buccleuch, would have been 46 years old with house full of kids (8 kids in all) at time this car was delivered. He recently finished a decade of service as an MP fro Scotland and didn't actually inherit the title of "Duke" until 1914. This car seems to have been loving cared for during his life - he died in 1935.  The car then made it's way to America (most likely after WWII) and ended up in the possession of the renowned Rolls-Royce collector, Millard Newman. Mr. Newman owned the car for many years and today it resides in the marvelous collection and museum of Evert Louwman.

Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Chassis 1246 when in hands of Millard Newman (from the collection of the author)