Under the Explanatory introduction page
is mentioned that under the heading "Year" the model and
not the actual year of
manufacture us indicated: as for instance, many 1916
models are listed, although being manufactured and sold
in 1915. All of the prices given are taken from
the manufactures’ catalog. Premiums
for Property Damage (like Liability Insurance)
must be based off the column headed "Ins. H.P."
It is interesting to note that Scripps-Booth must
of printed a catalog for the $1125 Model D Runabout with
door(s) like they did for the $1250 Vitesse Runabout
that had no doors. I have the 1916 Model D 3-passenger
Roadster Specification Sheet as printed in the N.A.C.C.
Hand-book that list the 110 inch wheelbase chassis with
the V-8 engine and 32 x 4 inches Houk wire wheels, but
the illustration shown, appears to be the standard Model
C equipped with its regular 30 x 3 inch wheels. I also
have a copy of the 6 page $1250 Vitesse Speedster
folder, but have never seen anything else about this
$1125 more conventional runabout Model D V-8. I would be
interesting to hear from anyone if they have more
literature or information on these Model D V-8
Runabouts and Vitesse Speedsters.
I also find it interesting to see how the
automobile insurance rates were based in 1916, with only
the SAE mathematical hp rating used and not the actual
developed hp or body type. And the only other factor for
optional collision coverage was the price class, with
all the Scripps–Booth open cars coming under the lowest
price class A, that was less than $1350. So what this
means, the owner of both a 1916 Vitesse and a 1916
Chevrolet 490 Touring, whose 4 cyl. only put out 24 hp,
but had the same 22 hp SAE rating, paid the same
insurance premiums, since they were in the same low car
price Class A and had the same 22 hp rating. What an
insurance break for the young would be Vitesse driver of
a speedster that was advertised as capable of 75 to 80
mph!
CAR AND PARTS FOR SALE –1920 B-39
I ran across No. 11 of the S.B. newsletter today
and eagerly re-read it on a rainy Seattle Sunday. I’m
grateful that there were several contributors – it was
the most interesting newsletter that I’ve
received.
My 1920 B39 has been restored with new upholstery
and a new top installed in 1997. It took the fellow all
summer off-and-on to finish it. Since then I’ve put
about 200 miles on it. In 1998, again off-and-on all
summer, a shop tried to stop the oil leak in the rear
main and transmission bearings – with absolutely no
success. But with that inconvenience as a part of the
package, it runs like a champ – which it certainly
is.
Mr. Rothher had all sort of parts before he began
the reconstruction, so I have quite a bit of stuff left
over – a set of spoke wheels, a rear end, transmission,
engine block with most of its major components, several
distributors, etc. If anyone has a need, come see and
make an offer. In fact, for $15,000 I’d sell the whole
works, car included.
Al Hillstrom
CAR FOR SALE – 1919 Six-39
I was advised last year by John and Ross Lyberger
that their 1919 Touring is for sale. I saw John’s ad in
OLD CARS for February 18, 1999. I have not heard if this
car has been sold or not? The ad listed:
1919 Scripps- Booth Touring car, six cylinders, overhead
valve engine. Runs and drives. Very old restoration.
Needs Paint. Price of car $12,000, CA
909-683-8787.
LITERATURE FOR SALE
Hello.....I've got an original Scripps-Booth
Cyclecar color cover brochure in perfect condition, with
a one page insert in the center. It measures 8 by 11 and
the cover shows a man and woman in the car in front of a
large ocean liner. The screened photos of the car with
cutaways are very well done. If it's something someone
may need, the first postal money order for 150 dollars
gets it. If not satisfied, I will refund your
money.
Jim Davis Email: sivad@harborside.com
1920 SCRIPPS-BOOTH SALES BROCHURE
This is an original from Henry Motor Co., Grand
Forks, N.D. Six cylinder models Series "B." Sixteen
pages of pictures of the models and information. There
is also a price list on the back page. There is one page
loose in the center, and the last page has a 1" piece
torn off the bottom corner. For its age, I think it is
very nice. Henry Motor Co., Grand Forks, is stamped on
the top of the cover. This is a RARE sales book!
COLLECTORS, DON'T PASS! Money order results in immediate
delivery, while personal check delays shipment 10
working days. Buyer to pay $4.05 S&H&I in
Continental U.S. Reserve on the Scripps-Booth brochure
is $75.00, if you have an interest.
