Again we are blessed to have such a great tour put on by the Space City T's.
This year the tour is based in and around San Angelo, Texas, a nice town of about 100,000 people located in central West Texas.
Upon arrival yesterday the first thing I came across was Marvin Neunhoffer changing a tire on his unrestored '27 touring. One of the 50 year old 4.50 X 21 Wards Riverside tires started slinging tread on the trip from Kerrville, Tx to San Angelo. That's right, Marvin, and his brother Julius, and their friend John all drove the 149 miles from Kerrville to San Angelo. Who needs trailers?
Our first stop today was the Aermotor manufacturing company. Aermotor makes windmills, the old fashioned kind thatpump water out of the ground and don't need government subsidies because they actually work.
Aermotor has been making the same basic design since 1933. In fact, parts from a windmill made by them in 1933 will interchange with today's pumps and windmills. Aermotor uses only parts made in the USA. Almost every part is made in the factory right here. The only parts made off site are the raw cast iron parts. Even those are made in Texas by Texans.
Here are a few pictures outside and inside the plant. Approximately 80 Model T's made the tour today. Notice the 100 ton Chicago press, and the 20 ton Brown and Boggs press, and the 12 foot Niagara shear. All US companies that are out of business today.
More 1950's era tooling, irreplaceable American made bulletproof technology. The automatic hacksaw, broaching tool, Fosdick mills, and turret lathe with a hobb tool head are used to cut the gears for the pumps. Everything is being machined by Americans, using American technology. Interestingly Aermotor sells most of their windmills to third world countries. Windmills like theirs pump water without electricity. People need water to live. Aermotor makes the best windmills for any price.
Here are some more T's around the Aermotor plant:
Next we drove around Lake Nasworthy en route to the local Ford dealer where burgers and drinks were waiting.
Ok, 95 degrees, blacktop parking lot, and no shade anywhere. Got to admit we bailed out early and headed to the hotel for a frosty cold beer.
Back at the hotel we were greeted by a nice looking '14 runabout:
The temp will be about 50 in Wisconsin this weekend. Drive up here to escape the heat!
I have lived in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Virginia. I realize you guys have months of bad weather starting at the end of October because I lived through it for many years. It's the opposite here. Great Model T driving weather from now until June.
It was a great day. After the Show and Burgers at the Bass Ford Dealer we stopped at the International Water Lily Garden. A big hit.
For those who can not read the signs on the back of the blue touring: one says, "Henry Ford for president". The other says,"Life's too short not to drive a model T".
Decent pictures, all of them.
Royce,
Is that maroon 14 your Dad's touring car?
Thank you Royce! Wonderful tour and pictures. I hope to see more.
Cute little cloverleaf style roadster/touring! Ames? What year is it?
Again, Thank you.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
Thanks for the photos Royce. What's the story on the blue touring? Is that body of the era or a recent creation?
Ted,
Yes.
Wayne, Andrew, the Ames is mid twenties. Looks to have been repainted decades ago but the interior is rough and partly original.
Those were some great pics. Looked like a great tour, even with the heat. I'm a big fan of windmills, so this would've been a nice stop for me. Nice to see something is still made in America too.
Great pics Royce! Neat T's and great information.
Really nice that Aremotor Windmill Co. is still in business.
I just went to their website and was really surprised.
These folks make a quality product that brings back a lot of memories for me.
Recommend to all to visit their website to see some real American quality original ingenuity and products.
Since 1888.
Royce, that's a pretty impressive story about a device that is essentially a big water pump.
Great photos and a great story.
early arrivals first day
lost my oil filler cap on the way to San Angelo, so I had to improvise?
Royce thanks for the photos from the Aermotor plant. We have one we are going to put up out by the pond.
Herb
Rick bought me a $5 autozone gas cap and I drilled it: