Any experts in old pre war cars?

[staffordian]

I have a family photograph taken sometime in the 1920s or 1930s.

I'd love to know what make and model car is pictured.

I have it in the back of my mind that it was a Ford, but my car knowledge is from the 1950s onwards and I've no real idea on this one.

So, any experts out there know the make and model, and for bonus points when they were manufactured?

Thanks in advance.

[Breelander]

Could be the Ford Model A

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Model_A_(1927%E2%80%9331)

From the start of production the Ford Model A – the follow-up to the Model T - featured a laminated glass windscreen...
...Another Model A fact? It was the first Ford to wear the blue oval badge that would become iconic.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/slideshow/wha ... -done-us#5

[Mike4]

What a totally brilliant photo! Totally un-staged too, obviously.

I could spend hours examining the tailoring, the expressions on the faces of all the people in it, speculating on the reasons for taking the photo, the planning involved, the choosing of the location, the gear used to take the photo, and on and on....

[staffordian]

Could be the Ford Model A

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Model_A_(1927%E2%80%9331)

From the start of production the Ford Model A – the follow-up to the Model T - featured a laminated glass windscreen...
...Another Model A fact? It was the first Ford to wear the blue oval badge that would become iconic.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/slideshow/wha ... -done-us#5

Thanks Bree. I was coming round to that, having discounted the later Ford Fourteen, which seems to have been introduced in 1934 and that looked too late given my estimate of the ages of the subjects. Strangely, very few British photos seem to pop up when Googling old Fords but from those I have seen, I think an A is most likely.

[staffordian]

What a totally brilliant photo! Totally un-staged too, obviously.

I could spend hours examining the tailoring, the expressions on the faces of all the people in it, speculating on the reasons for taking the photo, the planning involved, the choosing of the location, the gear used to take the photo, and on and on....

My family

The "gangster" at the front is my late father, and his siblings and parents complete the shot.

They seemed to get about a bit. They lived in the East Midlands and I've several photos of this vintage and earlier taken at the seaside, and at roadside picnics, but this is the only one featuring decent shots of their car.

Edit. They often took my Grandfather's in laws, so it was probably one of them who took this picture.

[Breelander]

In fact to narrow it down even further, it appears to be the 1930–31 Ford Model A Tudor Sedan (55B). The inner curve of the radiator and the shape of the front bumper look identical

https://en.wheelsage.org/ford/model_a/8 ... res/l8x7rm


For more infomation you might like to contact the Model A Ford Club of Great Britain. They even have a 55B as the banner on their website


https://www.mafcgb.org.uk/list-of-as-an ... ng-system/

[staffordian]

In fact to narrow it down even further, it appears to be the 1930–31 Ford Model A Tudor Sedan (55B). The inner curve of the radiator and the shape of the front bumper look identical

https://en.wheelsage.org/ford/model_a/8 ... res/l8x7rm

Thanks again Bree. Detailed differences, such as sidelights, but I imagine some things like that would be country specific to comply with local regulations.

1930-31 seems right. The youngster sitting on the running board was my father's young brother and was born in March 1921. I'd guessed him as ten plus or minus a year or two in this picture, so looks like I'm not far out.

[staffordian]

What a totally brilliant photo! Totally un-staged too, obviously.

I could spend hours examining the tailoring, the expressions on the faces of all the people in it, speculating on the reasons for taking the photo, the planning involved, the choosing of the location, the gear used to take the photo, and on and on....

Just for you Mike, same car, probably the same place, but judging by the clothes, a different occasion. The picnic in all it's glory.

They didn't do things by halves

[tjh290633]

Before reading the thread any further than the initial picture, my thoughts immediately went to the Ford Model A. The radiator is unmistakeable. Our local hire car people all seemed to go for big American cars, like the Lincoln Zephyr, Oldsmobile or Studebaker, and the prewar Ford V8. I think that I first held the wheel of a car in an Oldsmobile, sitting on the driver's lap.

Then there were the big Austins, with occasional seats in the back. I was sent home from school in one of those, with suspected appendicitis. 1946, I think, because my form master escorted me home, after I fell ill at a Speech Day rehearsal. The lack of new cars for 6 or 7 years made us familiar with the prewar cars. The coke was delivered to school in the Gas Company's Ford Model T lorry. There were not many of them around.

TJH

[Mike4]

Just for you Mike, same car, probably the same place, but judging by the clothes, a different occasion. The picnic in all it's glory.

They didn't do things by halves

Another great pic, thanks! Reminds me of my own grandparents when I was a child, they had exactly the same look about them from what is now a bygone age, but I have few good photos...

The thing that strikes me is the blokes are all wearing suits to go out for a picnic. I don't think 'casual' wear for blokes existed at all back in them days.

And the first photo I reckon was planned in detail long in advance. The suit trousers the chaps are wearing for example are perfectly pressed have not even the slightest shadow of 'knees' that happen after sitting down. Most impressive! Everyone is in their Sunday Best.

One thing odd. No Primus stove in the picnic photo....

[staffordian]

Just for you Mike, same car, probably the same place, but judging by the clothes, a different occasion. The picnic in all it's glory.

They didn't do things by halves

Another great pic, thanks! Reminds me of my own grandparents when I was a child, they had exactly the same look about them from what is now a bygone age, but I have few good photos...

The thing that strikes me is the blokes are all wearing suits to go out for a picnic. I don't think 'casual' wear for blokes existed at all back in them days.

And the first photo I reckon was planned in detail long in advance. The suit trousers the chaps are wearing for example are perfectly pressed have not even the slightest shadow of 'knees' that happen after sitting down. Most impressive! Everyone is in their Sunday Best.

