Archive Gallery: PopSci Witnesses The Early Days of the Automobile

September 1924

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Before Ford's Model T entered mass production, cars were largely a novelty, a curio for those privileged enough to afford them. They sputtered odorous gases, crawled at speeds barely faster than a horse's gallop, and stirred up so much dust that you'd need to wash up after disembarking. Pretty cool!

Once cars became affordable, we jumped on the opportunity to help our readers make the best financial choices. Thanks to the rivalry between Henry Ford and W.C. Durant, car prices had been lowered from around $1000 to just over $250. Even better (or so it seemed), people could buy cars second hand for as low as $75 -- far cheaper than a phonograph, even. Not wanting our readers to get into car accidents, or to spend thousands of dollars on repairs, we dissected cars and took their inner workings to our pages. How do you tell the difference between a 1913 Ford and a 1917 Ford? Check the engine number and call an agency. How do you know you're being ripped off? Check the gears to see if the seller has concealed their flaws with cork and grease.

Despite accidents, con men, and business feuds, owning a car was fun. We showed readers how to stuff tents and awnings into their cars for greater comfort. Car parts don't last forever, so we held a contest for ideas on what to do with an old tire. People suggested everything from converting it to a baby walker to turning it into a hose.

Click through our gallery of Popular Science's early coverage of automobiles.