100 years ago: Motor Cars in South Africa

THE STAR Johannesburg - 1920, July 15 & 22

THE STAR Johannesburg - 1920, July 15

STUDEBAKER Cars

Fitted with every refinement, beautiful in appearance, strong and reliable. Available at Johannesburg Motor Mart, Rissik & Marshall Streets, Johannesburg

THE STAR Johannesburg - 1920, July 22

11˙9 BEAN - The Leader of its Class

The 11˙9 Bean is built on very robust lines to give long and faithful service to its owner even under the most arduous conditions. Hills and bad roads hold no terrors for the Bean. The highly-efficient 11˙9 engine develops more than ordinary power for its size, the springs are large and designed to withstand hard wear, the road clearance ample. One of the finest factories is responsible for its production, and modern manufacturing methods for its very moderate price.

BRIEF SPECIFICATION:

Four cylinder monobloc engine, 69 x 120 mm. Pressure fed lubrication. Zenith carburetor. HT Magneto ignition. Thermo syphon cooling. Leather to metal cone clutch. Three-speed and reverse. Bevel drive. Detachable wheels. Electric starting and lighting.

PRICES:

Chassis £450.   
Standard two-seater £600.   
Four-seater Open Touring Car £650.   
Two-seater Coupe £750. 
Two-seater Coupe £825.

A Harper, Sons & Bean, Ltd. – Works: Dudley, Tipton, and Smethwick, England

Sales organization: British Motor Trading Corporation Ltd.

THE STAR Johannesburg - 1920, July 22

WOLSELEY

Power on Hills is a distinguishing feature of the new “Wolseley” Fifteen. On ordinary inclines gear-changing is unnecessary, whilst the steepest gradient can be faced with easy confidence.

For a catalogue, write to 
*  Wolseley Motors (SA) Ltd. (Proprietors: Vickers, Ltd.)  - Globe House, 5 Hout Street, Cape Town
*  Johannesburg Motor Mart, Ltd. – Rissik Street, Johannesburg

THE STAR Johannesburg - 1920, July 22

REO Light ‘Six’

The Epitome of Reo Experience. Gracefully balanced on long, low, resilient springs, the new REO Light Six represents the newest ideas in Motor Car Manufacturers.

For particulars and a trial run, Apply to DH Saker & Co. – Johannesburg & Port Elizabeth

Natal Motor Industries – Durban, Natal

HARLEY-DAVIDSON - for BUSINESS or for PLEASURE?

Harley-Davidson: 1918 - 1928

We have beautiful Harley-advertisements in newspapers dating back from 1918 – 1928. Interesting to see how they advertise these cycles:

(1918, January 10, The Star Johannesburg)

The Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Magnificent.

Start the New Year well – get a big brown Harley – let it take you wherever you want to go, whenever you want to go. With a three speed electrically equipped Harley-Davidson you will be absolutely right for a glorious and happy year, Sundays – Holidays – Half-days – and Evenings this big brown bike will be your willing servant, ready for a trip – ten miles or a hundred miles – up hills, through sand – it’s all the same to the Harley.

Come in and give us an opportunity to tell and show you what a Harley-Davidson will do for you. If you cannot call, write for catalogue.

Imperial Motor Supply Company, Johannesburg or

Haak & Zoon, Pretoria

(1918, March 27 - The Star Johannesburg)

1918 Harley-Davidsons showing for the first time in South Africa at Stands 19 & 20 at Consolidated Motor, Ltd., Johannesburg

These are the Big Brown Bikes of unmatched speed and power – the mounts so many riders have been waiting for. Are you one of many? In any case we hope you will make a special point of seeing the new Harley – quality’s limit – at Stands 19 and 20.

(1918, November 18 - Cape Argus)

Whether you ride for BUSINESS or for PLEASURE – in town or out of town – once a week or every hour of the day – ride the big, 3 speed Harley-DaviDons – and ride with unmatched comfort, ease, confidence and economy.

May we send you a catalogue?

The Southern Motors & Supplies Ltd., Cape Town

(1925, 8 Oktober - De Volkstem)

Die Harley bring U heen en trug, vir Plesier of vir werk, langsaam of vlug!

