Thread: Motoring 100 years ago

I am currently reading an interesting book "Travels with Imshi", J. Prioleau, London 1922. A newspaper columnist, the author reported regularly to the Daily Mail anecdotes of his experiences travelling across France and North Africa in 1921, and later the columns were collected into a book.

The account of his experiences I find interesting by comparing it to present day motoring. His car (although not named in the book) was an almost new Morris Oxford two seater.

Much of the story is devoted to places, accommodation, food, the people he encountered, and, as you would expect, road conditions and breakdowns and repairs.

Remember, this was only three years after a war had been fought across France, and most of North Africa was under the control of colonial powers.

Some fascinating insights into motoring in those days :-

On arriving at Chalon in France, with both front springs broken and numerous radiator leaks due the the rough road, greeted by the local garage proprietor "Broken springs? Tut tut. Yes, springs are rather at a premium just now, as anyone coming from Chagny (12 miles away) at more than 5mph usually needs a full set. Still, we will see what can be done."

Arriving at 1315, the car was ready to go as predicted, at 1715, with two new springs, and radiator repaired, total 178.50Fr or about three pounds, for the springs and twenty man-hours work. Remember that this was a foreign (to France) car. Roll up at a small town garage anywhere today and try for something like that!

On another occasion (still in France) he emphasises the need when buying petrol, to only buy know brands in sealed cans, and watch the seal being broken yourself (bowsers were almost non-existent in 1921, petrol came in four gallon drums). Even then, he bemoans the quality of the best French petrol available - and notes his practice in cold weather (he left London in December) to arrange boiling water to refill the cooling system in the morning, and to offer 5Fr to whichever of the hotel staff managed to hand start his car; sometimes they had to take it in turns cranking for an hour. The car apparently had electric lighting, but not electric starting, which was optional on that model.

That looks like a great read. I just found it archived online, available to view or download as it is out of copyright. Link below. Would love to get a hard copy!

The adventures of Imshi; a two-seater in search of the sun : Prioleau, John, 1882- : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive