Just in case anyone is interested I think that I can give a few details of
the strange car that Ross saw.
The Brewster Motor Company produced cars from 1915 - 1925 on Long Island New
York NY USA The venerable company of Brewster & Co were carriage builders
and makers of custom built car bodies. Later they also produced an
expensive and meticulous built automobile in a variety of open & closed
models. Powered by a 4 cylinder Knight sleeve- valve engine, these
compact town carriage types of cars were widely sought after by the wealthy
who did not want the ostentation of a larger custom-built car. Production
of the initial Brewsters ceased shortly before the company was absorbed by
Rolls Royce of America Inc.
The Brewster name re-appeared in 1934 until 1936 and was used by the
Springfield Manufacturing Company in Massachusetts. (The Rifle
manufactures ?). They produced a series of Open & Closed bodies mounted on
Ford, Buick and other standard chassis. Approximately 300 of these later
bodied cars were produced. These cars carried the Brewster name and cost
in the region of $3,500. (Not cheap to say the least) One of these may
well be one of the cars that Ross saw. Although I have never actually seen
one I am given to understand that some of the bodies produced were Way Out
and that is why the cars were only produced for two years.
I well remember judging a Concours d'Elegance many years ago in which a
Brewster bodied American Rolls Royce was entered. The standard of
workmanship well reflected the reasons why Rolls Royce Inc of America
brought out the Brewster company. That particular car body was based on
the early Mercer - Raceabout. A two-Seater with a large round fuel tank
mounted immediately behind the seats. The body was finished in Deep Beige
in a basket weave effect. It was fitted with back wings (Fenders) and
Beige chassis The interior was Burgundy Red as were the wheels. The
tonneau and hood (top) being Black Leather, All the bright work was nickel
plated and the overall view was fantastic. Did it win ? No! for some
reason which neither I or my fellow judge ( The President of the RREC) could
work out the exhaust system was a succession of holes held together by the
rust.
Ken Hill
----- Original Message -----
From: Ross Jones <rossjones@earthlink.net>
To: Morgan List <morgans@autox.team.net>
Sent: 03 November 2000 23:30
Subject: Thanks
> Thanks for all the responses I received from my heater switch problem. I
now
> understand the function of all the knobs, and found the unknown rocker
> switch is for rear fog lights (which I don't have). I have never even
heard
> of rear fog lights???
>
> Now my problems are solved, except why I lost the two-speeds on the fan,
but
> I can figure that one out.
>
> On a non-Morgan note - a friend of mine went to an antique auto show in
N.Y.
> state last week and brought back photos of what has to be one of the most
> bizarre automobiles I have ever seen. According to my friend, the car was
> made in the USA in the thirties, called a Brewster. There was one owner at
> the show with five different models- sedans, roadsters, and limo.
>
> My friend runs a Model A parts business here in Lancaster, and he said the
> Brewster Company (based in Rochester, N.Y.) were coachbuilders only and
> mounted the bodies on Fords. He says the cars are extremely rare. I tried
to
> research the Brewster on the web, but could find nothing.
>
> The Brewster looks fairly normal from the rear, but the front grill and
> wings are astonishing. They look like the mask from those "Scream" movies,
> or like a Valentine heart shape. The bumpers are also unusual for the
time,
> being three rows of chrome pipes welded together in a stack.
>
> Another interesting comment from my Model A friend was the number of Model
> A's still on the road today (several million - which keeps him in
business).
> I have no idea how many Morgans are still on the road today, but doubt if
> total production exceeds even one million.
>
> Thanks again. If anyone wants to see a pic of the Brewster, I will send a
> scanned photo separately.
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