AutoPuzzles - The Internet's Museum of Rare Cars!

Puzzles, Games and Name That Car => Solved AutoPuzzles => 2015 => Topic started by: DHoffmann on April 25, 2015, 07:18:19 AM

Title: GTC #119 SOLVED: Samuel Moorehead home-built midget
Post by: DHoffmann on April 25, 2015, 07:18:19 AM
What's this little thing and who's behind it (not physically)? Where is it from? 1 point available!
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on May 09, 2015, 05:51:34 AM
Let's let these lovely ladies experience some more exposure!
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: kwgibbs on May 09, 2015, 09:16:30 AM
is it American?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on May 09, 2015, 06:14:14 PM
is it American?
Indeed it is.
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: kwgibbs on May 09, 2015, 09:38:15 PM
did it have a base from a well-known make?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on May 09, 2015, 10:19:45 PM
did it have a base from a well-known make?
Not even a little. :D
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: kwgibbs on May 10, 2015, 02:24:02 AM
was it electric-powered?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on May 10, 2015, 03:52:18 AM
was it electric-powered?
No it was not.
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: kwgibbs on May 10, 2015, 06:33:51 AM
was it 100% road legal?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on May 10, 2015, 07:01:29 AM
was it 100% road legal?
Although there appears to be something shaped like a license plate affixed to the front, I highly doubt it would have been road legal given the top speed/size/weight.
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: kwgibbs on May 10, 2015, 10:28:47 AM
was chester eshelman behind this little car?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on May 10, 2015, 07:48:44 PM
was chester eshelman behind this little car?
Not a name I have associated with this car, no.
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: kwgibbs on May 10, 2015, 08:55:57 PM
was it a product of the Wade midget car co.?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on May 10, 2015, 09:19:44 PM
was it a product of the Wade midget car co.?

No but you're very much on the right track, that's the type of car.
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: kwgibbs on May 10, 2015, 09:43:36 PM
was it a gas-powered childrens car made to be miniature forms of adult cars such as 1957 ford crown vic?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on May 10, 2015, 10:17:37 PM
was it a gas-powered childrens car made to be miniature forms of adult cars such as 1957 ford crown vic?

It's not specified if there was a particular inspiration behind the design, but yes it is a gas-powered childrens car.
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: kwgibbs on May 11, 2015, 01:15:25 AM
any connection with Streco?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on May 11, 2015, 01:59:29 AM
any connection with Streco?
Not as far as I am aware, no.
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: kwgibbs on May 11, 2015, 05:52:27 AM
was this car a one-off,by an obscure builder?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on May 11, 2015, 07:20:51 PM
was this car a one-off,by an obscure builder?
Not a one-off - though you're rather unlikely to find any today I hazard to say - but yes it's very obscure.
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: kwgibbs on May 11, 2015, 07:40:38 PM
was it named after the builder?or was it given its own identity?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on May 11, 2015, 08:22:04 PM
was it named after the builder?or was it given its own identity?

The name I have with my source is purely of the builder and that it's a 'midget' car, so the owner's name (even last name is acceptable, though I suspect if found you'll have his full name...) is all I need.
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: kwgibbs on May 11, 2015, 11:52:12 PM
I,ll take a shot in the dark,was it John Micklitsch?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on May 12, 2015, 01:16:30 AM
I,ll take a shot in the dark,was it John Micklitsch?

Haha I can sense that this might become a long game with this tactic.  ;D

Nope, he is not the builder of this car.
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: kwgibbs on May 12, 2015, 02:56:24 AM
it looks like a possibility,it,ll be a learning experience for me.I thought I knew all the gas-powered cars for kids,but I was wrong.would it be Gary M. Morton,where did you find this interesting little car? it does have my curiosity for sure.
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on May 12, 2015, 04:24:15 AM
it looks like a possibility,it,ll be a learning experience for me.I thought I knew all the gas-powered cars for kids,but I was wrong.would it be Gary M. Morton,where did you find this interesting little car? it does have my curiosity for sure.

Not Morton.

I'll gladly share the source upon completion, but suffice to say that it's an internet source available to everyone and not hidden away or anything like that.
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: kwgibbs on May 12, 2015, 10:11:49 AM
even though it wasn,t a one-off,was it ever the builder,s intentions for mass-production?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on May 12, 2015, 10:20:52 AM
even though it wasn,t a one-off,was it ever the builder,s intentions for mass-production?
No not at all, only a handful or less were supposedly made after the first created for his own family.
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: kwgibbs on May 12, 2015, 01:06:52 PM
was the builder of this car from California?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on May 12, 2015, 06:48:16 PM
was the builder of this car from California?

No he was not.
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: kwgibbs on May 12, 2015, 06:54:37 PM
its amazing I can.t this little car anywhere,was he from the Midwest like Illinois?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on May 12, 2015, 07:16:06 PM
its amazing I can.t this little car anywhere,was he from the Midwest like Illinois?
Yes from the midwest, not Illinois though, that at least narrows it down. I was preparing a counter out of 50 for all the states.  ;D
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: kwgibbs on May 12, 2015, 07:28:14 PM
would it be Indiana?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on May 12, 2015, 07:40:52 PM
would it be Indiana?

Nope.

2/12  :D
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: kwgibbs on May 12, 2015, 07:42:52 PM
am I getting warmer with Missouri?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on May 12, 2015, 07:48:07 PM
am I getting warmer with Missouri?

