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Old 07-24-2010, 11:13 PM   #1
Tudortomnz
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Default New RHD Tudor 1928 ; Who is she?

One for era film/Ford Production buffs. I have always wondered about this photo in 'As Henry Built It' book. Rare to find era photo of someone actually in a car 'on the line'. Would this RHD be very early 'demo' car for overseas showroom? Can not think why else a RHD would be fully built up at Detroit as photo caption says. But then I believe a couple of RHD Town Cars were delivered new in US, probably for 'snob value'.
Woman driver [& her Mother?] does not look like a photo extra but maybe an era personality or actress. Anyone know anymore about this great shot?
Tom.
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File Type: pdf Lady in Model A onassembly line.pdf (454.1 KB, 224 views)
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Old 07-25-2010, 01:52 AM   #2
Steve Ciccalone
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Default Re: New RHD Tudor 1928 ; Who is she?

This photo is interesting. Now seeing it enlarged, the car behind the tudor also looks to be RHD. Additionally, this photo I believe can be found in the service bulletins. I'm not sure what the process is called but there it looks more like a drawing (artist touch up?) but it shows the car as LHD. I'm wondering if this photo was printed with the negative reversed. In the early '28 engine release log, there are notaions that two or three consecutive engines were destined for RHD vehicles but I don't know how they would have been inserted into the regular assembly line. Perhaps a printing accident or maybe some smart person in the advertising department realized Ford could demonstrate the "look" to potential buyers in British Empire.

You are correct about the people in the car being of some importance. I don't have any idea who they are. I've always focused on the cute driver but maybe its "Mom" who was really the important one - perhaps she had all the money!
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Old 07-25-2010, 01:58 AM   #3
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Default Re: New RHD Tudor 1928 ; Who is she?

The horn in the photo is on the left, so doubtful it is a photo negative. Just my observation. Rod
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Old 07-25-2010, 02:03 AM   #4
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Default Re: New RHD Tudor 1928 ; Who is she?

Aslo, notice the lack of color on the ford emblem on the grille shell. Looks more like a much later enblem. Maybe I am looking too hard at this pic. Still not help in knowing who is in the car, but the passanger does not seem to be as excited as the driver. Rod
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Old 07-25-2010, 09:11 AM   #5
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Default Re: New RHD Tudor 1928 ; Who is she?

long lost girl friend ???? ............... steve
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Old 07-25-2010, 12:46 PM   #6
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Default Re: New RHD Tudor 1928 ; Who is she?

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Perhaps . . .
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File Type: jpg Lady in Model A _zoom.jpg (58.6 KB, 91 views)
File Type: jpg ActressJanetGaynor.jpg (116.4 KB, 77 views)
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Old 07-25-2010, 02:18 PM   #7
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Default Re: New RHD Tudor 1928 ; Who is she?

RE: Janet Gaynor

For those not familiar with that era of the movies (I wasn’t)
here is some history . . .
Janet Gaynor was the “IT” girl for that time period.
Her career started as silent movies were winding down,
and talkie’s were taking over. In 1928 she was the first
winner of the Best Actress award for her performance
in three films, and the only actress to do so.
She was severely injured in a car accident in 1982, which
contributed to her death two years later.
Mary Martin, Broadway star was also injured in the accident.
Here she is in an 1927 silent film, and some others via YouTube.
http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=LY2kNF...eature=related
She is about 30 seconds into the first clip.
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Old 07-25-2010, 03:36 PM   #8
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Default Re: New RHD Tudor 1928 ; Who is she?

Steve C,You must have seen a lot of bike pics from reversed negatives.I have a picture of my 61 Sportster with the carb and exhaust on the left side.It was taken about 1975,and it was the first time I had ever noticed something like that happening.After that I saw it quite often in bike magazines,but only because I was looking for it.I know exactly where the carb was on the Sportster,it crushed my right knee.
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Old 07-25-2010, 09:38 PM   #9
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Default Re: New RHD Tudor 1928 ; Who is she?

Keith I have a poster for Biketoberfest in Daytona that is made from a reversed negative of a friend's Henderson. Its freaky seeing the shifting levers on the wrong side. Guys coming into the shop stare at it for a long time trying to figure out what's wrong.
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Old 07-26-2010, 01:05 AM   #10
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Default Re: New RHD Tudor 1928 ; Who is she?

