Boyertown Museum Did You Know (2) 22mai-05.htm

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Did You Know //

Dan Olsen
© Wed Dec 3 2003
"Researcher/Archivist" is what it says on Dan Olsen's doorplate here at the Museum. And on "Wheels Along The Road", our monthly TV program, he presents "What Do You Know!"

Mr. Olsen customarily adds 2 or 3 shoveloads to our website per month.

Following are some of Dan's recent excavations.

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Did You Know //

Catch Words - Part 5
© Thu Apr 29 2004
1965 Chevrolet Chevelle ... some interesting options:

Four Season air conditioning - $21.55
Superlift rear shock absorbers with automatic level control - $86.15 (installed on 587 Chevelles)
ComforTilt steering wheel - $43.05
Tri-Volume horn - $14.00
Spare wheel lock - $5.40 (installed on 264 Chevelles)
Mid-year introduction Z16 option package- $1,501.00

396 cubic inch big block Mark IV V8 engine rated at 375 horsepower

aluminum intake manifold
enlarged intake and exhaust valves
camshaft for hydraulic lifters
Holley carburetor

Firestone gold-striped tires on 14" wheels with "mag-styled" wheel covers
Heavy duty suspension including rear stabilizer bar
Heavy duty, power-assisted brakes
160 MPH speedometer
201 Z16's built - 200 coupes and 1 convertible

(Thanks to Joe R.)

—	Dan Olsen
	Museum Researcher/Archivist

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Did You Know //

Catch Words - Part 4
© Thu Apr 29 2004
In the autumn of 1938, Willys-Overland Motors of Toledo, Ohio debuted their Overland Model 39, priced from $560 to $655. There were two versions, the Deluxe and the Speedway. The manufacturer touted their overall styling as "suburb beauty in Slip Stream design." Their modern bodies with triangular headlights were considered "Super-Safe steel bodies." The car was powered by the four cylinder, 134.2 cubic inched Overland Super Thrift engine with Whirlwind Power providing 61 horsepower at 3600 RPM.

—	Dan Olsen
	Museum Researcher/Archivist

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Did You Know //

Catch Words - Part 3
© 1935 / Wed Feb 11 2004
In 1935, Hudson introduced the Electric Hand gear shifter. To operate, the driver would move the "control key" (mounted on the steering column) at any time, to the gear he wanted to use next. The gear would then be shifted, by lifting your foot from the accelerator pedal. This was touted by Hudson as "The goal of a generation of automotive engineers." The company bragged that a driver could enter from the curb instead of walking around the car to avoid the hand brake and gear shift levers.

Also on the 1935 Hudson, was the Duo-Flo oiling system. And, we cannot forget Hudson-pioneered style which stated, "New ? Yes – but not radical. Here is a style that will stay in style – another year ahead." Was this a back-handed reference to the radically-styled Chrysler and DeSoto Airflows, which debuted the previous year ?

—	Dan Olsen
	Museum Researcher/Archivist

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Did You Know //

Catch Words - Part 2
© 1957 / Wed Jan 14 2004
"The day you make it yours for keeps will be, unquestionably, one of the proudest of your life." This is how the 1958 Plymouth was touted.

"The Star of the Forward Look" was the description given of the new Plymouth, with its "Silver Dart Styling." Remember those cars with the outlandish (in retrospect) styling ? Their advertising department talked about the graceful "Directional Stabilizers" on the rear fenders, which are the same things we described as "fins." The silver anodized aluminum trim found on the side of these Plymouths was designated as "Sportone", and it differed in style from model to model.

What would you like ?

"Golden Commando" V-8
"Powerflow" 6-cylinder

"TorqueFlite" fully automatic 3-speed push button
"Syncro-Silent" manual 3-speed

"Safety-Sure"

"Cyclebond"

"Search Tune"

Plymouth could "take care of you" in 1958.

—	Dan Olsen
	Museum Researcher/Archivist

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Did You Know //

Catch Words of a Half Century Ere
© Nov 1952 / Tue Dec 23 2003
Introduced with the 1953 Dodge (touted as "the action car for active Americans"), was the stylish "Pilot-View" one-piece windshield, a departure from the previous two-piece flat windshield. More importantly, was the introduction of their new engine, the ...