Mnr. Stadsman, het U ooit uitgedink hoeveel U wel uitgee aan reisgeld, en nadat U alles betaal het, U net enkel gebruiklike kaartjies kan laat sien? Reken dit uit en U sal uitvind dat U ‘n Harley-Davidson kan besit en ry vir nie meer dan dit U nou kos om na en uit die stad te gaan, en dink dan aan die heerlike week-eindes en vakansie-dae wat U sal hê. Daar is g’n end aan al die plesier wat U uit ‘n Harley kan kry.

Mnr. Boer, het dit ooit by U opgekom wat dit sou meen om ‘n Harley in U skuur te hê – die verre grense word gemaklik bereikbaar – U uitstappies na die stad is goedkoop en fluks – dit bring U op die plek om oor sake te onderhandel sonder enige las of moeilikheid – sy waarde vir U in L.S.D. is onbeperk – sy prys is baie billik en terme kan gereël word wat dit baie gemaklik vir U maak om te koop.

Waarom sou U hieromtrent g’n navraag doen nie? Die Bartle Moter Organisasie - Johannesburg, Kaapstad, Bloemfontein, Oos-Londen, Durban, Kimberley, Port Elizabeth

(1928, July 6 - Cape Times)

The Sportsman and his Harley!

After a strenuous game of golf, he mounts his machine – sinks into the ever-comfort-giving saddle – starts her up, and glides off with the ease and smoothness of a flying bird.

Such are the comforts of a 2¾ Model Harley-Davidson and they’re not so expensive either!

For full particulars apply to Southern Motors & Supplies Ltd., Cape Town

Sabrina Giacomini has interesting information about 2020's new Harley-Davidson models at https://www.rideapart.com/articles/400398/2021-harley-davidson-bronx-overview/

Green Turtle SAVED in 1933 and Endangered Turtle DIED in 2019

CAPE TIMES – 1933, September 27

A fine Green Turtle was brought into the Cape Town docks by a locally owned trawler. It weighed 220 lb and was sold to one of the large hotels. The turtle was captured when Capt. WT Taylor, in charge of the Star of the South, was trawling 20 miles off the land near Mossel Bay in 50 fathoms. When the net was being hove up with a good load of fish in it, a large turtle covered with a thin coating of emerald green weed was seen entering the mouth of the net. For three days the turtle was kept in a fish pond on the deck.

Captain Taylor, a keen observer of marine life, said that green turtles were often seen off the coastline during the summer months, and it was almost unknown for one to be met with in September. Most probably it had been carried south by the warm Mozambique current and got lost in the colder waters along the South Coast. There was just the possibility that it came down the West Coast, for turtles were plentiful in and near the tropics in both sides of Africa.

Capt. Taylor also saw several large schools of dolphins and his trawler was followed by a pair of “spechoppers,” / grampus, the deadly enemy of dolphins. These “spechoppers” were 15 to 20 feet long, the back being black and the underpart mottled or pure white with the sheen of enamel. They had powerful teeth in both jaws and made short work of an eight-foot dolphin. As soon as a grampus got among a school of dolphins, the latter raced for their lives and could be seen leaping out of the water in their anxiety to avoid their enemies. Usually grampuses went about in pairs, but sometimes as many as six had been seen together. Cape pigeons were plentiful among the south coast, but the albatross was an extremely rare visitor. Mollymawks, and several species of the petrel, besides gulls, were always following a vessel for hours waiting for a good meal of offal.
This story reminded me of the Most Critically Endangered Turtle in the World - the Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle (Rafetus Swinhoei). Just three confirmed individuals of the Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle were left behind when the world's only known female Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle died in China's Suzhou Shanfangshan Forest Zoo on 2019, April 13, following an attempt to artificially inseminate her. 

More about Green Turtles & Grampuses:

https://www.aquarium.co.za/blog/entry/everything-youve-ever-wanted-to-know-about-sea-turtles-in-south-africa 

https://www.britannica.com/animal/grampus-mammal

More about the Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle:

https://news.mongabay.com/…/last-known-female-yangtze-gian…/