1920s SAN DIEGO AUTOMOBILE GARAGE AND SUPPLY

An album containing 24 silver prints measuring 6 x 4 inches, many showing the popular Smith's automotive businesses in downtown San Diego. The automotive service and parts company was founded and operated by Howard B. Smith, known to many San Diegans at the time as "Service Smith". A native of Connecticut, he trained as an engineer at U.C. Berkeley, working his way through college in a repair shop and as a taxi driver. He moved to Michigan to work with the Chalmers Motor Company before relocating to San Diego in 1914, where he became an agent for cheap automobiles. In 1916, he opened the Smith automotive businesses and in 1918, the Owl Taxi with five Ford (truncated) cabs.

It would appear from the age of the automobiles in the photographs that the images date from the early 1920s. In 1921, Clemens W. Stose purchased Smith's Savoy Garage, Smith's Motor Supply, and Smith's Repair Shop. Laid into the album is a handwritten letter on Owl Taxi letterhead postmarked 1922. The album also contains early images of advertisements for tires and batteries, along with a few other automotive-related businesses in the area.

The album and photographs are in very good condition. The photographs are held in place with photo corners. The oblong black cloth album is bound with a string tie. (Inventory #: 76913)