A 1909 Book mystery

Bill Coates is reading a book by F. Kinsley Hutchinson called Motoring in the Balkans, published 1909. There are very few photos of the car despite it being a motoring adventure. This is the best - but what car is it?
They travelled 1500 miles down the east side of the Adriatic Sea so it must have been powerful & reliable as they only record puncture repairs! Any help appreciated.

Thank you Bill for this photo. It is a lovely Monday mystery to start the week. We have been cracking our brains but cannot come up with the solution. A big edwardian tourer, chain driven, big wheels,... At first we were thinking about Mercedes and Fiat but looking at the details it wasn't that. Well, you are probably better in this. Give us your thoughts and maybe you know more about the story behind the car. Looking forward to the comments. Enjoy your week!

Publié:

dimanche avril 30th, 2017

Inconnu

03 Mai 2017, 17:55

Well, I would say that this is a chain driven american car. Here is the link to the pdf version of the book:
http://www.cidom.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Frances-Kinsley-Hutchinson-Motoring-in-the-Balkans-1910_opt.pdf

Bill Coates

03 Mai 2017, 10:19

Many thanks for all the comments! There is a mention of the car being 28/32 hp and Ariejan could be right about the modernisation because the bottom radiator hose burst. The tourists also commented on the fez being common so far north even though most of the area was under Austrian rule. Thanks for your interest Bill

Inconnu

01 Mai 2017, 20:01

At the times of the book parts of the Balkan were under Austrian rule but before most of the Balkan was under turkish rule for a long time so a fez was very common. Even the Austrian Hungarian army has troops wearing a Fez.

Inconnu

01 Mai 2017, 12:46

Perhaps if the car is not Mercedes or Fiat, then the related 28/32 Austro Daimler of 1907 era.

Given the book is about an American driver, also should consider an early American car, Pierce or Thomas. But needs to be chain drive, with an ugly front axle.

Having said that, maybe it is a Mercedes 28/32 with a reconstructed front axle - but more likely Austro Daimler.

Harry
P.S. I agree it is not a Mercedes front axle on the car and perhaps different crank handle?

Inconnu

01 Mai 2017, 11:49

Obviously a Mercedes, with the characteristic shape of the dumb irons and the 8 wheel bolts. If it's a 28/32 PS (which would fit with the radiator shape), then it's an older car having been modernised to 1909 standards with the low, broad radiator filler tube and the new style mudguards. The body seems to be an old-fashioned swing-seat tonneau still?

Inconnu

01 Mai 2017, 07:52

I checked my database of motor travelling books and found that this book was published in 1910 (maybe the trip was made in 1909?) and that the car was a Mercedes 28/32.

Inconnu

01 Mai 2017, 00:57

Interesting to see the Fez worn so far north.

Inconnu

01 Mai 2017, 00:54

Definitely a Mercedes pre the Star on the radiator. Although front axle is obscured the radiator and front wheel design is correct. Now the Hard Part - It is a smaller capacity Merc:
- Could be the 28 (1904 to 1905) or 32 Hp cars from 1904 to 1909.

My guess is to take on that journey the more powerful 28/32 Hp Merc, perhaps a 1907 car for a trip in 1908?

Harry

Inconnu

30 Avril 2017, 23:37

I'm not sure why you say that it isn't a Mercedes. It would appear to be a circa 1902/3 28/32 Mercedes which would be all the more impressive to be touring in a 6/7 year old car

A 1909 Book mystery

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