A Time Warp - Center Door off the road and on blocks since 1930

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: A Time Warp - Center Door off the road and on blocks since 1930
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Adrian Whiteman, New Zealand on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 08:47 pm:

Hi guys, I have been around and about, just not posting much recently. Albert is alive and well - currently bedded down for the winter in my new pole barn.


Well, I have come across the proverbial 'barn find' - the sort you read about but think you will never see one yourself.
While maybe not an ultra rare 1907 model, it is pretty cool all the same! and so I wanted to share some details with you:

A friend has shown me a circa 1923/4 Center Door that has been on blocks in a cork lined garage since 1930 (last registration detail on the car). That is about 82 years in storage. The tyres are round and look almost new, holding air well.

The details are amazing and well preserved. Moths have not munched the upholstery and no signs of a rodent nest have been found so far. Even the courtesy light goes.

The car is a runner and started on about the third try. It runs fairly well with few knocks and rattles, but the cotton bands are worn/rotted out.

My friend has been asked to do a mechanical refresh on the car to ensure it is road worthy and safe. We are persuading the owner not to restore the body - it is fabulous with 'crocodile' paint and original pin striping. As the car is intended for a planned museum in my home town, it is probable that it will be preserved "as is".


We have permission to photograph the car and intend to capture as much detail as we can - from screw locations to measurements on the pin strip placement and how the door trim is fixed in place.

If you have any specific things you want to see, send me a personal message. (Hap - I will try and ID the body maker and number for you).

(Sorry, no photos as of yet - was a gloomy day when I saw the car.)

oh, it is winter and wet (very, very, wet) here so it may be a few weeks/months before the project kicks off. I will update you as it progresses.

Some quick details;
> 1 owner
> Canadian built car
> Right hand drive
> circa 1923/23 "ish" (still to get engine number)
> After market rear brakes (not sure what type - similar looking to Rocky's)

> And of course - resplendent in ..... black (crimson striping).

> Scuttle is aluminum (paint has fallen off that).


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Allan Richard Bennett on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 09:05 pm:

Adrian, my wife Nancy and I will be in Christchurch in November to judge sheep and wool at the 150th Christchurch Show. Any chance of getting a look? You may remember Nancy from your Centennial T rally, she sharing her Whiteman family name with you.

Allan from down under.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Adrian Whiteman, New Zealand on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 09:11 pm:

Hi Allan, I am sure that could be arranged. Will probably be at the show myself with a tractor or two.

cheers

Adrian


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 09:22 pm:

I thought scuttle was what you did in desperation with a ship. Now you're telling me it's part of a car?

Sounds like a great find. Why was the garage lined with cork, for insulation?

rdr


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 09:56 pm:

So what would we Americans call the part of a car that you Kiwis call a scuttle?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Adrian Whiteman, New Zealand on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 09:59 pm:

Cowl I think ?

Cork was most likely for insulation vs heat and humidity.

cheers
Adrian


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Dufault on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 10:02 pm:

(Engineering / Automotive Engineering) the part of a motor-car body lying immediately behind the bonnet


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 11:11 pm:

Adrian, good to hear from you again. I was wondering what you were up to. This is a wonderful find. For pictures I'd suggest looking at the Rip Van Winkle car in the Encyclopedia and covering all the features shown there. I'd add detailed closeups of fasteners. Do the castle nuts have slots with square bottoms, or round? How long are the slots on the hose clamps? Are there any markings on the clamps? What size nuts are on the coil box terminals? What are the spark plugs, and what kind of hardware attaches the wires to them? I'm looking forward to having a look at this car.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Andrew Heffey NZ on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 - 12:24 am:

Adrian, What I would like to see a photo of it that car parked safe and sound in it's new home in MY garage. Failing that any photos would be interesting.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Stokes on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 - 12:28 am:

Adrian - are you referring to the Spark Bros museum? John


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Adrian Whiteman, New Zealand on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 - 12:33 am:

Thanks Steve, I know what you are up to! I check your blog most days and enjoy the scenery photos and the run down on what you are doing.
Is the roof fully, finally done now?
Cheer
Adrian


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 - 12:43 am:

Nope, I've been busy with other stuff and it's been TOO HOT for roof work. Now that the heat's beginning to ease up I can get back to it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hap Tucker on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 - 06:48 am:

Adrian,

Good to hear of your find. Yes, lots of photos – big picture and then zoomed in on different areas and parts. Note Ford USA did not produce any 1924 Centerdoors as they were discontinued during 1923. But for Ford Canada we do not have nearly as much documentation. There was at least one Canadian Ford 1924 high cowl (scuttle?) coupe body with the older style suicide doors produced. I’m still not sure if that car was a prototype body or what. You can not take too many photos at a med to high resolution. They may not immediately be helpful but folks in the future may find an answer in them. For example, if I had a high resolution copy of the photo from the Rip Van Winkle 1917 Ford touring – I could read the body number off the right front floorboard riser. I can see it is there but the copies I have are not high enough resolution (or it cannot be read – I cannot tell for sure).

