Stanley Steam Car

Modern Ephemera

The Stanley Steam Car has enjoyed a long life following its corporate demise. As the old car hobby began to take off after World War II, advertisers began to look back nostalgically at early automobiles. The Stanley Steamer was one of the popular cars that began appearing on calendars, thermometers, and advertising of all sorts.

As Kit Foster noted in his authoratative book, The Stanley Steamer: America's Legendary Steam Car, these took a wide variety of forms.1

This is a modest accumulation of such items.

Automemories Brochure, 1951, Shaw- Barton, Coshocton, OH, Stanley Steam Car

In 1951, the Shaw-Barton Company of Coshocton, OH produced a series of Automemories brochures featuring antique automobiles. These three page folding brochures carried retail advertising on one side and information about early automobile history inside. A 1909 Stanley Steamer was shown on one of these brochures. The Stanley brochure came with six other early car brochures, which are included.

Stanley Steam Car 1952 Blotter, Snyder's

In June 1952, Snyder Auto was distributing this blotter with an image of a 1909 Stanley Steam Car. It is part of a series of blotters entitled Automemorires.

Sanley Steam Car Blotter Motor Rim Mft.

This blotter cites the Smithsonian Institution as the source of information and the image. The fuel and water mileage data is a bit suspect.

Stanley Steam Car Blotter, Melton's Autorama

James Melton's Autorama presented his 1907 Stanley on this 1957 calendar blotter from South Bend, IN. NOte the Wheel lock on the right front wheel.

Highway of Memories Moving Van Advert

James Melton's Autorama and his 1907 Stanley was featured on this advertising brochure for Trans-America, apparently a moving company.

Big Tex Calendar Top Front Big Tex Calendar Top

This plastic Stanley Steam Car image may have been the top section for a now-missing calendar. It was distributed by Arnold Motors, Inc. in Carlisle, PA. Arnold Motors was in business as late as the 1960s and perhaps into the 1970s.

1908 Stanley Steam Car Calendar Topper, Vernon Company, Newton, IA 1908 Stanley Steam Car Calendar Topper, Vernon Company, Newton, IA

The Vernon Company of Newton, IA made this plastic 1908 Stanley Steam Car image for the top of a calendar. The reverse includes the following instructions At end of year snap off tabs (see arrows) use as wall plaque or hot dish pad.

Calendar Art 1911 Model 62

This delightful image probably came from a calendar. The gentleman driver is scooping water from the mill's tail race while his passenger looks on demurely. He has forgotten to bring his hose.

Stanley Steam Car Advertising Thermometer Stanley Steam Car Advertising Thermometer

This advertising thermometer comes from A.B.C. Auto Parts and Wreckers in Canada. The company is still in business.

Russian Pin Russian Pin

This lapel pin comes from Russia.

Cigar Label Stanley Steam Car Cigar Label Stanley Steam Car

This unused cigar label ilustrates a 1911 Stanley.

Stanley Steamery Menu Fan Stanley Steamery Menu Fan

The restaurant that created this fan/menu got the front of the Stanley Steam Car correct. Although undated, the prices suggest this was used in the 1960s or early 1970s.

Long Island Automotive Museum Stanley Steam Car Long Island Automotive Museum Stanley Steam Car

The Long Island Automotive Museum created this Stanley Steam Car information card.

Stanley Steam Car Match Book Fourth Match Book Cover Stanley Steam Car Matchbook Cover Stanley Steam Car Matchbook Cover

Stanley Steam Car Match Book Stanley Steam Car Match Book Stanley Steam Car Matchbook Cover Stanley Steam Car Matchbook Cover

The Stanley Steam Car was featured on advertising match book covers.

Stanley Steam Car Beer Coaster Stanley Steam Car Beer Coaster

This Stanley Steam Car beer coaster was number eight in a series of twelve antique car beer coasters.

Lions Clubs International Pin 1906 Stanley Steam Car Lions Clubs International Pin 1906 Stanley Steam Car Lions Clubs International Pin 1918 Stanley Steam Car Model 735B Lions Clubs International Pin 1918 Stanley Steam Car Model 735B

Lions Clubs International Pin 1908 Stanley Steam Car Model H5 Lions Clubs International Pin 1908 Stanley Steam Car Model H5

Lions Clubs International Pin 1910 Stanley Steam Car Model 61 Lions Clubs International Pin 1910 Stanley Steam Car Model 61

Lions Clubs International Pin 1910 Stanley Steam Car Peoples Choice 1984 Lions Clubs International Pin 1910 Stanley Steam Car Peoples Choice 1984

The Lions Club has a proud tradition of creating ornamental pins. Some have featured the Stanley Steam Car.

