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One Lady, two Mysteries

One Lady, two Mysteries

One Lady, two Mysteries

  • One Lady, two Mysteries
  • One Lady, two Mysteries


Sorry, it's a very poor quality photo. This happens as people use there mobile photos to shoot a framed photo.
We were not able to contact Leonard Mermod who wrote: "All I know is that my Grandmother is behind the wheel in both pictures and that they were taken in England prior to August of 1912. My Grandfather had an automotive related business of some kind and lived in Chelsea at the time. I am speculating that these may be customers cars out for delivery or returned after repair."

Despite the ill quality of the photo we thought the car is so intriguing and the look of the young lady irrepeatable that we didn't want to hide the scene for you. Her roadster is very complete and has about every brass option you could get on a light car of the day. We presume it is around 1910. Also the shape of the bonnet and radiator is making us feel confident that we're looking at a Sizaire-Naudin runabout.  Very close to this 1911-12 tourer version (Conam). In the same batch sent by Leonard.... was yet another photo of even worse quality. It's a big tourer and we do not even want to start a gamble. Over to you. Maybe a nice warming up for tomorrow's interesting quiz.

Pubblicato:
giovedì giugno 2nd, 2016

Commenti

Sconosciuto
05 Giugno 2016, 05:33
Why did the Sizaire-Naudin have the "hump" in the centre of the bonnet and radiator?
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Sconosciuto
04 Giugno 2016, 14:42
This is a FORD, without sheep's clothing.

It has crossed my mind, this vehicle may be a "clean burner", does anyone out there have a S-N with these engine dimensions, to give an approximate MPG?
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Sconosciuto
03 Giugno 2016, 22:38
I agree with Craig Gillingham, I also think the second car is a Dellaunay-Bellevillie circa 1908, I'd even suggest the body is by Burlinghton Carriage Co. I've sent a picture to the Editor, maybe he can attach it or a link.
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william hearne
03 Giugno 2016, 21:43
There is absolutely no doubt that the first car [main picture] is a Sizaire-Naudin circa 1910. When one has actually travelled in such a car and noted various features such as the unique shape of the bonnet alone the question of it's true identity is a 'no brainer'.
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Sconosciuto
03 Giugno 2016, 14:59
Craig is absolutely right. It may seem an impossible task at first sight, but observing more closely several identifyible items led me to an 'exact' solution. The shape of the filler tube and cap, the observation that the bonnet seems to be roundish and finally the shape of the 'hooded' (torpedo-like) dash behind the bonnet all lead to the conclusion that it is a 1908c Delaunay-Belleville. Moreover the body is rather unorthodox, by its shortness almost looking like a toy-tonneau. Searching my archive I came across an in almost every detail identical car (only the spare wheel was absent): a 25hp 6 cylinder Delaunay-Belleville shown at the 1908 Olympia Show by the UK agent, the Burlington Carriage Co., who was also reponsible for the bodywork. Although the car was described in full technical detail in several magazines, not a word was spent on the body. It is my guess that the placement of the rear seat in front of the rear axle led to a considerable increase in the comfort of the passengers.
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Sconosciuto
03 Giugno 2016, 14:26
I think an obvious place to start with the big tourer is something like a 1911 T-30 Napier. There is quite a lot that fits. The radiator appears to have an upwardly-extended filler cap, very Napier. The lights appear to be missing, but their brackets look to be at the right level. The front dumb-irons have a fairly sharp radius (consistent with a Napier) and, although we can't see it, the radiator appears well forward of the front axle. Again, very Napier, but generally regarded with disfavour. Most cars of the period pretending to elegance would have regarded the front axle as the point at which the bonnet should stop. Finally, the hubcaps look about right, and many Napier's sported Rudge hub caps.

But whatever happened to the front wheel? The whole front of the car looks to have slumped, and the wheel skewed outwards. It is as if the front axle has been twisted out of alignment. In the meantime, the rear wheel looks slightly tucked in at the base, suggesting the back axle is tilted up on the nearside on a small bank. Looking forward to hearing what others think.


editor: it is not a distorted car but a distorted photo
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Sconosciuto
03 Giugno 2016, 14:19
Looks like a Sizaire Naudin to me too.
10 spoke front wheels, 12 spoke rears.
What looks like a single cantrally mounted headlamp was I think consistent with the London import agents preference.
I suspect the mono and 4 cylinder versions are indistinguishable from this angle, but others do know far more than me.
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Sconosciuto
03 Giugno 2016, 12:53
Wonder if she maneuvered the car into this position.
Her "bonnet" approximates the surrounding ground cover, with no trees immediate.
The Sizaire-Naudin bore/stroke ratio approaches .5, which is an extreme, bottom bearing life compromised unless additional supports added(a so called "stroker").
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Sconosciuto
03 Giugno 2016, 04:45
I'm sure the second car is a Delaunay-Belleville, except I can't tell you what year or model it is.
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Sconosciuto
03 Giugno 2016, 03:19
This car is a 1911 Hupmobile. The position of the headlights, the ten-spoke wheels, and the slant of the front fenders convince me of this. The Sizaire had a different style of radiator shell.
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