New "Red Ram" 140 horsepower V-8! New Dodge Red Ram V-Eight engine is alive with eager, responsive, economical power! It combines new "Fire-Flash" hemispherical combustion chambers with the short-stroke "square" design and high lift "free-breathing" valves to provide "the most efficient engine design in any American car today."

(From 1953 Dodge advertisement in November, 1952 Motor magazine)

—	Dan Olsen
	Museum Researcher/Archivist

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Did You Know //

Truck Stuff - Part 5
© Thu Apr 29 2004
Hanley trucks — Keenan Hanley, former chief engineer of Prospect Fire Engine Company, founded the company in 1934. At first, commercial chassis were used. In 1940, a fire engine with a quadruple pumper arrangement was built, powered by a V-16 engine which was designed by the Marmon Motor car Company and built by Hanley. Sheet metal for the cab was from GMC. In 1941, two more V-16 fire trucks were built, one a triple combination pumper and the other a long ladder truck. These three trucks were the only ones made by Hanley, and are apparently the only V-16 powered fire trucks built in the United States. (Thanks to Dean S.)

—	Dan Olsen
	Museum Researcher/Archivist

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Did You Know //

Truck Stuff - Part 4
© Thu Apr 29 2004
B.O.E. Trucks

Built by the Motor Conveyance Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1911-1913
B.O.E. was an abbreviation for "Best On Earth"
Trucks were built for 2, 3, and 6 ton capacities in a flatbed configuration
Engine - four cylinders for all truck sizes
Very few trucks were actually built
The 6-ton truck had a structural steel frame and its engine had a displacement of 11.3 liters (683 cubic inches)

—	Dan Olsen
	Museum Researcher/Archivist

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Did You Know //

Truck Stuff - Part 3
© Wed Feb 11 2004
Blair Manufacturing Company, Newark, Ohio 1911-1913
Blair Motor Truck Company 1914-1918

These trucks had two frames. One was a three-point suspended frame for the engine, transmission, driveshaft, and rear axle. The other frame was the main frame, which supported the body, front axle, steering, and controls. This design eliminated the need for universal joints, which were a weak link in the early days of trucking.
The truck had a forward-control design, with seats on both sides of the engine, instead of on a platform above the engine, as per the norm.
Total production of Blair trucks – two dozen.

The company was re-organized in 1918 as the American Motor Truck Company, and made the Ace truck from 1918 to 1927

1918 2½ ton with Buda engine
1919 2 and 3 ton with Buda engine. Introduced headlights that turned as the steering wheel was turned. $3,100 to $5,050.
1920-1922 2½ ton with 28.9 horsepower Buda engine

Ace trucks could be considered as "assembled" trucks – meaning that the company bought most components for their trucks from other manufacturers such as: Zenith carburetors, Eisemann ignitions, Brown-Lipe clutches and transmissions, Timken front and rear axles, Ross Gear steering components, and Dayton wheels.

1920-1927 Busses with 20, 26, or 30 passenger capacity
1923 Midwest engines
1924-1927 Continental engines
1927 The company was liquidated

—	Dan Olsen
	Museum Researcher/Archivist

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Did You Know //

Truck Stuff - Part 2
© Wed Jan 14 2004
The Maxim Motor Company of Middleboro, Massachusetts, produced firetrucks from 1914 through 1989. Its founder was Carlton Maxim, whose relatives included:

Hudson Maxim, the inventor of smokeless cannon powder and high explosives
Hiram S. Maxim, inventor of an automatic machine gun
Hiram Percy Maxim (son of Hiram S.) inventor of gun barrel silencers

Hiram Percy Maxim was also the riding judge on the Electrobat car, in the first automobile race in the United States, held in November of 1895. The Chicago Times-Herald Race (named after its sponsor) was won by Frank Duryea, driving a Duryea.

Charles Duryea built Duryea automobiles in Reading, Pennsylvania, which is just 16 miles west of the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles, during years spanning 1900 to 1914. At the present time, Our Museum has three Duryea's on display.

