MTFCA Forum

Rich Bingham

In the thread on the self-destructing magneto, R. V. Anderson commented that a weak mag could indicate cracked magnets. How weak is weak ? What’s the best test for magneto strength ? Do you need instruments ? My Lizzie starts readily on battery when cold, but I haven’t had a similar response crankin...

Rich Bingham

A thread about a new owner’s “maiden voyage” and subsequent comments got me wondering - how many of us can say our first car was a Model T ?

Rich Bingham

Kristy Spadaford favored yellow pantaloons. It’s documented in the archives. Very relevant !

Rich Bingham

Oh ! That’s different. That works every time. I thought one of the rules of free start was the car cannot be moving ?

Rich Bingham

Rich, thank you for supplying that excellent photo of the flume. It’s remarkable in that it clearly shows KD’s raceabout negotiating Sasquatch Creek on one of his excursions to photograph the migratory Opisthocomos in their spawning plumage. Balloon tires on the raceabout improved flotation. Dick is...

Rich Bingham

I’ve never gotten a free start on “mag” yet.

Rich Bingham

Milton Spring emptied into Sasquatch Creek about a mile below Cuthbert’s west pasture. The Falicson boys built the flume that diverted the stream into the bottling works. Milton Wallop produced the beverage line for ten years. He never let on that the “wallop” ingredient was actually owing to his er...

Rich Bingham

Simply put, adequate spark, gasoline and correct timing, should run, even if poorly for other reasons. Eliminate one of the three, no go !

Rich Bingham

What carburetor are you running ?

Rich Bingham

Good thoughts Harold. I do think you’re a little quick to “junk” the Model T, however, as well as “re-commission” them. Perhaps region is a factor in the number of Ts continuing in service, but I think our own family history is likely pertinent: In 1929, at the age of 38, my granddad bought his firs...

Rich Bingham

It’s likely KD’s food preferences were shaped by Aunt Frodee’s cooking. It was said by those who knew her well that she never deviated from the recipes in Sloan’s cookbook. A tee-totaler, she sternly disapproved of Happy Sally, but always had a “fifth” of Sloan’s Liniment on hand for all occasions. ...

Rich Bingham

That reminds me, one topic we have inadvertently neglected on this thread is a discussion of KD’s gustatorial preferences. As he was well known for his adventuresome palate and eclectic tastes, I have requested Sebastian and Bartholomew to research all aspects of this intriguing facet of KD’s life a...

Rich Bingham

the midwife don’t deliver at home ?

Rich Bingham

Burger, mea culpa. This is what comes from incomplete identifications. Boris Ametre, shown looking from the window in the above photo, is the great-grand uncle of Heinrich’s good friend, Boris Slagwater. I can see the confusion, both wear hats.

Rich Bingham

Boris was a rather relaxed personality. Arraigned for counterfeiting in Chattahootchie (he was casting phony silver dollars out of Linotype metal) he was acquitted for lack of evidence. His accomplice had melted them down into fishing sinkers, which was actually more profitable. Warned by the presid...

Rich Bingham

I really enjoyed your post, Bill. You’re very kind to the gremlins. My no-water pump, no-starter T shipped from ‘way back East a few years ago. Any gremlins it had hanging about just waved goodbye.

Rich Bingham

Those who have owned, driven and worked on both should respond to this. (For fun !)

Rich Bingham

One thing leads to another around here. The rabbit hunt photo reminds me that KD had a brief lived affair with LuluBelle Suggs, who was crowned Queen of the Aberdeen rabbit drive that year. More humanely, they used ball bats - but I digress.

Rich Bingham

Just pondering the imponderable. Think of it ! Over fifteen million Model Ts rolling through almost one hundred and twelve years of history to date. Does anyone dare to estimate the number of miles they have traveled ? (So far ! We ain’t done yet !) Even at the conservative annual average (20,000 mi...

Rich Bingham

The annals of the Model T include instances where the riveted gear case has parted from the column. When that happens you have no steering, which has resulted in serious mishaps. Make sure your re-attachment is robust and sound. No aluminum, no plastic, no glue !

Rich Bingham

Natural “patination” in progress here. Heavy rains the past couple of days, apparently the hood hinge leaks like a sieve ! No doubt the spark plug wells were full of water when I cranked ‘er up this morning - I never thought about it. I’m a little surprised the plugs weren’t shorted out by all that ...

Rich Bingham

Rich, that looks great ! Corduroy is a good choice. Bill Hirsch used to order up authentic wool broadcloth stuffs for the restoration trade, but even 30 years ago it was mighty expensive and required him to make massive orders with woolen mills in the U.K. He may still have some Model T patterns. Wo...

Rich Bingham

Rich, that’s correct. He didn’t change them until January 4, 1936. They were still brown. Slug always was a snappy dresser, but he wouldn’t have had to wear two pairs of socks if he’d worn the right size boots. (14 triple “E”)

Rich Bingham

The Diablo tire patent was devilishly clever, and would have revolutionized pneumatic tire technology for years to come had Biff Huffingpuf, inventor and founder of the company, been independently capitalized. Alas, he made a “deal with the devil”, and launched his tire enterprise with financing fro...

Rich Bingham

The encyclopedia states 308,162 cars were built in 1915. I heard the “urban myth” that there were more ‘15s around than Henry built (owing to phonied-up 1916-22 cars) back in the ‘60s. Does anyone still believe that ?

Rich Bingham

Curious how that magenta beret brings us back to our main subject, the adventures of Kalamity Dick: In his early school days, KD had a very close friend, name of Chad Plackett who affected a beret. The two shared many happy after-school hours, fishing for mud puppies on Upper Chugwater Creek, and co...

Rich Bingham

Two observations: There were at least three (likely more) suppliers of bands throughout production, and each had their own slight differences. For the detachable ear variety, mis-matching “ears” and bands may or may not be problematic when fit up in the case. (Going through a big pile of bands in a ...

Rich Bingham

Jack was a kind soul who often fed the pigeons in Chugwater Park on his lunch break. The birds loved him for himself, and would sit in his lap and perch on his arm to get the moss seed he brought them.

Rich Bingham

Few people know how instrumental great great grandma Burger was in the development of the self contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA). She often complained to Jack Crustacean who worked the seed beds at the moss plantation how trailing the “hard hat” diving suit air hoses and gear lanyard ...

Rich Bingham

The pages reveal many fascinating details. Miss Prudence Ramcootie taught all nine grades in the one-room school house KD attended for three years. Her diary entry for September 4 : “. . . It’s an absolute delight how quickly young Richard Klamitboffer has grasped the concept of turning pages in a b...

Rich Bingham

Wasn’t there also a model they called the “Strudelmaker” ?
But we digress.

Rich Bingham

The Hamlin brothers really were wizards, but that’s another story. Some made fun of the promotional poster shown above, but in spite of exaggerations of scale, it was based in fact. During summer vacations, KD’s nephews would take turns writing informational messages on the back of the elephant that...

Rich Bingham

Point of information, KD swore by the “Wizard Oil” (far right). He claimed it was a “. . . marvelous mystery . . .” how it eliminated aches and pains after a hard day of adjusting kaphistulators throughout the Tri-Burg area, although it was never proved how the anaesthetic quality of a shot or two o...

Rich Bingham

:lol: I’m in mud like that now. Re-seeded the hayfield and having to sprinkle up the nurse crop, we’re checking on the irrigation in Lizzie as usual. Mud on the headlands is about as deep as that last picture shows. Steering becomes a little “snakey” but no big problems with traction. Dealing with a...

Rich Bingham

Back when I first became enamored of the Model T Ford, before the demise of the forty acre farm (circa 1962) it seemed nearly every farmstead in our corner of southeast Idaho had one of these one-row spud diggers in their bone pile of discarded machinery. Now, like the small farm, they have disappea...

