SAHJournal

ISSUE 300 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2019

SAH Journal No. 300 • September / October 2019 $5.00 US1 Contents 3 PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE SAHJournal 4 THE ANNUAL SAH AWARDS PRESENTATION, HERSHEY, PA 6 ON THE ORANGE FIELD ISSUE 300 • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 10 YOUR NEW ESSEX IS HERE! THE SOCIETY OF AUTOMOTIVE HISTORIANS, INC. 12 BOOK REVIEWS An Affiliate of the American Historical Association 15 THE SAH AT 50: ONE PERSPECTIVE

Parker (VP HVA), Casey Maxon (SAH Direc- Billboard tor and HVA Historian), and Barry L. Stiefel The 2020 International Drive (Associate Professor, College of Charleston). History Conference, April 23-25: Please note, registration is online (no mailed Officers For the next Automotive History Conference forms will be forthcoming) and the deadline H. Donald Capps President we will be returning to The NB Center for to register is March 1, 2020. For details and Robert G. Barr Vice President American Automotive Heritage—it’s also the links to register go to the SAH website: Robert Casey Secretary home of the HVA, the sponsor of the con- autohistory.org. Rubén L. Verdés Treasurer ference. Bill Warner (founder of the Amelia Board of Directors Island Concours d’Elegance) has been con- Wanted: Syllabi for college courses on au- Louis F. Fourie (ex-officio) ∆ firmed as a keynote speaker on the subject tomotive history, proposed or actually taught, Bob Elton † of his book, Cuba’s Car Culture, which he US or other focus. I’ve never taught such a Kevin Kirbitz # coauthored with Tom Cotter. This on top course although I’ve wanted to for years, and Carla R. Lesh † of an excellent program of presentations on with my retirement coming in less than a decade Chris Lezotte ∆ automotive history. The conference organizers I’m running out of time! Contact Ric Dias at: John A. Marino # are: H. Donald Capps (SAH President), Diane [email protected]. Casey Maxon ∆ John Mohr # Dean Nelson † Steve Purdy ∆ Terms through October (#) 2020, (†) 2021, and (∆) 2022

Editor Rubén L. Verdés 7491 N. Federal Hwy., Ste. C5337 Boca Raton, FL 33487-1625 USA [email protected] [email protected] tel: +1.561.866.5010

Publications Committee Thomas S. Jakups, Chair Louis F. Fourie Christopher G. Foster John Heitmann Donald J. Keefe Rubén L. Verdés Steve Wilson

Front cover: The engine of French engineer Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot’s Fardier à vapeur—recognized SAH Journal (ISSN 1057–1973) to be the world’s first self-propelled vehicle, and it was adopted as the logo for The Society of is published six times a year by The Automotive Historians. This is the one built in 1770 and on display at the Musée des arts et métiers, Society of Automotive Historians, Inc. Paris. (Source: PHGCOM via commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4670052 and image Subscription is by membership in the Society. above: arts-et-metiers.net/musee/fardier-vapeur) Back cover: The first page of the first publication of The Society of Automotive Historians. It was Membership dues are $50 per year ($60 originally printed on legal-size paper and later a letter-size version was made. The first version of per year outside North America & Mexico); the logo featuring the Fardier à vapeur first appeared on the cover of issue no. 5 (January 1970). digital membership dues are $20. Dues and changes of address go to: Submission Deadlines: Society of Automotive Historians, Inc. Deadline: 12/1 2/1 4/1 6/1 8/1 10/1 c/o Cornerstone Registration Ltd. Issue: Jan/Feb Mar/Apr May/Jun Jul/Aug Sep/Oct Nov/Dec P.O. Box 1715 Mailed: 1/31 3/31 5/31 7/31 9/30 11/30 Maple Grove, MN 55311-6715 USA Note: the SAH Journal is a bimonthly publication (printed 6 times a year) and there is ©2019 a two-month horizon for submitted material before it is mailed (e.g., material sub- The Society of Automotive Historians, Inc. mitted by February 1st appears in the Mar/Apr issue and is mailed on or before 3/31.) www.autohistory.org All letters, manuscripts, and advertisement submissions and inquiries go to the editor. Join, renew and more right on-line! 2 SAH Journal No. 300 • September / October 2019 not until an organizational meeting was held at Hershey on October 11, 1969, in the PPresident’sresident’s PPerspectiveerspective offi ces of William S. Jackson, the editor of Antique Automobile (the journal of the An- wenty-fi ve years ago, Clio, the Muse of tique Automobile Club of America), that the THistory, posed the following query to SAH actually came into being. (The coffee Taylor Vinson, the then-president of the So- and doughnuts for the meeting were pro- ciety of Automotive Historians (SAH) (and vided by Jackson and his wife, incidentally.) its 14th, incidentally): “Your founders had G. Marshall Naul of Newark, Delaware, a very explicit goals. How well has the SAH chemical engineer, and Richard B. Brigham, a lived up to them?” You can read Vinson’s reply printer from Marietta, Georgia, were elected to Clio in his “President’s Message” which president and vice president, respectively, of can be found on page four of Issue No. 152 the new organization. Given that the idea for (September-October 1994) of The Journal the SAH was theirs in the fi rst place, this was of the Society of Automotive Historians. After certainly appropriate. reading the fi rst several issues of the Newslet- As Taylor Vinson suggested in 1994 and ter, as the SAH Journal was known until Issue I also suggest here in 2019, while the SAH No. 76 (January-February 1982), which has certainly changed in some ways since its provide a very useful chronicle regarding the founding in October 1969, one thing has formation of the SAH and then reading what not: It is not a “car club.” It is a society dedi- Taylor Vinson wrote in reply to Clio’s query, cated to the mission of the preservation and were I to attempt to fi nd a reply to Clio research of automotive history. It is an orga- today, I would start with pointing out that nization open to all interested in its mission, this is the 300th issue of the SAH Journal. In 1994, Taylor Vinson concluded his regardless of their background. Indeed, it is That is in and of itself no small feat. remarks this way: “As I told Clio, institu- probably safe to suggest that most members And, wonder of wonders, you can read tions, like children, usually do not grow of the SAH more than likely belong to at least each and every issue of the Newsletter from up exactly as their parents might wish, but one—perhaps more in some cases—car club Issue No. 1 (September 1969) to Issue No. develop their own distinctive and, hopefully, devoted to a particular marque or topic. 75 (December 1981), The Journal of the compensating traits. And so I believe it is What I wish to make clear is that we Society of Automotive Historians, Issue No. with the Society of Automotive Historians are, fi rst and foremost, a society of automo- 76 (January-February 1982) to Issue No. at 25.” I would suggest that, in 2019, this is tive historians, an international community, 119 (March-April 1989), and the SAH Jour- still the case with the SAH at 50. During its dedicated to the research primarily of the nal, since Issue No. 120 (May-June 1989). fi rst half-century, the SAH developed and automobile and its variants, across the Over the fi ve decades that this publication shifted and accommodated and did so several spectrum of cultural, societal, technologi- has been part and parcel of the SAH, it has times. There is good and suffi cient reason to cal, mechanical, and commercial spheres, as had nine editors, with Rubén Verdés being at assume that this pattern will continue during well as the recording, preservation, and dis- the helm since Issue No. 257 (July-August our next half-century. semination of the fruits of that research. That 2012). The same is also true of each and When the fi rst issue of the Newslet- might not be exactly how it was expressed every issue of the Automotive History Review, ter was published in September 1969, the 50 years ago, but that is how we intend to from Issue No. 1 (Winter, 1973-1974) to the membership of the Society of Automotive embark on our next 50 years. Best wishes, latest, Issue No. 60 (Autumn 2019). Historians stood at exactly zero (0). It was —H. Donald Capps

