ac53 first transcontinental auto at Penticton BC garage / Thomas Wilby in 1912

Description

By checking newspapers, this has to be Thomas Wilby’s 46-day trip on an all-Canada route from Halifax to Vancouver — Aug 27 to Oct 14 1912, which stopped in Penticton. Wilby & his drivers were assisted by a series of Canadian Highway Association pathfinder “pilots” who guided the vehicle at 100-mile intervals. Wilby’s purpose was to prove the feasibility of a Canadian highway. “Taking advantage of the splendid weather on the prairies, Mr Wilby was able to drive his car at top speed, and thereby cover the 300 miles between Moose Jaw and Lethbridge in less than three days.” The car was driven on railroad tracks for one brief stretch, and was shipped on the CPR at two impassible points.
Newspapers rarely mentioned the make of car, a 30-hp 5-seater Reo 30. One story said it was built in Canada especially for the trip, and one said it was stripped light & without mudguards.
I can email you JPEGs of online news clippings. This is a vintage original postcard.
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