nickle ‘a’ news june 2020.pdf · picnic items, grilling items, wine and cheese, craft items,...
TRANSCRIPT
Nickle ‘A’ News www.nicklearegion.com/
June 2020
The Nickle “A” Region of Wisconsin is
dedicated to the restoration, driving and
preservation of the Model “A” Ford
Automobile from 1928 to1931.
.
In This Issue…
Calendar of Events Page 3
Meeting Minutes Page 5
Tech Support Page 5
Classifieds Page 5
MARC News Page 6
Message from the Director
Dear Nickle A Model A’ers:
What a crazy few months we’ve all lived through . . .
As I think about firing up one of my A’s to ride around,
I think about what we all usually do when we get in our
cars: where should we go to eat? With many businesses
still being closed, and the virus still hanging over our
heads, we may want to really do things Model A style!
I came by this information rather round about, but I still thought you’d enjoy knowing that you
still can get a warm meal while on the road.
Herb Grube belongs to a Model A Club in his hometown, Leigh Valley, Pennsylvania. He often
shares the newsletter with me and that’s how I learned of this gem: Manifold Cooking.
Apparently, in the November 1929 “Touring Topics” magazine, the predecessor to the AAA
(Triple A), this article was published. I quote John Costenbader who put this article in the
Lehigh Valley Model “A” Club monthly newsletter in March 2020.
Manifold cooking came along with the expression “necessity is the mother of invention” because
in the Model A era people attempting to travel in their cars for family visits, vacations, or
business had a problem because there were no ‘fast foods’ along the roadways. Auto travelers
were forced to carry lunch with them. To make a meal warm, without needing to carry a stove of
some sort, brought about tying the meal to the manifold of one’s Model A! A short time before
the lunch stop, Model A drivers would pull off to the side of the road, and triple wrap their food
in aluminum foil. Then using wire, they carefully tied the food onto the manifold, trying to avoid
getting burned.
Then the driver returned to the road and drove while simultaneously reheating the manifold and
braising the contents of lunch. Naturally the amount of time needed to cook lunch depended on
what was inside the foil. Beef was said to have taken about an hour while chicken was said to
have take two hours of driving! Advertising of the time noted that “If you want your roast beef
rare you must drive downhill. If you want it medium you have to pick a level road. If you prefer
it well done, the mountains are necessary!”
By June 1930, Modern Mechanics magazine describes an invention to take it one step further.
By attaching a pipe at the rear of the exhaust manifold which extended up to the rear bumper, the
sealed cooking pot could be attached to the bumper. The heat from the exhaust heated the
internal chamber of the pot to cook the contents. This method was touted as a better option than
cooking directly on the manifold as it resulted in less contamination of the food. Remember, all
of this was done in the days of leaded gasoline, an added flavor?
Let me know how it works out for you;
Keep your spirits up and your motor on in your “A”
Roy
2020 Club Meetings…
Thur June 18th
Hosted by by Fred
& Joan Penning @ Kaukauna
Thur July 16th
Hosted by Roy and
Julie @ Farley’s Model A Ranch in
DePere
Sun August 16th
Hosted by
Moss/Braasch @ Annual Corn Roast
in Van Dyne, WI
Thur Sept 17th
Hosted Ralph &
Mary @Kaukauna
Thur Oct 15th
Hosted by Tom
Schmidt and Brain Stecker
@Winchester Town Hall
Sun Nov 15th
Hosted by Cindy
Ellenbecker and Steve Moore
@New Holstien Home
WANTED “THEME BASKETS” The 2020 committee is looking for “Nickle A Region“members to put together “Theme
Baskets” for the can raffle. Be creative, this could be car related items, homemade can goods,
picnic items, grilling items, wine and cheese, craft items, etc. Something you would like to
win and or buy tickets for. Cost could be any were from $25 to $75 or more if you like. If you
have a great idea and it’s beyond your means, the National Meet committee will be willing to
cover some of the cost. Just share the idea with a committee member. Remember all
proceeds stay with your club, the Nickle A Region, non goes to the MARC National.
