Vanderbilt Cup Races

The truck is a Mack. A Bulldog model. Most likely early to mid 1920s. Maybe photo chemicals. Its too large to deliver news papers. Wm Pickering was a noted photographer from Roslyn L.I. who took lots of Vanderbilt race photos. The Bulldog Macks were quite popular after WW1. I remember a junk yard near Berlin, MA still using one as a boom truck in 1957.

From Mystery Foto #10 Solved: A Mack AC Truck on Bryant Avenue in Roslyn (Circa 1917-1918)

MACK!  Th-th-that’s all, f-f-folks!  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #10 Solved: A Mack AC Truck on Bryant Avenue in Roslyn (Circa 1917-1918)

That view down into the factory appears to have been taken from the balcony at the east end of the second story pass-through, visible in the Panchyk pic, between Engineering and the plant.  Does anyone know if it was there in 1917?  It was still there when I worked in the building ca. 1956.  As I’ve noted before, the outline of the south side of the throat of the Curtiss wind tunnel was still visible in the inner south wall then.  Wonder if that’s still in here and could be rescued?  Sam (I’m soooo old - - - ), III :·)

From The 1917 Curtiss Autoplane-An Aerial Limousine Built in Garden City

Such a sad ending to a remarkably inspired and acquired automotive collection. The remark in Kurt Ernst’s article regarding the tenuous and uncertain plight of auto-mobile museums is well known to all automobile enthusiasts. In the end this sale by no-reserve auction will fund the educational assistance envisioned by Frank Spain and his widow Jane for many years. It will be an appropriate accomplishment in the lives of two remarkable people. Bid high and preserve the vehicles for their history and beauty. Bonhams will do a good job , I am sure.

From Hemmings Blog: Tupelo Automobile Museum to close, sell off collection including Tucker 1028

*ID manufacturer, model and year of truck:  Mack truck…1918? I read that the logo seen ( which looks very cool ) was discontinued after 1920. They should still use that stylish M instead of plain old Mack.

*Location & Orientation of Photographer: Perhaps the photographer was William H Pickering. Image taken on E Broadway Roslyn, NY viewing south, capturing Mr. Pickering’s General Store, a couple of onlookers plus the Brooklyn Eagle Newspaper dispenser. Wonder if E Broadway was always One Way North?

*Year/Rationale; 1918-20. Truck is my rationale.

*VCR link:  Mr. Pickering well documented these races with photography.

*What’s in the trucks trailer:  Looks like a wrecked auto. Mr. Pickering likely photographed autos that were in accidents for law enforcement, insurance claims etc.

From Mystery Foto #10 Solved: A Mack AC Truck on Bryant Avenue in Roslyn (Circa 1917-1918)

-Identify the manufacturer, model and year of the truck
1916 Mack AC

-Where is the location of the Mystery Foto and the orientation of the photographer?
Looking South from William Pickering’s studio at 193 East Broadway in Roslyn

-What is the year of the Mystery Foto? Provide a rationale.
Truck year and style of dress make me want to guess 1918 or so

-Link the Mystery Foto to the Vanderbilt Cup Races.
William Pickering shot scenes of the the Vanderbilt Cup Races from 1905 to 1910.

-Kudos question: What was likely being delivered by the truck driver?
No idea

From Mystery Foto #10 Solved: A Mack AC Truck on Bryant Avenue in Roslyn (Circa 1917-1918)

I can only provide a few facts: the truck is an AC series Mack. Must be a very heavy load as the truck has solid tires and so does the trailer. Mack glass plate negative archives were in Brooklyn where the company started, were rescued by Henry Austin Clark ( many many steel 4 or 5 drawer filing cases that were full ) in the 1950s when Mack relocated to Allentown, Pa. These cases were in the basement of Austin’s home in Glen Cove for decades, and were donated back to Mack about a decade before he passed away. The history of Mack as written by my good friend John B. Montville and published in a book and these glass plate negatives were the primary source for images. All memories of so many decades ago.

From Mystery Foto #10 Solved: A Mack AC Truck on Bryant Avenue in Roslyn (Circa 1917-1918)

East Broadway, looking south towards intersection with Roslyn Road.

