The sign was simple enough: "Teens White, 30hp, $3,500, or part out $4,000." Teens, as in the decade, is a fairly broad range when early automobiles enter the picture; models and enhancements were numerous among major manufacturers and smaller companies alike. Nonetheless, that's what greeted all who gazed upon this bulky find in Hershey's Red (North) Field on a sunny Friday morning--more specifically, October 9.
On the surface, it's nothing more than a pile of barely identifiable metal, finished with more rust than the stuff holding the remains of the Titanic
together. A few feet of lumber is all that was left of the cowl. Keeping it mobile was some unknown straight axle with a deep set of wheels clad in old Michelin radials. A spectacle for some, treasure for another.
Diving below the layers of rust, it's hard to ignore what became known as the "White Curve" hood and radiator that was introduced in 1905; it was retained throughout the duration of both automobile and truck production, making the "Teens" statement much more plausible. Another visible clue as to the model year is the rather tall radiator neck, indicating that what sat behind it was not the company's 30hp steam engine, but rather one fueled by gasoline beginning in 1909. Both types of power co-existed into 1911; however, the 30hp four-cylinder soldiered on until the end of 1916 production.
The next likely hint as to the front end's date of origin has to be the remains of the cowl configuration. Its flat, upright posture predates all 1914-'18 models (when designers finally blended the hood into a curved cowl--1918 marked the end of the company's automobile production), based on the few reference photos on hand. This could have also been true for 1913 models as well; however, their truck production retained a flat cowl on select models (think 1910 ¾-ton Domestic Express). Additionally, the side plate, complete with the White logo and somewhat outboard hand lever, indicates the absence of a driver's door--such as a roadster, limousine, toy tonneau or the aforementioned truck.
Short of digging for serial numbers, this is as close as one can assume for such an unusual find--we're betting the Domestic Express. In all fairness, what remains actually looked to be usable (or as a pattern) if you had the need. The steering column was somehow retained, the four-cylinder engine was in place, and even the headlamp mounting brackets (located on the frame in front of the radiator) escaped the wrath of time. All that's missing is the rest of the frame, and the front suspension, and the seat....
This article originally appeared in the February, 2010 issue of Hemmings Motor News.
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