Vanderbilt Cup Races

Enjoyed indeed! Thanks for all the historic education and fun right in our own backyard. Where did all the time go?
Frank

From Happy 10th Anniversary VanderbiltCupRaces.com!

Long shot on this one as I’m stumped.
How about the Motor Parkway bridge over the Central RR ROW in Queens.  Bridge first used by the Motor Parkway in 1925 but the railroad had originally planned to have a bridge there in the 1800s.

From Updated: Mystery Foto #9 Solved: The Central R.R. Motor Parkway Bridge in Queens

Quite neat!  Plus we’ve been to the Simeone Foundation - it is an amazing collection.  And as should be obvious, most of the cars there do run and come out to the ‘yard’ to play!

From Mystery Foto #8 Partially Solved:A Humidor Vanderbilia from the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum

Based on the steel hand-rails or guard-rails that are visible, this could be the Creedmoor footbridge over the LIMP. I think it’s the only trestle style bridge that had railings. I think it was built in 1912 so it was probably used shortly thereafter. Just on a guess, I’ll date the photo around 1938 about the time of the LIMP’s closing.

From Updated: Mystery Foto #9 Solved: The Central R.R. Motor Parkway Bridge in Queens

Congratulations on a wonderful 10 year run. I can’t believe it’s been that long. It seems like only a year or two since the group was sitting around the table at the Bonwit Inn. Keep up the great work that you do. I know everyone enjoys and appreciates it.

From Happy 10th Anniversary VanderbiltCupRaces.com!

This is absolutely wonderful.  What an artist.  I’d seen these advertisements and admired them, but didn’t know anything about the artist.  Thank you for sharing this, Howard.

From Helck Family Collection:Original Illustration by the "Vermeer" of Automobile Advertising-Earle Teale

Tim Helck:

I really like this week’s posting about the artist Teale. Some of my grandfather’s advertisements from the 1920’s resemble Teale’s.

From Helck Family Collection:Original Illustration by the "Vermeer" of Automobile Advertising-Earle Teale

In the linked 02 Aug 2016 blog, Al V. tells about the 1927 orange digits on a blue background and how two #25 plates had these reversed.  One of my many missing images is of a 1927 #25 plate.  Does anyone out there have a 1927 image they’d share, please?  Sam, III
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Howard Kroplick I

Here is a link to one 1927 Motor Parkway license plates:

http://porcelainplates.net/LIMP_census.html

From Updated: My Long Island Motor Parkway License Plate Collection (11/7/2025)

Chrysler aficionadoes of the world - UNITE!  Contrary to Roy’s comment, my (and my father’s) three ‘49 and two ‘50 Chrysler 8s all had padded dashboards!  “Style and flair” - you betcha; long and lean!  The only thing compact about ‘em held my mother’s face powder.  Sam, III

From Video of the Week: Henry Ford's Innovation Nation: Historic Automobiles at the Henry Ford Museum

The collection has one of my dream cars. The 1955 Chevy gray/pink two-tone. I was seven years old in 1955, and my third grade teacher got one in 1956. Of course, cars in the 50s were death traps; wrap around windshields, hard steering wheels, no seatbelts, no padded dashes, and high-compression engines. But one can’t have everything. At least they had style and flair.

From Video of the Week: Henry Ford's Innovation Nation: Historic Automobiles at the Henry Ford Museum

If you are ever in Michigan, plan to visit the Henry Ford Museum, it is not to be missed. The museum has something for everyone.

From Video of the Week: Henry Ford's Innovation Nation: Historic Automobiles at the Henry Ford Museum

I am completely clueless . Can’t wait to find out!

From Updated: Mystery Foto #9 Solved: The Central R.R. Motor Parkway Bridge in Queens

For the most part White was out of the automobile manufacturing business by the end of WWI. They built a few cars for large stock holders after 1920. A friend in Colorado had Mr. Whites 1915 roadster which was a special order. Yellowstone Park had several White touring cars in its original fleet that were destroyed in a garage fire. White was no longer tooled up to build cars so the contract for 7 passenger touring cars went to Lincoln. White bus models were made up to 1937 for the National Parks. The gas powered cars built from 1911 to 1918 used engine design rights bought from Delahaye of France.

From Helck Family Collection:Original Illustration by the "Vermeer" of Automobile Advertising-Earle Teale

Fascinating story, Teales work is very impressive, and sadly had his life cut short by the invention he admired and depicted.

From Helck Family Collection:Original Illustration by the "Vermeer" of Automobile Advertising-Earle Teale

This is the Bell Blvd. bridge in Bayside, queens. Thanks for posting this great archive photo. Gene

From Updated: Mystery Foto #9 Solved: The Central R.R. Motor Parkway Bridge in Queens

Howard
thank you for sharing these with all of us. Really cool long island history indeed!!!!!!!!!!  SO much of these treasures are “buried” in peoples collections and never get to be shared with other interested people. You brighten peoples day by sharing with us and also educate and enlighten us with the history behind the piece. Without actually seeing the object verbal or written descriptions sometimes do not give one a good perspective of what it actually is. This let’s us all be more aware of what to seek and look for!
thank you .Walt

From Updated: My Long Island Motor Parkway License Plate Collection (11/7/2025)

That looks like the bridge across the Central Railroad Of Long Island right of way where today’s Bell Boulevard is located in Bayside . The Motor Parkway was re-routed slightly from its west-east course in order to make use of pre-built bridge abutments over the abandoned railroad pathway; it was subsequently restored to its straight line alignment once Bell Boulevard and the surrounding area were developed in the 1940’s (after the Motor Parkway became a bike path). This bridge was probably used from 1926-1938 when the western extension of the parkway was built.

From Updated: Mystery Foto #9 Solved: The Central R.R. Motor Parkway Bridge in Queens

I have never seen this picture before.  But I say it is the bridge over the old LIRR right of way, crossing the LIMP at what is today’s Bell Blvd.  The current Bell Blvd bridge was build about 1940.  At which time the LIMP was straightened.  The older “S” turn can still be seen in the woods. 
-joe o.

From Updated: Mystery Foto #9 Solved: The Central R.R. Motor Parkway Bridge in Queens

So your obtaining these plates was a matter of finding people who had them? And sold them to you? Of course that is what I expected but I was just wondering if you ever came across any original owners or just randomly came across anyone who happened to have one?? Any cool exploration stories?
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Howard Kroplick

Dave, the only Motor Parkway license plate that I ever discovered in the home of the original owner was the 1937 #100 belonging to William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.

From Updated: My Long Island Motor Parkway License Plate Collection (11/7/2025)

Several #25 plates over the years.  Any story there?  Owned by same person?  Did you get them, together?
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Howard Kroplick
Definitely a good story: http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/long_island_motor_parkway_license_plate_25_charles_davis_and_the_good_roads

From Updated: My Long Island Motor Parkway License Plate Collection (11/7/2025)