—	Dan Olsen
	Museum Researcher/Archivist

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Did You Know //

Truck Stuff - Part 1
© 1930's / Tue Dec 23 2003

Available for the 1930 Ford AA trucks, were special bodies, equipment and accessories including:

Muncie Power Take-off

"Will convert your truck into a power plant which will drive any kind of stationary machinery within the range of your truck motor."

Weaver Auto Crane

2 horsepower, gasoline motored crane, 3½-ton capacity - $390.00
Hand-operated, one-man crane, 2½-ton capacity - $85.00

Fruehauf trailer

Deluxe furniture warehouse van, 600 cubic foot capacity, aluminum paneled with two coats of gray lead primer - $750.00
Finish paint - $90.00 extra
Westinghouse air brakes - $200.00 extra

Ford AA fifth wheel truck

With dual wheels - $25.00 extra

Buying gas in 1930 cost 22 cents per gallon. This truck went 7 miles per gallon with an 11 gallon fuel tank. Consequently, it took $2.42 to fill the tank and it lasted for 77 miles.

—	Dan Olsen
	Museum Researcher/Archivist

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The Rockne automobile, built by Studebaker, was produced from February 1932 through mid-1933.
The automobile was named after Knute Rockne, Notre Dame University's football coach, who was also a Studebaker sales promotion manager.
Notre Dame University and Studebaker were both located in South Bend, Indiana.
The Rockne was Studebaker's second shot at a low-priced car. The Erskine was the first one – built from 1928 through 1930.
The 1½-year total production of the Studebaker Rockne was 23,201 vehicles.

1932 Studebaker Rockne: 6 cylinder / 66 horsepower / 190 cubic inch; 6 cylinder / 72 horsepower / 205 cubic inch; Average cost was $600.00
1932 Ford "Model A": 4 cylinder / 50 horsepower / 200 cubic inch; 8 cylinder / 65 horsepower / 221 cubic inch; Average cost was $500.00

—	Dan Olsen
	Museum Researcher/Archivist

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Back before Studebaker manufactured motorized vehicles, they were the world's largest producer of horse-drawn vehicles.
From 1868 through 1910 they had sales of $119,000,000 and sold over 1,000,000 horse-drawn vehicles.
Some Studebaker buggies received model names, such as "World" and "Izzer." The story goes that the Izzer name came from a farmer who said he wanted a horse that was an Izzer, not a wuzzer.
Besides the horse-drawn vehicles, Studebaker built many accessories for the carriage rider, from lap robes to lunch baskets.

—	Dan Olsen
	Museum Researcher/Archivist

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Found in a 1920 catalog:

Ventiflex Eyetects For ladies and gentlemen. Can be worn over regular glasses. Includes special adjustable buckle and nose strap, which can be comfortably adjusted to any face. Special fine wire screened ventilators permitting air but fine enough to protect against dust or dirt. Cool and comfortable large amber lens softens the glare of the sun. $1.28
Dimmer Goggles An absolute protection against glaring headlights at night and blinding sun by day. Made with top half amber and bottom half clear, so by raising or lowering your head you can look through either part at will. $0.40
"Kant-Sag" Two section cushions for Ford cars. Don't ruin your disposition and spoil your pleasure by Bump! Bump! on hard sunken uncomfortable seats. The Kant-Sag makes riding a pleasure – resilient – yet not too yielding. It smoothes out the hard jolts – absorbs the shocks and has the appearance and feeling of quality which takes it out of the cheap accessory class. This extra quality cushion was made to fill the longfelt demand for a better cushion for Ford cars. Made of steel construction, electrically welded with 32 high tempered coil springs securely fastened to a steel frame. Covered in Genuine Leatherette, hair filled, with eight-ounce duck covering over coils instead of the usual burlap. $11.80

—	Dan Olsen
	Museum Researcher/Archivist

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This Did You Know // Dan Olsen
and Did You Know // Catch Words
and Did You Know // Truck Stuff
and Did You Know // Stude Trivets
and Did You Know // Anthropoidal Accessories page
was first posted on Wednesday, December 3^rd, 2003,
and last appended on Thursday, April 29^th, 2004.