2020 BOARD & CLUB OFFICERS
Director Roy Farley [email protected]
Vice Director Cindy Ellenbecker [email protected]
Secretary Roselind Bresnahan [email protected]
Treasurer Dennis Voss [email protected]
Sunshine Donna Hameister [email protected]
Historian Mary Lou Hegner [email protected]
Editor Julie Farley [email protected]
Tool Keeper Tom Schmidt [email protected]
Webmaster Jim Watermolen [email protected]
Spotlight Reporter Cindy Ellenbecker [email protected]
Feel Free to contact anyone of the Club Officers with any
questions you may have. Thank You
Where’s the Monthly Meeting??
When: Thursday, June 18th, 2020
Time: 6:00pm Where: Pennings Home in Kaukauna
Hosts: Fred and Joan Pennings
Held outside on the back lawn, no food will be served at the meeting, bring your own beverage if you’d like and also bring your lawn chairs.
(We can spread out on the lawn for social distancing)
Thank You☺
Welcome New Members to
our Model A Family
Russ & Karen Walker
Austin Raeder
MAP TO June MEETING
I-41, Take exit 148 toward Kaukauna, Merge onto Delanglade St, continue straight to
stay on Delanglade St, Turn right onto Lawe St, Take County Rd Z to Kavanaugh Rd
*ADDRESS* 2201 Kavanaugh Rd Kaukauna, WI 54130
Youth Report ~ Differences between
1920s and Today's Teens
Technology: Teens in the 1920s didn't have
cell phones, iPods, or laptop computers, and
didn't use a lot of technology. In fact, many
did not even have telephones in their homes,
and there were no televisions to distract
them either. Teenagers spent time listening
to radio shows and music, socializing with
friends, and in the pursuit of various arts and
studies. Late in the decade, young people
could also enjoy movies with sound for the
first time.
Education: Education was not as revered in
the 1920s or as essential as it is today. Many
teens took on full-time careers as young as
14 and quit school. Higher education was
available, but not as readily. It was much
harder for women to get into college.
Gender Roles: Although 1920s teen girls
did have quite a bit of independence, women
and men had very separate roles to play in
society. Women were expected to get
married and raise a family, although it wasn't
required for survival as it had been in
centuries past. Nevertheless, most girls
married and started families rather than
pursuing careers. However, women like
Amelia Earhart offered the hope that they
could really do anything they set their minds
to.
Music: Jazz was extremely popular in the
1920s. Ragtime and Broadway music was
also a favorite. The sound included a lot of
brass instruments and soulful notes. Popular
artists included Al Jolson, Paul Whiteman,
Mamie Smith, and Edith Day.
The Start of Teenage Years; to describe teens in the
1920s is to describe an overall attitude of the people at
the time. Everyone was ecstatic over the end of World
War I, the new technologies, and booming economy.
Things became more relaxed, even fashions. While
there are similarities between the teens of the 20s and
today's teenagers, the 1920s was a unique time in
history that will never be fully repeated. However, we
are left with hints of independence and a hope for the
future that all started in the second decade of the
twentieth century.
Page 2
June Birthdays
June Anniversaries
Lorien & Pebbles Hagner
Russ & Phyllis Moss
Steve & Pam Paalman
Jack & Ardeen Gasser
Stephen & Elizabeth Bieski
Steven & Marilyn Mead
Russ & Karen Walker
Bill & Joyce Lindsley
Happy Anniversary!
Wishing you many more
happy years together!
Calendar of Events
All summer events have pretty much been canceled,
some vents in late summer/fall have not canceled yet.
But double check before going to be sure it’s still gong
on. There are couple car rallies in the area.
The Seymour Community Historical Society met last
night (May 18, 2020) and we decided because of the
pandemic we had to cancel the June 14 event. Thank
you so much for volunteering to embellish the
celebration with the participation of your group and the
colorful vintage autos. We look forward to getting
together sometime again in the future. Meanwhile, stay
healthy and keep touring.
Page 3
Event Info Start: June 9, 2019 - 10:00am
End: June 9, 2019 - 3:00pm Where 900 Greene Avenue, Allouez Wisconsin
Rally with us! On behalf of everyone at the Iola Car Show organization, we want to
invite you to the first ever Rally for Iola! It broke our hearts to cancel the
show, but this cruise has us just as excited (well almost)!