Rich Bingham

Rich, I know from experience reading excerpts from KD’s log book how exciting that can be, so in the spirit of the Ex-Lax Kid, I have to agree if you can post more of KD’s adventures, that would indeed “. . . be a treat for all of us !” I’m sure Irving will be much gratified by your efforts. Burger,...

Rich Bingham

Which topic ? Glad to see Irving. We grabbed a beer at Ernie’s and he (very politely) reminded me that the title of this topic is “The Adventures of Kalamity Dick”, and he had come all the way from Brooklyn just to remind the Institute trustees that he, for one, would like to see more about real adv...

Rich Bingham

Wayne, I’m so glad you brought up both of those points. For some time now, certain anachronisms such as the modern currency in that old photo, have come to the attention of the research staff. Indications seem to point to the possibility that KD’s Uncle Lumby (Columbus Q. Klamitboffer) was occasiona...

Rich Bingham

I agree, Larry. Spokes are striped as well.

Rich Bingham

Thank you Herb, that explains the eighteen inch papier-mache rat

in the rotating displays artifacts bin. It frightens Bartholomew and his cat as well.

Rich Bingham

Rich, thank you for providing the photo of KD behind the wheel of the Owlsley’s light delivery truck. Historically important for two reasons, the sign imprint on the van shows Ma Owlsley in her younger days, and the truck proves that scale receipts found in Seamus’ documents were indeed for truck lo...

Rich Bingham

While I can see the rationale for soaking the felt with varnish it sounds like it would be messy and problematic if one ends by doing such a good job of sealing up the trans cover that it’s permanently glued in place. I’ve never accomplished a “perfect seal” on any of my Ts, so I can’t say if oil wi...

Rich Bingham

Burger, please thank Heinrich for supplying this photo next time he sees you. There’s a good reason why he is the Institute’s senior researcher and janitorial foreman. At first I wondered why there were two steam traction engines pulling in tandem to deliver the spandrel beams. Then I realized the e...

Rich Bingham

I’m glad to learn the Owlsleys keep up the tradition of holding a community biscuit feed each St. Swithin’s Day. That was started by Ma Owlsley on the occasion of the very first regatta. Her favorite saying was, “You can put horse turds in the oven, but that don’t make ‘em biscuits.” There were time...

Rich Bingham

wayne sheldon wrote: ↑
Thu May 07, 2020 3:55 pm
Why does that running board three pictures up make me think of Salvador Dali?

Persistence of vision, Wayne.

Rich Bingham

Actually, Herb, the rifle is structural, forming the brace between the seat upright and the front fork. Recoil dramatically improves the bicycle’s brakes which are marginal at best. Once, descending Killmotor Hill, Deputy Clodworth Beezley was obliged to fire thirty six rounds in order to avoid cert...

Rich Bingham

As a former deputy himself, Bartholomew was especially motivated to research the home on Slickpoo Road. While digging through the files, he found this photo of the prototype bicycle Kalamity Dick designed and built for sheriff Chauncey T. Dumbrow shortly before he was voted out of office. Personally...

Rich Bingham

I am perennially amazed at the number of ways to “skin a cat” that arise on the forum whenever a problem is posed for solution. Usually a few recommendations are diametrically opposed, and some reflect misunderstanding of materials or methods, although they seem to have satisfied the person who offe...

Rich Bingham

2,017.8 ?

Rich Bingham

The Fat family was a bit shy of their relationship to the Ons. They were all heavy drinkers, and the Fats were tee-totaling Methodists. Hung Wun achieved remarkable fame as the world’s first side-saddle bull rider in spite of his alcoholism. Rodeo fans thrilled to see him ride the salty ones in full...

