Vanderbilt Cup Races

The photo shows Levittown around 1947. The hanger and club house of the Long Island Aviation Club are in the pic. Of course the Motor parkway was used for the Vanderbilt Cup events.

From Mystery Foto #41 Solved: An Aerial of East Meadow and Levittown Circa 1949

Levittown looking east I would say 1965, as the homes are intact north and south of Hempstead Tpk. Bordered by the Wantagh Parkway at the western side (bottom of picture) to 107 and Wantagh Avenue….But toward the top of the Picture has got to be the Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway, which places my logic toward the mid 1960s. Clearly you can see the LIRR ROW and the Motor Parkway bridge over Newbridge Road leading into Carnation drive in the area of the Old Grandstand and Pressbox. But I can also follow Wantagh Avenue south to North Jerusalem Road to the Southern State Pkwy maybe even beyond to Jerusalem Ave where the farm was. Also Upper left is the Old Grumman Airfield where Wantagh Ave Meets 107 and I also can see middle right of the picture Center Lane going south to Chase lane which lets out on Loring Road. Waaaay too much more to mention, but I bet its definitely the mid 60s because of the SOB expressway. Great Stuff !!

From Mystery Foto #41 Solved: An Aerial of East Meadow and Levittown Circa 1949

Levittown.  Obviously after 1947.

From Mystery Foto #41 Solved: An Aerial of East Meadow and Levittown Circa 1949

Another absolutely stunning car.  I’d never heard of WASP, but love what I see.  I do wonder if any others still exist.

From Mystery Auto Foto #40 Solved: A 1924 Wasp Touring Car Built in Bennington, Vermont

All nice, but the Studebaker is stunning!

From Highlights from the 10th Annual Hemmings Motor News Concours D'Elegance

Seeing the original pic that accompanied the link, my initial reaction was, “Doesn’t EVERYONE keep their tourer in their living room?”  Sam, III

From Mystery Auto Foto #40 Solved: A 1924 Wasp Touring Car Built in Bennington, Vermont

Hey, not a bad guess!  Been away but can’t resist this last tweak.  Ariejan might be wrong - a LIRR locomotive running light (no cars) is still a train if running under orders.  Also, may I point out that there WAS a crossing diamond sign AND a warning bell.  Clearly Fournier’s fault.  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #39 Solved:The First Documented Automobile Railroad Crossing Accident in the USA Update

From Gary Hammond:

Hi Howard,
I remember first seeing this car about 30 years ago up at the Bennington Museum, Bennington, VT.  I was surprised to see it there amongst the museum’s great collections of pottery and Grandma Moses paintings.  Buried somewhere here at home, I have a slide or two that I took of it that day.  It’s a WASP, built in 1925.  It was a gift to the museum by Henry Dodge in 1982.  The star who bought a car was Douglas Fairbanks Sr.

Here’s the information provided on their website:
“It was designed and built by Karl Hamlin Martin (1888-1954) of Bennington, Vermont.  Model is Series B, body style, Rickshaw Victoria, vehicle identification #1.  Dark green body, off-white canvas top, chrome hood, red leather upholstery.
Karl Martin realized an ambition of long standing when he produced the first Wasp touring car. Even while serving in the Naval Aviation Department during World War I, Martin pursued automotive design work and after his discharge from the Navy in 1919, he moved to Bennington where he began construction of the first group of six cars.

The first Wasp, barely completed in time of National Automobile Week in New York, was exhibited at the Commodore Hotel in January, 1920. It was received by the public with enthusiasm for its startling and unusual design and fine craftsmanship. Douglas Fairbanks Sr., upon seeing the car, bought one on the spot.

Spectacular in appearance, the Wasp was constructed of the finest materials and components available. A Wisconsin T head engine, such as powered the Stutz with a Bosch ignition, powered the car. A chrome nickel, heat treated frame on Timkin axles combined with Rudge Whitworth wire wheels gave the car strength, stability and speed. For the 1924 season a Continental six-cylinder engine of greater power was combined with a four speed transmission with overdrive which, on the fourth Speed, gave the car quietness and smoothness at even higher speeds. The coachwork was crafted in Bennington under the careful, direct supervision of Karl Martin.

As a result of monetary problems and slow sales due to a post war business slump, the company failed and the last Wasp, now displayed in The Bennington Museum, was produced in 1925. Although the company lingered on, producing custom woodwork and special castings, its doors closed permanently in 1932, a sad end to Vermont’s first true automobile manufacturing company, the total production of which was only 16 cars. While only a small number when compared to the giants of the industry, it is quite creditable considering that many companies at the time produced only one or two cars.”

The museum’s website also shows the front and back of a stock certificate for the company, and mentions a brochure/booklet which is also in their archives that was issued by the company in 1920 promoting the car.  Also the museum’s collection includes some correspondence, five original color drawings of the car (I copied only one), unfinished headlights, and photos.

