solved - als077 - Pavesi & Crespi on unknown chassis

[als15]

Do you know this car? I don't... but you will get a point if you prove your answer.
[picture changed because it was a repost]

[als15]

Up!

[als15]

Up again!

[thorax]

from Usa?

[als15]

I don't think so. But I know only the coachbuilder, and he is not American.

[Paul Jaray]

Italian obscure coachbuilder?

[als15]

Not famous, but - in his period - not very obscure.

[Paul Jaray]

I lost part of my work on some italian magazines. I remember I left some names for your work. I did only the years between 1902-1906 and I think this one was among them. Is the period right?

[als15]

Yes, right period!

[4popoid]

The vehicle appears to be a small electric powered hotel type bus, with body work resembling that of Macchi of Varese as shown in the 1905 Fiat photo below.  Although I can find no proof, I suspect the chassis is that of Ausonia of Milan from about 1905.  Ausonia made electric powered vans and small buses during this period which generally resemble the puzzle vehicle.

[als15]

Not Macchi (but you are not so far). And also the year is correct.
Have you any picture showing the Ausonia cars?

[4popoid]

The only other Carrozzeria that seems appropriate is Orlandi, who also specialized in small vans.  The only two Ausonia pictures that I have found, so far, are shown below.  Both have some similarities to the puzzle vehicle, but both also have significant differences.  I don't have a year for either, but 1905 was about in the middle of the Ausonia period, so these could be from another time.

[als15]

Not even Orlandi (and Macchi was closer).

[4popoid]

Do you mean closer alphabetically or geographically?

[als15]

Geographically is closer to Macchi.
As first letter of the name, Orlandi is actually closer. 

[thorax]

Fratelli Marchand?

[als15]

Marchand is not a coachbuilder, AFAIK.
And is not even closer to Orlandi as a first letter than Macchi  .

[ropat53]

Not exactly the same but looks like the British made 1905 Electromobile at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum.

[4popoid]

Well if Macchi was geographically closer, I would think that the location might be Milan, and if Orlandi was alphabetically closer, then something below O in the alphabet.  If this is correct, there is one obvious choice.  I would have thought the name was too prominent to qualify, but perhaps not.  Is the coachbuilder: Carrozzeria Cesare Sala of Milan?

[als15]

Yes, coachbuilder based in Milan, but not as famous as Sala.

[4popoid]

Is the coachbuilder Pavesi & Crespi?

[als15]

 
However, I don't believe it's an Ausonia: the mechanical details are very different from the pictures I have.
I'd rather say a Fiat 10 Hp: same wheels, but again some detail like the frot leaf springs) look slightly different.
Unless some evidence on period press is found, I'm afraid the chassis will stay unknown.

[4popoid]

Thanks for the point!  I have my doubts as to Ausonia as well, It's just that I currently don't have anything better to offer.  Even without any proof, I'm pretty well convinced that this vehicle is electric powered.  That sure looks like a center mounted under floor electric motor, with chain or belt drive, along with no indication of a radiator or gear shift and/or clutch.  The vertical steering column and distinctive artillery wheels ought to simplify the search, but lack of a known nationality is a big hindrance.  So far I've limited my search to an Italian chassis, but this may not be true, and then there are the Italian made licensees for foreign made vehicles such as the French Kreiger, who usually used wheel motors, but some licensees did not.  I'll dig deeper as I have time available.