The Rapley Collar & Harness Mysteries (update: Humberette & (Liberia) Star or )Argyll? )

The car on the right is a Star (but not a Wolverhampton Star) while the second vehicle is clearly a 5 h.p. Humberette. The occasion looks to have been a visit to Ashburton by representatives of Christchurch based Adams' Star Cycle Company. Adams leading agent in Ashburton was G.H. Carston.

The registered Star brand name was initially attached to bicycles manufactured by Adams. They imported their first motorcar from France in early 1901. It was badged as a Star although it was in fact a Liberia. The car in the photograph is Adams' second Star. It was De Dion engined and is said to have been Christchurch built using French components.

In 1904 Adams held agencies for Humberette, Swift and Minervette cars. They were also successfully promoting their own Lacoste and Battmann based Etoile brand (Etoile being a twist on the Star name).

The car on the right is a 'Star'(but not a Wolverhampton Star) while the second vehicle is clearly a 5 h.p. Humberette. The occasion looks to have been a visit to Ashburton by representatives of Adams' Star Cycle Coy. Adams leading agent in Ashburton was G.H. Carston.

The registered Star brand name was initially attached to bicycles manufactured by Adams. They imported their first motorcar from France in early 1901. It was rebadged as a Star although it was in fact a Liberia. The car in the photograph is Adams' second Star. It was De Dion engined and is said to have been Christchurch built using mainly French components.

By 1904 Adams held agencies for Humberette, Swift and Minervette. They were also successfully promoting their own Lacoste and Battmann based Etoile brand (Etoile being a twist on the Star name).

Sorry for the late comment, but PWC was unavailable to me for a few days. I agree with the Humberette on the left, a 1903 model I guess. The other car is certainly not an Argyll. Check the lever arrangement! Argyll had at least until 1907 a separate brake lever next to the driver. Besides, it is evident to me, that the car only has a side cooler (stopping before the edge of the photo), whereas the top of the bonnet curves down at the edge of the photo. There are only few cars which have the side cooling arrangement running parallel to the top of the bonnet and the most likely in this case is Renault. Also other things match with Renault, like the rear dumb irons and the gear- and brake lever arrangement. The extra rod along the steering column can be seen on Renault too, although I only see one manual control below the steering wheel, where I would have preferred to see two. Altogether presumably a 1903 Renault and obviously a 1 cylinder model.

Following up on the coment about Carsons - I did have a look through the New Zealand National Archive's Papers Past website. Carsons were seemingly the first car dealers in Ashburton, but I couldn't find anything conclusive - although in early 1904 they placed regular advertisements in the Ashburton Gazette for a French car - make not stated - "voiturette pattern, to seat two", price £175, which could conceivably be the one on the right. They seem to have eventually sold it and perhaps the profit went towards this: "We note that a fine window display is to be seen on the Arcade side of Tancred street at the G. H. Carson Cycle and Motor Works. Mr Carson has had three plate glass shelves fitted, which extend the whole length of the four panes. One part is taken up with motorists' requisites, such as funnels, wrenches, tool pads, outfits, lamps, horns, sparkplugs, goggles,caps, gloves,etc. The other parts contain the latest in cyclists' requirements. Most of the lines have cards with the prices marked in plain figures. We congratulate this pioneer firm on their well merited success." (Ashburton Gazette, May 28th 1904)

No mention of the 'G H Carson Cycle and Motor Works' who were quite likely to have been involved in Motor Cars at this time ?

Tony.

Argyll looks like a good call to me. The wooden wheels though probably make it a slightly later model, the 1902/3 8hp would be my guess.

Rapley and Tait were formed at the very end of 1903 when they bought out the saddler James Patterson.
The partnership was dissolved in May 1905 and traded under Thomas Rapley's sole name before Tait then bought it back in February 1906.
The signage in the photo then dates it between December 1903 and May 1905. I suspect the earlier date is the closer one

Argyll looks like a good call to me. The wooden wheels though probably make it a slightly later model, the 1902/3 8hp would be my guess.

Rapley and Tait were formed at the very end of 1903 when they bought out the saddler James Patterson.
The partnership was dissolved in May 1905 and traded under Thomas Rapley's sole name before Tait then bought it back in February 1906.
The signage in the photo then dates it between December 1903 and May 1905. I suspect the earlier date is the closer one

You are right! The car on the right looks more like an Argyll, exactly like the ex Lucey car. The proof would be if one could see the gill tubed radiator wrapping around the front of the bonnet.
The Lucey car when sold at auction was never registered as it had been taken off the road before registration was mandatory in 1905.

1900/01 Argyll 5 hp Voiturette ??

Definitely not a Renault.
Argyll perhaps ?

The car on the right looks to have a tube frame and side radiators so not a Darracq I think. It also has a very short wheelbase.

I think the car on the left is a Humberette - https://www.autoworldmuseum.com/1903-humberette.html - maybe not earlier than 1903??

Humberette on the left and a Renault on the right.