1908 Holsman Highwheeler Surrey

This Holsman Model H-11 Touring was purchased by William Ayers of Sussex, New Jersey in 1908. It was delivered to him off a train from the factory in St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. Ayers was a salesman for the Honesdale Shoe Company. Mr. Ayers removed the Holsman's rear seat and used the car to haul footwear around Sussex County.

Mr. Ayers's son, R.D., later inherited his father's Holsman, which was then passed to his brother. In April of 1964, it was acquired from its original owner's family by Richard Roy, a resident of the Sussex County town of Branchville. At the time of purchase, the car was in well-preserved as-acquired condition, including a re-installed rear seat. The car was restored in the late 1960s after which it was entered in the 1964 AACA Eastern Fall Meet in Hershey, Pennsylvania, finishing 2nd in Class 2. The car is believed not to have been shown publicly since but has remained in the Roy Collection for over 50 years.

This Holsman has a leather interior, and brass headlamps and hubcaps. The 100.5 cubic-inch twin-cylinder engine produces 12.8 horsepower and there is a two-speed manual transmission with reverse.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2015