The Rally for Iola is a fundraising opportunity for all our supporters to
ensure the continuity of the Iola Car Show. This cruise will start on the
grounds, with show cars and everyday vehicles welcome. The grounds
will be decorated to recognize the over 130 civic organizations and
2,400 volunteers who make the show possible.
Then we will take to the open road, traveling 75-miles through Waupaca
County. We will pass by Schmidt's Corners, Big & Little Falls, through
Clintonville, Symco, Manawa, Waupaca and finally Scandinavia. With
over 100,000 attendees, each of these towns. *Details subject to change.
Mike Heider
Diane Vosters
Carol McBrair
Sharon Krause
Chuck Marousek
Sharon Nemecek
Lorien Hegner
Ralph Hayden
Gene Steinfedt
Phyllis Moss
Stephen Bieski
Wendy Mohr
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------
Good Morning All –
I hope this finds you well! I am writing to inform you of a change that we are
making for the King Open House in 2020! As you all know, the weather has not
been great in May for this event and a big thank you to those of you that braved it
last year!
We have decided to make a change and move the date to Saturday August 29th
and
have changed the name from Open House to King Family Picnic Day. The focus
of the event will be on our members, their families, and other guests that attend the
event! Our theme this year will be the Roaring 20s since we are entering the
2020s!
Our new Family Picnic Day will still contain many of the wonderful activities that
Open House had, including the Car Show, the bake sale, the Fox Valley Hog
Motorcycle Run, kids’ area, etc. The time will remain the same – 10 AM – 2:30
PM. We will be putting together the registration sheets in late spring for the car
show. I’ve attached our save the date card and I will send another email when we
have the registration working on our website.
Enjoy the rest of the winter and we look forward to seeing many of you in August!
Sincerely,
Shelley Jandt
MAFFI Newsletter Minute
May 2020 What’s new at the Museum you might ask? Well, in spite of the mandatory closure
due to Covid-19 the Board of Trustees have been working hard behind the scenes in
anticipation of the 10th
Annual Model A Day, September 19, 2020. There have
been new projects underway to make the museum more enjoyable. We are hoping
to have the Interactive Chassis up and running for Model A Day. A Vintage Post
Card machine to go along with our Penny Machine will give you more ways to take
home a souvenir of your day at the Museum. Recently some of our Trustees have
been also working on a complete collection of Model A Jim Beam Bottles to have
on display. Two new donations to the Museum are The America’s Sweetheart (see
article in The Restorer Mar/Apr 1998) and a Sears Tractor Conversion!
The response to the 2019 Model A Day Pins and the 20 Millionth Model A Pins
have been great. If you didn’t get your order in, contact Suzan O’Neale
([email protected]). She will be able to let you know what is still available.
Make sure to get in your hotel reservations for Model A Day if you haven’t done
so. Our host hotel is the Four Points by Sheraton in Kalamazoo. Call them directly
to get our Model A Day room rate (269)385-3922. DO NOT CALL THE
SHERATON 800 NUMBER! There are other hotels in the vicinity as well if the
Four Points is sold out and also RV and camping areas.
Thank you for your continued support of MAFFI through your membership and
donations! Thank you,
Marsha Quesnel, MAFFI Trustee
Name Tags
As you know at the January meeting the members in
attendance voted to have our webmaster Jim make new
name tags with lanyards.
Name tags are in process now and you could get your
car added on the back of your name tag for an extra
$1.50 per card. It would be full back side of the card
with your name.
Even if you don't want your car on the back of the
name tag Jim would love your car pictures emailed to
him for the web site.
Please email to Jim at [email protected]
If any questions please contact Jim at above email or
call/text him at 920-412-1235
(Below is what the front of the name tag will be with
your name)
Editor’s Corner As you know we were to host the June National Meet in Oshkosh before the COVID-19 pandemic, which we had to cancel. The ladies put together an 18-month calendar with Model A’s, pictures, and sassy by-lines for a fundraiser. The calendars start in July 2020 and run 18 months. These calendars are dated that we will not be able to sell them in 2021 when we host the national meet... PLEASE consider purchasing one or more of our great calendars to help our club. See ordering info below or contact Cindy Ellenbecker @920-286-0971
Stay safe.
