Exclusive: Photos from the Wallis C. Bird and Marjorie Winifred Kendall Bird Family Album
During the 1920s and 1930s, Benjamin Kendall was the mechanic and groundskeeper for the prominent Long Island automobile collector Wallis C. Bird. He was also a relative of Marjorie Winifred Bird, Wallis's wife, . Benjamin's grandson Steve has forwarded several photos from the family album.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
Wallis C. Bird's Automobiles
1924 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost
1929 Voisin
1924 Hispano Suiza - unrestored. The photo was taken in front of the gates to Billings' Farnsworth estate in Locust Valley.
Same automobile as above-restored in 1935
1934 Auburn 12 Cylinder
Wallis Bird's 1938 Beechcraft
Wallis Bird's Yacht "Walwin"
The Bird and Kendall Families
Wallis C. Bird (left) and W. Gillette Bird (right)
Comments
Fantastic pics of their collection
Howard, that first pic is obviously the entrance to an estate. Any idea where this is? I’ll gladly go fetch some NOW pics of it if it’s still around.
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Howard Kroplick
Dave, it was the entrance to Farnesworth, the Wallis Bird estate.
The Auburn 12 is more likely a 1933 or a left over one. Auburn came out with a completely new body in 1934.
ADVERTISED IN THE NYT I BEGGED MY FATHER TO GO TO THE AUCTION ,1962 I THINK .THE DUSIE ROADSTER BROUGHT 10K
The gates are the only thing left of the entire estate. It’s a residential neighborhood now. The gates are on the corner of Chicken Valley Road & Oyster Bay Road in Oyster Bay.
Where is Farnsworth?, another Long Island gold coast estate?, sounds familiar?
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Howard Kroplick
Answer is above. The gates are still standing.
Fabulous.
For starters, that magnificent Victoria in the 6th pic down is NOT a restored version of any car shown above it. I was at the Bird Auction (see 30 Jun Mystery Foto #74 and 01 and 14 Jul 2104 blogs); absolutely incredible event. Most of us there were simply over-awed by the panoply of cars. Long story about how I got home to Mineola via the old Frank Buck Zoo site <http://sbiii.com/fbuckzoo.html> in Massapequa (partially posted but needs expansion - will advise). Walt Gosden - might you have pix of the 1931 Chrysler Imperial 8 CG sedan in the Farnsworh parking lot (that’s how I ended up at the Zoo site)? That 1925 Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix #4487 was listed by Goodings two years ago at $2,600,000-$3,200,000 and sold for $3.300,000! Sam, III
Hi. I would need some help.
I think believe that the Alfa Romeo mentioned is this image is the 6C 1750 GS Brichet Cabriolet.
I’m doing a research about this car. Do you have this picture in a higher resolution? Or other more pictures or documents about it?
Thank you so much,
Lucas
Yes, it is the Brichet bodied Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS. Fantastic pictures!