Kleiner’s Korner: From the Helck Family Collection- In Search of the 1905 Locomobile Racer
Prior to "Old 16" gaining fame and fortune, the Locomobile Company built a "monster" racer that participated in the 1905 Gordon Bennett and Vanderbilt Cup Races. While much is known about "Old 16", very little attention is given to why the 1905 racer was built and what became of it. An unpublished article found in the Peter Helck Family Collection and additional research and information provided by blog reader Allen Haywood provides further detail.
Art Kleiner
The Request to Build the Racer
At the request of Dr. Harold E. Thomas (brother of E.R. Thomas Motor Company founder, E.R. Thomas), the 1905 Locomobile racer was commissioned to be built. (Automobile Topics Oct. 8, 1904)
Found among the Peter Helck Family Collection, this manuscript titled "The Tale of Old 16" was prepared by automotive historian Robert C. Ackerson. Included are Peter Helck's recollections about the Locomobile racers.
The Locomobile Company was initially hesitant to undertake the effort and quoted a price of $18,000 which they mistakenly thought would be rejected. Support from company vice-president A.L. Riker moved the project forward. ("The Tale of Old 16")
Interesting thought by Al Poole! ("The Tale of Old 16")
Participation in Races
Joe Tracy was chosen to drive the first Locomobile racer; however it sustained transmission problems in a practice run prior to the Gordon Bennett race and could not participate. ("The Tale of Old 16")
Joe Tracy and Al Poole
Brooklyn Daily Eagle Mar. 17, 1905
Finishing second in the 1905 Elimination Race as #5, the Locomobile came in third in the actual Vanderbilt Cup Race. ("The Tale of Old 16")
Scientific American October 7, 1905
Brooklyn Daily Eagle Sept. 12, 1905
#7 in the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race
The Locomobile might also have been entered in the January, 1906 road races at Ormond Beach, Florida. Owned and driven by Dr. Thomas. (Motor Age Dec. 28, 1905)
Locomobile embarked on two new racers for the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race, one being "Old 16". The fate of the original 1905 Locomobile has been lost through the years as it appears it may not have participated in any additional races. ("The Tale of Old 16")
Only one further mention has been found as to what may have become of the 1905 Locomobile racer - so the mystery continues! I'm hoping more information will surface. (Brooklyn Daily Eagle Jan. 19, 1906)
Building of the 1905 Racer
All construction photos are from The Automobile April 22, 1905
Advertising the 1905 Racer
A poster and a set of postcards were used to promote the Locomobile company.
The postcards were featured in the Dec. 28, 2013 post on vanderbiltcupraces.com.
Update: August 13, 2020
The elusive Dr. H.F.Thomas. Courtesy of the Helck Family Collection
Comments
Great finds Art!
On a side note; Maybe we’ll eventually discover 1905 Locomobile parts fitted to a 1955 BelAir driving around Southern Havana as a taxi ...one day…
Whadda monster! Those mfg. pix are just fabulous! Front axle machined from a forged billet - no wonder Riker was unpopular with the powers that be (were)! Thanks (again - as always), Art! Sam, III
Art, I don’t believe Harold’s brother was the founder of the Thomas Auto Co. Harold had a brother by the name of E. R. Thomas but he was in banking. There is no connection with the car company listed in his obit. Also, Harold’s brother lived in N.Y. city while the Thomas Motor Company was in Buffalo, NY.
I do believe the 1905 car still exists, though I have no knowledge of where. Old race cars continue to be found, some hiding in plain sight. A pretty well know race car was found resting in the jungles of Brazil in the last few years.
Great article, by the way. There is a lot of information out there on this car. It is a shame it has been totally overshadowed by old 16. Both cars were exceptional works of engineering and proved themselves on the race track. When I was trying to do my research, people kept responding, “Yes, but old 16…” as if old 16 was the only car that mattered.
Thanks all for the input. And thanks to A. Haywood for clarifying the Thomas brother? situation. Maybe someone can find the original Locomobile - would be a great story I’m sure!
The Thomas Motor Company was founded by Edwin Ross Thomas. Harold Thomas, who commissioned the building of the 1905 car, had a brother by the name of Edward Russel Thomas. Edward was a car racing aficionado and is credited with the first traffic fatality.
Had no idea, but I’d love to have seen and heard it running, even just being static. Nice to know the history before, and wonder like all of you what happened to it.
One more picture of the missing 1905 Locomobile as #5 in the 1905 Elimination Race. Automobile Topics, Sept. 23, 1905
What struck me in the new pic is that you can just make out the slack (belly) in the left chain. Also, note how casual Tracy appears to be whil(e)(st) manhandling that great beast (he’s working hard in the Sci. Am./poster pic.). Sam, III
Not a very big pay out from the Locomobile Company to Joe Tracy for his efforts in 1905! I had to look up the meaning of “Simon Pure” (am I the only one?) which is taken from Susanna Centlivre’s 1717 play “A Bold Stroke for a Wife”. Means “of untainted purity or integrity”. What an education I’m getting!
Update August 13, 2020: A photo of the elusive Dr. Thomas has been added.
“Simon Pure”? Just shows how young you are, Art! O.K., Howard, I’ll bite. Which one is the elusive Dr. Thomas? Sam, III
This article in The Motor Way of May 24, 1906 provides a brief background into the “Three Thomases of Motor Fame”.
Diverging widely and wildly, “effete East” back in 1907? Spiro who? Wikipedia seems to conflate the two E. R. Thomases. Can anyone put names to the “E. R.” of Buffalo/Flyer fame? Sam, III
Edwin Ross Thomas (from wnyheritage.org)
Thank you for continuing to share these jewels from
The Helck Archives. And for all of the others adding to it with their comments.
I recall Jerry Helck stating that the other Loco that raced in the V Cup in ‘08 was pushed off a pier in Bridgeport by the factory. Maybe we should check the water.