The Cold Case Mysteries Part II (Upd. 1920s France or Spain?)

Here's a mystery that we published way back in 2005. Few will have seen it as we had not as much readers back then as we have now. We have recently published another old-time mystery and that one was indeed solved! So let's try again with this one. It was called "The Soapbox Mystery", but nobody could identify it. Not strange, as we didn't have a clue if it was factory built or a homemade contraption. Anyway, it looked more like a soapbox on wheels than a proper motor car. It could even be a very large pedal car, although looking at the rear wheel there seems to be some sort of propulsion. And it does have a crudely hand-painted license number, issued in Portsmouth (UK) around 1910. Could the two young men who are so proudly posing in the tandem-seat, have built this car? Maybe the six-spoke steering wheel could be a clue. Help us solve this cold case mystery!
(photo courtesy MPL)
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Publiziert:

Mittwoch Juli 24th, 2013

Unbekannt

27 Juli 2013, 22:40

If it is not a fantasy-number-plate, like it is in use for soap-box-derbys, the letter-number-logÃc was only in official use in Cyprus for Europe.

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R.Mawer

26 Juli 2013, 16:31

The comment referring to Spanish style clothing has reminded me of the Spanish sport,in edwardian/vintage times of "Down Car" racing.Machines of this sort of appearance,& amateur construction were used.I cant now recall whether competitors were classified on time or distance travelled,or whether they ran singly,in pairs,or whatever.Certainly,they originally had no motive power.There is indeed a belt to a rear wheel on this vehicle,but not necessarily connected to a motor-could be to pedals,for manouvreing,but more likely a brake? For pedal there would have to be a freewheel of some kind!The Spanish "David" powered cyclecar was developed from Down Car racing activities.

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Unbekannt

25 Juli 2013, 20:50

I agree it doesn't feel like England. As it happens, I grew up in Portsmouth (BK) and it just doesn't look right. Also, the occupants of the vehicle aren't dressed the way my grandfather dressed in the teens and 20s!

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Unbekannt

25 Juli 2013, 15:33

This looks more like a horse drawn roadster converted to belt drive. The hats and coats look Alsas or Spain, thus the odd number. This is not England Maybe 1920 ish. I have some photos in Paris of those hats in the 20s.

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Unbekannt

25 Juli 2013, 12:55

I thinks its genuine and a belt drive band is visable on the left side.

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Unbekannt

25 Juli 2013, 11:18

BK 965 - no help unfortunately
See:
http://www3.hants.gov.uk/archives/hals-collections/vehicle-registration.htm

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Unbekannt

25 Juli 2013, 11:06

I would suggest that the way the two men are dressed it is not a very old photograph. The shirts & ties look wrong and the hats also look wrong. I think we have a spoof photo here.

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Unbekannt

25 Juli 2013, 07:01

I'm not convinced that the 'license plate' is a clue. Even if the plate was hand painted, British regulations stipulated white letters and numbers on a black background. What we see in the photo would not have been considered legal. Do we know for sure that the photo was taken in England?

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The Cold Case Mysteries Part II (Upd. 1920s France or Spain?)

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