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Washington, D.C., circa 1908. "Mrs. Guy Henry in auto." Which our readers have identified as a Maxwell Tourabout. Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size.
1905 was the first year for Maxwells (some sold in late 1904 as 1905 models); this is the little one, the Model L. Two-cylinder opposed motor and with two-speed transmission and shaft drive in an era where final drive by chain was popular.
The small plaque up front is probably the radiator maker's plate; radiators for Maxwell and Brush may have been made by the same company. Maxwells had the name only on the hubcaps and threshold plates. Some (and I think they were dealer installed later) had the Maxwell script over the front of the radiator. Most period photos show only the nameless radiator but these cars had a very unique look not to be confused with any other.
The Brush didn't come into the picture with Maxwell until 1910, when Benjamin Briscoe started his New United Motors, which included the Maxwell, Brush and several other makes.
A neat slogan was used by Maxwell: Perfectly Simple -- Simply Perfect.
It was a good little car. I've had rides in several and they settle down to a nice lope. Going uphill on one tour I hopped off and ran alongside. Not a powerful car, these little Maxwells, but their larger two-cylinder Model H had ample power for an early, not too large, car.
If it was a Maxwell, shouldn't it have the Maxwell script on the radiator?
[Noop. There wasn't any. - Dave]
It's time for Shorpyists to take it to the next level. You can ID plants, animals, cars and ephemera, let's move to fingerprint analysis of the marks left on this photo.
The Maxwell was the first car to be driven across America by a woman, Alice Huyler Ramsey, in 1909. It got the job done.
it is NOT a 1969 Cougar. A friend of mine had one and I remember the fenders being sportier.
It has the same little plaque on the radiator showing a car as on some Brush roadsters I found on the Web.
I don't know, but I want one. Did anyone ever figure out why they overprotected the trees so much? Were cars that apt to bump into them?
[Horses tended to nibble on them. - Dave]
I believe this may be a new 1908 Brush. Note the lack of headlights mounted in the front.
I'm guessing it's a 1908 Brush Runabout... or perhaps an earlier model B Cadillac.
Is that a plumeria on the porch? If so, I am somewhat surprised to see it in D.C.
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