Dupont Automobile 1920

This is an advertisement for Dupont Automobiles from Country Life, July 1920. This was the year after the Dupont Automobile Company was formed.

The couple in the foreground were wearing their hats to go out in style. It was important to look good. Why let the automobile upstage you – appearances are everything! How they kept their hats on in the open cars I don’t know. Perhaps they were not going too fast?

Only 516 Dupont automobiles were made in the 12 year history of the company - less than one per week. The company merged with the Indian Motorcycle Company in 1932. Perhaps the advertisement itself is quite rare? In any case the on set of the Depression was a major factor in the demise of that company.

The following site has a good history of the Dupont Automobile Company:
http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z10331/DuPont_Model_H_Merrimac_Sport_Phaeton.aspx
I used the article as a reference for this post.

These cars were upscale and the clothing style reflects this. Of course they advertised in Country Life, an upscale magazine. The first edition of the Dupont automobile in 1919 cost between $4,000 and $5,600, a large sum of money in those days. In 1920 a four bedroom bungalow in Green Bay Wisconsin cost $3,100 see the following interesting web page -
http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/20s-homes.html


The important thing is that the wearing of hats was a requirement to be in style for motoring. See the Eaton’s of Canada Calatogue for 1915 – 1916 from Canada’s Museum of Civilization where they show a hat designed for motoring.http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/cmc/009002-119.01-e.php?&page_ecopy=nlc003947.79&&PHPSESSID=2b94qh74tbem93ku6ead4fkic6
Please be patient you may have to click on the view without plug-in link on the page - patience will be rewarded!