Vanderbilt Cup Races

Howard….. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think this blog has more comments than any of your past blogs?

From Mystery Foto #12 Unsolved:Possible Options for this Long Island Motor Parkway Curve- Ca.1928 Update

Very interesting to see how the Tucker story actually played out at the regional level.

From Documenting 1947 New York Region Tucker Sales and Dealerships

wonderful information Howard Thank you

From Documenting 1947 New York Region Tucker Sales and Dealerships

Looks like a 1904 Columbia with Eddie Bald, Larry Duffie and Bert Holcomb in it.
This car broke the time record between Chicago and New York that year.
The location looks like it might be the Westbury grandstand area before the start
of the Vanderbilt Cup race of 1904.

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: The Record-Breaking Run from Chicago to New York in October 1904

That’s the 1903 Columbia that had just broken the record time for driving from Chicago to New York. That’s probably Bert Holcomb (real name=Burton Beckwith Holcomb) and Lawrence Duffie in the front with possibly Eddie Bald or Harry Sandell in the back. Their time of 58 hours & 35 minutes (as referenced on the banner on the car) had broken the previous time of 72 hours & 46 minutes which had been set by Ellis and Schnitt only a month prior. The photo was taken on Jericho Tpke. in Westbury in front of the grandstand that was set up for the first Vanderbilt Cup Race. Since Holcomb and the Columbia only arrived in New York on October 6, 1904, the photo was probably taken either on the 6th., 7th., or 8th., the date of the race.

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: The Record-Breaking Run from Chicago to New York in October 1904

Howard,
I remember the Tucker dealership building at 46 Fulton St. in Hempstead.  It was south of the Hempstead business district.  To my knowledge, they never even had a car to show.  I can still imagine the neon TUCKER sign on the facade of the building.  I’m amazed at the documentation that you’ve been able to secure.  The whole story is fascinating.
Rog

From Documenting 1947 New York Region Tucker Sales and Dealerships

Frank-my apologies. My first thought was the tower was too far East to be seen in the ground level view of the Wheeler/Alley Pond bridge. After looking at Brian’s 8/24/11 blog LIMP Bridge Series #10 ground level Commonwealth Blvd Bridge photo, and looking at angles and perspectives, I’m pretty convinced now that that it indeed the water tower.

From Mystery Foto #12 Unsolved:Possible Options for this Long Island Motor Parkway Curve- Ca.1928 Update

This photo shows another historic feature that has never been called out before, at least to my knowledge.
In it is the hanger where Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis was kept in the days before his historic flight.
But…what remains unclear to me is which building in the photo is actually the one?
Nothing in this general photo specifically identifies it.
But in close-up photos taken of the airplane in those days before May 20th, the hanger building is in the background.  There are distinct wood-frame supports for the hanger doors that rolled horizontally back to allow an aircraft to enter or leave.
The challenge is matching the close up with the building located near the “back” of this photo, closer to Old Country Road than to wherever the photographer was located when the photo was taken.
I am fairly certain that Lindbergh’s hanger was immediately adjacent and to the east of Clinton Avenue, within 100 yards to the south of Old Country Road.  And that the roll-away doors of the hanger faced to the south.  But without the ability to enlarge this photo I cannot confirm this.
Can anyone lend a hand?
The spot merits a historical marker.

From Mystery Foto #53 Solved: Clinton Road, the Motor Parkway in Garden City and Curtiss Field Circa 1926

Frank- Correct me if I’m wrong, but the water tower you are referencing in your aerial photo link is EAST of the Winchester bridge near Creedmoore. The Wheeler/Alley Pond Bridge in question is WEST of Winchester, so I’m not sure that is the tower.

From Mystery Foto #12 Unsolved:Possible Options for this Long Island Motor Parkway Curve- Ca.1928 Update

...can’t help but notice the front of this car, which seems to be enjoying the moment!

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: The Record-Breaking Run from Chicago to New York in October 1904

For those who may have not found it, or are interested, here’s a website that was designed and maintained by Lawrence Duffie’s grandson, Bruce Duffie with information and newspaper articles.

http://www.kcstudio.com/lld3.html

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: The Record-Breaking Run from Chicago to New York in October 1904

Let’s try this one more time since sometimes you get so wrapped up in the details, you miss the big picture!

-Identify this automobile and the record that it broke.
1904 Columbia that broke the Chicago to New York speed record in Oct 1904 with a time of 58 hours, 35 minutes.

-Identify one or more of the men in the Mystery Foto.
Bert Holcomb is in the driver seat and Lawrence Duffie is the front-seat passenger in this photo. Many other photos showing switched positions.

