This pair of promotional photos both feature Ruth Etting, who in the 1920s and 1930s had over 60 hit recordings and worked in the stage, radio, and film industry. She is seen here in a very exclusive appearing city delivery vehicle, which may be wearing Massachusetts plates. It is a bit of an oddity, as it is wearing some 1929 Cadillac sheet metal, on what appears to be a light truck chassis. Can a reader identify the the chassis for us? The hubcap logos should prove to be a good clue for this.
You can watch a slide show of Ruth Etting here and listen to her sing Shine on Harvest Moon (1931). You can also learn more about Ettings rise to stardom which unfortunately was followed by tragedy.
Etting is seen (below) posing with a 1932-33 DeSoto Coupe, in a setting looking a lot like it was in California. We will leave it to the Chrysler products experts to determine exactly which year and model the coupe is. The 1932 models were available with either a six or an eight, while in 1933 it appears to only have been offered as a six-cylinder. Photos courtesy of the University of Nebraska Libraries.
P.S. Don’t forget your Valentine today.
Not really a comment, but a question. The delivery truck Ms. Etting is in appears to have larger spokes on the rear than the front. Is this just a “photo” thing, or would it have been done for more strength ? Great pics, and naturally, I would love to have the truck ! John
The Stock Market Crash of 1929 put an end to the very short lived ladies Town Car Shoping Car.
Good point Bob….After the crash things left the store in a brown paper bag and not in a deluxe “Town Car Delivery”
Looks like a Cunningham to me.
My bet is that the chassis is a ’30 Cadillac.The hood louvers match.
The wheels and hubcaps are definately Cad. A half ton of flowers in
this custom commercial vehicle wouldn’t begin to be a problem for
a Cadillac chassis.