Julie
Page 4
Facebook & Website Calendar Sales
April 13 through May 18
1. Wisconsin 13
2. Illinois 25
3. Nebraska 10
4. Michigan 14
5 .Minnesota 2
6. Missouri 6
7. Indiana 6
8. North Carolina 7
9. Massachussets 3
10. Arizona 1
11. California 1
12. Ohio 5
13. Iowa 1
14. New York 4
15. Pennsylvania 2
16. Georgia 3
17. Florida 5
18. New Jersey 3
19.Alabama 2
20.Virginia 2
21. Oregon 1
22. Ontario, Canada 1
119 plus Jerry’s 8 from registrations = 127
DEADLINE FOR NEWSLETTER ITEMS TO THE EDITOR IS THE 25th OF EACH MONTH
FOR SALE - TRADE - WANTED
FOR SALE: Model A carburetors rebuilt, test run. $125 without core, $100 with rebuild able core. Also, rebuilt distributors with modern
points and condenser, oil upper shaft and lower shaft, new bushings, $100 each. Call Tom at 920-450-7770
For Sale: Air compressor head for Model A engine $300 Call Don 920-540-0193
FOR SALE: 1931 Ford Model A Rumble Seat Coupe, very dependable, LeBonney Interior
$10,000 Call Kevin at 920-479-5744
WANTED: 1928-29 Style Steering wheel with tapered hole not splined, call Tom @920-621-7994
FOR SALE: Model “A” style tool pouches. They are made with top material as they were in the day. Craig Vosters will make them using his
excellent upholstery skills. He has material to make 7 using short grain and 3 using long grain. The cost is $15.00 each. These pouches will
have a black muslin lining and will be double stitched for added strength for the snaps. In addition to using the pouch for tools, they can be
used to carry smaller repair parts such as condensers, points and fuses. A major “A” supplier sells them for $9.00 each, plus $10.00 shipping
and they do not have a lining. Please call Don Paalman at 920-540-0193.
Wanted: Need garnish - Molding for 1930 Model A Ford 4-door with Briggs body. These are needed for the 4-large windows only and not
the quarter small size windows. Please furnish an electronic file if possible in PDF, JPEG or JIFF. Please call Martin Ireland at (608) 592-4280
or email at [email protected]. Thank You.
For Sale: Larkin 10lb. Abrasive Blaster with 100lbs of glass beads, Brand New, Never used. $100 obo. 608-213-8681 or [email protected]
For Sale: 1931 Standard Phaeton I bought the car in 1996 after it had a frame off restoration. The engine and transmission were also
professionally rebuilt. LB top, side curtains, interior and boot are all in like new condition. Luggage rack with nice trunk, spot light and dual
side mount tires. Kewanee Green. Looks and drives great. 6 brand new Firestone white wall tires and many parts replaced within the past
year. Asking $27,000.00. Please call or email me with any questions. John Nugent at (262)617-9645 or [email protected]
FOR SALE: 1930/31 Bumpers (new) front set $200; rear set $200; Bumper clamps, back plates $70; Light Wiring Harness 2 bulb new $ 50;
Zenith Carb rebuilt $125; Coil 6 volt $ 15; Brake floaters 20; Lug nuts new cad plated $20; Tail light bracket right side $5; Goose neck $7;
Electric fuel pump 6 volt $15 Jim 262-210-0718
Page 5
Meeting Minutes ~ May 2020
By Morris Halpin
To remove the existing rivets from
the shell, I use an old 1/4” wide wood
chisel and slide it under the bent rivet leg.
The bent rivet leg will sheer off easily. To
put the new lacing on I use a lot of small
vise grips to hold the lacing in place. I then
drill holes through the lacing to align with
the holes in the shell.
Next I take one of my extra small
needle point vise grips and grind a V on
one tip of it. I use the modified vise grip
(Bottom vise grip in photo with bent tips)
to spread the legs of the rivet.
