Speedster project update, and the story of the missing Buffalo's

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2018: Speedster project update, and the story of the missing Buffalo's
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donnie Brown North Central Arkansas on Sunday, April 01, 2018 - 12:58 pm:

Well its the time of year to put the speedster project to rest till next fall. :-( :-( I made good progress and had a few setbacks. But all is well again in speedster project land, and will continue a few months from now.

As most are aware of I have been building the car as "period correct" as possible, and using the following photo as my "inspiration photo"
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The car in the photo has some unique wheels on it, that were identified to be "Buffalo Disc" wheels. Other than the person who identified the wheels, no one else had even heard of Buffalo Disc wheels. This is the best I can do as far as enlargement of the wheels in the photo
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I was able to locate a page from an old wheel catalog (thanks to a fellow forum member) listing the Buffalo Disc wheels
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The person who identified the wheels also said he had a complete set of the wheels, but not for sale :-(

So I had not really gave any thought as to finding anymore as his set may be the only set left in existence. But just before Chickasha this year, he contacted me and said the wheels were for sale. The wheels were offered at a fair price, but even a "fair price" pretty much destroyed this years Chickasha budget and 1/2 of next years budget. It seems that every time he saw my "speedster project updates" and the "inspiration photo" they finally convinced him that the wheels "belong" on my project. I wish to say thanks to him for selling them ..

He also had a very nice brochure showing the Disc and wire wheels, here is a copy of the brochure. It was too big to fit in my scanner so I copied each section as a separate photo. I copied the entire brochure, including the wire wheel sections
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Here are a few pictures of the wheels and one of the wheel assemblies taken apart to show how they are made. They are very heavy wheels, and in very nice condition. I am missing two of the original "Buffalo Disc" hubcaps and I only have one set of the original acorn nuts and flange nuts. But the nuts are available. TT Truck hubcaps will fit the hubs. So I can run TT caps or run my two original buffalo caps and two TT caps. The only real downside to me switching from the Disteel wheels to the Buffalo wheels is now I have a complete set of Disteel wheels and tires. That is how a new project gets started ... :-)

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I was able to have a "selling spree" of excess parts just before (and during) Chickasha to get together enough funds to buy all the tires, tubes, and flaps, I need. So next November, the day after Thanksgiving, the story is "to be continued" :-) :-) :-)

have fun and be safe .....


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange - Hillsboro, MO on Sunday, April 01, 2018 - 01:10 pm:

Great project Donnie, hopefully next year will be the year of the completion and maiden voyage! :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Les Schubert on Sunday, April 01, 2018 - 02:08 pm:

Thank you for the very informative posting.
Now a little OT.
I have a different set of T disc wheels (21”) with demountable lock ring style rims. They fit to ordinary Ford wood wheel hubs with a pressed steel spacer. Fortunately I have the 5 rims. I had to make some of the lugs. I have never seen another set anywhere.
So I congratulate you on your perseverance and luck


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Richard Eagle Idaho Falls on Sunday, April 01, 2018 - 02:22 pm:

Lookin' Good. Thanks for the up-date.
Rich


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donnie Brown North Central Arkansas on Sunday, April 01, 2018 - 04:20 pm:

Mark, I was hoping to have it going this year, but a few things had to be re-designed. But Im real close ...

Its funny how these projects take on a life of their own. I originally planned on a stock engine with an aftermarket flathead. I have a few different heads to chose from, so no extra cost involved in that area. I already owned a set of Disteel wheels, so no real cost involved their either. But somehow someone instilled a craving in me to have a Rajo. Since a 4 valve Rajo is the only real choice that does not involve cutting the firewall, a search was on. I finally found one and expended a full years budget to become the new (proud) owner of a Rajo. So now that I have a Rajo head, I need a Rajo oil gauge, some original Rajo valve covers for the side of the engine. Right ??? But now a cross drive magneto needs to be found to round out the package. Right ??? So a real nice Columbo cross drive was scored on E-bay, killing a lot more of the budget. (the wife says "what budget") Well since I have all that neat stuff, a Warford would be nice..... Right ???? come on someone agree with me, I need some help here .....:-) :-) So a Warford was added to the package. But after weeks of work the Warford install was not working :-( :-( So the Warford moved to the 27 tour car (where it should have been all along) and now a Ruckstell with 3 to 1 gears is in the works ... At least I already had the Ruxstell... The Warford switch out is what killed this years completion date. Then along comes a set of Buffalo Disc wheels to null and void all the work of repairing the Disteel wheels and mounting of the tires. So after buying the wheels and a set of tires tubes and flaps I can no longer see any remaining shred of a budget ... So now the wife gets to say "what budget" and I have no response .... Does any of this sound familiar to anyone, or am I the only one :-) :-)

Thanks for all the support and putting up with some of my long winded posts. Its not that long till Thanksgiving, The Speedster Project will return ...


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Keith Gumbinger, Kenosha, WI on Sunday, April 01, 2018 - 06:13 pm:

Donnie, You're not the only one, what budget??? And, don't worry, we're on your side. :-)

I've enjoyed following your speedster build / restoration and appreciate your "period correct" approach. I really like your inspiration photo too. The young lady in the picture really looks like she has the devil in her eye, and like she's ready for almost anything! :-)

Thanks for keeping us up to date on your project.

Keith


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John P. Steele on Sunday, April 01, 2018 - 06:22 pm:

Donnie, congratulations! That set of wheels is rarer than rare.
Your speedster is as worthy of project for those wheels as any out there. Just really neat to see you get them.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Chad Marchees _____Tax Capital, NY on Sunday, April 01, 2018 - 08:13 pm:

Wow, Donnie. I mean just WOW! Amazing. John Steele's comment above basically nails it.

I am sure that was a big nugget to swallow, but so worth it for this project. That was indeed a good move on your part when they came up for sale. Glad the seller also saw the good in the project.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donnie Brown North Central Arkansas on Sunday, April 01, 2018 - 08:57 pm:

Keith, When Im finished with the project, we are going to re-create the inspiration photo. I have found a fur coat and hat for the wife just like the one in the photo. I found me a hat and wool coat like the one the man is wearing. We have a professional photographer in the family who will do the re-shoot. I have a couple places located with a similar background. Nothing exact but real close. I have found out where to find film for grandmas 1930s era Brownie camera . So we plan on doing the photos in film and also digital.

John, The wheels are one of those things I could not pass up. Im just afraid that the Disteels, the aftermarket heads, and all that other stuff I seem to have around here will become "speedster project #2" :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen - Eastern Nebraska on Monday, April 02, 2018 - 07:03 am:

Great project, and perseverance. Can't wait to see pics and video of your sporting around in Speedster #1 as you begin #2...... :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Don - Conroe, TX on Monday, April 02, 2018 - 08:13 am:

Those wheels are the bee's knees.

Looking forward to seeing more on your car.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry VanOoteghem S.E. Michigan on Monday, April 02, 2018 - 10:43 am:

Donnie,

For what it's worth, in your original photo, the front & rear wheels are different. The front wheel shows what looks like a wood felloe. You can even spot the flared areas where the wood spokes intersect the felloe. I believe that at least the front wheel is a wood wheel with a steel disc cover. The rear wheel shows no felloe however, and looks more like a real disc wheel. Anyway, just observations. Always enjoy your updates! Thanks for sharing!


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