One thing odd. No Primus stove in the picnic photo....

[PinkDalek]

Just for you Mike, same car, probably the same place, but judging by the clothes, a different occasion. The picnic in all it's glory.

They didn't do things by halves

Another great pic, thanks! Reminds me of my own grandparents when I was a child, they had exactly the same look about them from what is now a bygone age, but I have few good photos...

The thing that strikes me is the blokes are all wearing suits to go out for a picnic. I don't think 'casual' wear for blokes existed at all back in them days.

And the first photo I reckon was planned in detail long in advance. The suit trousers the chaps are wearing for example are perfectly pressed have not even the slightest shadow of 'knees' that happen after sitting down. Most impressive! Everyone is in their Sunday Best.

One thing odd. No Primus stove in the picnic photo....

In case it was accidental, you don’t appear to have written anything in reply to Mike or maybe another fun photo disappeared.

[staffordian]

Another great pic, thanks! Reminds me of my own grandparents when I was a child, they had exactly the same look about them from what is now a bygone age, but I have few good photos...

The thing that strikes me is the blokes are all wearing suits to go out for a picnic. I don't think 'casual' wear for blokes existed at all back in them days.

And the first photo I reckon was planned in detail long in advance. The suit trousers the chaps are wearing for example are perfectly pressed have not even the slightest shadow of 'knees' that happen after sitting down. Most impressive! Everyone is in their Sunday Best.

One thing odd. No Primus stove in the picnic photo....

In case it was accidental, you don’t appear to have written anything in reply to Mike or maybe another fun photo disappeared.

Thanks PD. Not sure what happened there. No further photo, but there was a reply.

I'll try to remember what I put

[staffordian]

Just for you Mike, same car, probably the same place, but judging by the clothes, a different occasion. The picnic in all it's glory.

They didn't do things by halves

Another great pic, thanks! Reminds me of my own grandparents when I was a child, they had exactly the same look about them from what is now a bygone age, but I have few good photos...

The thing that strikes me is the blokes are all wearing suits to go out for a picnic. I don't think 'casual' wear for blokes existed at all back in them days.

And the first photo I reckon was planned in detail long in advance. The suit trousers the chaps are wearing for example are perfectly pressed have not even the slightest shadow of 'knees' that happen after sitting down. Most impressive! Everyone is in their Sunday Best.

One thing odd. No Primus stove in the picnic photo....

The more I look at the picture, the more I agree it looks staged, though the thought had never previously crossed my mind.

And I agree that the lack of a Primus is strange in the second picture. Whenever we went for a picnic as youngsters Dad's first task was to set up the stove and get the kettle boiling, a ritual he must have picked up from his upbringing, I guess.

And I still love the smell of meths as a result of those experiences

[Clitheroekid]

Just for you Mike, same car, probably the same place, but judging by the clothes, a different occasion. The picnic in all it's glory.

A great picture - and as well as the men all wearing a collar and tie another aspect of the scene that has vanished is the concept of having a picnic on the verge. Presumably there was probably only one car every hour or so, and probably travelling at no more than 20 mph. It must have been wonderful.

Though having said that I recall as a callow youth back in the 60's seeing people having a picnic in the laybys of the East Lancs Road (A580) which was the main road from Liverpool to Manchester, and famous for being (supposedly) the only main road in the country that carried more commercial traffic than private traffic.

To see these determined Scousers / Mancs sitting chewing on their pork pies and hard boiled eggs just a few feet away from Commers and ERF's belching diesel fumes was quite a sight!

[PinkDalek]

And I agree that the lack of a Primus is strange in the second picture. Whenever we went for a picnic as youngsters Dad's first task was to set up the stove and get the kettle boiling, a ritual he must have picked up from his upbringing, I guess. ...

We don't know what they left near the car or hidden from view nor what is in the basket and the open leather case. I'm guessing the glass jar with the spoon was for pickled onions/eggs.

Maybe they used vacuum flasks for the, what I assume is, soup. We certainly did for picnics at Point-to-Points etc. Some years later I hasten to add.

Any chance of further shots as they are great fun? Even if no vehicle in them they had to get there somehow, thus qualifying for this board under or any Transport, including Shanks' pony.

[staffordian]

Any chance of further shots as they are great fun? Even if no vehicle in them they had to get there somehow, thus qualifying for this board under or any Transport, including Shanks' pony.

OK, here's another one - and I've found the stove and kettle


This one was captioned at the time "A stop on the way home from Skegness or Mablethorpe 1931"


Casual wear on Bridlington beach...


And finally, to keep slightly on topic, possibly the same car as prompted my original post with another one I can't identify in front of it...

[Mike4]

These are all just AMAZING photos. Like great music, they look as though they 'just happened', whereas I'd say a huge amount of planning and expertise went into taking them. Your grandfather I would suggest, was a superb photographer at the top of his game to achieve such superb prints with the equipment that must have been available at the time.

Not only did he take the photos but I'd say he developed and printed them too in his own darkroom, with no mistakes. I very much doubt Boots the chemist were processing and printing films commercially back then.

Or were they?

[Breelander]

And finally, to keep slightly on topic, possibly the same car as prompted my original post with another one I can't identify in front of it...

That's almost certainly the same car at the back. In your first photo the numberplate can (just) be made out as VO 591(?)0. The same first two letters VO... are clearly visible in this last photo.

A velologist can also identify the year as being no later than 1931 from the vertical stripe on the tax disks. A vertical stripe was not used again until 1941.

http://www.creativetaxdiscs.co.uk/page27.html

[Clitheroekid]

And finally, to keep slightly on topic, possibly the same car as prompted my original post with another one I can't identify in front of it...

I'd hazard a guess that it might be a Standard.