Larry Dobson Email
ldobson@frontiernet.net
August 15, 1999 Sorry - this is
too much for me - but will list your name in the next
Scripps-Booth Register newsletter.
OWNER’S NEWS AND CORRESPONDENCE
December 23, 1998
Dear Ken,
I received the issue # 11 of the register and I am
very pleased to know that you have a web page on the
Internet. Since the last time we get in touch, I found
the two wheels missed, therefore my Model D has the 5
Houk wheels again.
I participated in an Old Car Tour in 1997 that
covered about 300 miles in two days and the car made it
good, tough I just had problems at night, because of I
could not see more than 30 meters ahead, the headlights
needed adjustments. The Tour was very funny and if you
want I can send you a video in which you can see the car
traveling in the south of Chile. [I was sent the Tour’s
video – Ken]
I want to thank you for all the work that you have
made in order to get together the Scripps Booth owners
and it would be a good idea to organize a Scripps Booth
world meeting one day.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !!!
Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo.
Gigio Isola O.
Isola-quezada@entelchile.net
I again received Christmas Holiday [1998] card with
nice words of encouragement from Elizabeth Downing of
Macomb Illinois.
TWO CHANGES OF OWNERSHIP'S
I received a phone call from Ken Blair of Howe,
Indiana, that he has purchase from the estate of
Dennis Easter-day, his 1921 B-39 Touring which is
still in original, unrestored condition.
Ken Blair reported this B-39 Car Number as 30306
which up to now was unknown. So I have added his car
number under the VIN number column in the latest
December 1999 Scripps-Booth Car Register that is
attached to this newsletter.
There are still a lot of question marks shown
under both the VIN and engine serial numbers
columns! Please take the time this coming spring to
take a good look at you car, and report to me your
serial numbers so we can fill in all those
blanks.
Jerry Cook of Bentonville, Arkansas, also phoned
me this summer that his Uncle, Edward D. Cook died May
18, 1999. Jerry inherited his Uncle’s 1916 Model C
with some other old cars, and wanted me to estimate
what this Model C fair market value is?
I check the prior correspondence and photos that
had been received from Mr. Cook when he purchase this
incomplete car from Tom Ruggles in 1992. It had a
modified frame that had been cut down, so he purchase
a frame from George Geers that was cut in three
section for ship-ping and ended up with both a 1915
and 1916 frame. The body appears to be incorrect, not
staggered seating, with the rear half of body
missing.
This would be a challenging restoration and I am
not sure how much progress was made during the past
seven years? I have added Jerry’s name to the
Register, but he told me he would be willing to sell
this project car and can be reached at his company’s
phone number 800-234-6323.
OWNER OF A 1919 SIX-39 FOUND
Dear Sir,
My son and I are restoring a 1919
model Scripps-Booth. Unfortunately we can find no
information concerning the measurements and shape of
the hood-bows and hood. Mr. William E. Swigart Jr.
owner of Swigart Museum, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
referred me to you as a possible source of help.
These cars are very rare in Australia –
apparently only a ‘handful’ exist. I would be very
appreciated of any help that you may be
able to give and will reimburse you for any expenses
involved
Yours sincerely
Ken Templer South
Australia
Email: viken@senet.com.au
WELCOME TO THE REGISTER
Hi
Ken,
September 15, 1999
I am now in charge of maintaining the
Scripps-Booth Register and your recent letter was
forward to me. It is good to hear from a new
Scripps-Booth owner, and I will add you to our
Register and to the mailing list.
We have another member in South Australia named
Michael Halstead. Mike’s address is:
Wright Road, Ingle Farm, SA 5098. My
records shows this car to be a 1919 Six Touring
with Car No. 6/39 12197, Engine No. C42850, Chassis
No. Model 34S Car No. 4133 and is Left Hand Drive and
is in good original condition. About 12 years ago Mike
had new top irons made up in Canberra NSW since his
top was missing also. I am now wondering if you are
now the owner of this same car or if your car is a
different one? Is yours RHD?
Here are two photos after the new top was
installed.
You might want to visit my Scripps-Booth website
that has the last 3 Register Newsletters. These are
usually mailed out around the end of the year.
See:
http://home.earthlink.net/~scrippsbooth/
My email is: scrippsbooth@earthlink.net
I will be spending the school holiday in
Australia the next two weeks (arrived Sydney on
Tuesday) and will be attending the 4 cyl Chevy Tour in
NSW and visiting old car friends in VIC for a few days
before this tour starts. Sorry - don’t
have time to get over to SA on this trip.
