Miscellaneous other cars in India

Julian UK · 9th April 2008, 19:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by awini

All these pictures were tken during the second world war. all the cars have a white stripe painted on the edges,and the headlamps sport blackout masks.

All the photos were taken by US servicemen stationed in India during WWII.

Quote:

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

What was the white stripe for? And how come the number plates are in white with black lettering?

Is this the Ravi Kumar/Jackie Shroff 540K? Had this photo for years, cant remember from where I got it.

I've found some negatives of the 540K when it was in bad shape, I'll get them printed.

A car showroom in Chennai in 1913
Picasa Web Albums - NILESH ? ????? - History of India

A Ford showroom in 1917
Picasa Web Albums - NILESH ? ????? - History of India

Ambulances in Chennai in 1940
Picasa Web Albums - NILESH ? ????? - History of India

Julian UK · 9th April 2008, 20:08

Lord Kitchener in India, in his motor car,I think it’s a Wolseley.
http://www.dspace.cam.ac.uk/bitstrea...-QM-16-004.jpg

awini · 9th April 2008, 20:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

What was the white stripe for? And how come the number plates are in white with black lettering?

Is this the Ravi Kumar/Jackie Shroff 540K? Had this photo for years, cant remember from where I got it.

i guess the white stripe was for better visibility during blackouts, the cars at the station have what appear to be DLT plates, which is a taxi series, and till some years ago taxis had white plates and private cars black.

awini · 9th April 2008, 20:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julian UK

Lord Kitchener in India, in his motor car,I think it’s a Wolseley.
http://www.dspace.cam.ac.uk/bitstrea...-QM-16-004.jpg

I second that, the radiator tubes going around the bonnet are typical early Wolseley

Julian UK · 10th April 2008, 01:46

Not sure exactly what it is but in Calcutta allegedly in 1903, but I think a little later. Flickr Photo Download: 4 Self-conscious English Gentlemen going out for the day!! c.1903

Prabal · 10th April 2008, 14:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by awini

i guess the white stripe was for better visibility during blackouts, the cars at the station have what appear to be DLT plates, which is a taxi series, and till some years ago taxis had white plates and private cars black.

I noticed the DLT plates too, which put me in a bit of a quandary actually! The pictures are of Calcutta (all three), you see, and DLT is of Delhi. Any explanations, anybody?

Julian UK · 10th April 2008, 18:51

Kolkata rally photo of a 1920s AC, I think it’s a 2 litre ohc six cylinder the Weller engine of which was in production up till 1963!

Flickr Photo Download: Menacing - still rearing to go!

I think it’s the same as this photo.

On a Kolkata Street in 1945 with one blackout headlight mask missing.

The Digital South Asia Library - Sports car

Traffic cop in 1945
The Digital South Asia Library - Details for

The Digital South Asia Library - Traffic officer

Julian UK · 10th April 2008, 19:12

Some more images of interest:
Kolkata 1944
The Digital South Asia Library - A Calcutta City Scene

I'm not sure what this one is. 1944
The Digital South Asia Library - An American Red Cross Facility
Or this
The Digital South Asia Library - The Red Cross Club

A Ghost and something chain driven?
Visit of the Viceroy Lord Hardinge to Dhar and Mandu (1912)
http://dsal.uchicago.edu/images/medium/B11746LM.jpg

karlosdeville · 10th April 2008, 19:46

Fabulous, just fabulous!

One question on the AC though. It bears registration BLA 7266. The BL series was issued in Bombay in the 80s. I can recollect seeing BLB, BLC, BLD, BLF, BLI etc etc. Cant say for sure I recall BLA though.

Julian UK · 10th April 2008, 19:56

Also with the DLT numbers in the other Kolkata pictures. Weren't DLT numbers all Taxis in Delhi? Maybe someone very elderly in the licensing authority could explain.
This site has some wonderful old photos once you get their search facility to work.

historyman · 10th April 2008, 20:21

Hello Julian. I'm Historyman (History of Cars in India forum) and I'm very interested in the following recent photos you posted/linked to: Ford Showroom 1917, Car Showroom Chennai 1913 and the photo circa 1903 showing 4 people sat in a car. Do you know when/where Ford opened their first show room in India and/or the types of any of the cars in the photos? Any histoical info you have will be much appreciated. I'm in Eyam/UK

karlosdeville · 10th April 2008, 20:36

I somewhat guessed that the cars would be taxis with white plates, but was put off by different colours. When were uniform colours made mandatory for taxis?

historyman · 10th April 2008, 20:46

Hello boeuff. Reference the photo posted 31 March 08 of a 1902 Thornycroft car. It is a photo of a car owned by a Princess Christine - a 4,650 cc 24 hp Thornycroft, which was first produced in 1905 (not 1902 as stated on the photo). Historyman (History of Cars in India forum)

DKG · 10th April 2008, 21:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julian UK

A Ghost and something chain driven?

Aah another 1912 Ghost! Good to see how the original fender met the running board

The Nizam's Napiers are chain driven. What other cars of the era had such a system?

