A Blue Monday Mystery (Upd. 1908-10 Dumont ?)

The car would be a Dumont based on a postcard in the Iris series (check it on www.delcampe.com). This (still existing, but where?) car has the same pear-shaped radiator with sharp top and the same characteristic broad bonnet. A difference is the interior of the radiator shell, which is a square instead of a circle, but radiator characteristics changed often with time. The Dumont on the postcard is dated 1908, but based upon its body 1912 will probably be more accurate. The Dumont on the mystery photographs seems to be older (around 1908-1910), but appears to have had a refreshment. According to Fons Alkemade's list Dumont was built between 1906 and 1913 in Asnières-sur-Seine (between Paris and Argenteuil), but further information is lacking (at least in my (i.e. the oldest) edition of Georgano of 1968. Maybe someone else can help to provide more background information on this mysterious marque.

The car has a very large underbelly, and although this may be protection for a conventional drive, I suspect it may be protecting an underslung steam engine. That might explain the absence of rear wheel brakes, since the car could be slowed by reversing the valve gear. I have no idea of its make, but the number of US car makes at about this time was enormous. If it had a petrol engine, I might go for a Dequesne, but with no real conviction.

the 2 mounting screws on botton of the radiator are similar to chenard-walker, the outer shape of the radiator not. the round center hole is very small, even to small for an 1 zylinder engine? how can the hood been opened with the sidelamps so near? the fueltank as a part of the coachwork and windscreenholder (perfect for sommerdays).Rearsuspension 3/4 or full eliptic? Could that be a home made car with the base from a cyclecar? very strange! Aircooled (adams-base, 5 zyl.in back?), Radiator facke?

@ Hans: no, the car is for real, I have a larger picture in which the detail is magnificent

I believe the car to be a Chenard & Walcker.The round radiator was there style, but the best clue is the rear axel. It appears to be lower than the rear wheel hub which would indacate a dead axel. C&W used twin drive (carden) shafts for eaeh rear wheel.

Is it a real car? The seats allmost mounted directly to the frame. It looks scaled down. Maiby its a childrens car or someting built for the circus.

I doubt it is a Pope as I have never seen a Pope with spoked wheels, also no match in the Standard Catalogue. I think we should look to European, maby even French automobiles

The Adams car (company slogan: Pedals to Push - That's All) was made in Bedford, UK, just a couple of miles from where I now live. Adams cars had a pointed top radiator with a horizontal bar halfway down forming the letter "A". At least one car survives that is now on display in Bedford museum. The car in the photograph is almmost certainly a Pope-Toledo.

The Adams cars had a radiator similar to this one.

I think it must be a Pope-Toledo touring car, easily searched on the internet.

Clues to identity may lie in rear springing and lack of rear wheel brakes. Transmission only brakes were fitted to very few cars.

I suspect that tyre size would actually be 760x90 which is a very small size, making the car also small - sort of 8 to 10hp.