Please, let keep in touch – let me know your car
numbers, when you get a chance.
CHASSIS NO. IS MODEL 34S CAR NO. 10500
Really good to receive email from you, and that
you confirmed you have another Scripps-Booth in
SA.
I had a great time last month on the Chev 4 Tour
in Wellington, NSW. I got down to Gibbsland to visit a
friend who is building a 1914 Chev Royal Mail roadster
and checked out cars available at Shannon's auction
show-room in Melbourne - but didn't get time to go to
SA. Will try and get to SA next visit/vacation in 3
years.
I will add your car and name to the Register.
Thanks for your car's chassis # 10500 stamped on the
oval brass plate located on the side of the frame
above the right rear axle. Your plate states:
SCRIPPS-BOOTH CORPORATION
DETROIT, MICH, USA Model 34-S CAR No. 10500. We are
not sure what this chassis number stands for? And only
the 1918-19 models have this chassis nameplate.
Please send me your Car Serial No.
that is located on a small brass plate attached to the
right side engine firewall that starts with the model
#6/39. An example is Michael Halstead tourer that is
6/39 12197. I have seen this Car No. Plate attached to
under the drivers seat on the right side, or on the
right front seat frame. Please let me know where this
plate is located on your car or if it is missing?
Since you have a James Flood body perhaps it was
attached to some other part of the body? Your engine
serial # should be stamped on the right hand center of
the crank-case/block. An example of a 1919 number
[Halstead's] is C 42850. Your engine # should be close
to C 80000.
The wire wheel option was sort of rare on the
Scripps-Booth 1918-22 6 cylinder models but they are
sure good looking. I have a 1918 Chevrolet Eight Model
D5 Tourer that I would love to find a set of 26 inch
Houk Wire Wheels and hubs for my Model D.
TOM BOOTH REPORTS A NEW OWNER
Tom Booth, James Scripps Booth’s grandson,
brought to my attention this August 24, 1999 on-line
story and photos by Richard A. Wright. Tom wrote:
There is a story in the Detroit News that shows a S-B.
(There are some factual errors in the story.) The car
is owned by Maggie Allesee here in Bloomfield Hills. I
was talking to her when the photo was taken. I sent
her a copy of the S-B register and suggested she
contact you for more info.
URL:
http://detnews.com/joyrides/1999/carillon/carillon.htm
By Richard A. Wright, DETROIT NEWS,
8-24-99
Maggie Allesee of Bloomfield Hills took the
Rector's Choice Award for her 1919 Scripps-Booth
"Chummy" roadster. With her is Tom Booth of Bloomfield
Hills, a member of the family and an executive at
Delphi International.
Carillon fans were invited to bring any
interesting wheels they might have and an afternoon of
music and car inspection was had. "It's called a
'chummy' roadster be-cause of this little seat which
folds out from beneath the dashboard," she said. "A
small person could sit on it, or the right front
passenger seat occupant could use it as a footstool.
It was called a 'chummy' seat."
The Scripps-Booth was built by James Scripps
Booth, of the newspaper family, which was instrumental
in building Cranbrook School & Christ Church
Cranbrook.
EMAIL FROM TOM BOOTH - Nov 14, 1999
No. I did not know about the website. Thanks for
letting me know. I was just thinking it must be time
for another edition of the Scripps-Booth
register.
I recently purchased a copy of a book from 1919.
"Information; Elementary Electricity; Motor Car
Electric Systems; The Gas Engine from an Ignition
Point of View; Driving the Car" written by Harvey E.
Phillips. Very informative and detailed. It includes
information about many electrical systems including
Delco, Auto-Lite, Wagner, etc. It includes Remy
diagrams for the S-B Model G and 1918-9 six
cylinders.. I could send photocopies to you of some
sections if you think it would be helpful. The Allesee
car was formerly owned by Barney Pollard. It is yellow
with green pin stripe and is driveable. I saw this car
twice this summer at different events.
I found a cousin recently. We were both bidding
on S-B items on eBay and I got curious because the
other person seemed to be interested in Scripps items.
He is Mike Scripps who now lives in New Orleans (I
think), and I gave him your address in case he wanted
to get the Register and more information about S-B
cars.
Every year here in the Detroit area there is a
large cruise car event on the third weekend in August.