From Mystery Foto #10 Solved: A Mack AC Truck on Bryant Avenue in Roslyn (Circa 1917-1918)

Tough mystery, I found some answers - feeling lucky patching the remaining holes. Early 1920s, a Mack AC Bulldog truck with rear-axle chain drive delivering newspapers and used books to the W.H. Pickering general store, at the corner of East Broadway and Papermill Road in Roslyn, looking north. Self-taught photographer, Pickering photographed Roslyn parades and early Long Island races including Vanderbilt Cup Races. His extensive library of photographs are still treasured today and stored at the Bryant library located at the same corner in Roslyn. His house was next to the store and I don’t believe either one survived the test of time.

From Mystery Foto #10 Solved: A Mack AC Truck on Bryant Avenue in Roslyn (Circa 1917-1918)

  1/.  Truck is a MACK 1907-1914
  2./  Location is East Broadway, Roslyn, NY
  3./  Photo Date:  Circa 1908
  4./  William Pickering, noted photographer took LIMP//VCC Race photos..
  5./  Delivery appears to be construction or farm equipment.

From Mystery Foto #10 Solved: A Mack AC Truck on Bryant Avenue in Roslyn (Circa 1917-1918)

I don’t know about it ever being in the Bob Bahre collection. It was in the collection of an aquaintance of mine from at least 1985 until it was sold to leno. I have a photo taken of another collection car with Rabbit in the background circa 2011. I have heard it run. You don’t forget that…

From Henry Ford Museum 1966 Program: Sports Cars in Review

Howard Kroplick
New photos submitted by Brian McCarthy and Greg O.

From Update- Mystery Foto #9 Solved: The Northern State Parkway Gateway in 1933

Still keeping up with what’s happening,but this time I have to answer. I knew the answer to the two tone car,but you didn’t give the answer yet,is it a Nash? I knew right off the bat,because one of my neighbors had one,when I lived in Brooklyn. I wasn’t sure about the rest and don’t have time to research it,so till next time,keep history alive.

From Update- Mystery Foto #9 Solved: The Northern State Parkway Gateway in 1933

“Speedy roadway”, Frank?  The limit then was 35mph!  So I was turned around in my recollected orientation but I KNEW I’d been there.  I started driving the parkways (extra-legally in NYC at first) in 1950 and it didn’t jump up to 40mph until a bit after that.  Did anyone pick up on the SECOND two-tone “bathtub” Nash in front of the Statesman?  I’d say that’s a 1940 Buick approaching at left, preceding two ca. ‘38 GMs (LaSalle/Caddy?), and there’s a 1942-48 Chrysler product leading the lineup at far right (by the sign).  An I recall me aright, that small dark sign facing east above the Statesman read “NO TURNS / POLICE VEHICLES ONLY”.  Sam, III

From Update- Mystery Foto #9 Solved: The Northern State Parkway Gateway in 1933

Brian - Here is a link to the GCP/NSP expansion over time. Also included the Police Barracks just down the road, which is now consumed by the NSP westbound lanes. Not sure where the booth came from but possibly used by the troopers to stop commercial traffic from proceeding east towards the low bridges up ahead. In my opinion the booth too is sitting precariously close with no protection by the speedy roadway .

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1396j0_672hYkvbcNFJInbc1mXNJspD9f&ll=40.75951529853337,-73.70957339193177&z=17

From Update- Mystery Foto #9 Solved: The Northern State Parkway Gateway in 1933

I thought maybe this was close to a state park off the NSP. Guess the gateways are gone presently due to road widening? Sure everyone noticed the small octagon shaped booth structure. Willy K donate a kiosk to Robert Moses?

From Update- Mystery Foto #9 Solved: The Northern State Parkway Gateway in 1933

Looks like in 1950 Nash statesman

From Update- Mystery Foto #9 Solved: The Northern State Parkway Gateway in 1933

In Greg’s photo, that’s either a 1949 or 1950 Nash Ambassador.

From Update- Mystery Foto #9 Solved: The Northern State Parkway Gateway in 1933

The Question…Can anyone identify the year and make of the two-tone automobile approaching the border between Queens and Nassau County?

The answer…The car in the color photo of is a 1950 Nash Airflyte Statesman.

From Update- Mystery Foto #9 Solved: The Northern State Parkway Gateway in 1933

The two-tone car in Greg O.‘s photo is a 1950 Nash Ambassador.

From Update- Mystery Foto #9 Solved: The Northern State Parkway Gateway in 1933