George Hounslow writes: 
"Nice run out in the 1901 Porter today to the Vintage and Nostalgia festival at Stockton. Lots of very interesting cars, lovely weather and a 30 mile round trip. Photo courtesy of Ros King and Peter Hounslow."

George Hounslow taking his 1901 Porter Stanhope on it's first run on the open road.

The Dordt in Stoom event in Holland has begun. A number of steam cars are present, including 3 from England.

9th April

Cleaning cleaning cleaning. What a wondrous job an ultrasonic tank and citrinox does for cleaning this 100 year old stuff!! 2 more pump shaft to make and start assembling!

Not a ton of work but progress is progress. Chromed water pumps rods are fully assembled. Need a new fuel piston and support slider yet. And a bunch more cleaning.

14th April

​The car hit some sunlight today! The dash went back in after the windshield frame repair a while ago. The kidney gauge is back installed. A bunch of things cleaned up and working on mounting the condenser to see how plumbing will fit. We are making progress now!

Billings Cooke Writes "Took a "field trip" with the local SACA chapter to the Orange Historical Society. Saw two Grouts and got a bit of information for Tilly."

George Hounslow recently test drove his 1901 Porter Stanhope around a local country estate, just after a complete restoration. Photos courtesy of Mary Gray.

Wanted 1908 White L Driveshaft Universal Caps

Hi I'm looking for some (3x) of the caps that screw on the universal on the driveshaft of a Model L. They look like bottle caps but I think they are hardened to prevent the pins from working their way out. I can make some put just putting this out there as I have 1 but if someone has some it would save me a bit of time to get this back on the road let me know.

Contact Tim Jones-tim.jones@aut.ac.nz

RON ROGERS ( ROGERSMACH@YAHOO.COM )
George, Congratulations!

Check out this video of the 1906 White F when owned by Saxon Littler at the 1955 West of England Steam Engine Society Rally. The car is now owned by Richard Hounslow. Video Courtesy of the West of England Steam Engine Society.

Basil Craske races his 1909 Stanley R up Prescott Hill Climb in 2012.

Check out this video of the Jimmy Built Steam Car, being prepared for the 2017 Sema Show in Las Vegas.

Founded in 1900 by Major D Porter of New York, inventor of the Porter Electric Motor, the Porter Motor Co. of 950 Tremont Building, Boston Massachusetts, claimed to build “The Only Perfect Automobile”. In that case, perfection was too much for the average American of the time, as the company folded in 1901.
Many claims were made by Major D Porter (Major being his Christian name, not a rank). Automatic water control, a perfect burner, a fuel and water supply that will last 60 miles; all to be made in a 100 ft x 35ft factory “within a mile of the business section of the city” that is “well fitted for building motor carriages”.
All wishful thinking. Further research carried out by my friend Keith Burton during his visit to Boston revealed that Major D Porter’s occupation was a “Patentor”, writing patents for other people’s inventions for a living hoping to live off the royalties. His own inventions included the before mentioned electric motor and a Fibre Container, very similar to modern day Cardboard Milk Containers. However, at the time, it seems his income was slight; he and his family shared a modest house with another family in Boston; the company office of 950 Tremont building, was in fact a hotel-9th floor, 50th room. It seems that a factory, of the type previously described, was built, the building surviving until recently. However, it appears Major Dane Porter was ultimately arrested for Larceny of upward of $3000 . A Canadian by birth, he attempted to repatriate to Canada towards the end of his life, and indeed, died there in 1918, aged 59.

Ray Clark and his brother Chris once again put on a very much appreciated coffee and water stop at Redhill, the half way point. Thank you to Ray and Chris for doing this yet again.

Locomobile engine wanted for car for London to Brighton Veteran Car Run on 5th November.
If you can help please ring Rory Holbrook on 07747 778093. 

The proprietor of one of the first four Locomobile service stations in the United States is still in the Automobile business. His comparison of service as it was known 25 years ago with that of today will only bring a smile to the face of the newcomer in the industry, but the old-timers to whom a 30-mile trip without a stop was an adventure, will remember and understand.

When the first automobiles used in Philadelphia were run down the gravel surfaced road to Atlantic city, known then and now as the White Horse Pike, the owners always stopped halfway on their journey at Hammonton, N.J. There they found service, a man with tools and equipment and knowledge to restore the cars to running condition again.

Al Patten, proprietor of a bicycle store in Hammonton on Bellevue Avenue, then a part of the White Horse Pike, started repairing automobiles before there was a single sales agency in Philadelphia.

The early cars coming to him were Locomobile and other steamers and he designed and used a plan of standing the car on end while working on the boiler that was a forerunner of later service station equipment.

Burned out boilers, due to low water, were common repair jobs in those days. The boilers wee made with steel shells and copper tubes. When the water ran low the copper tubes shrank at the bottom and allowed water and steam to leak out. Sometimes the tubes could be re-caulked, but often new tubes were required. To get at the tubes from underneath the car was a hard job, so Mr Patten rigged up a heavy block and tackle from a second story window of his store. When a boiler was to be repaired the car was backed on the sidewalk near the front of the store, the tackle fastened to the front axle and the front of the car bodily hoisted leaving the rear wheels on the ground.

Jordan Levy writes:
"Here are some pics of my R project that I wanted to share - John/ Justin/Grant Goold and Don Bourdon, assembling it at Don's shop. The body was the first R Mark Johnston had made (wish he was here to see it)."

Coming up for sale at Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run Auction on 3rd November 2017, is the 1902 Toledo Junior, who's whereabouts has been unknown for some time. It turns out that it had been in a European collection for this time. 

The Toledo Junior was a smaller version of the Model A Toledo, but had a smaller, open engine rather than the larger, enclosed engine used on other Toledo models. It also had a smaller water tank; a smaller, open (rather than enclosed) differential; and side tiller rather than centre tiller steering.

Unused for a number years, the car will more than likely need some work, but we hope to see it returning to the road one day in the future.

Also for sale at the same auction is the unique 1896 Salvesen Steam Cart.

Check out this, recently found in a photocopy from Horseless age from our archives, dated September the 18th 1901. Electric Water Gauge lights appear to be nothing new!:

" A new appliance for steam carriages has lately been placed upon the market by A.L Dyke, of St. Louis. It consists of an electric miniature lamp and the accompanying battery and push button for lighting up the water gauge at night. The water gauge on a steam carriage always needs close attention, and after dark a good light for lighting it up so as to reflect the water level from the mirror on the dash is absolutely necessary. The incandescent lamp of this outfit is provided with a socket ready for screwing onto the side of the carriage back of the lamp; the push button, which is a small "midget" push with pearl button, is placed in the arm of the seat directly in front of the throttle lever. The batteries, which are very small, are screwed under the seat. The battery, lamp, and push button are connected by a small wire. By pushing the button a full glare is thrown on the water gauge and reflected from the mirror. The light is not intended to remain lighted at all times, but merely as a flash light. The battery is said to last several months without any attention, and is quite inexpensive."