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Nice card Dave .... is there anything on the back to indicate the photographer, approx. date (in message, on postmark, etc)? - Ross

A few more Webster Rometch cards. Does anyone know where Rometch and Duncan fits into the picture? See image 5




RP by H.Dowie Hobart. hand dated 29/3/16



No photographers name probably Dowie. Hand dated 10/3/16



No infromation on back.


RP by H Dowie Hoabrt, hand dated 31/3/16



Blank back. Post card size.

I found this advertisement for Webster, Rometch & Duncan in an edition of David Burn's
"An Excursion to Port Arthur in 1842" originally published (and illustrated) by
J.W. Beattie in 1901 .... this would come from a later printing. I will try to find out some
further information soon. ....................Ross

To see the advertisement "in situ", follow this link

http://www.archive.org/stream/excursion ... 3/mode/2up

Another Webster Rometch tour starting out from Murray Street offices some time during the 1920s or judging by the women's hats, a little earlier.

Real photo card by H. Dowie

This query is about Webster Rometch buses, rather than postcards.

When I was aged about 7, ie in 1950, in travelled from Hobart to Dover on a Webster Rometch bus of the type that had rows of sets that went across the whole width of the bus with a door at each side. There was no centre aisle for access. What is this arrangement called? Is there a photograph of that particular bus?
Thanks, Des Beechey

The vehicle you describe may well have been a charabanc, which were first used in England just prior to WW1. The word charabanc comes from the French "char a bancs" - a seated carriage. Charabancs were still in use in Adelaide until the 1950s. I had several rides in one, as it was hired by our local amateur football club to travel to "away" matches. It did have a roof, but I do not recall it having any side doors as such, just an opening on each side of every row of seats. A very dangerous contraption to travel around in! Most of the British charabancs did not have a roof.

This card was printed in Germany so it's fairly safe to assume that it's pre-WWI