A Black Hole candidate, but maybe you will prove me wrong. Who built this car, where and when? A point is waiting for you!
Experts?
American
yes
Pope
it's a one-off built by an individual who later became renowned in the classic car community by putting together another car from components of a very-well known brand.
Professionals?
This man Frederick Duesenberg?
no
Quote from: pnegyesi on April 23, 2018, 09:07:49 AM
it's a one-off built by an individual who later became renowned in the classic car community by putting together another car from components of a very-well known brand.
Was this other car built before WWII ?
AFAIK yes
Were the components of this other car from an American brand that is still active ?
The other car was built in 1950 from components of a car, whose manufacturer was long gone by the outbreak of the 2nd WW.
Mercer components ?
The other car being the Brundage-Duesenberg?
neither Mercer nor Duesenberg
Quote from: pnegyesi on May 16, 2018, 10:09:10 AM
whose manufacturer was long gone by the outbreak of the 2nd WW.
Was that manufacturer still active in 1929 ?
no
Alco ?
no
Was that manufacturer still active in 1920 ?
yes, until 1924
Crane-Simplex?
no
Quote from: pnegyesi on April 23, 2018, 09:07:49 AM
it's a one-off built by an individual who later became renowned in the classic car community by putting together another car from components of a very-well known brand.
Was the other car a Napier?
no
Baker ?
no
Hay-Berg?
no
Quote from: pnegyesi on April 23, 2018, 09:07:49 AMit's a one-off built by an individual who later became renowned in the classic car community by putting together another car from components of a very-well known brand.
Quote from: oko94 on May 16, 2018, 08:57:50 AMWere the components of this other car from an American brand that is still active ?
Quote from: pnegyesi on May 16, 2018, 10:09:10 AMThe other car was built in 1950 from components of a car, whose manufacturer was long gone by the outbreak of the 2nd WW.
Quote from: oko94 on May 17, 2018, 05:50:12 AMWas that manufacturer still active in 1920 ?
Quote from: pnegyesi on May 17, 2018, 06:30:56 AMyes, until 1924
My initial thought was that it should be simple to identify the manufacturer whose components formed the basis of the later car by this builder. After all, there are not many "very-well known" American automobile manufacturers that ceased production in 1924. However, after re-reading the exchange above, I notice that oko94 asked if the other car was based on an
American brand that is still active, yet your response only addressed the "still active" portion of this question. So my question is this:
Was the "very-well known" manufacturer American as well?
yes
Is the subject car steam-powered?
indeed. And this earns a 24-hour lock for you
Abner Doble?
nothing to do with Doble. Two more tries
Thanks, but don't lock the thread for me. I don't think I'm that close to finding the answer.
okay, unlocked
Harry Peterson's Stanley?
The 2nd car was a Stanley Steamer, but not by Harry Peterson
George Woodbury ?
Clinton H. Atkinson?
neither, nor
Earle Eckel ?
no
Is the puzzle car based on (or use parts) of other cars?
This is the only info I have
Calvin Williams?
no
Collins
no
Black Hole
Carl Amsley?
thanks for reviving this old puzzle, but not him
Quote from: pnegyesi on April 23, 2018, 09:07:49 AM
...became renowned in the classic car community by putting together another car from components of a very-well known brand.
Quote from: pnegyesi on May 16, 2018, 10:09:10 AM
The other car was built in 1950 from components of a car, whose manufacturer was long gone by the outbreak of the 2nd WW.
Quote from: pnegyesi on February 24, 2019, 06:55:55 AM
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?
Quote from: gte4289 on October 18, 2019, 02:33:21 AM
Quote from: pnegyesi on April 23, 2018, 09:07:49 AM
...became renowned in the classic car community by putting together another car from components of a very-well known brand.
Quote from: pnegyesi on May 16, 2018, 10:09:10 AM
The other car was built in 1950 from components of a car, whose manufacturer was long gone by the outbreak of the 2nd WW.
Quote from: pnegyesi on February 24, 2019, 06:55:55 AM
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.
Hyde Ballard?
Quote from: pnegyesi on October 18, 2019, 09:55:06 PM
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.
Quote from: gte4289 on October 18, 2019, 11:49:40 PM
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.
not Ballard
Ray Nelson?
not him. Who knew there were so many people who fits the narrative.
Mershon?
T. Clarence Marshall?
it was still locked, but not any of the two mentioned so unlocked
Loren Burch?
no
Paul Bourdon?
no
Quote from: pnegyesi on October 19, 2019, 11:06:39 PM
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.
Harlowe Zinn? (from NJ, but maybe lived in PA before this?)
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)
G. W. Nichols?
not him
J. Donald Gibson?
I am very very happy to give you two points. Congrats