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February 1921. Washington, D.C. "Army car at Connecticut Avenue Bridge." Another view of the modified Model T last seen here under review. Note the repurposed New York license plate with U.S. ARMY ORD(NANCE) DEPT painted on the back. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size.
A 1913 ad for the 24" Firestone Non Skid tires.
Breeches, boots, and spurs were proper daily attire for officers of all Army branches -- when serving with troops -- until the eve of World War II, and appropriate on a number of other occasions as well. Pilots were permitted to remove their spurs in the cockpit lest they become fouled in the rudder cables, and many non-cavalry officers omitted that accessory entirely, but the fashion persisted even in roles and venues we'd not normally associate with the need to impel a horse to further effort in the show ring or on the battlefield.
The arm bands denote some special, temporary function, perhaps as umpires for the testing of this vehicle.
Notice the spurs on the boots of the officer at the left front of the photo!
Differential application of the brakes, I suspect. Slowing the driving wheel on the one side speeds up the driving wheel on the other and their respective tracks follow suit.
In this view we can see where this thing gets all of its traction. It's those 8 non-skid tires (right there written in the tread).
Do you think it steered by moving the front wheels and bending the tracks? It would have a 200' turning radius if so.
got to the perfect watermark spot before SHORPY did.
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