Walter Francis Maxwell Howden and Thomas Montagu Howden

As I research on Trove a lot for cars and toys I also managed to find a number of articles relating to my grand-father, Max Howden (Walter Francis Maxwell Howden), and great grand-father Thomas Montagu Howden. I have linked these here for my reference.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/221127692

Max Howden The Bathurst Times (NSW: 1909 - 1925)
Max Howden The Bathurst Times (NSW: 1909 – 1925)

The Bathurst Times (NSW : 1909 – 1925) – Fri 6 Mar 1925 – Page 3 – MAX. HOWDEN’S PROPHECY.

James Flood Motor Body Works Melbourne

Chasing the provenance of a vehicle that has been in the family for many years, the body is by James Flood of City Road South Melbourne while the chassis is a 1912 Hotchkiss sedan.

While researching both the body work and the car I have noted many references to James Flood in the early 1900’s and have noted them here for later recall. As usual the body of work at Trove is of immense help.

This article also provided some additional information and a reminder that I should read at least the first James Flood Book of Early Motoring to help flesh out my timeline.

This is the earliest advertisement I could locate for the business in 1909. It was apparently established in 1908, given that the Early Motoring book was issued for the 60th anniversary of the company in 1968.

The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957)
Sat 8 May 1909, Page 4, Advertising

Later in 1909 this advertisement appears which claimed 10 years experience and that experience was in Essex England where James’ family were coachbuilders.

The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957)
Sat 17 Jul 1909, Page 3, Advertising

In 1911 they were located in City Road. There are various advertisements and articles but none provide street numbers.

Motoring incident in St.Kilda at an oyster saloon !

The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 – 1954)
Sat 3 Jun 1911, Page 16, MOTOR CAR PROSECUTIONS.

Apparently James Flood was a very generous man as evidenced in this article.

Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 – 1916)
Tue 13 Jun 1911, Page 36, ROMANCE OF MODERN LIFE

In this article James Flood was a witness in a court case in September 1911.

The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 – 1954) Fri 22 Sep 1911, Page 10, A DANGEROUS PRACTICE.

By 1915 the James Flood Motor Body Works was based in St. Kilda Road south of Coventry Street.

In January 1919 the adjacent Hoadleys Chocolate factory was burnt to the ground with damage to cars in the building or yard of Flood’s premises.

Singleton Argus (NSW : 1880 – 1954)
Sat 18 Jan 1919, Page 2, BIG FIRE IN MELBOURNE

In summary, it appears the business of James Flood Motor Body Works was initially located in West Melbourne, and then moved to City Road, and then to St.Kilda Road, and later to West Footscray.

My purpose with this is not the history of the business, but just to confirm that the footplates in the body of the Hotchkiss vehicle are accurate and consistent with the time-frame of the coach building. Circa 1912 Hotchkiss chassis and circa 1912 Floods’ were in City Road South Melbourne.