1908 Glidden Tour Review

Work in Progress!

The 1908 Glidden tour competition involved competition from two teams representing a number of Auto Clubs, including those from Buffalo, Columbus, Rochester, Chicago, Syracuse, Bay State and Cleveland. The Competition also involved manufacturers, and that made it very interesting -- Pierce-Arrow, Rio, Premier, Gaeth, Peerless, Thomas, Selden, Franklin, Marmon, and Garford.

The route included a diversity of surfaces, elevations, and conditions. Some segments was a piece of cake for entrants, like the one from Buffalo to Cambridge Springs, PA, where only one car experienced a failure. Other daily runs were far more challenging, like that from Bedford Springs to Harrisburg.The 1908 Glidden Tour moved from west to east and the back to west again, ending at Saratoga, New York. 

The Supervising Officials: 

Frank B. Hower -- Chairman of the AAA Toruing Board, overall responsibility for the event.

Dai H. Lewis -- Secretary and in charge of the route.

E.L. Ferguson -- Starter, entries and the daily dispatch.

Mortimer Reeves -- garaging the cars

F.D. Stidham -- Chief of the "Observer Brigade."

H.D. Herr -- Hotel Accommodations

Arthur N. Jervis -- Publicity.

 It was a curious event in a way, involving social elites, technology, an environment that could be harsh, and capitalism. 

View of Glidden trophy and plaque displayed in store window during the 1908 Glidden Tour. Trophy depicts an automobile circling a globe atop two figures representing speed. Bicycles displayed in background. Handwritten on back: "Tours--Glidden Tour, 1908."

View of Charles J. Glidden posing with unidentified official during the 1908 Glidden Tour. Official holds a megaphone. Handwritten on back: "Tours--Glidden Tour, 1908."

View of spectators surrounding motorists in Gaeth car no. 10 in front of the Teck Theatre at Buffalo, New York during the 1908 Glidden Tour. Banner suspended over street reads: "Automobile Club of Buffalo, the Annual Tour of the American Automobile Ass'n starts from this point Thursday, July 9th at 10 a.m." Handwritten on back: "Tours--Glidden Tour, 1908."

View of motorists in Reo car, surrounded by spectators, in front of the Teck Theatre at Buffalo, New York during the 1908 Glidden Tour. Banner suspended over street reads: "Automobile Club of Buffalo, the Annual Tour of the American Automobile Ass'n starts from this point Thursday, July 9th at 10 a.m." Streetcar on right. Handwritten on back: "Tours--Glidden Tour, 1908."

View of motorists in Oakland car no. 28, surrounded by spectators, in front of the Teck Theatre at Buffalo, New York during the 1908 Glidden Tour. Banner suspended over street reads: "Automobile Club of Buffalo, the Annual Tour of the American Automobile Ass'n starts from this point Thursday, July 9th at 10 a.m." Handwritten on back: "Tours--Glidden Tour, 1908."

Maps: Buffalo to Cambridge to Cambridge Springs, Pa and Cambridge Springs to Pittsburgh, PA

View of motorists with cars parked on hill next to Hotel Rider at Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania during the 1908 Glidden Tour. Handwritten on back: "Tours--Glidden Tour, 1908."

View of motorists posing in Franklin car in front of the Bedford Springs Hotel at Bedford, Pennsylvania during the 1908 Glidden Tour. Handwritten on back: "Tours--Glidden Tour, 1908."

Map: Saratoga to Littleton

View of motorists in Stevens-Duryea car no. 16 at Saratoga Springs, New York, surrounded by spectators, during the 1908 Glidden Tour. Handwritten on back: "Tours--Glidden Tour, 1908.