By using the vise grip you can adjust
the pressure and control how far you want
to split the rivet down. (note: put duct
tape on the opposite jaw so you don’t
scratch the head of the rivet.) You can use
an additional pair of regular vise grips to
flatten the rivet more evenly. (Don’t forget
the duct tape on the jaws).
(from Quail Mail, Lehigh Valley Model A
Club)
MARC National Events
2020 Wisconsin Rapids Model A
Reunion unfortunately has also been
canceled this year .
Page 6
MAFFI Newsletter Minute
June 2020
Model A Day at The Gilmore is planned for September 18-19. Our theme
this year is “Model A First Responders”. We plan to have police vehicles,
fire trucks and a Model A ambulance on exhibit as part of our event. We
also plan to have our swap meet as well as technical and fashion seminars.
The MAFFI Trustees have been working with The Gilmore staff to assure
that the museums and grounds at The Gilmore are as safe as possible to
prevent the spread of Covid-19. The Gilmore will assure that procedures
will be in place in accordance with Federal and CDC guidelines and
Michigan safety and health regulations. There will be changes required to
be in compliance with health regulations. Restrictions in gatherings of
crowds will require a change in how we conduct seminars. Masks will be
required of Gilmore employees and food service will be changed so that
food orders are delivered to visitors after orders are taken. Our interactive
displays will not be available for use this year. I’m sure other changes will
be required pertaining to screening, physical distancing, PPE (personal
protective equipment) and limitations in capacity. As stated by The
Gilmore and fully supported by MAFFI, “Protecting the health and safety
of employees and visitors is our highest calling”. So, we will have to be
flexible and adapt to the changes needed to support having a great event
this year.
Since Model A Day attendees do not register for the event in advance, we
don’t have an ability to communicate with attendees through e-mail
addresses. To keep everyone informed, we will communicate updates, as
they occur, through our website, (www.maffi.org), The Gilmore website
(gilmorecarmuseum.org) and our national club Facebook pages. Please use
these communication tools to learn more about Model A Day this year at
The Gilmore. Also, I encourage you to contact me or any MAFFI Trustee
with your questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
John Begg, President
MAFFI
Thank you, Marsha Quesnel, MAFFI Trustee [email protected]
Fashion Era ~ Getting bored at home under “Safer at Home”? You can always
practice Finger Waving your hair for the next authentic dress up/fashion event!
A finger wave is a method of setting hair into waves (curls) that was popular in
the 1920s and 1930s and again in the late 1990s in North America and Europe.
Silver screen actresses such as Bette Davis and Anita Page are credited with the
original popularity of finger waves. In their return in the 1990s, the style was
popularized by pop stars like Madonna, and Hip Hop stars of the time, such
as Missy Elliott. The popularity of finger waves in the 1990s was aided by a
movement toward shorter, more natural hair in the African-American
community.[2]
The process involved pinching the hair between the fingers and combing
the hair in alternating directions to make an "S" shape wave. A waving lotion
was applied to the hair to help it retain its shape. The lotion was traditionally
made using karaya gum, but more modern styles often use liquid styling gels
or hairspray. Over the years, the use of clips (and later tape) also became
popular to hold the heavy damp waves until the gel dried.
According to "Techniques of the 1920s and 1930s": Finger waves were
developed in the 1920s to add style to, and soften the hard appearance of,
the bobbed hairstyles that became very popular during the flapper period.
Many Hollywood movie stars wore the latest finger waves which contributed
to the popularity and evolution of this style.
FINGER WAVING is the shaping or molding of hair while wet into "s"-shaped
curved undulations with the fingers and comb. These waves, when dried
without being disturbed, will fall into deep waves. There are no heated irons
used on the hair. Not only naturally curly or permanently waved hair can be
finger waved, but it is equally successful on straight hair.
(information obtained from Wikipedia)
Page 7
Allouez Fest (@Green Isle Park Car Show in Green Bay)
On behalf of the Allouez Optimist Club, I would like to thank you all for helping us make our annual Precious Metals Car Show and
AllouezFest the success it has become. Although this year’s event has been cancelled, we thought organizing an “Allouez Cruise” the
morning of Sunday, June 14th
would be a nice way to keep the spirit of the Show alive.
