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Washington, D.C., or vicinity circa 1920. "Dr. A.A. Foster and family of Dallas, Texas." A second look at the auto-tourists seen here yesterday, and their modified Model T Ford. Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size.
Very practical bed arrangement. The beds fold up to keep the kids on board during travel and fold down outside the camper to make beds at night. Similar to a modern day tent camper.
The cage walls are bed springs. I'd bet they either fold down for sleeping or detach to be set up as cots.
"Throw the kids in the cage, Maw, it's time to shove off!"
Noting safer for the lil ones than a wire mesh matress-padded compartment for travel.
"With roll-down curtains, in case there's a change in the weather."
I just wanted to point out the slick axe mount on the side of the car. Perfect for clearing the road of fallen trees I suppose.
Washington Post, August 21, 1921.Washington Is the Mecca of Open Air Auto Tourist
Washington this season has been the mecca for the tin-can tourist. Where the tidal basin basks at night under the hush of the star-flecked sky, where the moonlight falls in soft spray on the banks of the Potomac, just east of the railroad bridge, the officials have designated a spot where the tin-can tourist may make his bed. There he is cushioned on tufted lawn far away from the hue and cry of the city, out of the canopy of heaven, but near enough at all times to be within reach of things that civilization demands. …
The main attraction to touring in this fashion, all the tourists agree, is that it gives opportunity to study the country, its peoples and their ways. … All agree that the West is where they find the greatest hospitality. The East is not yet ready for the open-air tourist.
For the most part, the tourists run well into age. That is, some of them are nearing the 80-year-old mark. Occasionally there are middle-aged couples, who have with them their children, and once in a while there is a young couple on their honeymoon. …
She still looks just as thrilled.
[Waiting for someone to invent Four-Zone Climate Control. - Dave]
The best feature of a Model T (aside from the admittedly low purchase price) was that almost anything one did to change it resulted in something better than that with which one started.
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