Raymond Donovan (4731) Lowell & Lowell Paddock (4744) James R Anderson (4754) North Wales, PA | [email protected] New Preston, CT | [email protected] Menominee, MI | [email protected] Mike Hodas (4733) Jonathan Shafer (4746) Miles Morris (4755) Sun City West, AZ | [email protected] Washington, DC | [email protected] Weston, CT | [email protected] Wayne S Johnson (4735) John Fields (4747) Patrick Derksen (4756) San Rafael, CA | [email protected] Columbus, OH | [email protected] South Bend, IN | [email protected] Fosco & Mary Picchi (4736) Paul M Dejute (4748) Jace Long (4758) Las Vegas, NV | [email protected] Medina, MN | [email protected] Huntingdon, PA | [email protected] Donald & Lois Bigler (4737) David Landow (4749) Peter Papademetriou & Tessa Namuth (4760) Dayton, OH | [email protected] Potomac, MD | [email protected] New York, NY | [email protected] Damon Lowe (4738) Ralph Fetrow (4750) Mark Taylor (4761) Indianapolis, IN | [email protected] Annville, PA | [email protected] Toronto, ON Canada | [email protected] Francisco Chavez (4739) Bruce Balough (4751) James & Kimberly Deangelis (4762) Chula Vista, CA | [email protected] North Canton, OH | [email protected] Edgewood, MD | icanfi [email protected] Sigur Whitaker (4741) Pete Kraus (4752) Norfolk, VA | [email protected] Lilburn, GA | [email protected] NEW MEMBERS Donald Pittenger (4743) Matthias Dressler (4753) Seattle, WA | [email protected] Stuttgart, Germany | [email protected]

SAH Journal No. 300 • September / October 2019 3 SAH awards presentation, October 11, 2019, 50 years to the date of the society's founding. Kit Foster (far left) looks on with keynote speaker Karl Ludvigsen at the podium. THHEE ANNNUALNUAL SSAHAH AWWARDSARDS PRRESENTATIONESENTATION & TTHEHE 5500TTHH ANNNIVERSARYNIVERSARY OFOF THETHE SSAHAH HEERSHEY,RSHEY, PEENNSYLVANIANNSYLVANIA

he Annual Meeting of Members & Gala TAwards Banquet—and celebration of 50 years of the Society of Automotive Histori- ans—took place on Friday, October 11th, at the Hershey Country Club (50 years to the date of the society’s founding) during “Her- shey”—the AACA Eastern Regional Fall Meet (October 9-12). The highlights of the evening were the awards presentation and the keynote presentation by Karl Ludvigsen. Here are the awards, descriptions and the 2019 recipients: This year the Committee bestowed Ed Garten (r) presents the Nicolas-Joseph an Award of Distinction to (l) Leon Dixon, Cugnot Award to Karl Ludvigsen. Carl Benz Award presented by Chris David. “Toward the Tucker: Creating 's Bid for Glory” by Karl Ludvigsen, A total of 11 articles were nominated for This year’s Cugnot Award is given to Karl published in Collectible Automobile. the 2019 Benz Award, coming from both Ludvigsen for his magnifi cent two-volume The Benz Award recognizes the periodical commercial and club publications. This year, work Reid Railton: Man of Speed published article or series published during the previ- we also have awarded a Benz Award of Dis- by Evro Publishing. Let me quote here a ous calendar year which exhibits the most tinction, which was published in the Fourth review of that work appearing in the publica- original research and outstanding writing Quarter 2018 issue of The Packard Cormorant, tion Historic Racing Technology; words that in automotive history. The award is named Number 173. It scored 368 out of 400 points, brilliantly capture this important contribu- for Carl Benz, who built the fi rst vehicle just three less than Benz Award winner. tion to automotive history. propelled by an internal combustion engine. —Don Keefe “Over the last few years since review- Benz’s three-wheeled vehicle was built in ing books for Historic Racing Technology, 1885 in Mannheim, Germany. The Benz Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot Award we have received into this offi ce some truly Award was fi rst presented in 1982. From The Cugnot Award is presented for the book magnifi cent books. We may live in the digital 1972 until 1981, awards for periodical ar- published during the previous calendar year age but we are blessed with book publishers ticles were made as part of the Cugnot Award. which represents the most outstanding writ- who persevere and produce some of the best ing and original research in automotive his- quality books ever seen. The latest to arrive, tory. The award is named for Nicolas-Joseph though, literally takes your breath away on Cugnot, a French Army offi cer who is gen- all levels. Karl Ludvigsen, the American au- erally acknowledged to have built the fi rst thor who lives in the UK, is unquestionably self-propelled vehicle. His steam-powered one of the fi nest automotive historians ever. fardier, built in 1769, was designed to be The quality of his research and writing are an artillery tractor; its likeness appears on nothing short of brilliant. Furthermore, Evro the Society’s emblem. The Cugnot Award Publishing has done Ludvigsen’s work proud. was fi rst presented in 1972, and the award The book itself reeks of quality in terms of for books written in a language other than production, layout and design.” English was fi rst presented in the year 2000. —Edward Garten The Award of Distinction in each category Chris David (l) presents the Carl Benz Award recognizes works of exceptional merit. to Karl Ludvigsen. Award of Distinction: Damsels in Design: Women Pioneers in Award of Distinction: English Language: the Automotive Industry, 1939–1959 by “The Long Winding Road of the Packard Reid Railton: Man of Speed by Karl Constance Smith, published by Schiffer Pan Americans” by Leon Dixon, published Ludvigsen, published by Evro Publishing. Publishing. in The Packard Cormorant. ISBN: 978-1910505250 ISBN: 978-0764354359 4 SAH Journal No. 300 • September / October 2019 cially in its classic French period, but fewer Award of Distinction: relating to the initial years and its relation Durchgeboxt: Die große Enzyklopädie der to the design of their water-cooled ohc V-8 Kleinserien und Eigenbauten auf VW-Käfer- which dominated the skies in 1915-1919. und Bus-Basis by Thomas Braun, published The Alfonso XIII has often been in German by Delius Klasing Vlg GmbH. referred to as the world’s fi rst sports car. ISBN: 978-3667114440 Whether that claim can be sustained is a matter of opinion, but it was capable of Although the committee has not been able winning in competition, in its class, right to determine an English translation of its from the showroom fl oor and the overhead title, this book is an encyclopedia of small valve system invented but not extensively series and one-off cars and trucks based on The Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot Committee produced was adopted for aircraft. It also the chassis of the Volkswagen or inspired by bestowed an Award of Distinction to (l) led directly to the great Peugeot and Ballot it—many hundreds of them. Here we fi nd Constance A. Smith, presented by Ed Garten. powerplants that revolutionized the design of not only the early factory prototypes and competition engines in the postwar period. commercial models, but also home-built “The reader is treated to the careers of The book begins with a historical ab- specials dedicated to on-road or off-road use, twenty women who succeeded in a nearly stract describing economic conditions in the of great elegance or grotesque appearance. It male dominated industry where competition country and the investment structure that will be a visual feast for Beetle fanatics. was fi erce for everyone. You learn not only made possible the raising of funds to enter an —Arthur Jones what institutions they attended but also the emerging industry. Marc Birkigt was never profi les of some of their lecturers and men- more than Technical Director and answered tors. The Pratt Institute appears to have been to the board for financial matters. The James J. Bradley Distinguished the primary source of these lady designers.” closing chapter tells how, when European Service Award Editor’s Note: The preceding is an excerpt economic conditions turned sour in 1920 AACA Library & Research Center, from a review of Damsels in Design written and later in the thirties, Birkigt’s plans were Hershey, Pennsylvania. by Louis Fourie—for the complete review, as put aside to save the company from potential Award presented to a deserving library or well as a review by Kit Foster of Reid Railton, collapse. archive, or to an individual within such an see the SAH Journal issue 296. This is a defi nitive history. The authors organization, for the preservation of historic have set themselves the task of creating a materials relating to motor vehicles of the Language other than English: memorial to a moment when their country world. It is named in memory of James J. La Hispano Suiza, empresa pionera. El succeeded in meeting the highest standards Bradley, noted curator of the National Au- deportivo Alfonso XIII by Manuel Lage, of technology and artistry. We Americans tomotive History Collection at the Detroit published in Spanish by Ministerio de may look with envy on a work of automotive Public Library. The Bradley Award was fi rst Economía y Empresa. history whose research and publication have presented in 1982. ISBN: 978-8492546435 been sponsored by the Spanish Ministry of Economics. —Arthur Jones Award of Distinction: Kutschenlack, Asphaltschwarz & Nitroglanz: Fahrzeuglackierung zwischen 1900 und 1945 by Gundula Tutt, published in German by Karren Publishing. ISBN: 978-3947060023