Where and when was this photo taken? Provide a rationale.
In front of the 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race press box on Jericho Turnpike between Hitchcock Lane and Powells Lane. The car and group made an appearance at the race since arriving in New York two days beforehand at 1:45pm on October 6, 1904.

For those who missed it and are interested; A very nice website with the cars’ history designed and maintained by Lawrence Duffie’s grandson.
http://www.kcstudio.com/lld3.html

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: The Record-Breaking Run from Chicago to New York in October 1904

Brian - See two more attached. The tank doesn’t appear in the
‘24 aerial but does appear in the ‘51. Check out the northerly shadow casting over the GCP!

From Mystery Foto #12 Unsolved:Possible Options for this Long Island Motor Parkway Curve- Ca.1928 Update

Brian - Water tower found. It was actually located right alongside the GCP. Compare these two images;

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/images/made/images/blog/Top-713_edited-2A_edited-1-1_620_405.jpg

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/images/blog/10-24-2011_7-41-16_PM_edited-1.jpg

From Mystery Foto #12 Unsolved:Possible Options for this Long Island Motor Parkway Curve- Ca.1928 Update

L. L. Whitman and probably C. S. Carris in a 1904 Columbia which made a record trip from Chicago to New York, broken by Carris in a Franklin on 05 Sep 1906: <http://www.kcstudio.com/col-nyt06.html>, et seq.  Funny -there’s all sots of info. on-line on the Franklin run but next to nothing on the earlier Columbia trip.  Wild guess - Sheepshead Bay track, behind infield (low) stands?  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: The Record-Breaking Run from Chicago to New York in October 1904

I cheated, the banner on the auto indirectly gave it away. Oct 1904, this Columbia auto broke a second record from Chicago-New York of 1177 miles in 58 hours, 35 minutes. The first record was set on Sept 28 – Oct 1, 1903 in a Columbia 24hp gasoline craft, accomplishing it in 76 hours. I believe the driver is Bert Holcomb, with front passenger Lawrence Duffie, Bruce Duffie’s granddad.

This photo was taken around Oct 8, 1904 in front of the 1904 VCR grandstand, the first international road race held in the U.S., once located at today’s Jericho Tpke between Hitchcock Lane and Powells Lane. See attached.

The electric and gasoline Columbia’s were manufactured in Hartford, CT 1897-1913 by:
Pope Manufacturing Co.- 1897-1899
Columbia Automobile Co.- 1899
Columbia & Electric Vehicle Co.- 1900
Electric Vehicle Co.- 1901-1909
Columbia Motor Car Co.- 1909-1913, a division of U.S. Motor Co.- 1910-1913.

All the above was seen on Bruce’s wonderful website.
http://www.bruceduffie.com 

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: The Record-Breaking Run from Chicago to New York in October 1904

Comment #32….The 8/24/11 blog LIMP Bridge Series #10. Commonwealth Blvd Bridge. There’s a 1928 photo of a water tower that’s North and West of Commonwealth ( Winchester Blvd is the next main rd W/O here ). This tower looks much like the 1 in the 1932 Wheeler Farmway Bridge #2 ground photo. Must be the same tower in each photo, Frank. The tower was eventually taken down with further expansion of the GCPkwy.

From Mystery Foto #12 Unsolved:Possible Options for this Long Island Motor Parkway Curve- Ca.1928 Update

Hello Howard-
Big fan. We’ve met before and each time a pleasure I have a question that I hope can send us in the right direction. About 30 years ago my brother in law’s 1969 Mach 1 was stolen in the Hicksville area. Now I realize it’s a long time but I was looking to see if there is a way to trace vin# now that the internet seems to be the answer to all things. Haha. Anyway I was looking for a first step in some direction. Thanks
Good luck with your “new” Tucker and continued success
Raymond
________________________________________________

Howard Kroplick

Raymond, thanks for the comment. I don’t know the answer to your question. Maybe a VanderbiltCupRaces.com viewer can help.

From Model A Ford Club of Long Island Visits Tucker 1044 at Waterfront at Roslyn

Lawrence Duffie is the front seat passenger and Bert Holcomb is the driver in a 1904 Columbia that broke the Chicago to New York speed record with a time of 58 hours 35 minutes. Unsure where the photo was taken, but maybe I’ll have an answer before the reveal.

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: The Record-Breaking Run from Chicago to New York in October 1904

Brian - The farm silo was covered by Howard at some point I remember. My initial search came up empty. I believe it was a water tower in the distance? Not sure. More searching is needed.

From Mystery Foto #12 Unsolved:Possible Options for this Long Island Motor Parkway Curve- Ca.1928 Update