From the outset we wondered when Agincourt would have garnered its first auto dealership. This afternoon, by a tremendous stroke of good fortune, I almost literally stumbled on this automotive confection. I won’t muddy the waters by revealing its location — and, yes, it’s still largely intact — but simply admit this is too, too good to let pass. And now, for the fine print.

M. Zilbermann was Michel Zilbermann, who emigrated from France in 1904 and became a naturalized citizen three years later. He appears in the 1920 census with wife Rachel, son Rene (born in the U.S., so an “anchor baby” I suppose), sister Gabriel, and brother Armand. Mr Z was forty-two years of age and still an auto merchant. Now, how I’ll justify such a wondrous example of architectural art is more than a little hazy for the moment. But things have a way of working out. In the meantime, I suspect there are some folks out there who can bring me up to speed on the makes of cars offered for sale: the Premier and the Empire.

I’m trying to sound out “zil•behr•mahn” with a French accent.