Rich Bingham

You really do want to run the choke wire through the brass trim or the shell. Repro radiator on my ‘13 was not drilled for one, and the wire was run through the core next to the trim piece for a number of years. In time, this damages fins, and possibly tubes if there’s enough chafing. Thanks to the ...

Rich Bingham

Tu Fat was a legend in the Basin. Most folks don’t know how deeply he influenced both the recording industry and the genre of Western music. The 16th album was the first time artwork was produced exclusively for an album cover. No mean feat in the era of wax gramophone cylinders. Tu and his Taildrag...

Rich Bingham

It’s a curious fact of horticulture that Asian noodle varieties are annuals planted as row crops as seen in the above photo, whereas spaghetti and other Italian pasta varieties grow on trees, usually in olive orchards. Wo Fat’s noodle farm was successful enough to supply his restaurant, but never pr...

Rich Bingham

d stroud wrote: ↑
Fri May 01, 2020 10:32 pm
. . . I can tell you for a fact they do indeed "flop around" after being relieved of their heads . . .

Flop around they will. Dave, I never said they don’t “flop around”. I have never seen one walk about or run as if they were still intact, as Dennis reported.

Rich Bingham

A skilled hand with explosives when on the job in the alphabet mines, Surge seriously misjudged the amount of TNT required to blow up a 30 x 3-1/2” tire to 55psi. The Saddlestring Clarion did publish a very fine eulogy, however.

Rich Bingham

Not to contradict Henry, but “reliable sources” have confirmed that chicken is the irregularly sized golden brown morsels of deep-fried “something” sold in small paper trays by Mickey D’s and other similar establishments.

Rich Bingham

Like Joe, I’ve found old cork insert linings in my parts stash. They didn’t look very much worn at all.

Rich Bingham

I got red rubber tubing from Lang’s just a couple of years ago that measured up correctly. It had a sort of “fabric weave” light texture. My Lizzie spends summers outside, and the UV has not been kind to these hoses. It’s checking and fading some, though still viable. At one point I thought I read t...

Rich Bingham

It’s quite plain from this flood of informative photographs that the PLP inventors were very conscious of power to weight ratios in these early attempts; hence the use of small children. Hepzibah claims the first trials for water-skiing chickens were aimed at achieving “escape velocity” to get them ...

Rich Bingham

Wherefore “taste” in music ?!? Ever anon, listening to commercial music on the radio, one becomes aware of the mind numbing similarity in all genres. If you like it, it’s “good music”, if it’s unfamiliar, you probably don’t like it. On that note (hee, hee!) why the bum jokes about polka and accordio...

Rich Bingham

To continue in the vein some may find “inappropriate” ( :shock: really ?!?) we have always kept a flock of laying hens. What with culling the cockerels for fryers, and terminating stewing hens when they’re past optimal egg production, over the years I have stripped to the waist and donned the black ...

Rich Bingham

Here you go Les ! NOS

I would have used them but they smell funky and I think have damp rot. There were several brands marketed with cork inserts “back in the day”.

Rich Bingham

For some time the trunk of values has proved invaluable in providing details on obscure topics. The “Poultry Livery Period” in the Basin has been entirely overlooked up to now, so the Institute’s entire team of researchers has been at work with the files since discovery. Here’s a quick rundown on wh...

Rich Bingham

I thought this was about using leather for band lining ? “Turn to mush”. ? I don’t think so. Think of frying bacon ! Heat and oil would eventually turn leather brittle and glazed, likely losing its ability to grab the drums efficiently. Times past, there have been posts about using harness leather (...

Rich Bingham

Thanks, Charley. I see that now. Wooden box !
Rich, thanks for taking the trouble to look through plates. I don’t see a match either. Of course knowing the plate still wouldn’t necessarily tell us where the photo was taken.
The mystery deepens !

Rich Bingham

Rich, the veggies and landscape look to me like it could be anywhere south of central Nevada. Just a wild guess. Back to the license plate, barring a post at a higher resolution, the inscription seems to offer some earmarks that might suggest both state and approximate year for a plate guru to guess...