It is the Woodward Dream Cruise and attracts more than
1,000,000 people. If you like cars and are ever in
Detroit, you should make a point of seeing the
Woodward Dream Cruise. It is hard to describe.
Best regards,
Tom Booth Email: tlbooth999@aol.com
PURCHASED 1922 MODEL F BROCHURE
 I purchased
this rare 1922 Scripps-Booth Model F brochure
recently. It has eight pages plus covers. It announces
"The New Medium Weigh Six" equipped with the sturdy
Continental Red Seal Model 7 engine rated at 50
horsepower. All four body styles all illustrated, but
there was no mention of who supplied the bodies? Only
the claim that the open and closed bodies were
exclusive Scripps-Booth stream-line. There is also no
reference to General Motors Corporation either.
EX LEUTHAUSER MODEL D SPOTTED
No one has seen the ex Gary Leuthauser Model D
4- passenger roadster for about the last 15 years – or
a least no one has reported its current owner to the
Register. This is the Model D that was featured in
Automobile Quarterly 3rd quarter, 1975 issue on
Scripps-Booth. I figured it must have ended up in the
hands of a private collector in Japan? Well, a this
summer when I was searching the web for Scripps-Booth
hits, this photo was found on the Horseless Carriage
Carriers, Inc web site, promoting its enclosed car
carriers transportation services. The photo shows this
fabulous Model D being unloaded from the car carrier,
perhaps at some new owner’s driveway? Does
anyone know who owns this Model D?
EARLY 1915 PARTS PRICE LIST
This pass year I ran across and purchased an
early Model C Parts List. Back in Register No. 10 when
we were researching the "smooth Vs hump" type rear
fenders, it was questioned that there must have been a
Parts List printed in 1915 that covered up to about
C3100?
This book is has a different format then used in
later parts books. It has 51 pages, printed on one
side only, with the pages being loose leaf, attached
to the brown 5.5 x 8.5-inch cover with two brass
fasteners. The book is undated and is stamped on the
cover with the dealer imprint of the Locust Motor
Sales Co, 3135 Locust St., St. Louis, MO.
The parts are index in 16 major groups, with
Group 15 including the body and fenders. Therefore the
part number of the rear fenders, 15C414 right
and 15C415 left, is broken down to stand for: 15 is
Group Number, C is Model, 4 is Size of Drawing,
and 14 & 15 are the 56" Tread part numbers.
The only other part numbers shown are 15C410 for R. H.
40" Tread and 15C411 for L.H. 40" Tread, with
this narrow tread used for some export markets. The
mystery between the "Smooth Vs hump" fender
continues.
This book does list Coupe parts but not the RHD
Export model parts or the wide 60"
Southern Tread – so there must still be a supplement
to cover these parts.
The early Model C’s had a leather faced cone
clutch, before the switch was made to a multiple disc
design. This book list both types which
the later 1916 Parts List does not.
Unfortunately this book is not illustrated and not all
changes are documented by serial numbers.
INTERNET IS MAKING NEW CONTACTS
As I finishing this newsletter, I received the
following email from Norway - that a Model C and D
survives there.
The Scripps-Booth Web Site can be access from
most search engines or:
http://home.earthlink.net/~scrippsbooth/
FOUND A MODEL C & D IN NORWAY
Hi Ken November 28, 1999
I am about to undertake the restoration of a
1916 Scripps-Booth Model C. In attempt to ensure that
the car respects the exact detailing as original, I
seek your organization for information. I have
been searching the web and found the S-B Register and
No. 9, 10, and 11 of your newsletter. In No. 10,
page 5, I read an about an S-B in Europe, where the
editor refer to a letter from Norway. For your
information, I can add the following
information.
There seem to have been a very successful
car-importing firm Nielsen & Bjørnstad. I
have been looking at old ads from spring 1916 where 62
cars were imported to Norway. In opposite of ads
today, ads then where mostly correct and
reliable. Because of days of delivery and
shipment to Norway, car must have been produced late
in 1915 and early in 1916. In the years
1917-1918 there was nearly no importation of cars,
because there were gas restrictions. Later in 1919,
S-B during GM management, again cars are imported, but
then with another firm Paaske. According to
registration journals in 1921, there were a total of
76 SB cars, later in 1927 there were a total of 83
cars. To illustrate how successfully Nielsen and
Bjørnstad was as a car importing firm, the S-B was the
14 most popular car in Norway in 1921 (Ford No. 1 with
951; Chevrolet No. 5 with 258)
In the years 1917-1918 I have a photo of a SB
with registration no A 797 with carbide cans as
alternative fuel arrangement. I will mail this
to you.
