Historic Hood River
Mal’s Speedster
3-31-2020
Notes
As you know I can’t resist a good automobile picture. This is from Pansy Dewitt’s December 1918 trip on the Columbia River Highway. Malcolm Button is at the wheel of what looks to be a custom speedster. They are at Crown Point, which had just opened that May. I suspect it’s a happy accident we can see the reflection of the Stars and Stripes in the glossy hood of that wonderful speedster. Can you imagine how much fun it must have been to drive that auto on the highway?
That speedster certainly wasn’t designed for hauling the family. Another image shows a second automobile that I believe carried the rest of the party.
Category: Cascade Locks
Tags: 1910s, automobile, Button, Cascade Locks, Columbia River Highway, Crown Point, DeWitt
Tags: 1910s, automobile, Button, Cascade Locks, Columbia River Highway, Crown Point, DeWitt
Kenn
Another bulb horn for Arlen
Roger Sheldrake
Interesting rear wheel assembly. Possibly two wheels with braces in between; lots of fine spokes, very small hub. Possibly an inner large gear for chain drive. Maybe someone at the car museum could comment on the braking system for chain drive.
ArthurB
The album notes the car was “borrowed.” It's possible they ran into the car and driver at Crown Point and asked if they could pose in it for some pictures. FOr one thing, I don't think Mal would have been able to keep that hat on while driving that speedster.
Photos make it clear it was very cold that day. I know from experience these old open cars don't offer much in the way of heat, except what comes up through the floorboards. Your toes may stay warm, but not much else.
nels
Is he in a military uniform?
Time frame is the Great Plague.
ArthurB
Yes, nels, this was during the 1918 Influenza pandemic. Newspaper accounts seem to indicate cases were on the decline locally by early December, and schools had reopened.
Dale Nicol
The car is called an “Imp” that was made from 1913 to 1915, designed by William B. Stout of the Stout Metal Airplane co….it had a 15 HP, V-twin, air cooled motor, planetary gear transmission, car weigh of 600#'s and fewer than 1000 were produced. Also credit to Bob Hadlow for unlocking the written words “In a borrowed bug. Crown Point, Dec. 30, ‘18â€. The car was one of several “speedsters powered by air cooled motorcycle type engines”. The Stout company was bought by Henry Ford in 1925 and then designed and built the Ford Trimotor in 1926.
ArthurB
Great history, thanks Dale.