An English Daimler with triple twins?

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When searching for new interesting photos of rare makes normally I 'm especially focused on the car. Also in this case: my brain noted “English Daimler” and already I partly lost interest, because the exterior of this make remained almost unchanged from 1906 until the Great War, except maybe for some torpedo looks. The main change took place under the bonnet with the adoption of the Knight engine of which Daimler became the first user in 1908. So that was the only reason why I wanted to take a better look because the engine was partly exposed and could give some indication of the date.

And suddenly I noted something odd about the three couples, ostentatively showing their skills as a passenger, as a (co-)driver, and as a technical expert. As the conclusion of triple twins seemed rather absurd, it was a small step then to conclude, that we see the same couple, photographed simultaneously at their respective positions.

Photo retouching and manipulation is as old as photography and had reached a respectable level at the end of the 19^th century. Well-known manipulated photos date back to the mid-19^th century, so this one can't have been too difficult to produce. I do not know if the photo was made by triple exposure or by adding up three different negatives, but that is essentially the same of course. And the result is definitely of professional quality!

Concerning the car, my conclusion is that it's probably a 1909 model still with a conventional 38 HP engine with side valves (but if anyone wants to correct me, please do!). Unfortunately, the photographer, as well as his subjects, will remain anonymous forever, because no names appear on the address side of the postcard. We only know that they were French, as the card was produced in France. A country where the English Daimler was well respected, by the way...

Words and photograph by Ariejan Bos.

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