By the way I successfully shifted all the cars to their permanent exhibit site in Chowmahalla Palace, with no damage done. I had an imported recovery truck come down from Bombay to help me with the shifting. Couldn't risk anything

Stanher · 10th April 2008, 23:05

Lovely old photos, Julian! Although looking more in detail at this pic.:

The Digital South Asia Library - A Calcutta City Scene

Are you sure this was taken at Calcutta? Because squinting at the "Bharath Cafe" board on the left building, I can make out some words, below the name, painted in what looks like Tamil.
Also a few of the men in the photo are wearing 'vEshtis' (lungi-like garment), so am wondering if it could've actually been Madras?

9th April 2008, 20:08	#47
Julian UK BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: London UK Posts: 709 Thanked: 254 Times	Lord Kitchener in India, in his motor car,I think it’s a Wolseley. http://www.dspace.cam.ac.uk/bitstrea...-QM-16-004.jpg
	() Thanks

10th April 2008, 01:46	#50
Julian UK BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: London UK Posts: 709 Thanked: 254 Times	Not sure exactly what it is but in Calcutta allegedly in 1903, but I think a little later. Flickr Photo Download: 4 Self-conscious English Gentlemen going out for the day!! c.1903
	() Thanks

10th April 2008, 18:51	#52
Julian UK BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: London UK Posts: 709 Thanked: 254 Times	Kolkata rally photo of a 1920s AC, I think it’s a 2 litre ohc six cylinder the Weller engine of which was in production up till 1963! Flickr Photo Download: Menacing - still rearing to go! I think it’s the same as this photo. On a Kolkata Street in 1945 with one blackout headlight mask missing. The Digital South Asia Library - Sports car Traffic cop in 1945 The Digital South Asia Library - Details for The Digital South Asia Library - Traffic officer Last edited by Julian UK : 10th April 2008 at 18:55.
	() Thanks

10th April 2008, 19:12	#53
Julian UK BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: London UK Posts: 709 Thanked: 254 Times	Some more images of interest: Kolkata 1944 The Digital South Asia Library - A Calcutta City Scene I'm not sure what this one is. 1944 The Digital South Asia Library - An American Red Cross Facility Or this The Digital South Asia Library - The Red Cross Club A Ghost and something chain driven? Visit of the Viceroy Lord Hardinge to Dhar and Mandu (1912) http://dsal.uchicago.edu/images/medium/B11746LM.jpg Last edited by Julian UK : 10th April 2008 at 19:27.
	() Thanks

10th April 2008, 19:46	#54
karlosdeville Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pune Posts: 11,976 Thanked: 18,277 Times View My Garage	Fabulous, just fabulous! One question on the AC though. It bears registration BLA 7266. The BL series was issued in Bombay in the 80s. I can recollect seeing BLB, BLC, BLD, BLF, BLI etc etc. Cant say for sure I recall BLA though.
	() Thanks

10th April 2008, 19:56	#55
Julian UK BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: London UK Posts: 709 Thanked: 254 Times	Also with the DLT numbers in the other Kolkata pictures. Weren't DLT numbers all Taxis in Delhi? Maybe someone very elderly in the licensing authority could explain. This site has some wonderful old photos once you get their search facility to work.
	() Thanks

10th April 2008, 20:21	#56
historyman BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Eyam, UK Posts: 31 Thanked: 4 Times	Hello Julian. I'm Historyman (History of Cars in India forum) and I'm very interested in the following recent photos you posted/linked to: Ford Showroom 1917, Car Showroom Chennai 1913 and the photo circa 1903 showing 4 people sat in a car. Do you know when/where Ford opened their first show room in India and/or the types of any of the cars in the photos? Any histoical info you have will be much appreciated. I'm in Eyam/UK
	() Thanks

10th April 2008, 20:36	#57
karlosdeville Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pune Posts: 11,976 Thanked: 18,277 Times View My Garage	I somewhat guessed that the cars would be taxis with white plates, but was put off by different colours. When were uniform colours made mandatory for taxis?
	() Thanks

10th April 2008, 20:46	#58
historyman BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Eyam, UK Posts: 31 Thanked: 4 Times	Hello boeuff. Reference the photo posted 31 March 08 of a 1902 Thornycroft car. It is a photo of a car owned by a Princess Christine - a 4,650 cc 24 hp Thornycroft, which was first produced in 1905 (not 1902 as stated on the photo). Historyman (History of Cars in India forum)
	() Thanks

10th April 2008, 23:05	#60
Stanher Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Hyderabad, AP Posts: 6,491 Thanked: 2,087 Times View My Garage	Lovely old photos, Julian! Although looking more in detail at this pic.: The Digital South Asia Library - A Calcutta City Scene Are you sure this was taken at Calcutta? Because squinting at the "Bharath Cafe" board on the left building, I can make out some words, below the name, painted in what looks like Tamil. Also a few of the men in the photo are wearing 'vEshtis' (lungi-like garment), so am wondering if it could've actually been Madras? Last edited by Stanher : 10th April 2008 at 23:06.
	() Thanks