Palmerston Hospital Festival

The Stanley Steam Car has been featured on numerous antique steam car event and tour pins and plaques.

Stanley Steam Car Card Stanley Steam Car Card 1911 Stanley Steam Car small card 1911 Stanley Steam Car small card Stanley Steam Car Card Stanley Steam Car Card Stanley Steam Car Card Stanley Steam Car Card Stanley Steam Car Card Stanley Steam Car Card

The Stanley Steam Car card featured on this French collector card is a Model 740, made between 1922 and 1924. The gentleman in the passenger's seat is holding a video camera.

Stanley Steam Car Card, Grolier, Inc. 1996 Stanley Steam Car Card, Grolier, Inc. 1996

Stanley Steam Car 1910 1979 Paparizon Publishing Corp

Stanley Steam Car 1910 1979 Paparizon Publishing Corp

Stanley Steam Car Card Stanley Steam Car Card

The Stanley Steam Car card featured Boston Red Sox star, Carl Yastrzemski as part of Pee Wee's Hip Pocket Library. Pee Wee's research on Stanley Steam Cars left a bit to be desired, as the car illustrated is much later than 1899.

Stanley Steam Car Milk Bottle Tabs Stanley Steam Car Milk Bottle Tabs

The Stanley Steam Car was featured in a series of milk bottle tabs, probably about 1955 - 1960.

Model Box Illustration

This illustration was cut from the top of a model box, ca: 1960?

small brass Stanley Steamer plaque small brass Stanley Steamer plaque

This origin of this small brass plaque is unknown

Stanley Steam Car Christmas Card Stanley Steam Car Christmas Card

A Stanley Steam Car Christmas Card from Ozro Smith and Family.

Evelyn Curro 1952 Print

Evelyn Curro produced this charming 1893 Stanley print in 1952.

Stanley Steam Car Print Unidentified

Stanley Steam Cars show up in many formats. This is an extraordinarily simple drawing of a 1908 car. There is no information on the artist or when it may have been made. Ca: 1990?

1903 Stanley Mocel C Pring, Behr-Manning, Troy, New York

This 1903 Stanley Model C print was part of a series produced for Behr-Manning, probably in the 1960s or 1970s.

Stanley Steam Car Note Card Stanley Steam Car Note

More than one artist has featured Stanley Steam Cars on a note card. This is a very nice effort by Anne Marie, dated 1992.

Earle Eckel Stanley Steam Car Information Card Earle Eckel Stanley Steam Car Information Card

Earle Eckel often showed two of his steam cars. To help visitors learn more about steam cars, he distributed these cards.

Stanley on the 1949 Glidden Tour in Williamsburg, VA Stanley on the 1949 Glidden Tour in Williamsburg, VA

Just as the early Glidden Tours promoted early automobiles, the revived Glidden Tours promoted the new antique automobile hobby following World War II. This image shows a Stanley on the 1949 Glidden Tour in Williamsburg, VA.

The article below appeared in Yankee Magazine June 1956. It also appeared in Antique Automobile, March-April 1961, pp. 17 - 20.

My Father Built the Stanley Steamer My Father Built the Stanley Steamer My Father Built the Stanley Steamer My Father Built the Stanley Steamer My Father Built the Stanley Steamer My Father Built the Stanley Steamer My Father Built the Stanley Steamer My Father Built the Stanley Steamer

The article below appeared in The Motor on December 20, 1961. It featured a Stanley Model 735.

The Motor, December 20, 1961 Article The Motor, December 20, 1961 Article The Motor, December 20, 1961 Article The Motor, December 20, 1961 Article The Motor, December 20, 1961 Article

The back side of the last page contains an article on winter Motoring in 1906. The Motor on December 20, 1961.

Motor Trend Magazine, June 1963, Article about 1897 Stanley Steam Car Motor Trend Magazine, June 1963, Article about 1897 Stanley Steam Car

This Motor Trend magazine article from June 1963 contains a wonderful story about the finding of this car that is identified as an 1897 Stanley.

Maryland Steam Event

The back side of the last page contains an article on winter Motoring in 1906. The Motor on December 20, 1961.

SACA Reminder Card 1961

Bob Lyon probably created this Steam Automobile Club of America card to promote the meeting in Chatganooga in May 1961.

[1]Foster, Kit, The Stanley Steamer: America's Legendary Steam Car, (Kingfield, ME, The Stanley Museum, 2004), see Chapter 19, Letting off Steam: The Enduring Steam Legacy.