Don Boulton is a well-known collecter and restorer of brass-era antique automo-
biles. On June 7, 2009, the
Central Oklahoma Chapter of the Studebaker Drivers
were guests for a tour of the
impressive facility and its fine
old cars. Boulton also has an
interest in aviation; it appears
Orville in the Wright Flyer is
about to drop in for a look.
Left to right: Pope-Hartford;
Locomobile; and a 1914
Simplex "Speed Car" with
a 590 cu. in. four cylinder
engine.
Left to right: 1907 Columbia
auto-buggy; 1909 Ford
Model T; 1912 Indian
motorcycle; 1904 Peerless.
Foreground: 1907 Austin,
powered by a massive 522
cu. in. six-cylinder engine.
A current project: spread
out on these two tables are
parts of a Tincher, a car last
produced in 1909. The car's
frame is at a shop, being
restored.
The Tincher was a large and very expensive car in its day. It is notable for having an air brake system that, according to Wikipedia, "could be used to inflate flat tires and power the car's horn."
Tinchers have relevance for Studebaker enthusiasts. The make began life in Chicago in 1903, but moved to South Bend, Indiana in 1907. The Studebaker brothers owned a majority of Tincher's stock.
Tincher went broke and ceased production in 1909.
There's nothing new about quad lights.
A 1903 Cadillac that was driven some years ago in the London-Brighton race for pre-1904 cars. The annual event commemorates "the original 1896 Emanicipation Run" .. held ... to celebrate the passing into law of the Light Locomotives Act which raised the speed limit to 14 mph and did away with the need for a person to walk in front of a mechanised vehicle waving a red flag to warn other road users."
A meticulous re-creation of a landmark in transportation history: Benz's pioneering 1886 gas-engine car.
Quite a flywheel, eh?
1899 Knox three-wheel runabout. Slow down for hairpin curves; it has a tendency to roll over.
And finally, here's a car to set your blood to racing: a bright yellow Mercer. It's quite the thing for a fast commute. Just make sure your life insurance is paid up.
Photos and text by Jerry Starr.