Uncle Bert Watsons car for a date in Cambridge

[garydevine]

Hiya

I was hoping maybe some car enthusiasts might be able to help date when this photo was taken. It’s taken in the Cambridge area but not sure on the date as it was amongst old photo form the 20s to the 40s. Was hoping maybe someone could take a look and guess who the make of the car was which could help date the photo, I know behind the little triangle at the front of the car there’s some sort of circular logo perhaps, I thought Ford maybe, and can see it’s hand cranked. I know nothing about cars, even ones today 😂 so any help would be great

Gary

[jim1]

I don't think dating the car will help as it looks quite old.
You'd get a better date by aging Bert. He looks in his early-mid 20's to me.
The general clothes styles look 1930's.

[arthurk]

If the registration number is NG121 (note 'if'), that would have been issued in Norfolk between Dec 1930 and May 1935, but I don't know whether the car fits with that. Norfolk Record Office have a register of old registrations which you might be able to ask them to consult.

As for the car, the radiator grille looks fairly distinctive, but short of going through a long list of manufacturers I don't immediately recognise it. From what I could find, Ford were using an oval logo at that sort of date, so I don't think it would be that. However, would you be able to do a very high resolution scan of just the logo, to give us a better chance with it?

[tonepad]

The car looks like a Jowett around 1931:

https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/File:Im19301031LC-Jowett.jpg


Tony

[japeflakes]

I think a Jowett as well. Possibly a 7

[arthurk]

Good find, both of you - an excellent likeness 

[garydevine]

Thank you so much! Nice to see what the full thing would of looked like haha. That helps as well identify the elder man cause we could never find when he died so narrows it down more for us

Thank you!

Gary

[vintman]

Hi Folks, Bit late on this one but can confirm this is a Jowett Long Seven manufactured 1930 to 1936 with 11,444 made. This however is the unusual Black Price model. Car had a 907cc side valve flat twin engine. Cannot make out the full registration but could indeed be NG121 which would be Norfolk mid-1931. In 1930 all production was halted for a while because of a major fire at the factory and this model was subsequently advertised as "Back home again" 1931 model, at £142, 'demand exceeds supply'.

Regards
Vintman

[arthurk]

Thanks, Vintman - your insights are always valuable.