Quite the opposite.
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: kwgibbs on May 12, 2015, 08:12:25 PM
lets try ohio?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on May 12, 2015, 08:29:50 PM
lets try ohio?

That's more like it!

Yes, the make of this was based in Ohio.
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: kwgibbs on May 12, 2015, 10:20:41 PM
is the year of this car 1958?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on May 12, 2015, 10:34:37 PM
is the year of this car 1958?

No, earlier.
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: kwgibbs on May 13, 2015, 05:55:14 AM
1955?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on May 13, 2015, 06:55:35 AM
1955?

The source this dates from is from 1955, yes, though to be honest I'm guessing it was actually created or conceived at least the year prior.
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: kwgibbs on May 13, 2015, 10:43:27 AM
was the builder a mechanic?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on May 13, 2015, 06:00:24 PM
was the builder a mechanic?
I do not possess this information, but given what he created it's possible?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on May 14, 2015, 09:43:27 PM
Time for this to move up to the Professionals I suppose, almost forgot thanks to the rigorous questioning by kwgibbs!
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: kwgibbs on May 14, 2015, 09:45:41 PM
sorry for that,I couldn,t find a thing on this car.I hope someone can solve it.
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on May 14, 2015, 09:47:25 PM
sorry for that,I couldn,t find a thing on this car.I hope someone can solve it.
Not at all, it's been highly entertaining! If someone else manages there's no doubt it'll be thanks to the information you've extracted!

Any further questions you have I'll do my best to furnish with an answer as well!
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: oko94 on May 15, 2015, 03:23:36 AM
Was it built in Columbus ?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on May 15, 2015, 04:18:54 AM
Was it built in Columbus ?
Not from Columbus, no.
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: oko94 on May 15, 2015, 04:33:17 AM
Was it built in a city that has more than 100 000 inhabitants today ?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on May 18, 2015, 12:04:17 AM
Was it built in a city that has more than 100 000 inhabitants today ?
Yes indeed it was.
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: kwgibbs on May 18, 2015, 12:17:01 AM
was it akron?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on May 18, 2015, 12:29:16 AM
was it akron?
Yes, this was from Akron, Ohio.
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: oko94 on May 18, 2015, 03:09:38 AM
Built by George Andrews ?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on May 18, 2015, 03:25:42 AM
Built by George Andrews ?

No it was not.
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on June 01, 2015, 07:43:07 AM
Bump?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: oko94 on June 01, 2015, 09:31:11 AM
OK, here we go. Is the first letter of the builder's surname between A and M ?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on June 01, 2015, 09:47:18 AM
OK, here we go. Is the first letter of the builder's surname between A and M ?
Yes, yes it is.
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: oko94 on June 01, 2015, 10:00:11 AM
Between A and F ?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on June 01, 2015, 10:05:43 AM
Between A and F ?

No, no it isn't.
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: oko94 on June 01, 2015, 10:34:55 AM
Between G and J ?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on June 01, 2015, 10:35:59 AM
Between G and J ?

Also not it.
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: kwgibbs on June 01, 2015, 10:40:20 AM
would the builders name be kettering?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on June 01, 2015, 10:41:15 AM
would the builders name be kettering?

'Fraid not.
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: oko94 on June 01, 2015, 11:12:10 AM
Is the first letter L ?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on June 01, 2015, 11:19:53 AM
Is the first letter L ?
It is not.
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: oko94 on June 01, 2015, 11:22:11 AM
M ?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on June 01, 2015, 11:26:25 AM
M ?

Bingo.
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: oko94 on June 01, 2015, 01:23:43 PM
Is this Mr. M from Akron sharing his surname with somebody famous for his automotive achievements, like Mitchell for instance ?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: kwgibbs on June 01, 2015, 02:15:51 PM
is it a common name,such as miller,moore etc.?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on June 01, 2015, 07:50:00 PM
is it a common name,such as miller,moore etc.?

This answer is tantalizingly close! I'll hold the puzzle for you if you can figure it out!
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: kwgibbs on June 02, 2015, 12:06:31 AM
is it one of these names? if so moore perhaps?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on June 02, 2015, 01:57:19 AM
is it one of these names? if so moore perhaps?

Not completely, but you've picked the right one of the two. :)
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: kwgibbs on June 02, 2015, 04:08:40 AM
was his first name already mentioned before?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on June 02, 2015, 04:32:37 AM
was his first name already mentioned before?

Oh sorry, I didn't answer clearly.

Moore is part of the surname, but it's not complete.
I don't believe his first name has been posted.

Also, against all odds, I've managed to locate another image!
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: kwgibbs on June 02, 2015, 09:41:19 AM
would it  be something like Moorehead by chance?
Title: Re: GTC #119
Post by: DHoffmann on June 02, 2015, 09:46:27 AM
would it  be something like Moorehead by chance?

It very much would!

Yes, this is a midget car built by Samuel A. Moorehead of Akron, Ohio for his children, though it was mentioned that two more were made for other customers. Power came from a 3hp Clinton motor allowing for ~20-25 mph top speed and it weighed 325 pounds.

Very well done!
Title: Re: GTC #119 SOLVED: Samuel Moorehead home-built midget
Post by: kwgibbs on June 02, 2015, 09:48:45 AM
Thank You Sir,it was certainly a workout,but a pleasure as well!