Rich Bingham

good thought Charley ! I didn’t even think of that !

Rich Bingham

Yes, looks like ‘15 or earlier fenders on a ‘17-‘22 T. From the looks of them, especially the right one, the owner was mighty rough on front fenders. Proof that “parts salad” Fords were “normal” even in their salad days ! :lol: It would be fun to learn the state and year of the license plate if phot...

Rich Bingham

I’m glad you asked that Herb. Kalamity Dick and Sam Gilson never did see eye to eye. Part of their disaffection stemmed from the fact that at the time the mineral was discovered, the Uintas Basin was Indian reservation land and for that reason, pretty much out of KD’s usual path as he made his round...

Rich Bingham

They’re still mining Gilsonite and adding it to asphalt mixes for paving. Good post Herb, thanks ! (Honest ! No joke !! You can check with Heinrich at the Institute if you doubt me. )

Rich Bingham

“Winter fronts” of various types were common accessories for all cars in cold climates, from sheets of cardboard to “bonnets” of leatherette with snaps to adjust the amount of coverage to metal shutters. Semi tractors still use the fabric type. Packard, Rolls and others had thermostatically controll...

Rich Bingham

Burger, you may want to avail yourself of all five volumes of the Ketone manuals. They were collated, updated and re-published as a set, titled “Ketone’s Mineral and Mining Sampler” in 1939. Great bedtime reading, but it’s heavy. As many reviewers commented, “ I couldn’t pick it up.”

Rich Bingham

Just to beat a dead flivver, here’s a snap of the repro fender on my ‘13. I think 20 years ago or so repro front fenders were offered as being for’13-‘14 ? Not long ago a correspondent pointed out the ‘13 “no bill” fenders had a sort of “buck-toothed” flare to the front edge. Can we assume the ‘14 f...

Rich Bingham

“Ketone’s Compendium of Mineral Marinades” lists milk of magnesia and cream of vanadium as interchangeable. Philo used milk of magnesia only because the drug store was next door to Ernie’s. Being particular as he was, KD always preferred cream of vanadium, and separated it from fresh vanadium milk h...

Rich Bingham

Thanks, R. V. and Mark !!

Rich Bingham

Kalamity Dick had so many endearing personality quirks. Cuthbert claimed KD's aversion to Philips screws was rooted in an unfortunate incident involving milk of magnesia, but we can't be sure of that. For a short time, Ernie's Saloon offered a cocktail called a Philips Screwdriver, but it proved unp...

Rich Bingham

Sebastian just crossed my desk with a sheaf of notes from KD’s briefcase. (There was also a well preserved ham sandwich in the briefcase which will be displayed in the Institute’s kaphistulator display along with KD’s favorite pair of pliers) Pertinent to this discussion are the details for upgradin...

Rich Bingham

Larry, I assume you want the mirror glass re-silvered - not metal parts plated ?

If so, I’m interested too, I have a pair of gas headlight reflectors that need to be re-silvered. “More research is indicated !”

Rich Bingham

She may have been unfair. Perhaps it was a low thyroid or a vitamin deficiency that caused Ulysses to run out of steam ? Regardless, it meant the end of the line for him.

Rich Bingham

I’ll drink to that !

Rich Bingham

For some reason, there was a spike in unscheduled derailments on Ulysses’ watch . . .

Rich Bingham

Congratulations Henrietta !! ( you too Tim !

)

Rich Bingham

Sebastian wishes to point out that the Farkle Brothers were definitely NOT the marginally successful vaudeville team “Heptolloid & Zebulon” who toured the Outer Banks at the same time. Just an amusing coincidence I guess.

Rich Bingham

Gosh, I can’t even SEE the body ! :shock: Good call, Rich, fenders are what I’m told are 1913 style. Let’s see . . . “I wuz in the army for three years. . . ranched in Patagonia fer four years . . . I wuz married for two years . . . hauled mail on the rez fer seven years. - - - Gosh, that was a looo...

