The atmosphere of the 'twenties

The atmosphere of the ‘twenties is captured by those personal photograph albums then popular (because amateur photography was a new hobby, or was it because life was regarded in those days as a more personal, individual, family affair?) in which favourite or exciting cars were depicted alongside dogs, horses, houses and great-aunts. Another item that has gone is the construction of hybrid road specials. The June issue of The Ulster Motorist contained an article about the Thomond, which was built in 1929 for £349 by a Dublin garage. Four Thomonds were built in all, this one having a 2-carburetter 12/50 Meadows engine. The price included £22 import-duty on components from England and £50 bonus to the builder. The owner, Dick Humphreys, drove it 74,000 miles with only one serious breakdown, when the prop.-shaft broke, and seems to have disposed of it in 1932. It was timed at just under 80 m.p.h. on the Phoenix Park circuit.