Do you like my automobile?

"Berang" (berang) 07/16/2020 at 22:07 • Filed to: None

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Found this wonderful Real Photo Post Card. The car is a 1904 Rambler, used as a studio prop. Cars were very common studio props around 1910-1920, with very early brass era cars commonly filling the role (they were no doubt very cheap at the time since the advancement of automotive tech was rapid, and with literally hundreds of car companies going out of business, once it broke, you were up a creek if you needed literally any part at all).

The poses really sold me on this. I wouldn’t normally buy an old post card just for a picture of an old car, but I find this image kind of hilarious.

Anyway, browsing ebay, I spotted this photo - same car and backdrop, and dated 1909.

Not as amusing though. Most of these prop car photos are just people who wanted to be seen “driving” a car, because in 1909 that was still about the coolest thing a person could do. I do have to wonder if maybe that 1904 Rambler still survives today. I expect it probably perished in a scrap drive during one of the world wars.

Anyway here’s a good video of a 1904 Rambler in action:

Gotta love the noise of that huge two cylinder, and the planetary gears and bands working.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Berang 07/16/2020 at 22:34

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So this is the 1909 equivalent of renting a Ferrari just to take some sweet pics for the Gram.. insta, not tele. 

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Berang 07/16/2020 at 22:35

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For many immigrants, they would take photos of them in these studios to send back home to project their success. Something like this would have caused quite a buzz if their homeland was a little behind the curve. The early automobile did skip quite a few places. Somehow I imagine this old Rambler kept its appeal even after more and more Americans found it less impressive, especially if the studio was located in a port city and immigration hub like New York City.

Interesting read. Thanks for sharing.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 07/16/2020 at 22:42

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HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 07/16/2020 at 22:54

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Exactly. 

fintail > Berang 07/16/2020 at 23:08

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Automobeeeeel?

The noise made by these old cars has always attracted me. I remember seeing a single cylinder Cadillac at a local show (a car from around 1905 I think), and the way it chugged and seemed to idle at around 100 rpm was very charming to me.

Berang > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 07/16/2020 at 23:15

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You know maybe having a Ferrari on hand at a  portrait studio would be a good way to drum up extra business.

Berang > fintail 07/16/2020 at 23:27

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Speaking of Cadillacs, here’s a photo I came across recently (the car is a 1905 Cadillac single cylinder, and the photo is very obviously staged)

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Berang 07/17/2020 at 00:24

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Who's to tell it is a salvage title with no engine?

Taylor Martin > Berang 07/17/2020 at 18:26

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Ah yes, the automobile. How quaint and refined my good man. You are a citizen of high stature if I do say so myself, with tastes so refined.

Older english is fun, I don’t know why we stopped doing that and devolved into

Cool whip bro, you gonna fling it round the block man? Add some sick mods and it’ll be absolutely psychedelic ...

What’s that...

People don’t talk like that anymore either...

Oh...