Lorima wrote:
I'm sure there are a lot of car enthusiasts out there that may be able to help me identify this old car.
I'm doing some family history and would like to try and find out what this car may be. The photo was taken in New Zealand if that helps.
Thanks so much.
Hi Lorima. Tracing this type of info intrigues me, so on the basis of the motor dealer on the w/screen, I've submitted a query with Kaikoura Auto centre in NZ to see if they are the same company today. I'll post anything I find, or PM you.
In genealogy I've found people all over the world by following up on leads, no matter how small. There's no problem in asking a question. It can be fruitful or rejected, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
I took the liberty of a little pp to clean it up & email it to the guy to maybe shine some light on it.
The two guys at rear look like handling parcels or similar, maybe a delivery vehicle between Christchurch & Kaikoura, via Blenheim.
My experience of a trip to NZ years ago, reminds me that Blenheim is in the north of the South Island, Christchurch is about 1/3rd way down the East coast of South Island, & Kaikoura is a small coastal town in between.
I'd speculate that this vehicle is a mail delivery to others small communities between both towns.
Keeping in mind the period would be early 1900s, where mail would come by sea to Christchurch, & delivered by road via this medium.
Here in Australia, mail back then was delivered by such means, because air transport was not yet developed. New Zealand, no doubt, did much the same. Not long before the motor car was introduced to society, mail was delivered by animal power. Of course the Pony Express of early America, was probably he inspiration for much of the activities of that era. We never had the hazards of hostile Indians like yours.
I hope this bears fruit, watch this space.
Ellis Trautman.Perth Western Australia.