There is a Model D in Norway [Car No. D-791?]
owned by a friend of mine; this car was originally
registered with No. A 758. His car is still
unrestored and is a very original four-passenger car
similar to the car in Automobile Quarterly owned by
Gary D. Leuthauser. This car broke a piston in
1927 and was later stored in a barn.
Unfortunately the piston also broke the engine block,
and the Ferro engine is totally damaged. The car is
original with original leather interior. My
friend is aware of your organization and will contact
you himself in the future. I do know he is desperately
seeking a new engine, if your organization can provide
information, I would bring this to his
attention.
Recently I bought my Model C restored as is. An
earlier owner of my car was Torbjørn Haugen. The car
was produced early in 1916 as Car No. C 3266.
The car was originally sold new in Norway April 1916
and registered as A 759. Parts of this car
(mostly of the chassis including cowl, gas tank,
steering, windshield) was found in a barn in the 80`s
and was undertaken restoration then. The car is
put together with other parts from other S-B
remaining, and most of the body is redone. The car is
colored in red and black with wheel in white, and not
blue-black as in specifications. The motor installed
in car was a 1926 Chevrolet Superior engine that
was replaced with a Mason 490 engine. I am aware that
the car probably was delivered with a Sterling engine,
but there is none available in Norway. I will
make an S-B valve cover to fit this engine
Instruments: According to sales catalogues and
illustrations, they show the instrument panel covered
in leather along with the interior of the doors.
The Light Car article of Oct. 1917 refers to the
dashboard as being of polished mahogany. My car will
now be redone in polished mahogany. I am interested in
photos that show the instrument panel arrangement and
type of instruments. I do have most of the
original instruments, but there seems according to
photos to be a ring surrounding instruments.
Recently a friend bought starting/light switch at
Hershey.
Upholstery: The driver's seat is slightly in
advance of the passengers seat, an extra swing out
seat for occasional passenger is not installed but
available. According to photos the 1916 Model C seats
seems to be of deep buttoning of diamond type, while
my car has ordinary pleats stripes similar to the 1917
Model G in Antique Automobile. The chairs in my
car have separate backs but jointed seat. I am
interested in details photographs and notes which
describes the coach trimming, seat arrangement, and
access to the luggage room behind the driver’s
seat. Access is easily done with seat
arrangement as is, but unknown when chairs with deep
buttoning of diamond type are fastened to the body? If
the interior has been unsuccessfully restored, it will
probably be redone according to authentic
information.
Wheels: My car has five demountable Houk wire
wheels. The spare wheel has an original hub cup
with the Norwegian car dealers name marked in it. The
four wheels are all missing the hub plates bearing the
logo. According to the article in Antique
Automobile, there is referred to a flea market where
the owner did buy new hub plates with the logo,
replacement dash instruments etc. Are you aware
of dealers with NOS hub plates?
Windshield: My car has a windshield which do not
look exactly similar to the other S-B I have seen, but
was found as is in the barn.
Inner wing rear: Between rear wing and the body
there is an inner wing which is missing and will be
made as soon as I know how these looks from
behind the car?
General information: I am very interested in
services you can provide. I am particularly
interested in pictures describing original details
which might be incorrect in my car. If there are
available copy of parts list or other manuals, I would
be most obliged. For your information I do have
the following material, and will make a copy if you
are missing some of these:
Model C Instruction Book
[1915] 24 pages
Autocar 20/11/1915 article 3
The Car Illustrated 16/06/1915 article
2
Antique Automobile Mar/April 1981
6
The Light Car 10/01/1915 1
The Light Car 22/09/1915 3
The Light Car 31/10/1917 1
Sales Catalogue 1916 [Cadillac Press] 14
Norwegian ads 1916 3
Norwegian ads 1919 1
Further more, I do have the Automobile Quarterly
Vol. XIII No 3, page 228-247 concerning Scripps Booth,
and your annual newsletter No 9, 10 and 11. I would
like to receive earlier newsletter 1-8.
I suppose that your organization is familiar
with the detailing in the needed information. If
you have any information that would help my quest, I
would be extremely grateful to receive it.
Yours faithfully
Aksel Erlend Kopperud
Email: rev12@online.no
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