Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Dazz · Joined: 19 Feb 2020 Posts: 5

Hi
A distant relative took photos of the car that I think they drove on their honeymoon. They were married June 1933 in the UK. I think the car was near new when they drove it.

The radiator cap has an "H" on it, but I don't know if this relates to the car (Hudson?) or the owner. Charles & Doris never owned a car.

Is it possible to trace details using the registration number plate?

Can anyone identify the car make/model/year?

Dazz

mikeC · Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2020 10:09 pm Post subject:

It's a 1927 Hillman Fourteen:

The YH registration series was issued from May 1927, so this car was probably registered in the summer of that year.
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in the garage: 1938 Talbot Ten Airline
Recently departed: 1953 Lancia Appia, 1931 Austin Seven, 1967 Singer Chamois, 1914 Saxon, 1930 Morris Cowley, 1936 BSA Scout, 1958 Lancia Appia coupe, 1922 Star 11.9 ... the list goes on!

mikeC · Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2020 10:27 pm Post subject:

Here's another one; the H script on the radiator matrix is just visible in your photo:

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in the garage: 1938 Talbot Ten Airline
Recently departed: 1953 Lancia Appia, 1931 Austin Seven, 1967 Singer Chamois, 1914 Saxon, 1930 Morris Cowley, 1936 BSA Scout, 1958 Lancia Appia coupe, 1922 Star 11.9 ... the list goes on!

Dazz · Joined: 19 Feb 2020 Posts: 5

Hi
That was quick!!! I am impressed.

The only part I have of the car is the radiator cap and mascot. You can see these on the car in the photo.

I don't know if the cap is factory original, or like the Desmo mascot, an after market accessory. The radiator cap has a hole in it to mount the mascot. Both need to be nickel plated again.

Given the minimal corrosion, especially on the underside of the radiator cap, I don't think these items were on the car for very long. If they were removed from the car 1933, they have been in storage for 87 years.

mikeC · Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2020 9:20 am Post subject:

I'm not very familiar with Vintage Hillmans, but looking at period photos they all appear to have a plain bakelite cap, so I suspect your cap, like the mascot, is an aftermarket accessory.
_________________
in the garage: 1938 Talbot Ten Airline
Recently departed: 1953 Lancia Appia, 1931 Austin Seven, 1967 Singer Chamois, 1914 Saxon, 1930 Morris Cowley, 1936 BSA Scout, 1958 Lancia Appia coupe, 1922 Star 11.9 ... the list goes on!

Dazz · Joined: 19 Feb 2020 Posts: 5

Hi
It is obvious that the mascot is not a good fit on the cap.
I am thinking of separating them since I don't have a car to mount them on.

Dazz

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22439 Location: UK

Only my opinion but it seems like a shame to split them now, given how long they've been together, and they are shown together in your old photos.

RJ
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Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 6304 Location: Derby

I immediately thought what I would do would be to machine the plinth and mascot base to make a better match.

Peter_L · Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2020 8:50 pm Post subject:

Could it be that they two parts are "bad fit" because they were not originally made for each other ?

Could the base be Humber, they did use an uppercase H ?

As Rick mentioned, they have been together for nearly 90 years, I don't see what advantage from separating them, except to perhaps verify that the two may have history before coming together.

But 90 years together is their history, once apart they are just two items of mediocre value and the photos are just another old car.

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7118 Location: Edinburgh

Personally I would not remove the patina of age. As others have said, that is the item pictured in your photos. If you restore the plating it will lose its originality. Clearly this is only my opinion and the mascot is yours to do with as best fits with your desires.

Peter.
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http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

Dazz · Joined: 19 Feb 2020 Posts: 5

Hi

I am certain the mascot and cap were not made for each other. I have the machine tools and ability to make them fit but I don't want to do that.

You can see from the underside the near absence of corrosion. In the presence of water, I would have expected galvanic corrosion between the nut, the cap and the nickel plating. For this reason, I think the cap and mascot were on the car for only a short time.

The reality is that I don't have a use for the mascot/cap.
It would look a lot better sitting on the front of a car than on my shelf.

I suspect trying to find a Hillman owner who wants a cap and mascot for their car would be difficult. The addition of these items would make their car not original. I guess it is going to stay on the shelf.

Dazz

Mog · Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Posts: 661 Location: Sydney

Enjoy them sitting on the shelf and looking at them from time to time . If you got rid of them , you would never see them again . BTW I do not like getting rid of any thing .....

Dazz · Joined: 19 Feb 2020 Posts: 5

Hi
I don't just get rid of stuff.
This radiator cap and mascot were made to be displayed on a car, not sit on my shelf.

Dazz

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22439 Location: UK

Hi all

Does anyone recognise the maker of this char-a-banc?

RJ
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Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
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Rootes75 · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2020 1:56 pm Post subject:

I actually think this is a Commer, its so hard to tell with early commercials but early Commer badges I recall were oval and the 'C' wrapped around the 'ommer'.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.