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dick Lodge - St Louis MO on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 - 09:27 am:

Ralph, I think that the whole automotive field is one where "two countries divided by a common language" holds the most true....


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Keith Gumbinger, Kenosha, WI on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 - 10:49 am:

Hap - The Rip Van Winkle car is still around somewhere. It was in CA some time ago, and then I heard it was in TX, so you should be able to get the body number.

Does anyone know where the Rip Van Winkle car is now?

Keith


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 - 11:15 am:

I was wondering the same thing. It would be nice to have new pictures, in color with lots of high definition close-ups.

PS
I believe the scuttle is the part between the wheeple and the flerm.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erich Bruckner, Vancouver, WA on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 - 03:50 pm:

scut·tle 1 (sktl)
n.
1. A small opening or hatch with a movable lid in the deck or hull of a ship or in the roof, wall, or floor of a building.
2. The lid or hatch of such an opening.
tr.v. scut·tled, scut·tling, scut·tles
1. Nautical
a. To cut or open a hole or holes in (a ship's hull).
b. To sink (a ship) by this means.
2. Informal To scrap; discard: "a program [the] President . . . sought to scuttle" (Christian Science Monitor).


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erich Bruckner, Vancouver, WA on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 - 03:51 pm:

Could be turtle deck hatch or even engine hood.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By george house on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 - 03:52 pm:

Last I saw of the R.V.W. '17 touring was in 2004 at a MTFCA national tour in Kerrville, TX. The owner brought it from CA. I spent a little over an hour marvelling at it's components.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Karlsson, southern Sweden on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 - 04:15 pm:

Did you take any pictures, George?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gavin Harris (Napier, NZ) on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 - 05:09 pm:

The scuttle is between the bonnet and the windscreen one way and the mudguards the other way.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Harold Schwendeman - Sumner,WA on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 - 05:38 pm:

Gavin - In our hemisphere, we don't have bonnets, windscreens or mudgards. As you probably know, we have hoods, windshields and fenders. And, thanks to Adrian, I'm still pondering this one, but I don't think we have "scuttles" either! I'm really confused now, thanks to Steve Jelf as I'm pretty worried as to whether or not any of my three "T"s have wheeples or flerms, and if so, what kind of shape they may or may not be in!

Actually, all kidding aside, I have relatives in England and Australia, and between "American English", the King's English, and Australian terminology, we have a great time "needling" each other about "terminology"! I really find it very interesting, and I'd be the first to admit, I probably don't have (and probably never will have) full command of proper "American English"! (My "Limey" relatives would say that "American English" is NOT proper!) And growing up in the Chicago area probably doesn't help either, altho' I really don't tink I talk as bad as soma' dem Chicago guys!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erich Bruckner, Vancouver, WA on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 - 06:02 pm:

Ahhhh, the little air inlet or gas cover hatch. Hadn't thought of that scuttle.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 - 08:41 pm:

How about a coal scuttle?

Seriously, we'd like to be kept up to date on the happenings to this car.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Adrian Whiteman, New Zealand on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 - 09:56 pm:

Steve, my wheeple could do with a bit of finnickiting to ensure if fits the flerm porcle without any asymmetric whompling :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Seth from NC on Wednesday, August 15, 2012 - 09:34 am:

Lol, so whompling is fine as long as it's symmetrical?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Adrian Whiteman, New Zealand on Wednesday, August 15, 2012 - 06:16 pm:

But not if the plasticizer is trickulated :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bede Cordes, New Zealand on Wednesday, August 15, 2012 - 07:01 pm:

Guys, be careful, I more or less got told to get lost on this forum a few years ago for not using 'american' names for parts... though hopefully the humour already established in this thread might carry us through this time !


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Garrison on Wednesday, August 15, 2012 - 07:25 pm:

Ah yes, there's nothing like a good humorless forum to excite a bunch of anal retentive Model T owners. But then I was warned about that before I came here. So I've respected some of these guys lack of ability to enjoy a little levity from time to time. But what the heck, go ahead Bede, smile but don't get too carried away.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Manuel Voyages, ACT Australia on Wednesday, August 15, 2012 - 07:32 pm:

The English language has many weird and wonderful forms.
When travelling to different countries you hear all sorts of spoken English.
As far as I am concerned there is no Standard or ordinary English. Each country has its own variations.
Hollywood movies are in the English spoken in the USA. I wonder what Bollywood will give us?

Manuel in Oz


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Wednesday, August 15, 2012 - 07:41 pm:

Don't look now, but the Spanish language congress has accepted Spanglish as a distinct language. At least that's what I think I heard...

We still remember the time in Albuquerque many years ago when a woman asked, "No hay boys' shoes aqui'?

rdr


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Dallas TX on Thursday, August 16, 2012 - 06:54 am:

Bryan Ostergren brought the '17 touring from California to Kerrville in 2004. It is not the "Rip Van Winkle" car shown in Bruce's book. Bryan's 17 came from a barn in Kentucky and is a good old car but very high mileage and not all that useful as a point of reference.


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