The Times Record from Troy, New York • Page 20

1 Four Dormandy Cars Were Made In Troy By KEITH MARVIN Although UM immediate, area has never beett considered center pi motor vehicle manufacture, despite the Ford Motor Co. in Green Island, there has been a checkered, history along these throughout the last 80 plus years. Among the now all-but-forgotten mikes were the Harvard, the' Ridley Electric, both made in Troy; the Gem Truck of Watervliet, the Wood Steamer of Cohoes, tbe Wasp Vt, the Gsgemobile of Saratoga and the Cameron, made at Castleton. Most of these are known among automobile sffldonados and older residents who were interested in the early" of motoring. However, perhaps the most unusual automobile produced in the immediate area WM the Dormandy which was' -built between 1903 and 1905.

There are two unusual points surrounding this car. The first of these wfc that the car was built by a shirt and collar concern. The second was that the cars were never intended for sale, to the jNibllc but were built solely for offleers connected with the concern. Limousine Ordered 'The first Dormandy made was a limousine to the order "of the late K. P.

Pine who headed the United Shirt and Collar now the site of M. Nirenberg Sens, 750 2nd Ave- Lana- ingburg, whkh is engaged in the 'same business. at the United Shirt It Collar built and put the.car together at the firm's blacksmith adding a four-cylinder air- eooled engine of their own de- ihgn. The car, a double chain-drive painted bright scarlet red, was then taken to Carriage Works where the wsodea body was built, mounted and painted. At the time the late Myron D.

Adams who had built and awned the first automobile in Lansingtourg was' hally, then working his way through medical'school, was office boy to Mr. and recalls ordering certain parts for the car from-the -Prayer-Miller builder of a Highly'regard- ed air-cooled car of that time. The name. Dormancy, came from Gary J. Dormandy who, as an expert-machinist and inventor at the United Shirt and Collar a machine for the turning of collars.

Three other Dormandy cars were built in 1904 and-1905, all open touring models and all painted in the same colar the orglhi- al closed car. These cars were owned by Charles L. Pine and Warren A. Pine, sons-of the firmY president, and by-Mr. Dormandy.

The elder DormandyV son, Charles G. Darmandy of 111 Valley View was also employed at the concern at thc'time the cars were buiM. He recalls that all of the Dormandy ears were garaged in a carriage house at the hear of a residence at 128th street and Srd avenue, then owned by the late John Bobbins, head plumber at the United Shirt Co. and a florist. Chaaa Drive Covered The only bask difference in the original Dormandy and the three subsequent models was that exposed chain drive mechanism on the first machine was covered the later ears.

of that ea- Mr. Dormasrfy recalls the can taMsstanent. Dr. F. Con- were right-hand driven and or FOUR-- The scarlet HMOMMM kwilt to for Jaawa Knox Ftae, president of United SMrt Collar was the trat four Dorsaandy cars hailM locally.

Nose taw exposed denbte chain-drive CMaweUsic wWi.tlM wheels. Sketch was drawi by the writer after checking details frata saesMry of Charles G. Danumdy, of Ike car's designer and Qr. Engene F. Connally, win, at the thaw 'the ear i Mlt, was eippleyed by the late Myron D.

Adaaas of: the Troy Carriage Works whkh constneled the bodies. t. t. i LAST OF TOE DOEMANDYS--The last the fottf erty the late Gary J. Dornaariy who designed It.

Till. type la Hat the rear chain-drive was carrtred. large tajiWe drivtag light Up of the enrL Mr. Dorsaakdy la sUwitag at the left Mia Ckarias 6. DwmaMy, who now 111 VaHey View Dr, at the wheel.

Mrs. Gaty JL seated In the Unnosk The used by Mr. Domandy to-MM, JFM( coiutesy Charles G. Donaandy.) loyed the conventional three speed gear box with reverse. the ultimate fate of all four Dormandy aiito- mobiles has been lost.

The last ear Mr. Dormandy recalls that his father which he're- memtoefs as late 1906 or 1910. To Lake PUcM "Jt a. good ear," be "for in the days.when trips were limited largely dust to faulty tires and poor roads, my father did drive to Lake Placid (rack on one occasion without any difficulty." The Dormandys carried tires, substituting a tilt puVajs)land the usual patches hi the tool box which was mounWI the left hand ninning-board. The tars were conventional io appearance and carried- a false front to resemble a.

radiator. i effected through the honeycomb an this device but, oddly, enough, no side louvres were added eavedMe the cooling. Mr. Dormandy no identification tf- pevred the false, front hulnani. "The steering wheel passed the.

flswr through a brass plate," he recalled, "on which was placed the Domaady name. Bwt the dual fact remaiw point of speculation. Wen aaw other aiitomobilea ever buist by and colUr company and others ever burlt for personal use and never intended tot safe? THB aOVC IS A KCmoDUCTnHOT LCTTIK HATOK J. MOLLOt OF TaOT TO MY ION D. ADAMS OF LAHSIHOBUaOH ALLOW1MC THt LATTER TO Of- SHATE MM "HOMCLCSS CAaajAOB- TMC COLLAK CITT.

MIVBK'S LICBNoVT-- TMa ts i reproduction of HH persaH granted Myrw D. Adasna operate a SM- ttc vehicle on the streets of Troy. At Ike ttaae, Mr. AdaaM WM secretary treanrer of Isw CarrUge Works wbWi the Dmwandy antasaakUe. Dated Sept.

this waa nnhably the first such license ever umnd aa New York State. Initial nwtor vehicle lain were cnfnrec4 beginning hi 1M1. It la possibly the earnVnt tneh pensdt iaawd ka the Ffcrst known regMritlons and SMUT vehicle Ucenses data back to the Hungary Monarchy la Pheasant Shoots Hunter's Wife NEW YORK-- When a bird shoots a hunter tt may not be world-shaking news, but it's the type' tidbit -that intrigues NBC News' London correspondent Kenneth Bernstein when he's not on the trail of an important story. BIRD SHOOTS HUNTER -Mrs. Helen Smith and her husband, Colonel Smith of Ditchingham, England, went out hunting recently and the colonel bagged a pheasant.

He slung it over his gun, but the bird was still alive and kicked trigger. Off went the' gun, down went Mrs. by a pheasant. TRAIN OUTRUNS COMMUT- full-fledged the 8 a.m. from Newcastle to London departed on time.

Many passengers were left standing' on the platform and some non- passengers were a Leaving on time was unprecedented far the a.m. out of Newcastle. Railway embarked on a IS YOUR WIRING SAFE FOR THE WINTER Are You Pestered Wrrfc Ilewn-Oiit Fuses CALL "CHIT" FOR FREE ESTIMATE" HOW ELECTRIC Ufl.