Jim Anderson's 1916 Model 22

1916 Milburn Light Electric (was noted as 1921 when he purchased the car)
Car photo

Pebble Beach Concours 1963 trophy plaque Jim Anderson car body ID stamp
Photos courtesy of Jim Anderson
Owner: Jim Anderson
Email:  
Location: Menominee, Minnesota
Serial number (oval plate): Not found yet....will be a 2-3xx-2 number (square plate for Model 22 under seat?)
Motor number (title): Not found yet
Body number (square plate): 330 (wood stamping in the hood)
Model: Brougham
Wheels: Artillery, Forest Green with light colored pinstripes
Color: Forest Green, with black fenders, upper body and running gear
Upholstery: Beige
Seating capacity: 4 -- Rear seat for 2; auxiliary, fold-down front seats for 2 additional under the windshield
Windows: Windshield and back glass lower into the body by means of leather straps, and door windows lower by crank
Steering control: Lever (tiller)
Speed control: Lever
Top speed:  
Range:  
Forward speeds: 4
Reverse speeds: 2
Length overall:  
Width overall:  
Height overall:  
Wheelbase:  
Track:  
Tires:  
Tread:  
Brake systems: Dual band, rear axle only
Curb weight: 2,700 pounds
Instrumentation: Stewart Speedo with black dial face; Sangamo Meter B180405 (40amp, 60amp-seconds per revolution) ; Model 240 Weston amp/volt gauge above window, typical of 1918 or earlier (Model 27 or 22) - #27770 (?), 0-75v, -50 to +150amp ; This voltage range consistent with 22-cell Model 22.
Lights:  
Heater:  
Motor: Plaque may be missing...
Drive train: Worm
Controller: 9-contact drum controller, typical of Model 22.  Noted on controller: "S134B controller, 1906 Pat. Pending S/N 289916"
Springs:  
Axles:  
Batteries: None yet
System voltage: Based on the 75v meter, originally this would have been a 22- (or 25-cell) Model 22, not a 40-cell Model 27.  The nominal voltage would be 44v (or 50v), full charging voltage of near 55v (or 62.5v).
Charger:  
Equipment:  
Price, new:  
Owner's remarks:  Jim indicates that he has purchased the Milburn circa 2008 from Don Herson.  Herson had originally bought the car from an auction and owned about 30yrs (i.e. originally bought ~1978).  The car has a 1963 Pebble Beach Concours plaque plaque above window.  He thinks it originally came out of Indiana and was told it was a 1921 Milburn (see IMPORTANT NOTE BELOW).

Research Note (by Myles Twete):  Interesting features noted from photographs include: large power knife switch under seat above and in front of motor.  Strange foot extensions on each pedal (for short legs to reach?).  Extra pedal (or cable/pull?) in center of floor---unknown purpose...
Identifying features for dating this car: Despite the claim that this is a 1921 Milburn, it is undoubtedly much earlier, and indeed all indications point to this being another one of the apparently growing number of confirmed 1916 Model 22 Milburns.  Key identifying features include:
* Brougham body (Model 22 or 27(L))
* Inside door lever is the horizontal type, below the window sill, not vertical coming up from the sill.
* Separate Yale lock and metal door handles (Model 22 and 27)
* Body ID: 330 (Model 22 or 27 )
* 1915/16/17 style non-flush front seats (Model 22 or 27 ?)
* Artillery wheels: Typ. Of Model 22, though seen on Model 27 and 27L
* Has a Sangamo meter.

Historical Analysis:
* This car's history was unknown prior to the late 1970's when we presume Mr. Herson purchased it.
* Once we get the car S/N, we will know more---at least we'll know whether it is a 1916 Model 22 or a 1917 Model 27.  For now, we will call this a Model 22 based on the 75v Weston meter.
* BIG CLUE: The 1963 Pebble Beach Concours plaque.  The founder of the Pebble Beach Concours, Alton Walker, owned at least one Milburn.  He and his wife were each photographed separately in what appears to be either 2 distinctly different Milburns (one with wire wheels, the other, artillery) or they changed the wheels on the same Milburn between separate appearances at the Pebble Beach Concours.  Mrs. Anton Walker is seen with the wire-rimmed Milburn on the winner's platform in the 1962 Concours.  Mr. Alton Walker is seen in the artillery wheel Milburn paying for a ticket at the entrance to the 1961 Concours.  The caption for the Alton Walker entry photo noted his car as a 1917 Milburn.

Further: It seems pretty likely that this Milburn would be the Alton Walker Milburn given how few Milburns were ever entered into the Concours and that Walker appears to have entered his car(s) into both the 1961 and 1962 Pebble Beach Concours events and the Anderson Milburn has a 1963 plaque from Pebble.  On the other hand, both of these Alton Walker Milburns show side curtains (Anderson's has pull down shades) and the wood-spoked Anton Walker Milburn had what appeared to be a Milburn stock bumper, while Anderson's car doesn't have a front bumper.  Nevertheless, it seems a pretty good bet that this car that Jim has is the missing Anton Walker car and is a great find!

IMPORTANT NOTE 102109:Jim informed early on that the VIN# on this car is 455685 and it was registered as a 1921. The 1957 Registry lists Harry Gilbert as owning a fully restored 1921 Milburn 5-passenger coupe with both S/N and Motor of #455685:
Harry Gilbert car in 1957 registry
Based on this, it appears that this car is the missing Harry Gilbert car from the 1950's and that at some point Alton Walker purchased the car in the late 1950's or early 1960's.