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Washington, D.C., 1912. "Mrs. William E. Borah, (wife of) Senator from Idaho, in Baker Electric." Last seen here. Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size.
My great-grandmother lived in takoma park MD and owned both the open runabout and the closed Baker electric. From the photos I have it would appear that she bought the open car about 1912, and the closed one about 1918. Pic shows my dad and Aunt Ginny in the cars. Dad is still with us at 96.
Apparently the cold look on Mary Borah's face would later have a good reason. Her husband, Senator William Borah, had a child out of wedlock with Alice Roosevelt Longworth, Teddy's daughter in 1925. It didn't seem to deter her from a long life (1870-1976).
Too bad Sen. Borah didn't spring for the closed version of the Baker Electric.
Now I see the linkage through the floorboards to the steering arm on the left wheel. That is certainly one huge muff Mrs. Borah is sporting. A dozen minks must have sacrificed their pelts just so she could keep her hands toasty. She could store the tire chains in there to boot! Thanks bryharms.
I have never seen snow tire chains in photos from this early in the 20th century.
Note to Goat of Venus: The tiller is mostly seen, but the the crossbar is hidden in Mrs. Borah's mink muff.
I have seen some electric automobiles equipped with tillers for steering and other vehicles of that time with steering wheels that would swing out of the way to permit easier egress... but looking at this Baker I can not see any method for steering! Any clues?
The former Christian Science church at the corner of 96th and Central Park West, finished in 1903, owned a Baker for transporting guests when it opened, kept in a garage still visible on the west side of the building. In the garage is a DC outlet for recharging the car, and in the basement an electrical control panel with a circuit marked "Electric Automobile." As of ten years ago, the building was still supplied DC current directly from the subway sytem to supply the auditorium lights, the elevator and the organ blowers.
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