Yes, I believe it is Janet Gaynor.! This is just great to finally find out who she is.
Looking at other era photos of her on 'net, it must be her. Well done Mustang in Canada.!
It is a RHD car; horn is left side & Ford on 'shell can be read. In that era, photo negatives were on glass & not possible/or easy to print them reversed as often happened with film negs. The cars behind,as observed, are also RHD & looking at front bumper,although blurry it may be 'open ended type'?
RHD cars at beginning of production were being shipped around to show in foreign showrooms, before world production started. What better than to get 1928 Academy Award 'Best Actress' to pose in RHD car 'no.1' off the line & bound for London in late '27? Just wish the authors of 'As Henry...' had given more hard information.
Also Steve is correct about a drawing of this photo appearing in the Service Bulletins.
I noticed this years ago; in the drawing the car has been transposed to LHD & Janet is hanging out the 'right side' for you guys.All those type drawings in those days would have been based on posed photos for tech. books etc.
If anyone has more info. about these early Detroit RHD Model A's ,let us all know.
Thankyou
Tom in NZ
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Old 07-26-2010, 03:24 AM   #11
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Default Re: New RHD Tudor 1928 ; Who is she?

Several fully built up cars were shipped to England in very early 1928 .Their arrival was met with much publicity and were met by the mayor of Manchester where Fords Trafford park plant was located. Ford dominated the market here between the two world wars,it is said nearly half the vehicles on the roads were T and TT during that period so there was much interest in "The New Ford" . I will see if I can find out more,date,how many cars etc etc.

John in partly cloudy morning England.
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Old 07-26-2010, 05:28 AM   #12
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Default Re: New RHD Tudor 1928 ; Who is she?

I would not be surprised at the early delivery of RHD A's to England as it was the Ford Gateway to the European market. And after all A189 was also found in Europe.
I have an English publication from 1928 on the New Ford and all the line drawings are of very early parts. They either had photos of the parts or an actual car to copy from. They are also RHD.
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File Type: jpg Early Shock Setup.jpg (49.9 KB, 37 views)
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Old 07-26-2010, 05:35 AM   #13
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Default Re: New RHD Tudor 1928 ; Who is she?

Apart from the very obvious, early shock setup, notice also the wiring for the Fender lamps, (Wing lamps) These were first introduced in the U.S. in 1929, but the archives state they were designed in 1927 and the part number show an AF designation, ie RHD.
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Old 07-26-2010, 09:12 AM   #14
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Default Re: New RHD Tudor 1928 ; Who is she?

details, please, on the shock absorber drawing in posting #12- is it an early prototype setup?

Last edited by Chris in WNC; 07-26-2010 at 09:13 AM. Reason: clarity
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Old 07-26-2010, 12:12 PM   #15
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Default Re: New RHD Tudor 1928 ; Who is she?

The only other connection that I could find for Gaynor and
Ford cars is a photo of Janet Gaynor with Margaret Lindsay
leaning on perhaps a Murray bodied fordor or ???
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Old 07-26-2010, 12:39 PM   #16
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Default Re: New RHD Tudor 1928 ; Who is she?

I think Gertrude Stein and whatsit, whoever Alice B T actually was.
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Old 07-26-2010, 12:41 PM   #17
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Old 07-27-2010, 02:02 AM   #18
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Default Re: New RHD Tudor 1928 ; Who is she?

Certainly looks like a Murray bodied Fordor behind Janet & friend.
But I think Gertrude & Alice B Tolkas were busy with artistic pursuits in Paris, rather than photo opp's for Ford Production.
Tom.nz
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Old 07-27-2010, 10:59 AM   #19
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Default Re: New RHD Tudor 1928 ; Who is she?

Do a quick google on "Model A Ford" and "Gertrude Stein"...here's a snippet from one hit: "This look at the intertwined lives of Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas is ... driving in the country in Gertrude's famous Model A Ford, ..."

And from a journal article:
Like
Whitman, Stein adored the “open road,” even if the roads she explored
were French, and she did so in her beloved Model A Ford. Both writers
were profoundly affected by their wartime experiences, and during
these times

Dunno why print went dark...and why RHD if this is Gert and Alice? They mostly lived in France, though time was spent in England. Gonna do some research...I do work in an academic library, after all! Pretty sure I have seen that pic reproduced in some modern Ford book.
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Old 07-27-2010, 02:47 PM   #20
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Default Re: New RHD Tudor 1928 ; Who is she?

I'm closing in...Earlier, Gert served with a T ambulance in WWI, later owned at least two T's, one a 1919-22 type named "Godiva"...later a "Ford V8", which I think looks to be a French type 62 Matford...haven't found her "famous Model A" yet.
Definitely a Ford woman, and I found a picture of a Ford brochure entitled 'GS and her Fords" by Donald Hall...no date given.
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