These old downtown Trenton photos are truly an historic treasure. With just a bit of imagination, one can stand on the sidewalks in the downtown Trenton and witness the essence of the city during the middle of the Great Depression.
Can that auto in the center of the lower photo be what we used to call a "baby Austin?"
HI TOM....SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR HEALTH PROBLEMS. I'M GONNA BE 94 THIS YEAR AND KNOW WHAT PAIN REALLY IS. THAT BABY AUSTIN YOU MENTIONED WAS TOM LAYDEN'S CAR. HE COACHED RIDER COLLEGE BASKETBALL AT THE TIME AND WAS LIKE 6 FT 4IN. TALL. IT WAS A JOKE TO SEE HIM GET INTO IT. WE WENT OUT WITH HIM AND THE GRAY BROTHERS EACH WEEK AND LEO GRAY WAS LIKE A MIDGET COMPARED TO HIM. THAT WAS IN THE 40'S AND HE ALSO TAUGHT AT RIDER ALONG WITH DICK GRAY. I HOPE YOU GET OVER THAT PAIN, I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY. BEST REGARDS.
ReplyDeleteHi Tom, Yes, that is the baby Austin, actually the American Austin, later to become the American Bantam. The American Austin was produced in Butler, PA., from 1930 to 1935. In 1937, the company reorganized, as American Bantam and built cars until 1940. Some cars were renumbered as 1941 models, until they sold out. The company obtained a contract, from the Federal Government, to build the Bantam Jeep, but they didn't have the production capability, and Willys took over. Ford, also built some Jeeps during WW II. rayfromvillapark
ReplyDeleteRemember that Laurel & Hardy used an American Austin in one of their movies, where Ollie and his plumb bride tried to fit in the little car, along with Stanley in the back seat.
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