Veteran Motor Car Club of
America Bulb Horn, Vol.
16 No. 4, October 1955
Steam Lore
by Stanley W. Ellis
In 1948 a private meet for steam cars only was held at Mohawk Park,
Charlemont, Massachusetts. Subsequently several other small
gatherings were held, at the home of T. Clarence Marshall in Yorklyn,
Del., and at Joe Knowles' in Lincoln, Mass. These were most
enjoyable for the enthusiasts who managed to huff and puff their way
thither. But surely the lovely village of Lakeville, Connecticut
and the hospitable facilities of the Interlaken Inn will live in
affectionate memories of steam addicts in spite of some atrocious June
Weather. For there were assembled no less than twenty three
steamers, -- pilots burning, whistles blowing, and plumes of steam
chuffing out the back. Although no club sponsored this gathering
and hence it is not "official" VMCCA news we hope that this report will
be of interest to all old car enthusiasts.
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Cars at Lakeville, Conn.
Those of us who steamed down from Boston on Thursday June 9 to arrive
early ahead of the throng were well rewarded. It was a treat to
sit upon the broad porch of the Inn and see John Tyson's fine 1922 come
sizzling in the yard all the way from Royersford, Pa., T. Clarence
Marshall in his 1924 Doble, and then the Southern contingent -- Tom
Marshall Jr., in the fabulous 1912 30 h.p. 7 pass. Stanley
noncondenser, accompanied by Norman Behrendt in his 1923 Stanley, and
Ed. Pamphilon in his Model 735.
From the North came Paul Bourdon from Woodstock, Vermont in a most
interesting noncondenser, a 1910 with original 10 h.p. engine but with
the frame lengthened and adapted to take a 23 inch boiler and
burner. This was the car which Paul drove to the World's Fair in
1939. Later on a slippery Lakeville road there was an unfortunate
accident and the front end of this car was badly damaged in a skid into
an abutment. We are happy to report that it can be
repaired. The only other disaster was the fire which partially
destroyed Robert Bohaty's beautiful little Locomobile. Before
extinguishers could douse the flames the work of twenty years' loving
restoration was charred and twisted. But, again, not beyond the
possibility of repairs. Our sincere sympathy to both these men,
and our assurance of any help possible from the rest of us.
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1899 Locomobile, R.L. Lyon, Chicago, Ill.
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1903 Grout - J. Beun, Washington, D.C.
Robert Oswald [sic] came to grief near Newark, N.J., when several boiler
tubes began to leak. He plugged these in the pouring rain and
continued to Lakeville. Then the following day he did a thorough
job of re-expanding aided by the advice of a crowd of Stanley
experts. At last accounts all was tight, steam tight, that is.
This writer was particularly interested in Mr. Marshall's Doble, one of
two he now owns. Since a ride, kindly offered, was the first I
have ever had in this fabulous vehicle of legend it was most
interesting to compare the performance with Stanley and White,[.] The
soft and distant hum of the burner, the red pump lights winking on and
off, the beautiful riding and road qualities of the car made this an
experience to be remembered. And so, too, was a jaunt in Dr.
Miller's equally fabulous 1907 White Model G. Up hill and down
dale with no faltering to the tunes of a mammoth steam calliope mounted
on the running board. What greater pleasures can life afford?
[picture]
1903 Stanley, E.S. Eckel, Washington, N.J.
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1903 Stanley - C.M. Ranta, Putnam, Conn.
It rained. It kept on raining with now and then a pause -- but no
one really cared. On Saturday the clouds parted long enough for a
little tour of 45 miles and a picnic by the Housatonic River. In
the evening there was an informal entertainment at the Inn. Old
car films were shown through the kindness of John Miller and a tape
recording was played of an interview with Fred Marriott, the original
Stanley racer. With the questions and promptings of Frank
Gardner, Henry Shepard, and Stanley Ellis, Fred was induced to tell of
the early steam days and of the famous speed
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1907 White - John P. Miller, Newtown, Conn.
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1907 Stanley - H. Zinn, Upper Montclair, N.J.
trial of 1906 in which he became the first human being to travel 190
miles an hour.
Other cars of note: Earle Eckel in his prize-winning 1903 Stanley,
giving rides galore; James Beun and the Glidden Tour Grout; Ellis
Robertson, once Stanley agent in Keene, New Hampshire and once
[picture]
1907 Stanley - E.J. Beagle, New Britain,
Conn.
again at the tiller of a 1903; Carl Ranta and Ed. Battison in the
former's 1903 Stanley which actually steamed the 100 miles from Putnam,
Connecticut. (Most of the other early cars arrived on trailers,
quite understandably). Frank Gardner's 1912 20 h.p. a car whose
performance is equal to its beautiful appearance, James Melton's fine
1910 20 h.p. which was prevented from road work through lack of a
top. (And how necessary tops were.) Harlowe Zinn is an
enthusiast for stainless steel. How the eyes of old Stanley men
would pop if they could lift the hood of his
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1908 Stanley - R.G. King, Norwalk, Conn.
[picture]
1910 Stanley - P.A. Bourdon, Woodstock, Vt.
1907 10 h.p. and behold everything burnished and gleaming, boiler,
burner, and all. Great credit is due Ed. Pamphilon for his
courage in driving a not completely restored and quite untested car
from Washington with entire success, and to J. Donald Gibson whose 740
roadster represented an enormous amount of restoration--the car has
been rebuilt almost literally from scrap. Mr. Gibson was taken
ill while at the meet, most unfortunately. Our best wishes for a
return to good health and good steaming. Harold Marcotte's 750 is
of special interest because of the water tube boiler and atomizing
burner. All Harold does is turn a switch, and then like the
Doble, away goes the Stanley. Indeed almost every car is
deserving of
[picture]
1912 Stanley, Thos.C. Marshall, Jr.,Yorklyn, Del.
[picture]
1919 Stanley - L.E. Pamphilon, Hyattsville, Md.
special mention for the fine restoration and expert handling.
Truly a group of outstanding steam cars!
The widespread interest aroused is shown by the presence of guests from
Arizona, California, Florida, Seattle, and points between. Mr.
Harry Peterson was present from Detroit with an album of photos showing
the progress of the Detrick modern steamer, and Joe Warner of
Wellfleet, Massachusetts brought his 4 cyl. VEE engine in the trunk of
his gas car to show to enthusiasts.
All in all there was enough steam for everyone, and when the last
whistle tooted and the chuffings died away we felt ourselves richly
rewarded by this successful recapturing of a bygone phase of motoring
which still can enlist such enthusiasm.
Our thanks to all the hard work done by Frank Gardner and the assisting
committee, -- Tom Marshall Jr., Norbert Behrendt, Earle Eckel, Arthur
Eldridge, Stanley Ellis, John Miller, and Henry Shepard.
Will there be another steam meet, and where? Who knows?
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