This email is our invitation for you to join our Allouez Cruise. Please feel free to share this email with any of your friends that have a car,
truck or motorcycle that might be interested in participating.
We aren’t looking to create a parade with spectators lining the streets with folding chairs. In fact, we are not promoting our Allouez Cruise by
any means other than this email to all of you. We are simply hoping to take a slow ride down Allouez’s three main thoroughfares to thank the
Village and its residents for the support they’ve given the Show and AllouezFest for the past 35 years.
Here's what’s planned:
When: Sunday, June 14th
. RAIN OR SHINE.
1. Where: Bellin Health Partners parking lot at: 1920 Libal Street in Allouez.
2. Start Time: Allouez Cruise will leave the “dock” at 11am sharp. Cruise Leader will announce departure from the bed of a pickup
truck at starting point.
3. Route: From 11920 Libal Street traveling North on Libal Street out of parking lot. Left turn onto McCormick Street traveling to
Webster Avenue. Left turn onto Webster Avenue traveling South to Ridgeway Blvd. Right turn onto Ridgeway Blvd. to Riverside
Drive. Right turn onto Riverside Drive traveling North to Grignon Street. Right onto Grignon Street traveling back to Libal Street.
Right on Libal Street traveling to point of beginning. Optimist Club members will be posted at all turns in the route until the last car
of the main group passes. Stragglers . . . well, please don’t straggle!
4. Rules:
a. Obey all traffic signals, signs and speed limits.
b. No passing, even on Riverside Drive, unless you really have a need to pass.
c. Keep reasonably close together, but no worries if there is separation or regular traffic mixed in with the Cruise participants.
d. Do we need a rule against racing . . . we are assuming not.
e. Maintain social distancing while waiting for Cruise to begin.
f. Honk a horn now and then if you feel like doing so.
g. Upon return to starting point you are on your own—hope you will have enjoyed the Cruise.
6. Contact information prior to the June 14th
if you have questions, email [email protected] and include in your email
reference “Allouez Cruise”. Day of, please feel free to text or call Jake Jirschele at 920-819-7651.
Through rain, heat and flood the Allouez Optimist Club has never cancelled the Precious Metals Car Show and AllouezFest until now. We
hope to never be faced with the decision to cancel in the future. So, for this year, only, we hope you will come and participate in our Allouez
Cruise. If after the Allouez Cruise you find a place to have a bite to eat or get something to quench your thirst that would be great too.
Thank you for taking the time to read this message and we hope to see you on June 14th
for the Allouez Cruise! No rsvp is required but
please respond back if you plan to attend so we have an estimate on participants. Thank you!!!
Allouez Optimist Club
Our 2019 meeting at The
Seymour Historical
Society
Pictured above from left to right
Dennis Voss, Jerry Braasch, Mary Braasch,
Bob Hegner, Ellen Hegner, Cindy
Ellenbecker and Steve Moore
Page
Comments made in 1957
"I'll tell you one thing, if things keep going the
way they are, it's going to be impossible to buy a
week's groceries for $20."
"Have you seen the new cars coming out next
year? It won't be long before $5000 will only buy
a used one."
"If cigarettes keep going up in price, I'm going to
quit. A quarter a pack is ridiculous...”
"Did you hear the post office is thinking about
charging a dime just to mail a letter?"
"If they raise the minimum wage to $1, nobody
will be able to hire outside help at the store."
"When I first started driving, who would have
thought gas would someday cost 29 cents a gallon.
Guess we'd be better off leaving the car in the
garage."
"Kids today are impossible. Those duck tail hair
cuts make it impossible to stay groomed. Next
thing you know, boys will be wearing their hair as
long as the girls."
"I'm afraid to send my kids to the movies any
more.. Ever since they let Clark Gable get by with
saying 'damn' in "Gone With The Wind," it seems
every new movie has either 'hell' or 'damn' in it.
"I read the other day where some scientist thinks
it's possible to put a man on the moon by the end
of the of the century. They even have some
fellows they call astronauts preparing for it down
in Texas."
"Did you see where some baseball player just
signed a contract for $75,000 a year just to play
ball? It wouldn't surprise me if someday they'll be
making more than the president."