This scholarly work is based on the au- Ed Garten presented the James J. Bradley thor’s background in art restoration and Distinguished Service Award. Arthur Jones announced the Nicolas-Joseph provides a detailed look at the materials Cugnot Award, Language other than English awards, which will be presented to the win- and methods of automotive fi nishing sys- In the last 10 years the AACA Library has ners in Paris during the February meeting. tems from 1900 through 1945 beginning undertaken many projects, such as the with brush-applied carriage varnish to oil- digitization of thousands of documents The famous automobile and aircraft engine based baked enamels and to the spraying (consuming over fi ve terabytes of disk space) manufacturer, Hispano-Suiza, was founded of nitroglycerin lacquers developed in the and building a 16 mm fi lm scanner in house in 1904 but traced its roots from the begin- twenties. It is surely the fi rst study of this that creates digitized fi lms that are almost 4k nings of the Spanish automobile industry subject. Although perhaps too detailed for in resolution. and throughout its history was under the the automotive restorer, it may be helpful Major donations have supplemented continuous technical leadership of a Swiss- in the restoration of vehicles of historic their existing collection of over 2 million trained engineer, Marc Birkigt. Many histo- signifi cance. pieces including the Don O’Reilly racing ries have been written of its successes, espe- —Arthur Jones collection, the Tom Gerrard Classic Auto

SAH Journal No. 300 • September / October 2019 5 Collection, and the Charles Schaelbaum founding members of the Society, started the library. Society’s newsletter, now SAH Journal, and The AACA Library continues to magazine, Automotive History Review. The play host to 12 special collections ranging Brigham Award was fi rst presented in 1990. from the Buick Heritage Alliance to the Pierce-Arrow Society. These relationships E.P. Ingersoll Award are mutually benefi cial as smaller marque Howard Kroplick, for clubs get their material out of a member’s VanderbiltCupRaces.com basement or attic and into the care of three The Ingersoll Award recognizes excellence in professional librarians. In these situations presentation of automotive history in other the smaller marque club retains ownership than print media. E.P. Ingersoll was editor of their material. and proprietor of The Horseless Age, AAndrewndrew BeckmanBeckman (r)(r) presentspresents thethe FriendFriend ofof In the coming months the AACA the fi rst motoring magazine in the United AAutomotiveutomotive HHistoryistory AAwardward ttoo NNicolaicola BulgariBulgari. Library will have several major announce- States, and was instrumental in organizing ments. The fi rst will be the introduction of a the fi rst vehicle trade organization. The automobiles or else it’s ‘just a fantasy’ as he new online catalog system that will be more Ingersoll Award was fi rst presented in 1992. said in an interview with Architectural Digest modern and user friendly than the current in 2018. ‘What we’re trying to do is show system in use. The second announcement young people what this country was all about: will be truly amazing but there are a few The history of America is on four wheels.’ lawyers who want us to keep things quiet for “When adding to his collection, Bulgari now. It is safe to say though that users of the looks not towards the monetary value of a AACA Library will soon have access to more vehicle when building his collection, but automotive literature than ever before. rather its signifi cance in automotive history The AACA Library will be getting a and the people involved in the story behind new home in 2020. Located on the corner of the car. Some of the highlights of his collec- Hershey Park Drive and Hockersville Road tion include a 1930 Graham Model 46 that in Hershey, the footprint of the library will graced the cover of Peter, Paul, and Mary’s triple in size. The new facility will be able record Album 1700, a 1938 Cadillac V16 to accommodate dozens of researchers at a SSteveteve WilsonWilson ((l)l) presentspresents tthehe EE.P..P. IngersollIngersoll Limousine Town Car used by Pope Pius XII, time, host large groups and conferences and AAwardward toto HowardHoward KKroplick.roplick. a 1933 Marmon Sixteen Victoria Coupe solidify our spot as America’s Automotive by LeBaron previously owned by Bernie Library. The committee received three nominations Ecclestone, a 1933 Graham 8 Sedan “Blue Editor’s Note: The preceding was adopted and has chosen VanderbiltCupRaces.com as Streak” which was inducted into the National and edited from an acceptance speech prepared this year’s recipient. This website and associ- Historic Vehicle Register, and much more. by AACA Library Director, Chris Ritter, who ated newsletter, created and maintained by Bulgari’s passion for preserving automotive could not attend the awards presentation. Howard Kroplick, covers not only the epony- history for generations to come made him mous races but also the broader automotive a well-deserving choice for the Society of Richard P. Scharchburg Student history of Long Island and the Long Island Automotive Historian’s award.” Paper Award Motor Parkway, as well as other topics of Editor’s Note: The preceding was sourced and Not awarded. interest to the automotive historian. slightly edited from the website: historicvehicle. The Student Paper Award recognizes the —Steve Wilson org/nicola-bulgari-receives-friend-of-automotive- best paper by a thesis-level student at an history-award-at-sah-banquet/ educational institution. The award is ac- Friend of Automotive History Award Karl Ludvigsen delivered the keynote presen- companied by a cash prize and publication Nicola Bulgari tation where he covered various events and of the paper by the Society. The award was A person who has exhibited outstanding subjects that characterized his career. Karl is fi rst presented in 2001. It was renamed in service in, and made outstanding contribu- an early member of the SAH, as he said, “I’m 2008 in memory of SAH director, offi cer and tions to, the fi eld of automotive history may very happy to be a two-digit member of the professor Richard P. Scharchburg. be named a Friend of Automotive History. SAH,” referring to his membership number, This award is not limited to members of 92H (where the “H” for “Honorary” was the Society. It was fi rst presented in 1983. Richard and Grace Brigham Award added after being awarded Friend of Auto- Not awarded. motive History in 2002). As a journalist and The Brigham Award is presented to the “Nicola Bulgari’s world class car collection, an author he described himself as “writing a periodical which exhibits the best overall housed at the NB Center for American Au- fi rst draft of history. I like to pursue that way treatment of automotive history over all is- tomotive Heritage, includes cars from nearly of working . . . I like to understand what goes sues published during the previous calendar 100 years of automotive history with a focus on and why things happen—how they hap- year. A publication may receive the Brigham on 1920s – 1940s American cars, particularly pen.” He held everyone’s attention for the Award only once in a five-year period. Buicks. Bulgari believes that people need to full hour and twenty-two minutes he spoke. Mrs. Brigham and her late husband, both be able to see, feel, and interact with historic —RR.. VVerderdés

6 SAH Journal No. 300 • September / October 2019 Source: Kevin Kirbitz Kevin Source: Current and past Friend of Automotive History Award winners present at the What would a celebration be without awards presentation, left to right: Joseph S. Freeman, Nicola Bulgari, Robert R. cake? Ebert, Kit Foster, and Karl Ludvigsen.

