NOTE:
Images of car: courtesy, A.J. Gallagher, England
Text by: Mel Moffitt, USA
A special thanks to: Wu Yuqing, Peking University
Submitted by: Site Host
Click on Image for Medium Resolution Enlargement.
SUMMER PALACE, BEIJING
A Duryea for Royalty. Built for Chinese Empress Dowager Tz'u Hsi, the venerable Reading, PA built Duryea Surrey has survived revolutions, coups, Palace intrigues, and wars. After more than nine decades, it is surrounded by lore, and may never give up all of its secrets. The above photos (19??) were taken at the Summer Palace in Beijing, and provided by A.J. Gallagher of England. Its present location is Unknown. Recently a Peking University student went to both the Summer Palace and The Forbidden City, with negative results. Efforts are ongoing to establish its present exhibit site.
Reportedly, the Duryea was used little. It was considered a breach of protocol for the operator to look upon the Empress if she rode in the front seat. The middle operator's seat, and note that steering wheel, is made for only one. If she rode in the rear seat, the operator would be placed before her. Additionally, Royalty couldn't be expected to drive themselves, could they?
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Ref - Communications World
Material courtesy, Mel Moffitt, Peoria Public Library.
It appears that the Empress Duryea was imported into China in 1902.
On one step plate is the word "Duryea" and on the other is a star. The number of points of the star was not given.
Given the fact that Duryea is French, the star on the Empress Duryea could have eight points. If you have read the text and viewed all of the images in this web site thoroughly, you should be able to make a connection here.
A friend of mine on a recent trip to the Summer Palace snapped some pictures of the front step plates. One plate does have a star but the star has only 5 points and it appears to be perforated metal. One of the step plates on my 1902 appears to have a half-worn-out eight pointed star stamped in rubber. The Empress Duryea step plate with star does not seem to bear the quality and craftsmanship one would expect from Duryea and I am not sure this plate ornamentation is authentic.
The other step plate has the Duryea trade mark. I have been wrestling with this problem over 5 years and have decided to use the Duryea trade mark on both step plates of my 1902. Click on the links below to view the Empress Duryea front step plates.
PICTURES COURTESY: Marcia Snow - Raeford, North Carolina USA
Empress Duryea front step plates:
Step Plate with trade mark
Step Plate with 5 pointed star
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