William Wallace Austin, circa 1895

01

Artifact Overview

Sylvester Roper built several self-propelled, steam-powered vehicles from about 1863 to 1895. One of his machines, made in 1865, was sold to William Wallace Austin of Lowell, Massachusetts. Austin's steam carriage was in the possession of a Lowell car dealer when it came to Henry Ford's attention in 1930. Ford acquired the vehicle for his museum in Dearborn, Michigan.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Photographic print

Date Made

circa 1895

Subject Date

circa 1895

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

2011.0.26.3

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford

Material

Paper (Fiber product)
Mounting board

Technique

Gelatin silver process
Mounting

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 7.875 in
Width: 6 in

Inscriptions

on back of mount: Apr.2 - 1908? / William Wallace Austin / Born - June 16, 1824 / Died March 25, 1909 / I think the picture was taken about 1895