The Friend of Automotive History is the Society 1992 John A. Conde 2006 Bobbie’dine Rodda of Automotive Historians’ premier award. On 1993 Frederick D. Roe 2007 Malcolm Jeal the occasion of the SAH’s 50th anniversary it is 1994 Walter A. MacIlvain 2008 Thomas Brownell fi tting and proper to list all the award’s recipients: 1995 Chester L. Krause 2009 G. Marshall Naul 1996 L. Scott Bailey 2010 Miles C. Collier 1983 Henry Austin Clark, Jr. 1997 Lord Montague of Beaulieu 2011 Kit Foster 1984 Charles L. Betts, Jr. 1998 Michael Worthington-Williams 2012 Joseph S. Freeman 1985 Richard and Grace Brigham 1999 David Brownell 2013 Frederick A. Simeone 1986 Beverly Rae Kimes 2000 Paul Berliet & Thomas E. Warth 2014 Jay Leno 1987 Peter Helck 2001 John Martin Smith 2015 Jack C. Miller 1988 Keith Marvin 2002 Richard Langworth & Karl Ludvigsen 2016 Susan S. Davis 1989 Ralph Dunwoodie 2003 Z.Taylor Vinson 2017 Robert R. Ebert 1990 Michael Lamm 2004 Maurice D. Hendry 2018 Jeffrey I. Godshall and Doug Nye 1991 David L. Lewis 2005 Leroy D. Cole 2019 Nicola Bulgari

The SAH tent on the fi eld at "Hershey" (on the Orange Field at spot OBB 17–19). There's always something going on inside. To see what went on, turn the page.

SAH Journal No. 300 • September / October 2019 7 Reid Railton: Man of Speed and Battle for the Beetle and Porsche: Origin of the Species and Classic Grand Prix Cars and The V12 Engine and Classic Racing Engines: Expert Technical Analysis of Fifty of the Greatest Motors- ports Power Units: 1913–1994 by Karl Ludvigsen

On a Global Mission: The Automobiles of First Gen: Origins of Auto Racing 1894– ON THETHE ORRANGEANGE FIIELDELD General Motors International 1914 Volume One Digital Edition (Three Volumes) by Marvin McFalls he SAH’s tent on the Orange fi eld at by Louis F. Fourie THershey—every year at OBB 17-19 Damsels in Design: Women Pioneers in in its distinctive yellow and white striped The Mobilgas Economy Run: A History of The Automotive Industry 1939–1959 tent—is an annual pilgrimage for members, the Long Distance Effi ciency Competition, by Constance Smith and many non-members who stop by and 1936–1968 then sign-up for membership before leaving by Dave Hermanson The Indianapolis Automobile Industry: A the tent. In the tent there are book and poster History, 1893–1939 displays along with past issues of the SAH Hector Halhead “Steam” Stewart: The His- and Journal and the Automotive History Review. tory of Stanley Steam Cars in New Zealand The Indy Car Wars: The 30-Year fi ght for The featured event at the tent was the and More Control of American Open-Wheel Racing authors’ book signing coordinated by Vince by Donald R. Hoke and Wright and Louis Fourie. We were pleased to : The Man Who Saved the have Karl Ludvigsen join our list of authors The Chandler Automobile: A History Indianapolis Motor Speedway this year. Here are authors and their books: Including the Cleveland and Chandler- and Cleveland Marques James Allison: A Biography of the Engine Saga of the Plainsman: The Extraordinary and Manufacturer and Indianapolis 500 Co- Life and Times of a Dream Car The Jordan Automobile: A History founder and by James H. Lackey by Sigur E. Whitaker Creative Industries of Detroit: The Un- told Story of Detroit’s Secret Concept Car Power Under Her Foot: Women Enthusi- Please take a moment to look-up these Builder asts of American Muscle Cars authors and their books. We are grateful by Leon Dixon by Chris Lezotte, Ph.D. to them all for supporting this annual SAH book signing event. We greatly thank all The Stanley Steamer: America’s Legendary Cunningham Sports Cars: American Rac- who volunteer to “work the tent” each year Steam Car ing Legends 1951–1955 to make it a success. by Kit Foster and —R. Verdés

8 SAH Journal No. 300 • September / October 2019 Club of Dayton, in Ohio. The speaker, Mr. Arthur Ludlow Clayden, editor of The Auto- mobile Engineer, London, England, making reference to the British-built Sunbeam (then a competitive racing make with an engine that turned at a rate of 3,850 revolutions per minute) stated: “Splash lubrication is entirely out of the question with an engine running at such high speed. Controlled splash with dippers on the big ends has proved useful for the comparatively high speed engine, but it is certain that the engine where the oil is fed with pressure is more durable.” Clayden goes on to share his opinion, that “…forced lubrication is going to become a standard thing.” In the audience at the banquet is the Society’s immediate past president, Howard E. Coffi n of the Hudson Motor Car Company, and associates J.G. Vincent, G.G. Behn, and fellow Hudson Company cofounder Roy D. Chapin. Baits remained unapologetic in his defense of the splash system. As Blanchard wrote in MoTor, a fundamental feature Source: books.google.com Source: of a pressure system is its precision of OUR NEW ESSEX IS HERE! The block. The crankshaft was fi nely balanced distribution, and the opposite is also true Y Essex was upgraded from a four to with three main bearings of 2⅛" in diameter, of a conventional splash system, failing at a six cylinder for the 1924 model year. with a camshaft and accessories driven by an high speed due to defective distribution. With reference to a four-page circular adjustable silent chain for quiet operation. Here, though, Blanchard pointed out the titled “Splash Lubrication as Developed So what is this fully-developed splash lubrication system in the new Essex was by the Hudson-Essex Engineers” reprinted system of which engineer Baits boasted? anything but conventional. A plunger of from the May 1924 issue of MoToR: The Blanchard noted that at the turn of the exceptional capacity drew oil from the Automotive Business Magazine, Hudson century all makes of automobile had splash reservoir, Blanchard wrote, and delivered it engineer Stuart Baits explained to columnist lubrication in its simplest form, but at the to the timing chain case where it supplied Harold F. Blanchard, technical editor of time of the new Essex only three makes of more than adequate lubrication to the tim- MoToR magazine, that the design was both American cars used splash lubrication, and ing chain and sprockets. It then fl owed by simple and elegant. As the crankshaft spins two of those, Blanchard pointed out, had gravity to the fi rst splash trough, one of six around, dippers on the bottom end of gear ratios so low their engines must be small sumps in a pan bolted above the main each connecting rod scoop oil from a little classed as moderate speed. The rest of the reservoir. The dipper on rod #1 picked up trough in the oil pan to lubricate the rod manufacturers, Blanchard said, had adopted the oil, some of it traveling through a chan- bearings, with a bit of the excess shooting a form of pressure lubrication. nel in the dipper to the crank journal (or around the inside of the engine to take care By way of background, debate regarding crankpin), the rest being hurled towards of the mains and timing chain. “…I believe the virtues of full pressure versus circulating the right side of the engine. Some of the a fully-developed splash system has notable splash lubrication has raged since the cre- oil hit a return cup, which fed oil back to advantages over the almost universally ation of the internal combustion engine. Full the trough. Some of the oil hit a diversion popular pressure system,” Baits maintained. pressure involves an oil pump that suctions shield that bounced it back towards the To his credit, Blanchard paints a much oil from a sump and forces it through tubes, spinning crankshaft, which churned it into broader picture for his readers, explaining drilled passageways in the crankshaft and a spray. The spray ran into a channel that the features of this new Essex power plant. It through connecting rods onto load-bearing then diverted the oil to trough #2, where the has, in fact, two more cylinders than the four surfaces. Some of the oil continues back to process repeated through to cylinder number it replaced, though total displacement was the sump through passageways, while oil that six. Channels fed oil onto the main bearings, only 130 cubic inches, down from 179 in has seeped from mating surfaces fi nds its way and gutters on the left side of the engine the old engine. And rather than the old-style to the sump via gravity. Some, in fact many, directed more oil to troughs #2 and 5. The F-head, with intake valves in the removable engineers claim full pressure is preferred for oil spray contributed greatly towards piston head and exhaust valves en-bloc, this new use in high-speed engines. One such refer- skirt lubrication, which earned a demerit model Six shared a design feature with its ence is made during a banquet speech at the in a full pressure system. Over-oiling of the big brother Hudson: it was an L-head, with Society of Automotive Engineers Summer piston was prevented through use of a third both intake and exhaust ports cast with the Meeting in June 1911 at the Automobile piston ring.

