TILLER TIME
Yes, I do remember when cars were driven by means or a tiller instead of a steering wheel.
Lest I cast myself too far back in Time, let me say that it came about because of an old gentlemen who owed two such cars. Even in the 1920's they were vintage cars. I remember them, you see, but they were oddities even then for cars had changed to wheel driven systems years before. There was try at using double tillers for left and right, I have heard, but it did not catch on. I don't know what ever became of the two old cars after the man died.
I don't even remember the actual make of the cars. They resemble pictures of OLD models in the 1907-10 era. They were both relatively low slung and looked, as so many early did, like a horse and buggy coming down the street without the horse. I don't remember such cars as being common, They were considered only as show items along with Stanley Steamers, electric cars and trucks and an air-cooled “Franklin” and other strange manifestations of man's fabulous creativeness concerning wheels on which he could travel.
Actually, most early cars resembled buggies or wagons with built in power all their own. Those two cars were internal combustion types, I'm sure and they were low down in appearance compared to other cars of that time.
I do not, you see, actually remember when such cars were in common use among car owners. I recall then as show units or curiosities of my time.
Thinking of them also brings to mind a sad and disturbing memory, as well for the old man who owned those two cars was severely handicapped in a way which impressed young boys such as use and actually frightened many people causing them to avoid him whenever possible. He wore a mask made of soft leather with holes neatly punched in it. It tied over his ears around his neck and fit just along his upper lip. Regardless of when people realized his condition, it came as shock to see a human being without a nose. He had, instead, where it should be, raw-looking, red and scarred tissued cavity. He was, I have heard, a cancer victim, and an operation had removed the offending area but plastic surgery was uncommon in those days. He wore the mask which he made himself at his shoe repair shop. I never heard his say one word about the mask or the nature of his misfortune.
We boys came to know him because he kept our shoes in repair an and we had occasion of visit his shop. We kids came to know his as well as or better than many people in town . One would think adults would have shown more compassion, and some may have done so without our being aware of it. But we felt the old man was poorly treated and excluded from community life because of his unusual appearance.
I remember when he died and his old store, unpainted for years and in need of repair, was sold and torn down. Then, oddly enough, people spoke of man by name. They remember seeing him get one of those cars out now and racing them them in the field in back of his house, up the hil and,l maybe, a turn up and down Main Street. They remembered how he drove one in our town parades and a mechanic from the Ford garage drove the other one and people, seeing the immaculate cars creeping by, clapped their hands an cheered... especially children.
Isn't it odd how in seeking out one memory we are often led to another - even to one we would rather have forgotten? I'm glad you asked me about the old tiller cars, however. In doing so, you have reminded me of how important it is to live every moment of our lives aware of the blessings we enjoy and to be aware of the tragic prisons others must endure, and, too often, alone. It may be time for us to upgrade from “ tillers” to improved “steering wheels” in our navigation of Life.
A.L.M. February 24, 2003 [c705wds]