Two comments that I have that differs from your statement is that according to the museum the cars cost $5,000, not $5,500, and 16 cars were produced, not 12.  So which is right?

See the many attachments!!!!
Gary

From Mystery Auto Foto #40 Solved: A 1924 Wasp Touring Car Built in Bennington, Vermont

You always find or get things that we never knew about,when it comes to history,well that’s your job I guess,it makes life more interesting.Thanks for all this info and to the people who send it to you.

From John E. Roosevelt Family Photo Album: The 1909 Long Island Stock Car Derby

Mystery car is a Martin Wasp, built in Bennington, Vt. and housed in the Bennington Museum. This car is the rare 6 cylinder model from 1922 and may have been owned by the builder Karl Martin. Douglas Fairbanks bought one for his wife Mary Pickford . Best wishes, Bob

From Mystery Auto Foto #40 Solved: A 1924 Wasp Touring Car Built in Bennington, Vermont

$50,000

A massive fortune in those days.

Quel cochon!

From The First Documented Automobile Railroad Crossing Accident in the USA as Reported in France in 1901

Congratulations on your win Howard! Long island was represented well at the Hemmings Concours, and fellow Classic Car Club of America members Jerry Beard of Massapequa had his 1937 Lincoln V12 convertible victoria with body by Brunn there, and Joe Cannazzario of Seaford had his 1934 Lincoln V12 roadster with body by Dietrich there as well.

From Highlights from the 10th Annual Hemmings Motor News Concours D'Elegance

Identify the touring car: 1925 Martin Wasp
Who owned this automobile?: Henry Dodge
Name the Hollywood star who purchased one of the 12 touring cars for $5,500?: Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.
Where is this automobile located today? Bennington, VT. Musuem

From Mystery Auto Foto #40 Solved: A 1924 Wasp Touring Car Built in Bennington, Vermont

Identify the touring car
-1924 Martin-Wasp Touring car

Who owned this automobile?
-The 1924 6-cylinder, was restored/re-created by collector Henry Marvin Dodge using a rolling chassis and spare parts purchased from Karl H. Martin in 1953.

Name the Hollywood star who purchased one of the 12 touring cars for $5,500?
-Douglas Fairbanks Sr.

Where is this automobile located today?
-Benington Museum in Benington Vermont

From Mystery Auto Foto #40 Solved: A 1924 Wasp Touring Car Built in Bennington, Vermont

Thanks Ariejan again, nice detective work. Using Chuck’s link above I found an earlier train/auto wreck at same crossing in 1906. This horrific accident had no survivors. Puzzling is that four years later, no bell or guardsman was stationed at this busy crossing.
http://www3.gendisasters.com/new-york/21832/westbury-ny-train-wreck-may-1906

From Mystery Foto #39 Solved:The First Documented Automobile Railroad Crossing Accident in the USA Update

As an addendum to my earlier answer I have now found who owned the Martin Wasp on display at the Bennington museum in Vermont.
It was the collector, Henry Marvin Dodge.

From Mystery Auto Foto #40 Solved: A 1924 Wasp Touring Car Built in Bennington, Vermont

Wow Howard,one thing I know is that you should have this car.I think it tops the Chryslers Chrysler,even though it’s not one of one.The mystery is why don’t you have it or get it? What a beauty,a show pleaser and winner.

From Mystery Auto Foto #40 Solved: A 1924 Wasp Touring Car Built in Bennington, Vermont

The car shown is a 1924 Martin Wasp on display at the Bennington Museum in Vermont. Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. was the celebrity who purchased one of these after viewing one in an auto show in NYC around 1920.
Could not find who the owner of this one was.

From Mystery Auto Foto #40 Solved: A 1924 Wasp Touring Car Built in Bennington, Vermont

I was lucky enough to grow up in a small town mansion built in 1917 (much smaller than Gold Coast mansions but still pretty amazing for where it was) in Scranton, PA, in the ‘Hill’ section, among a row of homes that were probably built mainly by coal mine owners.  Well built, a great exterior, an even better interior that still brings me great memories - along with my father’s favorite antique cars, one of which, a 1926 Packard 243 Touring, is now on Long Island in my very ordinary high ranch home in a very normal suburb!  😊  I grew up with a great appreciation for beautiful homes and antique cars, and steam locomotives!

Two of the great things about Long Island are those great homes still preserved, and the great antique cars still preserved.  Always nice to hear about either.

Ron

From From the Grace Holloway Family Album: Photos of the Old Westbury Home Built by Driver Foxhall Keene

I can almost hear the black beast now!

From From a Lodgekeeper's Family Album: A View of the Massapequa Lodge