Running like Clockwork...., a photo from South Lanarkshire, Scotland

Photographer's Note

Yesterday was the day of the annual Biggar Vintage and Veteran Vehicle Rally and here I spotted the arrival of a real "oldie", a 1909 "Hupmobile" Model 20 Runabout, as it made its way to its position in the field, its engine just having fired into life, producing clouds of oily smoke and with its proud elderly owner at the controls.

The Hupmobile was an American motor car and must have been a very rare import into Britain in the early years of the 20th Century. It's probably unlikely that many of our American friends will even have heard of Hupmobiles as the company finally ceased production in the early 1940s.

"Robert Craig Hupp, following a distinguished career with Oldsmobile, Ford and Regal, established the manufacture of motorcars bearing his name in 1909 at Detroit in Michigan. The first Hupmobile was a four cylinder 2.8 litre Runabout with sliding pinion gearbox. This car, designated the Model 20, was launched at the Detroit Motor Show in February 1909, it was priced at $750. Henry Ford on seeing the car at the show said 'I wonder whether we could ever build as good a car for as little money.' The Model 20 found 1,618 customers in the first year. A total of nearly 16,000 models were built before production ceased in 1913.

The Hupmobile Model 20 was renowned for its durability and turn of speed. For these attributes, and perhaps for its very tight turning circle, it was selected as Detroit's first police car. The car was also much enjoyed by ladies who found it easy to start. This car was also both fun and interesting to drive- all the more so because of the twin speed Ruckstell rear axle incorporated in the transmission. The Hup Corporation had such confidence in their Model 20 that every car was guaranteed for life."

You can see a wider, fuller view of this magnificently restored and presented elderly motor car in the workshop as well as a larger version of this main picture on the "beta" TE website here.

snunney, holmertz, jhm, CLODO, macjake, jjcordier, ktanska, Royaldevon, delpeoples, COSTANTINO has marked this note useful

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snunney (130967) 2015-08-17 2:35

Hello John,
The owner looks the part perfectly! I like how you have framed the shot setting everything in context. Very well exposed with excellent colours and clarity. The coachwork looks in pristine condition. Thanks also for the very interesting note.

holmertz (103762) 2015-08-17 2:57

Hello John,
Although many of these very old cars are quite "cute" I usually find a photo of a plain and empty car - and nothing else - rather boring. But this photo includes an elderly gentleman examining the interior and a very thick cloud of stinking smoke, and they both contribute to making this an attractive and interesting photo. It may be a photo mainly for car lovers, but it has a strong human touch and good element of modern cultural history.
Kind regards,
Gert

jhm (211738) 2015-08-17 3:30

Hello John,

Running like Clockwork, is a wonderful title for the picture, only a little bit a lot of smoke!
I am happy with the second picture, where we the car completely can see.
Maybe is the man my age but the car older.
I would also real enjoy of a visit with all the nice cars, wonderful
Wonderful captured, lovely presentation too.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice new week,
John.

CLODO (45118) 2015-08-17 4:18

Hi John

Back to the early 1900! He is as old as his smoking car, and checks what's wrong. Gear, no! Hand brakes, no!
I like the grey background enhancing the red hues of the car and fiting well with this old gentleman
Cheers
CLODO

Silvio1953 (223141) 2015-08-17 5:27

Ciao caro John, great view of fantastic old car, fine details, excellent clarity and wonderful cokors,, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvia non

Nicou (193814) 2015-08-17 6:21

Hlelo

quelle aigme de cette ancienne voiture quel rendu rouge et ce conducteur fantastique et la fumйe de l'enclenchement du moteur quelle compo elle est trиs belle cette voiture.
Bravo et amitiй
Nicou

macjake (98544) 2015-08-17 6:52

Hi John
15,000 for this beauty eh? Lets see what I have in the ol' bank account :)

If I had a time machine, i'd love to go back to the past, say...1909, and show up in a brand new car...imagine the looks on their faces :)

To be totally honest I think i enjoy the WS photo more, and not bc I don't like this shot. Simply because in the ws version i can spend 5 min looking at all the other cars in the bg - so much fun.

I can see you driving this car around Scotland John...buy it!

and I would have certainly gone to the car show with you for sure.

awesome couple of photographs, gets the ol' juices flowing, i LOVE LOVE cars.

cheers
Craig

Sergiom (117241) 2015-08-17 7:28

Bonjour John,

J'aime beaucoup cette composition. L'homme semble avoir des problиmes avec sa transmission et probablement aura besoin de faire le plein d'huile si il rйussit а dйmarrer un de ces jours.

Amicalement

Serge

carlo62 (81265) 2015-08-17 14:25

Ciao John
la scena и molto simpatica, vedere questo personaggio alle prese con questa auto d'epoca che fa i capricci mette allegria.
Saluti
Carlo

jjcordier (79299) 2015-08-17 23:29

John
On est en plein dans l'action; зa fume, зa pйtarade, зa fonce.....mais pas trop vite quand mкme! Excellente photo.
Amicalement
JJ

ktanska (45126) 2015-08-18 0:03

Hi John,
That cloud of smoke is overwhelming! Good action shot. The driver is clearly vewry careful on his actions. Nice to see the overall view of this gathering in the background.

emka (158988) 2015-08-18 0:14

Hi John, I love it . I like old cars but here with the guy anly a bit younger than his car, it is even more attractive. Amazing that it still works and looks so cared. I am sure the man loves his old lady. And marvelous composition, the red shining car against the smoke.
And were you also with your car?
Hugs MAlgo

Royaldevon (86598) 2015-08-18 1:13

Hello John,

I have never, before, known a photograph create such a wonderful feeling of on old time comedy! The guy is just showing off his car when smoke erupts from the back and the car shoots off the screen. (I know that is not the reality of the situation, just the impression! And the driver looks to be searching for an answer to the problem!)
I love the fact that that he is so vividly clear in the f/g, against a slightly faded b/g.
Your photograph creates an excellent scenario.

The w/s is equally pleasing but in quite a different way. It is a cracker of a car and obviously very well cared for.

Have a lovely day,
Bev :-)
Coincidently, I have posted a photograph of an old vehicle ... with Len inside!

willperrett (14215) 2015-08-18 3:42

Hello John

I'm sure you're right about the rarity of this model, particularly in this country. However, John Betjeman had certainly heard of them, and apparently seen them: witness "Indoor games near Newbury", here, a poem I remember teaching a few years ago. I'm also sure he'll fail his emissions test! Nice image, with the proud owner completely engrossed in his business. Maybe we could have seen the front of the car as well??

Kind regards

Will

delpeoples (60342) 2015-08-19 5:20

Caro Giovanni

oh dear, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang this is not. His poor car, but his misfortune is the photgrapher's boon. It looks fantastic and the smoke contrasts so nicely with the strong green and red colours. You must have been in your element at this car show, and what a great name, the Hupmobile. Cool photo, thanks for sharing.

Un abbraccio
Lisa

Tigerlily (3381) 2015-08-22 13:18

Wow.. that's really a beautiful car, isn't it, John? It certainly couldn't come out cheap, look at the finishing work, fine detail, so much craft men's work put into it.. the glory of the past, beautifully restored.
A wonderful shot, fantastic colour and detail.
Regards,
Jasmine

COSTANTINO (117940) 2015-08-25 0:19

Hello dear friend and have a nice time
and a happy new day
original version
I love shots of this kind showing the arrival
of a real oldie a 1909 Model 2o into a green
field and lost into a cloud of smoke
thanks for sharing this important
scenery with us
regards
Costantino