Solved: PN #1111 -- J Donald Gibson's self-built car, 1906-1907

[pnegyesi]

no

[pnegyesi]

Black Hole

[gte4289]

Carl Amsley?

[pnegyesi]

thanks for reviving this old puzzle, but not him

[gte4289]

...became renowned in the classic car community by putting together another car from components of a very-well known brand.

The other car was built in 1950 from components of a car, whose manufacturer was long gone by the outbreak of the 2nd WW.

The 2nd car was a Stanley Steamer...

My understanding of this is that the second car was a Stanley Steamer reconstruction/recreation (as opposed to the construction of a different vehicle using Stanley Steamer components), correct?

[pnegyesi]

...became renowned in the classic car community by putting together another car from components of a very-well known brand.

The other car was built in 1950 from components of a car, whose manufacturer was long gone by the outbreak of the 2nd WW.

The 2nd car was a Stanley Steamer...

My understanding of this is that the second car was a Stanley Steamer reconstruction/recreation (as opposed to the construction of a different vehicle using Stanley Steamer components), correct?

Maybe this will be a giveaway, so I lock it for you.
This was a Stanley Steamer, found by the man in question, who built a new body so he could use the car.

[gte4289]

Hyde Ballard?

[gte4289]

Maybe this will be a giveaway, so I lock it for you.
This was a Stanley Steamer, found by the man in question, who built a new body so he could use the car.

Hyde Ballard?

By the way, that scenario--during the given time frame--applies to more than one person. Ballard just happens to be the most fitting candidate with obvious ties to Pennsylvania.

[pnegyesi]

not Ballard

[gte4289]

Ray Nelson?

[pnegyesi]

not him. Who knew there were so many people who fits the narrative.

[grobmotorix]

Mershon?

[gte4289]

T. Clarence Marshall?

[pnegyesi]

it was still locked, but not any of the two mentioned so unlocked

[gte4289]

Loren Burch?

[pnegyesi]

no

[gte4289]

Paul Bourdon?

[pnegyesi]

no

[gte4289]

Who knew there were so many people who fits the narrative.

For whatever reason, the late 1940s and early 1950s were a time of renewed interest in Stanleys and other steam-powered cars. People started puling them out of barns, often with their wooden bodies rotted beyond repair. This is why the "rotted Stanley discovered and rebodied in the 1950s" is a common narrative.

What's uncommon is: 1) the person who found this car is the same person who re-bodied it; 2) the work was completed in 1950; 3) the person became somewhat renowned for the having done this; 4) the person was from Pennsylvania; and 5) the person had built a complete automobile sometime prior to this. The difficulty has been identifying someone who meets all five of these criteria.

[gte4289]

Harlowe Zinn? (from NJ, but maybe lived in PA before this?)

[pnegyesi]

I see. So I checked both the Stanley Register online and the article online which talks about the Stanley extensively. None of these two sources mention Philadelphia as the place. In fact the location of this mysterious man is not mentioned. It is only in the original article where the puzzle picture has also appeared that the word "Philadelphia" is being mentioned. And to give you a bit more clue, that article was published in 1954.
(not Harlowe Zinn)

[Oguerrerob]

G. W. Nichols?

[pnegyesi]

not him

[gte4289]

J. Donald Gibson?

[pnegyesi]

I am very very happy to give you two points. Congrats