Modes of transport that my grandfather, Lincoln Todman, experienced during his lifetime.
He grew up living behind his father, Walter Todman’s cycle shop.
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| Figure 1 Photographer Unknown, Walter Todman’s Shop at 360 Chapel St., South Yarra, circa 1916, Digital copy held in Sandra Williamson’s Private Photo Collection[T082], From Left Apprentice, Lincoln Todman (boy on bike), Hazel and Alma Todman, Ivy? Todman (Taller girl) and Walter Todman on far right.[T082] |
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| Figure 2 Advertising (1910, August 27). Advocate (Melbourne, Vic. : 1868 - 1954), p. 10. Retrieved January 14, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article170916868 |
As he got older, he worked with his father in his shop.
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| Figure 3 Photographer Unknown, Lincoln working with his father Walter Todman in his father’s workshop at 360 Chapel St., South Yarra, circa 1916, Myrtle Sharp's Private Photo Collection currently held by Sandra Williamson [T080] |
Before he had children he drove a Singer Sports Car.
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| Figure 4 Photographer Unknown, Lincoln Todman with his new “Singer” car, circa 1929, unknown location Myrtle Sharp's Private Photo Collection currently held by Sandra Williamson [T074] |
He became a mechanic/chauffeur/driver working for Shell Petroleum, a position he held until his untimely death 1938.
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| Figure 5 Photographer Unknown, Lincoln Todman at work with his truck. Location unknown possibly Footscray, Circa 1935. Digital copy held in Sandra Williamson’s Private Photo Collection [T085] |
This post is part of Sepia Saturday 401 : 13 January 2018 401 : 13 January 2018
What an eye-opener that Shell gas tank is. I doubt it would service even one gas pump today. Love the Singer car - never heard of it before.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how things have changed, less petrol stations but that are much bigger than they used to be. I'd always thought of Singer in relation to sewing machines - I never fail to learn something new in family history.
DeleteFascinating photos. I imagine the early motorcycle and automobile shops, when such things were still largely handcrafted by entrepreneurs like Walter, struggled with competition and establishing a brand. But it must have been exciting times for a young engineer/mechanic like your grandfather. I looked up the street view of Walter's shop on Google Maps and see that it is now a shoe shop next to a massage parlor. And by coincidence for our Sepia Saturday theme, the electric streetcar line still runs along the street.
ReplyDeleteWalter was a bit of a mad inventor and registered several patents in NSW, he was also involved in inventing a steam run car before petrol driven cars took over.
DeleteLucky for us in Melbourne trams still run even the ones we call red rattlers, some of the more modern ones take people for quite long distances out to the suburbs.
Thanks for visiting, glad you enjoyed the photos.
Great pix. Your comment 'Before he had children he drove a Singer sports car' and the accompanying picture had me smiling. Before he had children and for a while after our wedding my husband (and me too) drove a little hot red Karmann Ghia. Then we had a child and traded the Karmann Ghia in for a Datsun station wagon!
ReplyDeleteGrowing up is hard particularly when you have to give up your play things, including the little sports car.
DeleteGlad you liked the photos.
Hey, Sandra! Excellent photos to have in your collections. Love the bike shop photos AND that you know who is in them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by. I am fortunate to know who is in them but it has taken many years to work it out and comparing with other photos that have been collected over time. My grandmother was a little hazy when I asked her before she died but she gave me enough clues to help with identification, since then I have met many descendants who have also helped with confirming identities.
DeleteThanks for dropping by.
Great to see those photos, and learn about your creative grandfather...who knew when they took those photos that they would be collected and used in this manner! The 20th century sure had lots of people coming up with great inventions for transportation...and then they had to make roads which they could drive over as well!
ReplyDeleteI Love The Sports Car! I want one!
ReplyDeleteThe Singer is a cute car--like a Big Boy's Toy.
ReplyDelete