Readers may have noticed that I don’t often reference AI (artificial intelligence) and I admit that I don’t use it very often.

However, as AI advances, it does have some helpful abilities so I’ve decided to make this month’s 12 for ’26 all about AI’s capabilities in identifying and describing photos.

Today’s experiment is all about this vintage family photo that doesn’t have any people in it:

My father -in-law, many years ago, told me that this was the location of the first oil well that was dug in Noble, Cleveland, Oklahoma. It’s quite barren land and it seems obvious that this was not a big enterprise around 1920. The building on the right has some kind of square-ish vehicle parked by it and those towers do look like oil well rigs.

I queried ChatGPT 4o:

This photo was taken in the early 1900s in Noble, Oklahoma. Can you describe the scene and what would be happening?

The answer:

This historic photo, taken in the early 1900s in Noble, Oklahoma, depicts what appears to be an oil drilling site during the early days of the oil boom in the region. Here’s a detailed description and interpretation of the scene:

Scene Description:

1. Oil Derrick Structures:
   • Several tall, skeletal structures in the background are oil derricks. These were used to drill into the earth to access oil reservoirs. The derricks are consistent with the style used in the early 20th century, made primarily of wood or metal framing.
2. Construction/Operations Area:
   • The central area contains platforms and structural frameworks, suggesting active construction or ongoing drilling operations.
   • Scaffolding and wood planks are visible, likely used to support the drilling process and work crews.
3. Utility Poles and Power Lines:
   • A tall utility pole with visible power lines suggests the area had access to electricity, which would have been vital for operating drilling equipment and lighting.
4. Small Buildings:
   • On the right side, a small building with a pitched roof may have served as an office, tool shed, or worker quarters. Several smoke stacks are also visible behind it, suggesting nearby industrial activity or perhaps boiler operations to power steam-driven drilling equipment.
5. Vehicle:
   • An early automobile or truck is parked near the small building, helping date the photo to the 1910s or 1920s. The vehicle looks like a Model T or similar vintage, commonly used during that time.
6. Oil Field Equipment:
   • Near the center-left, a large spool or reel and piping are present, possibly for hose or cable used in the drilling process.
7. Flat, Open Terrain:
   • The terrain is flat and bare, with dirt roads and no paved infrastructure. This fits the rural setting of early oil field development in Oklahoma.

Historical Context:

Noble, Oklahoma was part of the larger oil boom that swept through the state in the early 20th century. This photo likely captures a moment from the development of one of the area’s early productive oil wells. Workers would be busy constructing rigs, operating equipment, and managing the logistics of drilling. The surrounding community would have experienced rapid changes, from population growth to economic expansion.

This specific photo may show the first oil well in Noble, as indicated by the file name. It would have been a significant milestone for the town, likely drawing investment and labor to the region and transforming its economy.

Would you like help dating this scene more precisely or identifying the specific well or people involved?

I then asked about the Model T:

Is the vehicle really a Model T or is that a guess?

The reply:

Great question — let’s take a closer, more careful look at the vehicle in the image rather than relying on general assumptions.

What We Can See:

• The vehicle is parked beside the small building on the right.
• It has a high ground clearance, thin wheels (likely wooden or spoked rims), and an open cab or flatbed back, all typical of early 1900s vehicles.
• The body appears somewhat boxy, with an exposed front and possibly a radiator grille, consistent with vehicles from the 1910s to early 1920s.

Is it a Ford Model T?

The Ford Model T, especially in its truck or Runabout (pickup) variants, was one of the most common vehicles of the era (produced from 1908 to 1927). Here’s how it compares:

Similarities:

• Open cab design: Many Model Ts had open or partially enclosed cabs like this.
• High wheels with thin tires: Exactly like the ones visible in the photo.
• Flatbed body: The back of the vehicle looks like it might be a utility bed or cargo area, common in Model T truck versions.
• Simple, boxy form: Matches Model T styling.

Differences/Limitations:

• The photo isn’t clear enough to see specific identifiers (like the radiator shape, badge, or dashboard).
• Other manufacturers, like Dodge Brothers, Chevrolet, or International Harvester, also produced similar utility vehicles in the same time period.

Conclusion:

The vehicle very likely could be a Ford Model T, especially a Model TT truck variant (produced starting in 1917), but due to the image clarity and distance, it remains an educated guess, not a confirmed identification. Model Ts were extremely common, so it’s statistically a strong possibility — but not the only one.

If you’d like, I can highlight what features to look for more precisely (like the radiator shape) if you ever find a higher-resolution or more detailed version of this image.

So far, ChatGPT’s response seems to be spot on.

I couldn’t find any information about when the oil wells were first dug in Noble, but did do a general search for this answer: What was the name of the first oil drilling company in the town of Noble, Oklahoma?

Answer:

The first oil drilling company associated with the town of Noble, Oklahoma was the Noble-Olson Drilling Company, formed in 1921 by Lloyd Noble and Arthur O. Olson. Lloyd Noble, one of the founders, was from Ardmore, Oklahoma, and had studied at the University of Oklahoma. The company started with a used drilling rig and significant debt.

This early photo, with a possible Model TT truck, first sold in 1917, fits with the beginning of the Noble-Olson Drilling Company founded in 1921.

Looking for final confirmation, I contacted the reference librarian at the Noble Public Library. She had to do some research, but did get back to me.

For my first venture with AI and photos, I think this was quite successful.