Today’s column shows an interesting array of pictures of old-time automobiles, all of which were, at one time or another, familiar sights on the streets of Wayne. These pictures have been gathered from three different sources, the first having been left at “The Suburban” office by Frank Cressman, of Beechtree lane. The second was lent to the writer by Otis Hunsicker, of Conestoga road, for use in this column, while the third came from Ted Brooks’ interesting collection of pictures of old cars.

According to a notation on the back of the first picture, it was taken in 1914. It shows Frank Cressman of Beechtree lane, seated on the running board of one of the first delivery trucks on the entire Main Line. At that time, Rittenhouse Brothers’ Store was located in Masonic Hall, on South Wayne avenue – the building so easily recognizable in the background of the picture, due to the minimum of changes made to the building during the years.

Written in faded ink on the back of this picture is the date, “Sept. 15, 1907,” which clearly indicates the car’s antiquity. Mr. Hunsicker tells us that the late Ted Wendell, then a young man, is seated at the wheel of Herman Wendell’s Stoddart Dayton, with the late Mark Heilner beside him. The house in the background is the home of the late John P. Wood, which faces on Radnor Street road, between Poplar avenue and Walnut avenue. This car, originally owned by the Hunter family, belonged to Hyde W. Ballard, of Paoli, when this picture was taken around 1940. At this time it was regarded as a real antique. With the passing of the years, the original body of the touring car (or roadster) had been transformed into a truck. In this picture it is loaded with a large drum of oil.

In his 1926 Cadillac car, which he owned before his present 1912 White touring car, Ted Brooks had driven Mr. Ballard and Mr. Samuel Bailey, of Bala-Cynwyd, to the Folwell farm, on the Maryland-Delaware State line, to pick up the 1909 Packard. All three were members of the Antique Automobile Club of America. On the return trip, when Mr. Ballard and Mr. Bailey were driving the Packard, trouble developed along the road, as this picture taken by Ted Brooks clearly indicates. Mr. Ballard is under the car and Mr. Bailey is standing nearby. Eventually, the trip was resumed and successfully completed, according to Mr. Brooks.