I am now preparing my application for a PhD university course. In the process I found a nice article, so I am submitting three puzzles, based on that article.
What is this event? Year and place are also required for a point
:thumbsup: Best wishes on your doctorate studies!
Experts?
Professionals?
There appear to be Gendarmes centre right.
go on :)
Some of the cars are very early, and there are still several horse-drawn carriages, but there are also cars with a more modern look - I'd say around 1908. Paris? Anything to do with the Olympic Games ?
now, let's see. Paris is right. 1908 is not. Nothing to do with Olympic Games
Anything to do with Bleriot arriving home from Dover? That would make it 1909.
nothing to do with it
The arrival of a finisher in the Peking-Paris race ?
no
Arrival of a finisher in the New York to Paris race?
Not a race
Some sort of protest gathering?
no
Is it related to the Paris Salon D'Automobile.
No
French suffragettes?
No
The two 'more modern' cars seem to be making their way to the center of the crowd, where there is some space for them (for them?) seemingly. The presence of gendarmes makes me curious, though.
Some kind of car requisition maybe?
you spotted one important element on the picture. And it is not the gendarmerie. It is not a car requisition
Is it a set for an early movie?
Is it a political meeting with the cars being used as platforms for a speech ?
I've just realised the date could be 1906. Anything to do with the "Dreyfus Affair" ?
not early movie, not a political meeting, nothing to do with the Dreyfus affair
Are the cars the object of the gathering in any way or are they just bringing there people for the (unknown) event?
yes, this meeting was focusing on the cars
Are those cars taxis?
I don't think so
Is it the presentation of a new model or marque, the two cars that are driving into the crowd, seem to be the same?
It is not about new cars
(One of the) first Concours d'Elegance?
...or one of the first meeting of 'classic' cars?
It is a point for PJ. "Old Crocks", assembling at the Place de la Concorde, Paris, 1906
The landmark event in defining the characteristics of this cultural development (how the motor-car was beginning to be identified as both collectable and museum object) was the parade of 'vieux tacots' in Paris in November, 1906. Assembling at the Place de la Concorde, the pre-1901 vehicles set out on a route via the Champs Elysées to Bagatelle, Suresnes and Sévres, before returning to Paris. Capturing the imagination of the motoring enthusiast, the occasion introduced the concept of history as performance and the historic vehicle as 'old crock' and veteran.
From: David Jeremiah: The formation and legacy of Britain's first motor museum. Published in 1998