Rich Bingham

Good to know the date of the Arizona photo ! Thanks Rich. The rez remains pretty isolated even today. I still think dirt roads are the best Model T roads !! I have a feeling this T is getting close to ten years old or so in this picture. Can anyone find enough earmarks to give a guess as to the year...

Rich Bingham

Top photo appears to be the Hubbel Trading Post, Ganado, Arizona. The Ford likely pre-dates statehood, but it’s sure seen some hard miles !

Rich Bingham

Burley 61 miles, Twin Falls 103.
1915 Model T ? Somewhere west of American Falls, Idaho, date unknown.

Rich Bingham

Snodsbury has been working overtime to avoid suspension. Researching “dancing camels” he found this clipping from the “Saddlestring Tribune”, Sept. 4, 1919: Chugwater, Saturday last: Slug Spaydaford, known outlaw and ne’er-do-well, was taken into custody Saturday evening for firing random shots at t...

Rich Bingham

Some side notes on the fore-going: Snodsbury was not entirely wrong. Before Hingebotham’s arrival from Paris, the main plant processing moss and borax did indeed rely on a 32 ox-team transport the first month of production. 9-Camel trains were the norm by the time Labeling and advertising settled on...

Rich Bingham

This topic was discussed a while back, I think it was Alan, “down under” who recommended using “tree wood”. :lol: :lol: Most of us with a passing acquaintance with woodworking will use what’s readily available and what we prefer to work with. “Back in the day”, drying, grading and choosing wood spec...

Rich Bingham

Josephat “Camel Joe” Hingebotham was legendary among Western teamsters in the days before the railroads came through. Famous in his own time, his exploits are mostly forgotten today, including the influence he had on popular culture and advertising. Almost no one remembers “9 Camel Team Borax Moss” ...

Rich Bingham

Judge Rutherford Krigginhower ? He pursued wood-working as a hobby and was renowned for his skill. We see him here, seated in the chair he carved from one solid piece of wicker stump. Well worth the second look, Burger. Thanks for pointing this out.

Rich Bingham

It’s interesting in that Fletcher’s gang made it an annual event. When arraigned for attempted burglary, the defendants always claimed they had no intention of robbing the bank, but were on an Easter Egg Hunt. The gorilla would beat his chest and glare threateningly at Judge Rutherford, who always d...

Rich Bingham

gosh !! What was it convicted of ?!?

Rich Bingham

Hi Chris, here are a couple of pix of the door and hinge on my ‘13 runabout. I hope they are helpful. If you have more questions, let me know if I can help. This is a US car, Wilson body. There may be variations between the coach builders.

Rich Bingham

It was fun for Tommy, but hell on the frogs.

Rich Bingham

I’m willing to bet with you, Fred. That sounds logical. However, I think there’s a metaphysical aspect to the free start that depends on the car’s personality and mood at the time. Checking the position of the crank pin will probably result in a self-conscious reaction in the subject, and no free st...

Rich Bingham

So, Jim, you conclude the abrupt force you describe is beyond what the Model T engine should have to endure, as opposed to whatever variable stresses it suffers in normal service ? Not an unreasonable position, and no one should subject their Ts to any situations they deem harmful ! We’ll all sleep ...

Rich Bingham

Back to the history of Rich’s “antique” tires, I’m reminded that back in ‘62 when I started messing with the Model T, I scrounged “old” tires from sheds and off Hoover wagons. They gave spotty service, and I’ll bet I never went 40 miles without having to fix a flat. The tubes were often very good, o...

Rich Bingham

Gosh Adam, don’t be a “fun sponge”. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone, owner or bystander who hasn’t been delighted by a Model T giving a free start. There has been a lot of discussion on the pros and cons of the free start in the past. If you’re uncomfortable with it, by all means avoid it ! 😄 Fo...

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