Model F, 1909 Glidden               Period Images    Home
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The 1909 Glidden tour was a grueling 2,637 mile run from Detroit to Denver, then eastward to Kansas City, MO.
Only 2 cars got through it with a perfect score.
There were 15 days of driving, with mileages ranging from 132 to 212 -
    few people would schedule that kind of push on a tour today.

George Schuster drove a Model F, presumably new from the factory,
    as a press car.for leading automotive magazines The Automobile and Motor Age.
He was recognized everywhere, as the round-the-world race had ended just a year ago.
He was registered with a list of 6 passengers -
    H. M. Sweetland, publisher of both magazines
    A. G. Batchelder, managing editor of The Automobile
    F. B. Barnett, The Automobile
    David Beecroft, managing editor of Motor Age
    W. McKay White
    Mr. Vebbits
No picture shows more than 5 passengers, and "Vebbits" doesn't appear to be an actual name,
    so perhaps there was an inside joke going on.

Thomas's 1910 season was announced in December of 1909,
    so George's car was surely a 1909 season car.
Renowned early automobile photographer Nathan Lazarnick shot thousands of photos of this event,
    many of which survive, so there are plenty of images of the Model F.
Unless noted, all images are from the website of Michigan State University.

Many of these pictures are quite scenic, but have been heavily cropped for display on this page.

July 10
Two days before the start, there was a gala parade in Detroit of the participating cars.
These photos, taken in front of the Ponchartrain Hotel, the tour's official starting point,
    were probably take in conjunction with that event.
The boys are all spiffed up, and the car is unscratched.


Detroit Public Library


Detroit Public Library








July 12: The Start

This photo was probably taken a few minutes before the start.
The crew is dressed for travel and there isn't so much of a crowd around.


At 10AM, Detroit's mayor sent off the first of the 30 competing cars.
At 1-minute intervals, he signaled each start with a cannon shot.
After those 30,  he started one of the other press cars, then Schuster in the Model F.



The mayor and his startingcannon are on the right.


George sits at the line while the Mayor watches the previous car's departure.




The Mayor makes sure they're ready as George waits for the signal.


GO!  Thanks to the cannon blast and the known departure timing,
    we can be pretty sure that this photo was taken at exactly 10:31 Central Time, on July 12, 1909.


And they're off!



July 14: Destination Madison

Near Madison.



This photo is labeled only "Wisconsin."
The tour was in Wisconsin on July 14-16.



July 16: Destination Minneapolis

Near Pleasant Valley, MN.


"You guys need any help?"  At Oconomowoc Lake, MN.


"I guess not."


Near Minneapolis.


In Minneapolis.



July 21: Destination Council Bluffs

Near Council Bluffs.  "How far you going, ladies?"
Notice that the top has been removed.



July 22: Destination Kearney, NE

Near Rogers, NE.
Now the windshield is gone, too.


Near the Loup River bridge.




Crossing the Loup River.


Near Kearney.
I just can't believe that position was very relaxed.



July 23: Destination Julesburg, CO

Crossing the North Platte River.




The next two photos are labeled Nebraska.
The tour was in Nebraska on July 22-23.


Skirting the deep mud of the road.



July 24: Destination Denver,

Pounding along, 100 miles from Denver.


Stopped, 50 miles from Denver.


July 27: Destination Hugo, CO

In Colorado Springs.



July 28: Destination Oakley, KS

Near Oakley.


July 30: Final Destination Kansas City, MO

This photo is labeled Kansas.
The tour was in Kansas on July 29-30.



Unplaced photos

These pictures either have no location identified, or are labeled with locations that are not consistent
    with the progression of the car's appearance, or with the surroundings.
They're presented in rough order of the car's appearance changes -
    top and windshield, no top, no top and no windshield.

This one is labeled "Near Hugo, CO."
Note that the "accessory bag" is clearly visible.
It can be seen in some of the starting poctures, but it was definitely gone, along with the top,
    by the time they reached Council Bluffs.
And the windshield was gone by the time they reached Colorado.


This one is labeled "Near Junction City, KS."








A. G. Batchelder driving.



Detroit Public Library

We are fortunate to have these two pictures from the rear, showing the car wearing NY manufacturer's plate #16490,
    the same number used on the NY-Paris car during the US part of its trip.




This one is labeled "Near Junction City, KS."


Traveling with a rare 30hp Stanley Model M.