...continuing with our October road trip which started in Eastern Tennessee, cut back across Kentucky, then over the Ohio River into the States of Ohio, then West Virginia and Pennsylvania, finally heading south through Maryland and into Virginia. The State of Virginia represented the last leg of our journey...but we took full advantage of attractions along the way home.
My last post was about Luray Caverns...and the beginning of our tour of the 'other attractions' at the Luray Caverns complex. You may remember that my last post involved 'wheeled' vehicles, actually a child's goat cart as well as a clown's circus tricycle. I hinted at what was to come...in that if anyone has followed me for any length of time, they know that I really appreciate vehicles involved in transportation: trains, planes, horse/mule drawn conveyances and of course automobiles as well as other motorized vehicles.
Luray Caverns features a very interesting grouping of vehicles...and this is just Part One of the autos on display.
This ornate carriage was built in Paris for a member of the Portuguese Royalty in the mid-1700s. In its original condition, it would have been pulled by a team of 2 or 4 horses. The style is a "Berlin Coupe de Gala", with only 2 seats in the carriage. The gilded carriage features a royal crest and a gilded surface painted with cherubs and mythological characters. This is one of the oldest carriages on display in the United States.
This 1900 Steam Pumper Fire Engine was built by the Manchester Locomotive Works in Manchester New Hampshire. It was delivered to the Watertown New York Fire Department in 1900 and later it served in the Adams New York Fire Department. The steam pumper would use whatever source or water that was available to fight a fire. Originally pulled by 2 or 3 horses, it was still in use in the 1920 but it was being pulled by a truck. The Firestone rubber tires replaced the original steel banded tires, creating a smoother ride.
The Manchester Locomotive Works originally built steam locomotives for the railroads, starting in 1855. The steam fire truck portion of the business was acquired in the late 1880s. The company was absorbed into the American Locomotive Company in 1901 and all production ceased as of 1913.
For about 100 years, Holland and Holland built carriages, coaches and even limousine auto bodies, including electric 'carriages' into the early 1900s. The company was known for the quality of their products. As railroads took over mass transport, Holland and Holland became known for their luxury private coaches and carriages for the wealthy gentlemen who wished to drive their own conveyances with their teams of horse, just for the pleasure of it. The company was purchased by a competitor in 1912.
I'm unsure of the date when this stunning wicker baby buggy was built, or even the builder, but it is a beauty. Note the boat shape body designed for the comfort of the baby. The carriage is equipped with a foot brake so it could be secured when the nanny or parent wanted to stop and chat.
Wicker baby carriages or buggies, were popular in the USA roughly from the 1880s into the early 1900s. Wicker was popular because it was light weight and very durable. As the photo above demonstrates, these carriages were not just functional. They also symbolized status and elegance with their ornate designs and high-spoke wheels. I did note that for a number of years the Sears catalog featured a wide variety of wicker baby carriages.
To view an amazing collection of wicker baby buggies or carriages, just go to https://www.pinterest.com/maryannquay/wicker-baby-carriages-i-love-them/.
As indicated on the covering on this carriage, it served as transportation for early visitors to Luray Caverns. It was in service from about 1910 until 1920. The fare was 25 cents...the equivalent of about $8.35 today.
The caverns were discovered in 1878 and the land over and around the caverns were purchased in 1905 by the great grandfather of the current owners. The business has been in the family for 120 years! In 1906, a total of 18,000 people visited the caverns. As of 2018, the number of annual visitors had risen to 500,000! The caverns have been designated as a National Natural Landmark.
The placard is hard to read but this is an 1898 Benz "Vis-a-Vis" model. Built by Karl Benz, (before Mercedes), in Manheim Germany, this is one of the very first cars produced in any quantity for resale to customers. It is equipped with a 5 HP motor and it is one of the oldest autos on display in the USA.
Karl Benz, first photo above, patented the first internal combustion engine in a car...the "Benz Patent Motorwagen", in January 1886. He financed it through his wife-to-be Bertha's dowry. As a single woman, she could invest or do with her money whatever she wanted. Once married, women in Germany at that time no longer had that right. Bertha (second photo) was his business partner and investor.
She was the first person to drive an internal combustion engine powered vehicle, over a long distance...66 miles. In August of 1888, Bertha and her two sons undertook this adventure without telling her husband or without the permission of the authorities. Karl had no comprehension as regarded marketing their invention, but Bertha knew that if the trip succeeded, lots of positive publicity would result. If you ever saw the old Mercedes ad about this first automobile road trip, the story is correct with Bertha solving operational issues along the route. As they say, the rest of the Benz/Mercedes story is history.
To view the ad depicting Bertha's historic road trip, click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsGrFYD5Nfs.
Bright and colorful as it is, this 1899 Peugeot's Type 26 Vis-a-Vis model seems counterintuitive. Seating 4, the seats face each other. Had to be hard for the driver to see where he was going. This early automobile had a 4 HP engine and it could move along at 20 mph. Given that its called the Vis-a-Vis model, it makes sense in this case...as it means 'face-to-face in French.
I 'borrowed' this second photo from the Internet and the quality of the picture leaves a lot to be desired. However, I wanted to show how this unusual automobile was steered. Up to this point, most automobiles were steered with a stick/rudder or a steering wheel. This model Peugeot was steered via the 2-handled crossbar as shown in the middle of the picture. Peugeot adopted the steering wheel as we know it in 1901.
Peugeot automobiles are still produced. Peugeot is one of the 14 brands owned by the Stellantis Corporation. Some of the company's other brands include Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep and Ram Trucks.
This 1903 Speedwell Roadster is a bit of a mystery to me... According to the placard this 1-cylinder 6 HP vehicle was built in Manchester England by the Speedwell Motor Car Company. I tried to research the history of that company and I came up blank. There was plenty of history/information about the Speedwell Motor Car Company in Dayton Ohio (1907 - 1914), but this roadster predates the American company. I did note that the average man today would not be able to put his legs under the steering wheel of this automobile.
I'll end this post with this 1905 Riley "Tri-Car", a 3-wheel car designed for those who don't like their passenger...or perhaps to act in the capacity of a taxi. This vehicle was powered through a chain drive driving the single rear wheel. It featured a 2-cylinder 6 HP engine. One obvious problem or challenge was that the driver sat behind the passenger...visually awkward at best.
In this instance I could find some information about the Riley Cycle Co. Ltd... I learned that William Riley Jr. owned the company and he had little interest in building automobiles. The family business was bicycles...and automobiles were the 'enemy' that threatened the business. However his middle son, Percy, persisted and this vehicle is the result of his persistence. In 1900, Riley sold just one 3-wheeled automobile but, with his brother's help, their father was eventually won over to motorized vehicles including motorcycles, 3-wheel chain driven cars like this one and then true 4-wheel automobiles.
Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them...
Thanks for stopping by for a visit!
Take Care, Big Daddy Dave
cars have sure come a long way.
ReplyDeletewow So many interesting vehicles..that black and red vehicle is my favourite. This is the kind of museum my husband and I would love to visit!
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