(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . America's Car Museum: Cars from the 1910s (photo diary) [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2023-12-03 During the decade of the 1910s, the automobile began to enter into American life and begin its evolution from a frivolous plaything to one of life’s necessities. Cars became mass produced and mass marketing produced a trend of consumer buying. During this decade consumers could choose between many different competing brands and different price ranges. In his book Panati’s Parade of Fads, Follies, and Manias, Charles Panati writes: “Merely owning any kind of automobile was no longer the status symbol to strive for; cachet came from being able to afford (or from getting into debt for) a prestige model.” In 1910, carbon black was added to rubber tires, making them much stronger and extending their life. It also turned natural rubber black. In 1908, Ford had placed the steering on the left side to accommodate passenger entry from the curb. In 1913, the Society of Automotive Engineers suggested that left-side steering be standardized. By 1914, many car makers had switched from carbide gas lights to electric. In 1915, for the first time there were more motorized vehicles being manufactured than horse-drawn vehicles. Harold LeMay, a Tacoma businessman, loved cars and managed to collect more than 3,000 automobiles, trucks, and motorcycles over forty years of collecting. A number of the vehicles from his collection form the nucleus of the LeMay—America’s Car Museum. This collection of more than 300 cars, motorcycles, and trucks is displayed in a four-level building in Tacoma, Washington. Shown below are some of the cars of the 1910s displayed in the LeMay—America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington 1912 International Harvester High Wheeler MW The International Harvester Company (IHC) produced a multi-purpose wagon (MW) which were used for both personal transportation and as a multi-use truck. This vehicle has a 2-cylinder, 20 horsepower engine. Notice the “Sunday-go-to-meeting” removable seat. 1913 IHC MW This vehicle has a 2-cylinder, 20 horsepower engine. 1915 Ford Model T Depot Hack The Depot Hack was not actually a part of the Ford Model T line. Ford offer the chassis, with an engine, for $410. There were a number of other companies that manufactured the Depot Hack bodies. The body of the Depot Hack shown below was made by Columbia Carriage & Auto Works of Portland, Oregon. This vehicle has a 4-cylinder, 177 cubic inch, 20 horsepower engine with a planetary 2-speed transmission. 1916 National Highway 5 Touring Car The National Motor Car Company in Indianapolis, Indiana manufactured cars from 1900 until 1924. National produced a wide range of passenger cars as well as racing cars. This car has a 6-cylinder, 335 cubic inch, 29.4 horsepower engine with a 3-speed manual transmission. 1919 Stanley Steamer The Stanley Steam could go 75 mph—which was really fast at this time—but its range was limited to about 50 miles because of the need to refill with water. The car has a 2-cylinder, 20 horsepower engine with a direct-drive transmission. More cars America's Car Museum: Some cars of the 1920s (photo diary) America's Car Museum: Some cars of the 1930s (photo diary) America's Car Museum: Some cars of the 1940s (photo diary) LeMay Family Collection: Some 1910-1914 cars (photo diary) LeMay Family Collection: Some 1915-1919 cars (photo diary) Packard Museum: Early Packards (photo diary) WAAAM: Automobiles of the 1910s (Photo Diary) Museums 101: Early Fords in the Classic Auto Museum (Photo Diary) [END] --- [1] Url: https://dailykos.com/stories/2023/12/3/2209164/-America-s-Car-Museum-Cars-from-the-1910s-photo-diary?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/