SAH Journal No. 300 • September / October 2019 9 The rod and journal then burned out due to lack of lubrication. If the motor wasn’t stopped quickly, results would be disastrous. Dealer Glasier in turn submitted claims for reimbursement to Detroit. “Use only high-grade oils of light or medium light body,” the February 1924 instruction book suggested. “Open the slide on the fi ller and pour in oil until the indicator wire registers full. The reservoir should contain 3½ quarts.” Curiously, the July instruction book did not list oil capacity, but advised the reader to drain the The 1924 Essex Six (fi rst series) reservoir and replenish with fresh clean oil every 500 to 700 miles. Unannounced, the Blanchard explained that a full pres- Perhaps this was a negative premonition: company enlarged the oil reservoir to a four sure system may provide 40 lbs of pressure the company promised “The New Essex is quart capacity. The change was noted in the but had inadequate oiling when an engine not designed or intended as a stunt or speed following year Essex Six Cylinder parts list: is cold, where the splash system in the new car.” (Source: The Hudson Triangle and Essex oil reservoir assembly # CM61543 used on Essex engine provided full lubrication the Topics, December 1, 1923, Vol XI, No. 12, motors numbered above 143499. moment the engine is started. Bearing p. 2.) Reviewers gave the car high marks for Company engineers bumbled about and wear in a pressure system is critical. “If one increased legroom for rear seat passengers, a fi nally changed the carburetor on the 26th bearing on a pressure system happens to be one piece seamless windshield on each model, of January 1924 to one of “short elbow and looser than the others this bearing will take and a smooth quiet running engine. Essex throttle valve parallel to the cylinder block” more than its apportioned quantity of oil, sales manager Harry G. Moock compared the effective with car 108151. (Source: HMC perhaps robbing the others. In addition, a new model to a Steinway piano for integrity; line engineer J.T. Gooch’s notebook.) A rod bearing that is too loose may cause over- indeed, the design of the new car was stun- slight change in the cylinder head on Feb- lubrication of its cylinder, whereas with the ning, with purity in its lines. “On the open ruary 7th, on motor number 152465 in car splash system, bearing clearances have no car, the top is actually only 5 feet 10½ inches #111413 upped the compression from 70 effect on the amount of oil fed to bearings above the ground at its highest point, and the lbs under full throttle to 75 lbs. or cylinders.” front of the top is so low that a man of average Line engineer J.T. Gooch noted a Hudson engineers showed Blanchard height can look directly over it.” (Source: The change in the location and size of water holes that bearings in a splash system ran cleaner Hudson Triangle and Essex Topics, December in the block and cylinder head on April 16th, by not trapping fi ne particles, and that oil 1, 1923, Vol XI, No. 12, p. 5.) “to secure better circulation and cooling.” It temperatures inside a full pressure engine ran Bill Davidson of Warsaw, New York, went into effect on motor #176179 and was thirty to forty degrees hotter than inside the might have questioned that statement about installed in car 134432. new Essex engine. Harold Blanchard’s article “integrity” as he returned his 7,000-mile The motor itself was unceremoniously in MoTor read as a glowing report, which Essex Essex, purchased on March 24, 1924, for gumptioned-up on May 24th, starting with proudly sent to dealers and prospective clients. a replacement engine. Tom Dowdle, of the car number 144376. The front main on the What could possibly go wrong with neighboring town of Silver Springs, also crankshaft grew to 2.217" from 2.092"—the such an elegant and simple design? Hudson- brought back his 8,000 mile car to George bearing was lengthened from 1.5625" to Essex dealers were left to wonder. Produc- Glasiers’ Hudson-Essex store in Warsaw for 1.625"—the center main from a 2.124" di- tion on the new model started December 1, a new engine. Eleanor Moore of Warsaw ameter to 2.249" and from 2.155" to 2.280" 1923, with car serial number 100001, and returned her Essex coach at 1,000 miles— in the rear. The connecting rod journals motor number 140501. Where the company Glasiers’ mechanic reported the trouble as remained the same 1.811" diameter, but had done extensive testing for two years one connecting rod “Burned out in ordinary the length of the bearing increased 1/8th of before the four-cylinder model was released, driving.” She returned 1,000 miles later, this an inch. The 2.625" x 4" bore and stroke dealers soon questioned if any testing had time for four connecting rods. Eleanor had a (130 cubic inches) was increased to 2.6875" been done at all on the new model Six. new motor installed later in the year at com- x 4.25" (144 cubic inches). NACC license The new Essex was longer, lower, and pany expense. Reports flooding into Detroit horsepower was upped at the same time from wider. Chassis parts including the fenders from the fi eld set alarm bells ringing in the en- 16.54 to 17.32. and grille shell were painted black, comple- gineering department, though DeLisle “Doc” Rear springs were splayed on the 1924 mented by a body in a regal shade of deep Daugherty (a twenty-something enthusiast Essex, with rear shackles further apart than blue. The effect was highlighted with the who would often drive his uncle’s Essex) could the front. This contributed towards great wood wheels’ stunning shade of vermilion. have set them straight: on a long downhill stability especially in cornering, but the front Two models were offered, a two-door coach run through the Allegheny Mountains, the springs were discovered in the earliest cars to and a four-door touring, both bodies built simple and elegant splash system was not be weak. Eleanor Moore got two new front by Briggs. Each rode on a 110½" wheelbase. feeding oil upwards to trough number six. springs, gratis, at 4,000 miles. Bernard Sny-

