Early automobiles - February 1, 1928

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Early automobiles - February 1, 1928

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Summary

This is the procession for James MacNeill, newly sworn in Governor General of the Irish Free State. Our catalogue had this as Westmoreland Street, Dublin, but following discussion here, we're now sure that this is actually the head of the procession on O'Connell Street, having just passed over O'Connell Bridge, with Westmoreland Street in the distance back over the bridge ...This coverage from Thursday 2 February's Irish Independent outlines the ceremonial sequence:."Mr. James MacNeill was, yesterday, installed as Governor-General of the Saorstat in succession to Mr. T. M. Healy. The ceremony, which was dignified and impressive, took place at Leinster House in the presence of a distinguished gathering. The new Governor-General was sworn in by the Chief Justice, and after the ceremony he laid a wreath on the Griffith-Collins cenotaph in Leinster Lawn. His Excellency, accompanied by a cavalry escort, was then driven through the city to his official residence in the Phoenix Park."..In typical fashion (if you'll pardon the pun), the Irish Independent writer dismisses Mr. MacNeill's attire with two words: "morning dress", but we are treated to great detail on Mrs. MacNeill, who "wore a clipped lamb coat trimmed with fox fur and a brown felt hat to match the fur. Her dress was also brown, trimmed at the neck with soft yellow, and she wore shooes and stockings to match the dress."..The MacNeills had been staying at the Shelbourne Hotel and they left at 10.45 to drive to Leinster House. It must have been a very swift ceremony, as the Chief Justice administered the Oath at 11; they were crossing O'Connell Bridge at 11.28 (according to the clock in this photo) and the Irish Independent said they reached the Vice-Regal Lodge at 12.10...Date: Wednesday, 1 February 1928..NLI Ref.: INDH823 ( vtls000249876 )

The automobile was first invented and perfected in Germany and France in the late 1890s. Americans quickly came to dominate the automotive industry after WWI. Throughout this initial era, the development of automotive technology was rapid. Hundreds of small manufacturers competing to gain the world's attention. Key developments included the electric ignition system, independent suspension, and four-wheel brakes. Transmissions and throttle controls were widely adopted and safety glass also made its debut. Henry Ford perfected mass-production techniques, and Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler emerged as the “Big Three” auto companies by the 1920s. Car manufacturers received enormous orders from the military during World War II, and afterward automobile production in the United States, Europe, and Japan soared.

Images from our photo collections that show those magnificent men (and women) in their flying, choo choo-ing, and driving machines... Oh, and we've cheated, we're adding boats and ships, jaunting cars and carriages, trams too and bicycles - we're completely shameless. So, basically any form of transport - air, sea, land - with the exception of two human feet...

Cars of the 1920s.

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Date

1920 - 1930
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Location

56 O'Connell Street Lower, Dublin, Ireland53.34761, -6.25949
Google Map of 53.347613888888894, -6.2594916666666665
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Source

National Library of Ireland
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