Solved -PJ459- Evans Auto Railer 1936

Paul Jaray · October 11, 2012, 04:49:04 PM

What is this?
1 point for you!

pguillem · October 11, 2012, 05:01:48 PM

Is it Finnish ?

Paul Jaray · October 11, 2012, 05:08:11 PM

Nope...

Bill Murray · October 11, 2012, 05:20:47 PM

Well, Paul, this won't get me a point, but the accepted description of such a vehicle is a "Draisine"

Paul Jaray · October 11, 2012, 05:24:07 PM

Quote from: Bill Murray on October 11, 2012, 05:20:47 PM
Well, Paul, this won't get me a point, but the accepted description of such a vehicle is a "Draisine"

Are you sure it won't get you a point?
You are on the right ~~path~~...track!

Bill Murray · October 11, 2012, 05:48:44 PM

Hi again, Paul:

I have no idea what the specific vehicle is as yet but, it can also be described as an "Auto Railer".

Are you asking for the marque/year/builder or just "what is it".

I know your automotive history research now for years and you are an acknowledged expert and I am but
an "enthusiastic amateur" so from time to time I may need some guidance.

Paul Jaray · October 11, 2012, 06:09:10 PM

'Auto Railer' is correct (it's written on the side of the vehicle in the unmodified picture).
I'd like to know who built it.
As usual you can provide as many details you can find but in the meantime I lock it for you.
I have a generic year for this but the same company built several of these vehicles in very few years.
(BTW, I'm an enthusiastic amateur just like you! ;) ).

Bill Murray · October 12, 2012, 07:22:29 AM

Hi Paul:

Evans Auto Railer 1936.

Paul Jaray · October 13, 2012, 04:03:48 PM

Yes it is!
It was not that easy...one well deserved point for you!
Out of curiosity I can add that this was designed by Rachel de Wolf Raseman of Detroit.
I found it in a couple of magazines of 1937, but it may be from 1936.
Here you are a couple of different models from a 1935 and 1936 issue plus the unmodified one:

Paul Jaray · October 13, 2012, 04:08:07 PM

...and I found more pics around:

Bill Murray · October 13, 2012, 04:27:23 PM

Thanks Paul:

It was fun, as are all the puzzles I try.

I settled on Evans as they produced a fair number of variants
during WWII for use both here in the US and in Western Europe
to help ease the shortage of locomotives in both hemispheres.
And, as you know, military soft skin vehicles is my own field of
interest.

Here is a "composite" advertisement, not good copy unfortunately
but it shows several variants, of the period.

Paul Jaray · October 13, 2012, 04:46:02 PM

Nice, thank you.
I try to find more about Rachel de Wolf Raseman:
a pic from 1938 for sale on ebay (She was a designer) and this record.

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Solved -PJ459- Evans Auto Railer 1936