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Washington, D.C., circa 1922. "Amalgamated Tires, 14th Street N.W." Hurry on down for our BIG SALE! National Photo Co. glass negative. View full size.
Higgins said: "The side windows were raised and lowered using a fabric strap." Chevy's ultra lightweight 1963 Grand Sport Corvettes (only five were built of a planned 125 intended for a factory racing program that was scuttled) had the same device to raise and lower their plexiglass side windows. The straps had a number of grommets which allowed the driver to position the windows at several openings with a hook on the door below the window opening. This arrangement of course saved a few very critical pounds by eliminating all the window winding hardware.
My dad had a 1920 Ford center-door sedan. A fairly unique car. The driver entered through either door and had to go between the front seats to get into the driver's seat. The side windows were raised and lowered using a fabric strap. The gas tank was accessed by lifting the cushion of the driver's seat and removing the gas cap. You checked the gas supply by dipping a wooden stick about the size of a paint stirrer with graduated markings. To add gasoline, the hose was brought in through the driver's window or the passenger door. His car was painted up as a Black & White Taxi for the film "The Court Martial of Billy Mitchell," which was filmed in D.C. in 1955, starring Gary Cooper. The NON-SKID tires made by Firestone had those words as the tread pattern.
I am curious about the pair of chains descending from the mailbox-looking protrusions on the building to the right of Amalgamated. Can't quite figure out their purpose.
[Seems to be a chain hoist, the kind used for window-washing platforms. - Dave]
Those two men in the middle remind me of my brothers Bill and John.
$250 today is a GREAT buy. Your new tyres today have a life 60,000 miles. The tyres from 98 years ago lived only a tenth of that. Better materials, better engineered, and much better ride quality.
not there anymore. Across the street from Franklin Park, a footbeat of my youth.
My favorite part of this photo is the fifth man, hiding (or so he thinks) behind the car on the left.
Wasn't as ludicrous as it appears today. People generally didn't drive that much back in the 1920s. From what I recall reading, the average was in the 2,000-3,000-mile range.
And another center door Model T! Love the car pictures!
As opposed to what -- Goodyear Slip-N-Skids?
The "firsts" have a 6000-mile guarantee. I wonder what the guarantee of the "seconds" and "thirds" might be.
Also, the best tire sign I've seen advertised a "huge tire blowout." I chose another shop.
"Easy. We're selling them at half price!"
I just bought new tires for my SUV at $250 per. I checked an inflation calculator and $10 in 1922 is about $125 today, and $20 is about $250. Seems the more things change, the more they stay the same.
What a cruel irony that the truck carrying all those nice, comfy pneumatic tires is still rolling on solid-rubber tires.
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