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San Francisco, 1928. "Stutz two-door five-passenger sedan." The "Splendid Stutz" was also marketed as the "Safety Stutz," featuring four-wheel hydraulic brakes and wire-reinforced glass. 5x7 inch glass negative by Christopher Helin. View full size.
If it ain't leaking, it's out of oil.
- Commonly used automotive expression of not that long ago, also applied to radial aircraft engines.
Typically, motor oil was used to make that rubber gleam and glimmer.
Brake fluid. Cut through the crud and left a nice sheen.
Within five years those windshield wires would be replaced by laminated safety glass. Last night I was reading the April 1933 issue of Popular Science (like you do) which contained a Model Garage column urging the replacement of ordinary glass by laminated safety glass. By then it was available as an aftermarket alternative. If I read the Internet sources correctly it was available in the late 1920s and common (standard on Fords) by 1936, at least in the UK. By 1939 it was ubiquitous.
Lafayette Square, that is, a particularly favored location of photographer Helin. This is at the Laguna Street entry, and the blurry apartment house in the distance at the right is 2121 Sacramento Street, built 1926.
With adequate headroom for this stylish gent to wear a straw boater. I'm guessing he wasn't involved in any riots! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lDwghpwxyg
Nice two tone paint job. I wonder what the colors are. My guess would be cream and brown.
Wonder what they used for tire shine back then?
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