Author Archives: Tony Howden

Motor Vehicle Era’s Veteran, Vintage or Classic

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When reviewing or researching Motor Vehicles it is handy to have in mind the Motor Vehicle Era’s Veteran, Vintage or Classic.

Commonly these are understood as:

  • Veteran – manufactured prior to 1918
  • Vintage – manufactured between 1919 and 1930
  • Post Vintage – manufactured between 1931 and 1949
  • Classic – manufactured between 1950 and 1969
  • Modern Classic – manufactured between 1970 and 1989

      However, depending on which country you are in, and how pedantic you want to be we should also include:

      • UK Veteran – only pre-1905 vehicles. See the London-Brighton Car Run
      • UK Edwardian – manufactured between 1905 and 1918
      • UK Vintage – manufactured between 1919 and 1930
      • UK Post-Vintage – manufactured after 1930
      • UK Classic – no longer made, but desirable. Over 40 years old for no road tax.

      and others like:

      • Ireland Antique – pre-1905
      • Ireland Veteran – 1905 to 1918
      • USA Vintage 1919 to 1925 or 1919 to 1930
      • USA Antique 1930 to 1975
      • USA Classic 2000 or earlier
      • USA CCCA “Full Classic” – 1915 to 1948 within a specific list of vehicle models

      Basically it is a mine-field of opinions, so I will stick with the top list.

      R.A.A.F Crystal Unit Holder Y110X

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      As a part of cleaning up the remnants of Max Howden Crystals, I have come across this R.A.A.F Crystal Unit Holder Y110X in its original box.

      RAAF Crystal Holder Y110X
      RAAF Crystal Holder Y110X

      The crystal unit is the holder only without an actual crystal or frequency assigned. I imagine that this was held in preparation for orders from the R.A.A.F for specific frequency crystals to be made and mounted.

      R.A.A.F Crystal Unit Holder Y110X War Memorial

      This is a similar crystal holder noted at the Australian War Memorial.

      The reference page is https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C259365

      The text at the War Memorial Page includes estimated manufacture dates c.1939-1945 as a World War II technology.

      Walter Francis Maxwell Howden and Thomas Montagu Howden

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      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#

      Noting Thomas Montagu Howden

      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

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      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.