"I never thought I'd see the day all our kitchen
appliances would be electric.. They are even
making electric typewriters now."
"It's too bad things are so tough nowadays. I see
where a few married women are having to work to
make ends meet."
"I'm just afraid the Volkswagen car is going to
open the door to a whole lot of foreign business."
"Thank goodness I won't live to see the day when
the Government takes half our income in taxes. I
sometimes wonder if we are electing the best
people to congress."
"The drive-in restaurant is convenient in nice
weather, but I seriously doubt they will ever catch
on."
"There is no sense going to Lincoln or Omaha
anymore for a weekend. It costs nearly $15 a night
to stay in a hotel."
"No one can afford to be sick anymore; $35 a day
in the hospital is too rich for my blood."
"If they think I'll pay 50 cents for a haircut, forget
it."
(credit to www.clevelandseniors.com submitted by Larry Krause
Special Feature Article
By Cindy Ellenbecker
As you all know, I am mailing out calendars from our Facebook and web advertising. I often get little notes that say, “I’m sorry you had to
cancel your national meet” or “I bet you ladies had fun creating the calendar”. But one purchaser just tugged at my heart strings: Dale
Freyer, from Omaha, Nebraska. He enclosed a handwritten letter that said:
I am 92 years old and live in assisted living, a one room apartment. I have been a member of the Meadowlark Model A Club of Omaha,
Nebraska for 51 years. We had a 28 Model A Tudor Sedan for 45 years. I sold it and it went to York, Nebraska. Our club published a
Model A calendar for six years, 2005-2010, featuring watercolor and oil paintings that I had painted, and they sold for $15.00 each. Each
year had a different theme. For instance: the 2009 was commercial Model A’s; others were themed with Model A’s in national parks,
colonial homes, holidays, etc. I stopped painting because my hands shook so much that I could not do the wheels any longer. In all, I
painted sixty (11’ x 14’) Model A’s and our club framed all the originals and gave them away at our next regional meet. I only got one
thank you.
Dale also sent his Model A story, titled “Forty-Two” that I thought was just too darn precious not to share with the Nickle A members. The
story was published in 2012, but Dale did not tell me where, just Volume 44, Issue 7.
Forty-Two
Forty-two years ago, when I was forty-two years old, and my owner was forty-two years old, we got together. I am in better
condition than I was forty-two years ago, and my owner wishes he was in the same condition he was in when he was 42. But, I am
getting ahead in my story. I was “born” on August 15, 1928 at the Ford Motor Co. I was christened Model 55-A Tudor Sedan, given
black fenders and wheels and a Duchess Blue body. I do not remember much about my early years, but do know I lived near
Stromsberg, Nebraska and had the name “Jim Stong: carved on my steering wheel (ouch). And for a while my title was in the name
of the Chip Carrier Co., Omaha. Forty years ago, I was sitting on the show floor of Sidles Company at 73rd
& Pacific Streets when
my owner first saw me. They way he looked at me, I knew he wanted me. We saw each other a few more times from a distance, and
then I was taken away and put in the corner of a dark warehouse.
I must have sat there for a year or more. My tires went flat, someone poured yellow
paint on my hood, took my starter and battery, and dust collected until my blue
coat was a dingy gray. I did have company during this time –a family of mice lived
in my flywheel housing. Luckily my windows were rolled up, so the birds did not
get inside of me –but they did make several deposits on me.
Imagine my surprise, when on a Saturday morning in July, 1970, my owner and
his lady came in, tied a rope to my bumper, and pulled me into the sunshine. I
blinked my headlights in the bright light. In no time at all I had air in my tires
and was pulled eight blocks to my new home on Pierce Street.
The yellow paint was cleaned off my hood; I got new bumpers, hardware, lots and lots of wax, and got all dolled up in
new upholstery for my 49th
birthday. Over the years, many parts have been repaired or replaced. One year especially, I had just
had my motor overhauled, and my owner and lady decided to drive me out to Colorado for a Model A Meet. WOW, what an
adventure. We did pretty good on the way out. Well, I did get kind of warm, but we moved right along with no problems, but going
up the mountain to the Eisenhower Tunnel, I got REALLY warm. Ran out of water for my radiator, so got snow runoff from the
ditch, strained the sticks out and finally got over the mountain. I had a good time there and when it was time to head for home, we
decided we would get an early start, so
we left the hotel at 3:00 A.M. hoping to
get over the mountain before the day,
and I, got hot. We ALMOST made it.