10 SAH Journal No. 300 • September / October 2019 der of Castile got two new front springs at ing these new covers were fi rst shipped July used on the sides, and is to prevent air and 4,500 miles, while Bill Davidson, with Essex 10, 1924.” Then, in an effort to control oil rain from coming through cracks in hinges.” #113795 got three new springs (two fronts, leakage (again) at the crankshaft opening Perhaps the top replacement done by dealers and one rear) claimed as “light” by Glasiers’ in the gear case front cover, on September was a misspent penny? service report. Davidson’s car had only 3,000 26th the service department advised dealer The driveshaft was beefed up on July miles. The engineering department ok’ed a mechanics to alter the original covers on cars 11th, starting with car 148192. A larger change on January 18, 1924, with a load which were giving this diffi culty to conform gasoline tank and new gauge were used “on capacity rating increase from 375 to 500 lbs with the new type assembly. In the 1925 all Essex Cars” starting with car 177902. No on the fronts, 575 to 675 on the rears, with parts book, part #60029 was described as wonder, mention of the nine gallon capac- a note: “Rear spring length changed from “Plate, large…18 cents.” “Simply cut away ity tank listed in the February 1924 Essex 54½" to 54⅞". This additional amount is the opening and weld the plate in place,” the Instruction Book wass curiously omitted in added from the center bolt to the rear eye.” service bulletin recommended, while at the the July edition. The clutch pilot bushing The change is noted on the assembly line same time advising to remove the crankshaft was reengineered to a ball bearing in July, on February 16th with the new rear springs gear and polish off all tool marks which had and scheduled for service implementation in starting with car #114528, and on February a tendency to propel oil past the felt washer. September, which required a modifi cation of 27th with car #117031 for the fronts. The new style engine got a redesigned the crankshaft and transmission drive gear. A Engineer Gooch noted that, beginning flywheel, starting with motor #208859, new and larger bronze and steel thrust washer with car number 111281, motor #151951 with 28 weights installed—this was changed was installed in all Essex Six transmissions shipped 2/8/24, frame side members would again starting with motor #214393 to after July 29th, while transmission felt wash- be reinforced with a brace. Detroit offered 16 weights. Then on July 7th, with car ers for front and rear caps were discontinued a dealer-installed frame truss refi t gratis, #166901 a redesigned flywheel cover was from production on September 23rd. “Clutch part numbers 61223 and 61224. George placed in production. Longer oil pump release spider has had 3/16" cut off the Glasier ordered three sets from master dealer plungers were placed in service on Septem- transmission end, changing the overall length Hudson-Oliver Motor Company in Buffalo. ber 22nd starting with engine 221428. from 2-1/16" to 1-7/8". Two small V grooves On the same day the motor was goosed Essex driver “Doc” Daugherty, later should be machined as near the transmission up the 1924 Essex was reintroduced as an president of the Hudson-Essex-Terraplane end of the spider as possible,” Gooch noted. improved model with “Genuine Balloon Club, wrote that the greatest improvement Tappet guides were increased in length Tires now Standard Equipment on All in the “new” motor was deeper troughs in late in September to provide more bearing Hudson and Essex Cars.” Known today as the upper oil pan. surface, two days later the valve tappet screws the Second Series 1924 Essex, the balloon Complaints on the new car kept rolling were redesigned for greater hardness. By the tires contributed to a much smoother ride in. Glasier fi led claims “to renew steel and end of the 1924 production run, it can be using 31" x 5.25" tires with 4" rims on 21" bronze washers in clutch, take out play”— claimed that Essex Six was the car it should wheels, front tires inflated to 20 lbs, rears to each claim was six hours at 70 cents per hour. have been a year earlier! 26 lbs, which replaced the skinny old 31" x Top leaks amounted to fi ve claims: three for In spite of this seeming comedy of errors 3¾" cord style that inflated to a much higher the new Essex coach (two-door sedan) and with the new and too late improved Essex pressure. Optional disc wheels weighed 127 two on the Hudson. Glasier paid someone Six, Roscoe B. Jackson, president of the lbs for a set of four, 32 lbs greater than the named “Jimmerman” $5.50 for the work Hudson-Essex automobile concern, declared standard wood wheels. but billed Detroit $8 for labor. He dumped year-end net income (as of November 30, The price was raised $25 on the car to seven claims on the factory to replace “gear 1924) of $8.1 million. an even $1,000, and motor numbers then and pinion” with a note under an Inspection —John O’Halloran started at number 200,001, per Gooch. In Report “to change gear ratio.” Was this a the new sales brochure, the engine changes silent recall? Gooch says a standard ratio of The author extends thanks to the following were not mentioned. Two days later, on May 5.6 to one is used, while “The special ratio sources: the late DeLisle “Doc” Daugherty 26, 1924, the service department notifi ed of 6-2/9 to one may be obtained.” This was for his wonderful story “Somewhat Sick to dealers “For the purpose of overcoming oil fi ne for climbing trees but hardly suitable Super Six” in 1979-1980 issues of the White escapage [sic] at crankshaft opening in gear for road use. Master dealer Hudson-Oliver Triangle News (publication of the Hudson- case front cover, a new crankcase front cover credited Glasiers account $15.50 apiece for Essex-Terraplane [HET] Club), Kit Foster plate No. 60029 has been designed.” seven ring and pinion sets #60737-8, shown and D.J. Kava for borrowing their thoughts, Still, the engineers continued to tweak in the Essex Parts List Six Cylinder (Decem- Jack Miller for providing a photocopy of the the system. J.T. Gooch stated that motors ber 1, 1923, and again in March 1924) as intensive J.T. Gooch notebook, to the HET over number 202899 now had vent openings the 5-6/10 set. Further compensation was Club Library, the estate of Ken Fogarty of in both front and rear cylinder side plates provided to change the speedometer drive New Vineyard, Maine, for the treasure trove starting with car 145079. He further noted gear and pinion, as well. of Essex owner and parts manuals, Leonard “The new Essex Six crankcase front cover In an undated line update, Gooch said Briggs of Monrovia, California, for his notes #60573, having an oil trough instead of an the windshield on both Hudson and Essex on his 1922 Essex cabriolet, and Dave Bean oil hole in the plate near the felt washer, coaches woud be changed, “adding a strip of for being a great Essex owner. The work done was fi rst used on motor 204639, car No. rubber across the top of the windshield back by Alex Burr digitizing the Hudson Club 147019. Cars equipped with motors hav- of the hinge, the strip similar to the strip archives has been of immeasurable value.

