NTM #69 - What's the story?: Photo claimed to be a "1921 Owen"

[oko94]

I've edited my answer by adding excerpts from the source. Shall I paste the whole text ?

[ftg3plus4]

No, that's OK. A point for you!

Georgano's encyclopedia (at least in the edition I have) has an entry for the Owen, a "fantasy" make (among several from the same guy, E.H. Owen) listed in legitimate car publications for some 35 years. Illustrations of supposed Owen cars were rare. Besides mentioning the suspicious "Kenworthy" (?) photo shown here, the Georgano entry also mentions a line drawing of an early "voiturette" and two supposedly different models illustrated "by the same car" (whether by drawing or photo isn't made clear).

[oko94]

Well, it looks like I need to throw a hint out there to try to get this one going again.

I had forgotten about this puzzle but actually the "Buyers' Guide" hint was enough to find the online source. Luckily the other pros were apparently asleep as well !

[barrett]

One of my favourite stories in the old car world. Mike Worthing-Williams wrote it up in The Automobile many years ago - highly recommended read if you can track down a copy

[luisps]

Actually there was a true car brand "Owen" were produced by the "Owen Motor Car Company", located at 1632 East Grand Bouleuvard in Detroit, Michigan. The "Owen Motor Car Company" was founded in 1910 by Ralph Owen, Angus Smith and Frank Robson with a capital of $ 500,000. They only produced 35 cars in a year that they were unable to sell. Ralph had to contact his brother Robert, who owned the "R.M. Owen & Company " dealer of " Reo " cars . As a result," Reo " bought the " Owen Motor Car Company " in October of that year in exchange for shares for the owners of " Owen ". Later in 1914 Ralph and another brother Frank created the much more well-known brand Owen Magnetic.