Front brakes?

[Mikel]

How old do you think this is? It's unusual to see a car from the 1900s or 1910s with front brakes.

 

[Toreadorranger]

The "modern" drum brake was invented in 1900ish so plausible to be anytime after that.

 

[Mikel]

Sure, but front brakes were extremely rare in those days.

 

[Toreadorranger]

Sure, but front brakes were extremely rare in those days.

Car design advanced pretty fast during that time. The style of that thing screams 1910 or older, by like 1915 and on cars started to look more like "Cars" and less like motorized buggies. Plus with so many small individual brands it would be hard to say, but I'm guessing 1912 or earlier.

 

[2020AT4]

Sure, but front brakes were extremely rare in those days.

Sure, but that looks to be a race car.

Cutting edge and all that.

 

[Tin Roof]

Is the front panel made out of bricks?

 

[woods]

Is the front panel made out of bricks?

To keep the front end down after he releases the trans-brake.

 

[2big bronco]

Is the front panel made out of bricks?

Possibly the legends great grandfather..... did that guy ever survive his Russia trip?

 

[mudtoy67]

Google says they're not brakes...they're electric motors.

The Real Story Behind the World's First Hybrid Car

If history had been just a little more kind, America's HOV lanes would look a lot more stylish.

www.thedrive.com

 

[Filthy McChevy]

Possibly the legends great grandfather..... did that guy ever survive his Russia trip?

When I pulled stuff from the how many vehicles have you owned thread on Pirate last month he had some recent posts in the Meme thread over there, so apparently yes he survived.

 

[Thefishguy77]

How old do you think this is? It's unusual to see a car from the 1900s or 1910s with front brakes.

Those look like 24’s so it highly custom. Probably legit

 

[Mikel]

Google says they're not brakes...they're electric motors.

The Real Story Behind the World's First Hybrid Car

If history had been just a little more kind, America's HOV lanes would look a lot more stylish.

www.thedrive.com

You are probably right. The radiator confused me.

 

[plym49.2]

Google says they're not brakes...they're electric motors.

The Real Story Behind the World's First Hybrid Car

If history had been just a little more kind, America's HOV lanes would look a lot more stylish.

www.thedrive.com

I have an old automotive engineering textbook from just after the turn of the 20th century. It covers American gasoline, steam, and gasoline-electric automobiles.