After I got cooled down, we continued
on and then it was downhill, almost all
the way home. For some reason, a friend
of mine always refers to me as “The Blue
Boiler”. I really don’t know how a
Dodge/Corvair owner can do that.
It has been a great 42 years. We don’t go
out much anymore. I am ready, but my
owner, Dale Freyer, is dragging his old
feet. He is not in as good a shape as I
am, but sometimes, he does come out,
runs his hands over my hood and fenders,
gets in the driver’s seat, put his hands on
my steering wheel, and remembers the
good old days when we were both
forty-two years old, forty-two year ago.
The pictures to the right are some of
Dale’s paintings. (I must say, those are outstanding paintings!!)
D.J.’s Five Dollar Ford
When I was 14 years old, I bought my first car. (No, I didn't have a license at that age in Oregon) The car was a '49 Ford four door for
$5. The engine had been disassembled and was in the trunk. My Step-Father helped me tow it home. I got a set of double open end wrenches
from the 88 cent store and started putting the engine back together. (You do remember the 88 cent store,
8,888 items for 88 cents? And double open end wrenches? They came in stack with a clip with a screw
hand on the top to hold them all together.)
I didn't know why the engine had been disassembled but all the parts were there and I put it back together
the best I could, old head gaskets and Permatex. There was only one large fan belt so I ran it around the
crank, both water pumps and the generator. The I uses some bailing twine to make a fan belt.
I got the car running and Step-Father drove it, (I got to be copilot) to the gas station a mile away.
At the gas station I remember there was fear it wouldn't start if it was shut off. The station attendant was busy talking to a Sheriff's Deputy in
his patrol car on the other side of the pumps. So, we opened the hood to look like there was a reason we didn't shut it off. What a shock, the
carburetor (no air cleaner) was spouting gas like a lawn sprinkler. So, we shut the hood and acted like we were leaving until the Deputy left.
Then we got a dollar's worth of gas. A few taps on the carb with a hammer got the float working again, and we headed home.
On the way home my Step-Father mentioned that the oil gauge didn't work. After it was parked at home I never got it to start again. I loved
that Ford. I used to sit in it for hours, pretending to drive it. Speed shifting the column shift lever. I still remember the all of the smells of that
Ford. Old interior, the gas, oil and grease. Every time I smell Permatex I remember that car.
One day a guy down the road offered me $50 for my Ford. What a profit, I sold it. He said he wanted it for the engine. Many years later I
thought about all of that and remembered draining the oil out of the engine. It came out in lumps and globes. But I never put any more oil back
in the engine. That old flat head ran for over 2 miles with no oil and that was the reason the oil gauge didn't work. I have always wondered
about the guy who bought it for the engine. How did that work out?
D.J. Freeman
Members Roy
and Julie
Farley’s
grandson
Colton, Papa
is teaching
him young.
Colton likes
the Coupe the
best because
of the rumble
seat.
New or Renewing Membership Application- Please fill out so we can update our records each year, Thank You!
NAME________________________________________________ DATE_____________________________
SPOUSE_____________________________________ Model A’s____________________________________________________
ADDRESS ___________________________________________________
CITY________________________________________________________
STATE/ZIP CODE ____________________________________________
PHONE (_______) _______________________
Receive Newsletter by Email______ OR by US Mail________
E-MAIL______________________________________________________
His BIRTHDAY_____________________
Her BIRTHDAY______________________ ANNIVERSARY DATE____________________________
MILITARY; Branch of Service____________________________________________________ Years Served____________________
2018
Club Dues: $20/per year
Check payable to: Nickle A Region
Send to: Dennis Voss
731 Zeh Ave. Neenah, WI 54956
To join Nickle A Model A Club Must also
be a member of MARC
MARC Dues: $45 per year