Literary view of a Model T Ford in Scotland circa 1920's
Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2024 7:59 pm
A while ago I read an early 'detective' novel by an author named Josephine Tey (a pen name for Elizabeth MacKintosh). The book is entitled Man in the Queue and it was first published in1929.
In the book various vehicles appear, but of particular interest are several sections in which a 'Ford' car is described, or is in use. Although it's just possible the cars could be Model A's I believe they're in fact Model T's, and as I was quietly amused by the way they were depicted I thought you might enjoy reading several excerpts too:
... “How do you manage when you meet something?” he asked the driver.
“Well, sometimes we back—and sometimes they back,” he said.
After about five miles Grant saw this new rule of the road demonstrated when they came face to face with a traction-engine. It was a diminutive specimen of its kind, but formidable enough in the circumstances. On one side was the hill, and on the other a small rocky ravine. With the greatest good humour the driver reversed, and backed his unwieldy vehicle until he could run it into the bank in a siding for road metal. The traction-engine chuffed complacently past, and the journey was resumed.
In all the thirty-six miles they met only two more obstacles, both motors. In one case they grazed past by a mutual withdrawing of skirts, the near wheel of the mail-car being in a ditch and the near wheel of the other in a bank of heather and boulders. In the other case the car proved to be a Ford, and with the mongrel adaptability of its kind took without parley to the moor, and with complete insouciance swept bumping past the stationary mail-car what time the drivers exchanged unintelligible greetings. This display of amphibiousness seemed to astonish no one, and though the car was now full to overflowing, no remark was made. It was evidently a daily occurrence....
... “Well, if I can have the Ford now, I’ll go over and see him.” Fishing was the only excuse which would allow him to wander the country without remark. “What did you say his name was?” he asked, as he stepped into a battered Ford alongside a hirsute Jehu with a glaring eye....
... “Are there many motors in Carninnish?”
“Well, Mr. Drysdale has two, as I expect you know, and Mr. Logan has one, but that’s all. The other minister has a sidecar.”
But when some one wanted to hire, what did they do?
Oh, as to that, the hotel had a Ford for visitors. They hired out that when they weren’t needing it themselves. A Ford in the constable’s opinion evidently did not come under the heading “cars.”...
Aside from the vehicles I thought the book wasn't too bad for an early work of this genre, and would recommend it for those who might enjoy a historical read. Amongst other things Tey is credited for launching the career of Sir John Gielgud, and as an author who made a significant contribution in her field (see https://crimereads.com/josephine-tey-a- ... -classics/ for an insight).
Luke.
In the book various vehicles appear, but of particular interest are several sections in which a 'Ford' car is described, or is in use. Although it's just possible the cars could be Model A's I believe they're in fact Model T's, and as I was quietly amused by the way they were depicted I thought you might enjoy reading several excerpts too:
... “How do you manage when you meet something?” he asked the driver.
“Well, sometimes we back—and sometimes they back,” he said.
After about five miles Grant saw this new rule of the road demonstrated when they came face to face with a traction-engine. It was a diminutive specimen of its kind, but formidable enough in the circumstances. On one side was the hill, and on the other a small rocky ravine. With the greatest good humour the driver reversed, and backed his unwieldy vehicle until he could run it into the bank in a siding for road metal. The traction-engine chuffed complacently past, and the journey was resumed.
In all the thirty-six miles they met only two more obstacles, both motors. In one case they grazed past by a mutual withdrawing of skirts, the near wheel of the mail-car being in a ditch and the near wheel of the other in a bank of heather and boulders. In the other case the car proved to be a Ford, and with the mongrel adaptability of its kind took without parley to the moor, and with complete insouciance swept bumping past the stationary mail-car what time the drivers exchanged unintelligible greetings. This display of amphibiousness seemed to astonish no one, and though the car was now full to overflowing, no remark was made. It was evidently a daily occurrence....
... “Well, if I can have the Ford now, I’ll go over and see him.” Fishing was the only excuse which would allow him to wander the country without remark. “What did you say his name was?” he asked, as he stepped into a battered Ford alongside a hirsute Jehu with a glaring eye....
... “Are there many motors in Carninnish?”
“Well, Mr. Drysdale has two, as I expect you know, and Mr. Logan has one, but that’s all. The other minister has a sidecar.”
But when some one wanted to hire, what did they do?
Oh, as to that, the hotel had a Ford for visitors. They hired out that when they weren’t needing it themselves. A Ford in the constable’s opinion evidently did not come under the heading “cars.”...
Aside from the vehicles I thought the book wasn't too bad for an early work of this genre, and would recommend it for those who might enjoy a historical read. Amongst other things Tey is credited for launching the career of Sir John Gielgud, and as an author who made a significant contribution in her field (see https://crimereads.com/josephine-tey-a- ... -classics/ for an insight).
Luke.
