Running an Errand (UPDATE III: 1906 Peugeot and box with glass plate negatives!)

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Sometimes we see a photo that’s not only an image of a pre-war automobile, but also sets the imagination on fire. Just look at the enlargement of the main picture and dream with us. An almost empty square, so it’s probably early morning. An automobile with driver and three passengers, not very heavily dressed, could be late spring or summer. The car has a number -52- painted on the side and radiator. Are they taking part in a race? If so, what car, when and where? But most intriguing we find the parcel carrying boy, suddenly entering the picture on his way to... yes, to where? Most probably he never realized he has been captured on the camera and thus has been saved for eternity. (photo collection Olivier Chabanne)

Update III by Hans Compter: "Peugeot, either a Type 77 of 1905 or Type 81B 4 cylinder of 1906. Both chain driven and produced in the Audincourt factory. It looks that it is taking part in a reliability competition.
Update II by Mark Dawber: "...the car looks to be a 1906 Peugeot. Could it be on a Herkomer Trial or something maybe similar in France?"
Updates came in from Stuart Penketh, Mark Dawber, Brendan Dillon and Chris Sutton who all agree that it’s not a parcel. It’s the cameraman's son/assistant carrying the box of glass plate negatives. Brendan: “I have some very similar. beautifully crafted timber film box affairs that hold the sensitized emulsion on glass plates in their darkened environment, soon to be clipped onto the camera, and exposed become negatives.”

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