SAH Journal No. 300 • September / October 2019 11 go some much-cherished rites of passage, like strategy to have a Cadillac model share the getting that fi rst driver’s license and purchas- modest underpinnings with the entry-level ing that fi rst car. American car culture has Chevy Cavalier was characterized as “utter BBookook in fact already begun its retreat, seen with stupidity” by Albert (p. 225). I was a little the growing percentage of new driving-age surprised—and pretty disappointed—that Americans delaying getting a driver’s license the Saab-loving Albert didn’t excoriate GM and car, or even forgoing them entirely. for the heartbreaking way it wound down RReviewseviews Then there’s been the relentless fl ow over the idiosyncratic Swedish car maker. It was many decades of technology that we’ve often my only disappointment with the book. chosen to accept, that has removed human The copy of the book I used to write input from driving. But Albert is no Luddite, this review came from a library, but I will be Are We There Yet?: The American Automobile and he is critical of those who have railed ordering my own copy soon enough. I have Past, Present, and Driverless against all emissions and safety regulations every confi dence that Are We There Yet? will by Dan Albert on principle, not to mention those changes receive high praise from readers and review- W. W. Norton & Company (2019) in cars that have made driving easier. This ers alike. This book is highly recommended, wwnorton.com/books/9780393292749 long trend of “progress” has yielded better especially for those who have loved cars. 304 pages, 6.5" x 9.6" hardcover cars to be sure, but harder to be passionate —Ric Dias Price: $27.95 about, to love. And the author does love cars. ISBN-10: 0393292746 Are We There Yet? has multiple pages where One Man’s Vision: The Life of Automotive ISBN-13: 978-0393292749 Albert eulogizes cars he has owned, particu- Pioneer Ralph R. Teetor larly his 1985 Saab 900. Saabs (especially by Marjorie Teetor Meyer the pre-GM built ones) were easy to love or Guild Press of Indiana (1995) hate (I adored my 1974 orange Saab 99); historypress.net/ 844-882-1651 they demanded driver input and reveled in 242 pages, 6¼" x 9" hardcover their uniqueness. The cars of the future will 87 b/w images, indexed be superior to those of yesterday and today Price: $40 in every measurable way, but Albert is prob- ISBN-10: 1878208667 ably correct when he predicts that “When ISBN-13: 978-1878208668 a driverless car dies, don’t expect anyone to shed a tear” (p. 329). Albert makes a strong and convincing argument and his scope is broad. The reader gets some political history, some history of technology, some biography ( got whole pages devoted to his famous an- tisemitism), some review of related books, and some predictions of future develop- ments. He’s comfortable using auto-centric terms like steering camber and swing axle, which you might expect from an author who has performed brake jobs on his own vehicles. The book never bogs down with here is no shortage of good books writ- jargon though, but instead remains easy Tten on the car in American history, the to read: “The sweetness of the glycol and car in American culture, the past/present/ the nutty aroma of the mineral oil invites future of the American car, et cetera; but drinking the same way a precipice tempts Dan Albert has nonetheless carved out a leaping” (p. 289). Fans of General Motors legitimate niche for his new book. Albert might cringe at points when reading Are We approaches his task with the benefi t of expe- There Yet?, e.g., the phrase “The General” rience in writing history, a solid knowledge doesn’t come off looking good; and Albert base of his subject, a smooth and engaging also writes curtly about the auto giant, e.g., ey the name—Ralph R. Teetor—into writing style, and being a self-described and “GM never demonstrated much in the way Kyour computer’s search engine and self-trained “car guy”(a term he applies to of social responsibility” (p. 73). GM long you’ll get results for this man whose life is women as well). served as an infl uential industry bulwark the subject of One Man’s Vision, The Life of The author’s essential point in the book against change from the outside, such as Automotive Pioneer Ralph R. Teetor, a man is that the American car culture, which has when dealing with onerous government who was not lacking in accomplishments prevailed for about a 100 years, is passing safety and emissions regs. GM CEO Roger throughout his lifetime. Born before the quickly. And with that culture passing will Smith received particular scorn. Smith’s gasoline engine was anything but a fi gment

12 SAH Journal No. 300 • September / October 2019 in tinkerers’ imaginations, Teetor tried his and is well-written, thus a worthy addition en/), which focuses on the prewar era. The own hand at making one, more than once. to the historians’ library. mascots featured in the book are from the Teetor was motivated by a natural —Helen V Hutchings author’s collection. He describes the book’s curiosity coupled with real needs to fi ll. His origins this way: “The original idea of a small family-operated business wanted to motor- Kühlerfiguren Klassischer Automobile booklet to complement an exhibition of my ize the railway inspection cart such that its 1909 – 1939 automotive mascot collection has almost im- operator could inspect greater amounts of by Matthias Dressler perceptibly evolved into an inviting coffee- rail line in any given working day yet also Self published (2019) table book.” At fi rst glance the large format be able to single handedly lift the cart off Orders c/o: matt@kuehlerfi guren.de and hefty quality of the printer’s art—its use the track to clear the way for a train. Ralph 403 pages, 11¼" x 11¼" of weighted paper and case binding—indeed created that single-cylinder motor and the 129 b/w, 95 color photos, and 171 ads, makes it an inviting coffee-table book that Teetor family company renamed itself the drawings and illustrations; index would delight an enthusiast of fi ne books. Light Inspection Car Company. Price: $150 (USA, includes shipping) Looking at the content, of the com- The next phase included a new product ISBN-10: 3000608656 bined 395 images 149 are mascots (this also invented and engineered by Ralph. It ISBN-13: 978-3000608650 includes photos of the author’s collection too resulted in another renaming of the and images of mascots featured in other company to the Perfect Circle Corporation, images), and another 147 photos feature referring to its new piston rings products. pictures of automobiles to supplement the Perfect Circle would endure from 1926 until narrative. The format consists of entries becoming a subsidiary of Dana Corporation under the name of each mascot’s marque, in 1963. Dana had purchased the company with each entry consisting of usually two or to acquire the latest Ralph Teetor inven- three paragraphs in both languages covering tion—cruise control. the history relating to the marque and the His inventions and accomplishments mascot. There are 91 entries, but there is no are notable all on their own. But they were, table of contents—there is an index—and and are, all the greater when you understand with one exception mascots are presented that Ralph had been rendered completely in date order. Though there are 91 entries, sightless—blinded by a childhood accident marque entries are repeated when other at age fi ve—and hence the irony of the subsequent types of that marque’s mascots book’s title. are covered (e.g., there are fi ve Rolls-Royce His biographer is his only child, daugh- entries on pages 20, 32, 52, 262, and 366). ter Marjorie Teetor Meyer. So the text is light he subject of hood ornaments (mascots) In all, 63 marques are covered and in order on technological details, focusing in greater Thas always been popular among auto- to fi nd an entry one would need to consult part on how in her father’s entire life he had motive enthusiasts. At a concours, spectators the index. It is indeed a “journey” to wade not permitted his loss of sight to be a limita- often take at least two pictures of a car, a through the book. tion in any way. three-quarter view and a shot of the mascot. The marque entries, though brief, do Teetor was respected and welcomed There have been books published on the offer detailed information with some new by all, consulting with the like of contem- subject that have been largely photographic insights and assertions. In the fi rst Rolls- poraries Boss Kettering, Fred Duesenberg, with little information. The standard refer- Royce entry there was this new revelation: Harry A. Miller, Henry Ford and more. In ence for mascots has been Motoring Mascots “Sykes’ likely muse for this sculpture was 1911, he’d joined the Society of Automo- of the World by William C. Williams—the Violette Raphoul, aka Vio, a close friend tive Engineers (SAE) itself founded just a fi rst edition (ISBN 978-0879380366) with of Charles Sykes and his wife Jessica Elk- half-dozen years before. That accomplished its 870 b/w pictures of mascots with mostly ington’s. Vio modelled for Sykes on various group elected him its president in 1936 as short auction-like descriptions. It appears occasions and has been described as a very is beautifully documented in various SAE there was more that could be written to ex- beautiful, artistic person with a strange, publications including the hardbound The pand on the history relating to the pantheon ethereal personality. In any case, this story SAE Story, On Hundred Years of Mobility of mascots, which this new book by SAH is only known to a few and it disputes the published in 2005. member Matthias Dressler (or Dreßler) aims offi cial version. According to Rolls-Royce, Typifying his humility and humor was to do for the mascots featured—presented it was Eleanor Thornton, secretary and lover Ralph Teetor’s reply when queried by a fel- in German and English. of Charles Sykes’ patron, Lord Montagu, low engineer, “‘With all you have been able The author of Kühlerfi guren Klassischer who modelled for this fi gure.” This appears to accomplish, what more do you think you Automobile (which translates as Radiator to have originated from an account on page would have done if you had been able to see?’ fi gures of classic automobiles, essentially 394 of the April 1977 issue of Motor Sport Ralph responded, ‘I probably couldn’t have the translation on the title page: “Radiator that claimed that Sykes’ model for the Rolls- done as much, because I can concentrate and Mascots of the Classic Car Era”) describes Royce mascot was one Violette Raphoul you can’t.’” the book as “A Journey through the History [sic]. Researchers helping the late Prof. Ken Though the book was published a bit of Brand-Related Prewar Hood Ornaments” W. Brittan in England (who had a book on over a decade ago, it is still easily available on the book’s website (kuehlerfi guren.de/ Sykes underway, now to be fi nished by a

