Whaddyacallit #402 - Brooks Stevens' Western Clipper

[Otto Puzzell]

Did the ladies work at a Brewery, or other Milwaukee-area employer?

[Ray B.]

... I've recently stumbled on some informations that may confirm the Milwaukee clue and lead us towards the answer. It's easily avalaible...

This is the clue I've been lecturing about in all my last posts, and it has nothing to do with where the ladies were employed. Bu with another vehicle that seems to have lots in common with this one.

[Paul Jaray]

I found this pic in a magazine, there aren't much details: according to the fashions the ladies are wearing, it should be a late thirties motorhome\minibus. The area is reported to be Milwaukee and there are some hints of a A.O. Smith \ Brooks Stevens connection.

[Ray B.]

From these details I guess it's the same magazine where I found it.
Since no one is finding the clue I'm talking about... let me speak a little louder: I believe that it is connected with this other vehicle.

[Paul Jaray]

Hunt?

[Ray B.]

Nope. Find where the above image comes from and you'll have the probable answer.

[Allemano]

D'oh! Recently I've seen this very pic that Ray has posted, but don't know where anymore.. 

[Allemano]

Okay. found it again.. According to that mysterious source Ray's last pic is an early attempt for a motorhome of Brook Stevens.

[Ray B.]

My source is not "mysterious", I've kept saying so, and again in my last post. Is it only me who is seing the similarities between this long motorhome and the smaller vehicle of my puzzle? The bumpers, espescially the rear bumper, the shap and arrangement of windows and windshield. I could say the headlights setup but it's not easy to see in the profile photo of the bigger one. There are some elements not unlike Hunt' cars, yes. But his Turtle carries a decorative molding placed lower. When both these vehicles carry one just below and over the side glass.

The big one is attributed to Stevens by SIA. Stevens is noted by SIA as the possible author of the small one.

While Otto and Paul Jaray made earlier correct but unsure guesses, I think its right to give that point to Allemano who found the only (in my opinion) conclusive evidence sofar.
As it was a two points puzzle the second point is still at stake for whomever achieves to lift the veil.

[Allemano]

I thought about that resemblance at that time the puzzle was locked for Otto and Pal, but forgot about it till it was unlocked again.
I'm not complaining, but is there any evidence that the small vehicle has been made by Brooks as well? Or is it rather uncertain?

[Ray B.]

No other evidence than what I wrote and was worth a point to you.
Certainty will be worth another when it comes.

[Ray B.]

Here is another welk-known vehicle by Brooks Stevens, the Western Printing Sales van. You can see several details it is sharing with the puzzle car: the bumpers again, the panoramic windshield separated in four elements of flat glass, the molding around the side windows, the little round lights above the windshield and what seems to be a radio antenna all along the roof.
I've pasted the 3 pictures together so that you can compare them.

[barrett]

What do we think about this one? Looks very similar to me. Based on a 1939-ish Dodge, but the coachbuilder is not 100% - looks like the same firm though.

[Ray B.]

What do we think about this one? Looks very similar to me. Based on a 1939-ish Dodge, but the coachbuilder is not 100% - looks like the same firm though.

Sure, several styling clues like the third of mines. There seems to be a missing word after "100%" in your reply. What did you mean?

[barrett]

I mean that the builder of that van is thought to be a certain company, but it's not known 100% who actually built it or when. To me it looks like the work of the same stylist as your puzzle but, as I can't provide any proof for either vehicle, it's a moot point.
I thought maybe that image might be helpful for another puzzler....

by the way, the company presumed responsible is DeKalb...

[Ray B.]

Which gives us another link with Brooks Stevens (not saying that any of these is the van mentioned below, though.)

..Dodge entered this segment in 1938 with urban delivery vans blending a standard Dodge truck chassis with a specialized tall body constructed by an external supplier. Examples include the Montpelier Urban Delivery Vans of 1938-39 and postwar vans with bodies designed by noted Milwaukee industrial designer Brooks Stevens and built by the De Kalb Wagon Works of De Kalb, Illinois...

[João]

I found this yesterday : "This photo is a house car that was designed by Brooks Stevens."
I don't believe it's the same car,but it looks like...

[Allemano]

The bent A-pillar is different, though.

[Ray B.]

Yes, but it is much like the one of the Dodge van found by barrett. The side decor also. The picture is too small to see if it's got the four-pieces windshierld of some of the others.
All in all, it seems to me a rather safe assumption to suppose that those five vehicles have probably been designed by Stevens.

[Paul Jaray]

not the same but...

[Ray B.]

I think that what you found may be the same car that Joao posted is his reply #41.

[Oguerrerob]

I've found this, very similar and by Brooks Stevens

[Ray B.]

Yes, I had found it too, and didn't post it , waiting for one of you to stumble upon it. I am sure that the bottom picture in you document is the vehicle which can be seen in Joao's reply #41, and Paul Jaray's reply #44.

So now we're sure that this one is by Brooks Stevens. And most probably he also did the puzzle car, but we have no positive proof of that.

[grobmotorix]

Is it called "The Clipper", as can be seen here (a 1952 photo)?

[Allemano]

Amazing pic!