Eric Minoff
Vice President, Head of Department - US
LOT 49 ¤
1922 Holmes Series 4 Limousine Chassis no. 40177 Engine no. 40254
Sold for US$50,400 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 49¤
1922 Holmes Series 4 Limousine
1922 Holmes Series 4 Limousine
Chassis no. 40177
Engine no. 40254
Chassis no. 40177
Engine no. 40254
246ci Air-Cooled Overhead Valve Inline Six-Cylinder
Single Stromberg Carburetor
32bhp
Three-Speed Manual Transmission
Live Axles with Full-Elliptical Leaf Springs
Rear Wheel Mechanical Drum Brakes
* Air cooled, overhead valve inline six-cylinder
* Designed by Arthur Holmes, former chief engineer at Franklin
* Acquired by Harrah's from A.K. Miller in 1962
* A Harrah's Gold Star restoration
THE HOLMES SERIES 4
Arthur Holmes was the chief engineer at the H.H. Franklin Company. Change was happening at Franklin in the late Teens and Holmes advocated for a different, more traditionally Franklin course. When Franklin chose a path that redirected the company's products Holmes, with local backing, set up a new company in Canton, Ohio. Its primary product would be a larger touring car and sedan.
The new Holmes was true to the design ethic and tradition of Franklin. It was powered by an inline six-cylinder engine. It was air cooled. It sat on a flexible chassis with full elliptical leaf springs. The cooling air distribution system was different from Franklins, relying on the hood sides to contain and channel air flow from the sirrocco [sic] fan behind the grille opening. It had an open grille and a low, tapered hood that offered little concession to the appearance of liquid cooled cars.
Like Franklin, annual production peaked in 1920. For Franklin it was 10,552 units, for Holmes it was with 1,112 units and declined to 973 in 1921, 617 in 1922 and 213 in 1923 before bankruptcy ended the company's history.
THE CAR OFFERED
This 1920 Holmes Series 4 Limousine was acquired in 1962 from one of the most noted figures in early car collecting, Alexander Kennedy Miller. He's better known as A.K. Miller and perhaps less respectfully as "Nutzy Stutzy" and deserves a paragraph.
The son of a successful Wall Street stockbroker, Miller bought his first Stutz while in high school. Miller was an early pilot and, in the Thirties, he operated a flying service carrying mail using his beloved autogyros. After WWII he and his wife Imogene moved to East Orange, Vermont where they began a simple life that became reclusive. A.K. built a collection of Stutzes and Stutz parts that few knew existed. They lived in squalid, primitive conditions. A.K. would chase passersby away convinced that no one would come to East Orange except to spy on him, and he was probably right. The valley in which it sat is so remote that the sun comes up late and sets early between steep ranges of hills. When Imogene died in 1996 almost $2 million in gold bullion, silver and bearer bonds were found stashed around the property. An auction of the Millers' cars and personal possessions yielded $1.8 million.
A.K. Miller represented this Holmes to Harrah's Bud Catlett in 1962 as "only 1 owner & well cared for & never sat out." He stated his position, "I will sell the car for $2500. But not for your offer of $1800. I had in mind a somewhat higher figure than I give, so that is bottom dollar." Harrah's stepped up and on July 18, 1962, paid A.K.'s asking price, then restored the car.
The restoration was completed in 1968 to Harrah's Gold Star standards. Today it is still in very well-preserved and consistently cared for condition. It is presented in bright blue with black fenders and roof with grey cloth upholstery and interior trim, set off by bright red wood spoke tires with 34x4½ blackwall tires. The dashboard has a Phinney Walker clock. There are two jump seats in the rear compartment where heat is provided by a Perfection Heater and isolated behind a glass division. Pulldown shades on the rear quarter windows and rear window give the occupants privacy. A net under the tall roof provides storage for hats. The top-hinged windshield is protected by a slanting sun visor.
This is a beautifully, carefully, meticulously restored car based on a very complete and original vehicle. It reflects Bill Harrah's long-held fascination with air cooled cars and received treatment consistent with his values. In its short lifetime Holmes built only 4,201 vehicles and this is surely one of the best surviving. It also has one of the more intriguing back stories.
Saleroom notices
Please note, at this time Bonhams cannot confirm whether the original body style of this Holmes was a Limousine or a Sedan. It was restored as a 6-passenger sedan by Harrah. This vehicle is titled as a 1921 model year.
Additional information
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