$20,000 Challenge Grant for Virtual Steam Car Museum.

The VSCM has a $20,000 challenge grant to publish the Stewart Biography. We must raise $25,000 by June 30th or lose the challenge grant.

160,000 words, 450+ illustrations, fully documented and footnoted, format 9" x 12" professionally designed and printed.

Sponsors acknowledged. Please call or email Don Hoke.

Summary and Sample Photos

H. H. Stewart was born in the New Zealand bush, apprenticed to a steam engine maker in Wellington, and started a small garage with his father in Featherston where they sold various makes of early cars.

Sometime before 1910, HHS bought the remains of a Locomobile and built his first steam car. In 1919 he came to America, toured steam car makers, and secured a Stanley Agency.

In 1924 he spent three months in Newton helping to design perfect steam car. On his return trip to New Zealand, he visited virtually every steam car maker in America.

After the last Stanley effort ended in 1926, Stewart returned to America in 1927 to participate in Abner Doble’s Detroit steam bus experiments.

This led directly to Stewart’s bringing Doble to New Zealand where Doble and A. & G. Price partnered to build steam buses between 1930 and 1933.

HHS died in 1950 shortly after John Stewart, his son, purchased and started to restore the first Stanley Steam Car HHS imported in 1920.