RootsChat.Com
Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: bestie on Wednesday 18 December 13 12:23 GMT (UK)
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My grandfather, James Edward Sheehan, was landlord of the Vernon Arms, Portwood, Stockport before, during and after WW1. He was fighting in France from 1916 to 18. Can you tell me when this photograph is most likely to have been taken? I think I've made the number plate out to be W6993.
Any idea of the make? Thanks. Jim
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The registration plate W6993 would have been issued in Sheffield between 1903 and 1919
Steve
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Can't identify the make but the car is of 1910ish vintage, which fits in with what Steve said.
Regards
AJ
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If you are really stuck, the National Motor Museum might be able to help (there is, not unreasonably, a charge for their time):
http://www.nationalmotormuseum.org.uk/Motoring_research_service
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We've sent them a wee tweet on Twitter, to see if they can help at all. :)
Trystan
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I think it's a Model T Town Car, more or less like this one http://media.caranddriver.com/images/10q1/338131/1915-ford-model-t-town-car-photo-338178-s-1280x782.jpg
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We've had a reply to on Twitter from the National Motor Museum:
Hi @rootschat It's difficult to tell from the age and angle of the photo, but it could be a Mercedes from around 1909?
Trystan
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Thank you all for your help.... I'll have a good look at those vehicles and see which one matches best. Jim
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a Mercedes
It's a Ford T !
We had another one on Rootschat just the other day - a different body style http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=670359.msg5155153#msg5155153
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Good evening,
Not a Ford model "T", they had a flat top to the radiator cowl. This one is round.
John915
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Not a Ford model "T", they had a flat top to the radiator cowl
The radiator design changed to a rounded top in 1917
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Whatever make it is, it is a taxi. You can see the taximeter.
(compare this 1923 Unic Landaulette taxi http://www.imcdb.org/i084497.jpg )
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I've sharpened up the picture and reduced it in size to make it easier to view. The taximeter can clearly be seen. Also note the baggage rail on the roof.
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Looks to me like it might be a 1910 Belsize Landaulet Taxi. There's another photo of one here http://www.svvs.org/genpics6/1910_Belsize_Landaulet_Taxi.jpg (http://www.svvs.org/genpics6/1910_Belsize_Landaulet_Taxi.jpg) Looks very similar.
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Thanks for all your help.... I found a brilliant site for vintage car identification - Surrey vintage Vehicle Society. It's a Napier 15HP Landaulette Taxicab circa 1910. Jim
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Can't help with the make of car; but wonder if Jim/bestie has documentary evidence that it indeed belongs to James Sheehan? Car-ownership, I believe was pretty much confined to the 'upper classes' even in the inter-war years, let alone before WWI. How likely wd. it have been for a publican to own a car? To me it seems more probable that the car's owner is one of the overcoat-&-cap-clad toffs standing in front of it, while landlord James surveys the scene, perhaps wishing the splendid vehicle were his.
Janet