SAH Journal No. 300 • September / October 2019 13 colleague) found that this lady was not the period 1890 to 1922 was the story of failure model after all but was in the Sykes family and false advertising as a result of the indus- circle and modeled other statuettes for him. try’s inability to solve any of the problems The Rolls-Royce entry on page 32 asserts that plagued its product.” The research is that The Whisper mascot was created in impressively meticulous—the preface states: 1916 after Eleanor Thornton’s death in “Research for this book was done using on- 1915, and that afterwards “the mascot line databases with the Library of Congress’ was reproduced offi cially.” The Whisper ‘Chronicling America’ being the most useful. actually predates the 1911 creation of the Also used were newspaperarchive.com and offi cial Rolls-Royce mascot (The Spirit of various other newspaper databases.” There Ecstasy) by Sykes, though Sykes did make were instances like this (on p. 6): “A com- a Whisper mascot for Lord Montagu after pany had then been formed in Pittsburgh for Eleanor’s death, and Rolls-Royce never had the purpose of running carriages upon the anything to do with The Whisper—it was same system as had been adopted in many Sykes’ creation as commissioned by Lord places by streetcars”—where one wishes the Montagu from the start. “company” was named. With its meticulous The one Duesenberg entry said that notes, perhaps one could fi nd the name via the company asked “an employee, one note 4: “Electric carriages.”·Omaha Daily Mr. , to create a car mas- Bee, July 17, 1887. This researched tour de cot.” It seemed odd to describe chief body force also sadly underscores the reality that designer for Duesenberg with a list of ac- ten overlooked that it was competing with most of automotive history now resides in complishments with various marques that the internal combustion engine more than recorded literature, as all those with fi rst and were recognized with his induction to the a hundred years ago. This book covers that secondhand knowledge are no longer around Automotive Hall of Fame in 1989 as “an em- early period in four parts over 20 chapters. to calibrate all that’s in print. It’s a fi ne book ployee”—perhaps it was in the translation, The subject’s arc is laid down from the start: to gain perspective on the subject. but “Ein Mitarbeiter Duesenbergs, Gordon “The story of the electric car industry in the —R. Verdés Buehrig, bekam daraufhin die Aufgabe, eine Kühlerfi gur zu entwerfen” can be translated as: One of Duesenberg’s employees, Gordon Buehrig, was then given the task of designing “This generation of Ameri- a hood ornament.” cans has a rendezvous with The color photographs of the mascots by destiny,” said President Franklin Lars Amman are a pleasure to peruse, along D. Roosevelt of those who served with the added mix of period photos of cars, during World War II. The 23 ads, and drawings. For a look at these, the described in this book went on presentation on the website (kuehlerfi guren. to make their mark in auto racing, de/en/) includes 28 sample pages from the particularly in the sports car book via the issuu.com page-fl ipping facility. scene of the 1950s and 1960s. Prices are shown for delivery in Germany, Ken Miles and Vasek Polak Europe, Switzerland, UK, and USA. were not Americans during the —R. Verdés war but later became citizens. was not only a The Electric Car in America, 1890 – 1922: great driver but a legendary A Social History builder. John Von Neumann and by Kerry Segrave Vasek Polak were instrumen talin McFarland & Company (2019) establishing Porsche in the U.S. McFarlandpub.com/ 800-253-2187 John Fitch, Ed Hugus, Chuck 263 pages, 7" x 10" softcover Daigh, Bill Stroppe, Max Bal - 213 b/w images, appendix, notes, bibliog- chowsky, Jay Chamberlain, Jim raphy, index Peterson and Paul Newman were Price: $49.95 heroes in the war before succeed - eISBN: 978-1476634968 ing in businesses and motorsports. ISBN-10: 1476676712 ISBN-13: 978-1476676715 202 pages $39.95 softcover (7 ¥ 10) 148 photos, bibliography, index McFarland ISBN 978-1-4766-7670-8 he electric automobile is well on its McFarlandPub.com • 800-253-2187 Ebook ISBN 978-1-4766-3590-3 2019 Tway towards becoming a mainstream powertrain in today’s market—and it is of-

14 SAH Journal No. 300 • September / October 2019 select “Join/Log In/Renew/Search” from the I’ve received great support from mem- TTHEHE SSAHAH ATAT 5500 menu, then select “Existing SAH members bers in my role as editor—immeasurable OONENE PPERSPECTIVEERSPECTIVE click here” and sign in. There, you could support from those on the SAH Publications search members by interest or many other Committee comes quickly to mind. Bill was n my fi rst SAH Journal as editor (#257, criterion. If you haven’t registered for access, another who reached out to me to offer sup- IJul/Aug 2012) I stated my preference to there are instructions there on how to do so. port and has contributed to this journal. refrain from adding my own editorials—so There were many members I knew At the 50th anniversary awards banquet, I hope I can be forgiven this transgression already, and a great many I have met in the Bill arrived with his SAH folder fi lled with years later upon the SAH’s 50th anniversary. course of researching various automotive sub- documents dating back to the formation of There are various attractive aspects to jects. If space would allow, it would be fun to the SAH. He allowed me to borrow the folder membership in the SAH, the most tangible try to list all those names—but I’ll mention to digitize it, so bits will appear from time to and practical (and perhaps the most over- two: Walt Gosden (the editor responsible for time in the future (like his membership card looked) is the ability to fi nd other members the name change from “Newsletter” to “Jour- below). Also below is my last indulgence, that share your same interests, or have nal” in issue #76 as mentioned in “President’s elaborating on the fact that the SAH and I interests in subjects you would like to learn Perspective” on p. 3), and William S. Jackson, share a birthday (note Snoopy in a space suit, about. If you haven’t explored this benefi t, a founding member (#2) pictured below in given the fi rst moon landing that July 20th). go to the SAH website (autohistory.org) and 1969 and in 2019. —R. Verdés Source: Richard and Grace Brigham collection Richard Source: Present at the creation: Left to right, William S. Jackson, Henry Austin Clark, Jr., John M. Peckham, Bruce Baldwin Mohs (builder of the Mohs Safarikar, et al, who attended the meeting but did not join SAH, then or since), Herman L. Smith, G. Marshall Naul, Charles W. Bishop, Guy P. Seeley, Jr., Grace R. Brigham, Richard B. Brigham, and Glenn R. Baechler, demonstrate the formal organization of SAH, October 11, 1969, at Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Left: Rubén Verdés (Oct. 11, 1969) Right: William Jackson (Oct. 11, 2019) at the SAH Awards banquet. Above: what the fi rst SAH member cards looked like.

Present at the SAH 50th Anniversary Awards Banquet: Left to right, Steve Purdy, Louis F. Fourie, Robert G. Barr, Casey Maxon, H. Donald Capps, John Mohr, Andrew Beckman, John A. Marino, Kevin Kirbitz, Chris Lezotte, Carla R. Lesh, Ed Garten, Bob Elton, Rubén Verdés, and Dean Nelson, all current and immediate past SAH board members, October 11, 2019, at Hershey, Pennsylvania.

SAH Journal No. 300 • September / October 2019 15 16 SAH Journal No. 300 • September / October 2019