MTFCA Forum

I just heard from a mutual friend in Montana that our good friend Stan Howe passed away at his work bench yesterday morning.
His friend Jeff had called a couple times and couldn't reach him so he came into town to check on him and found him at his carburetor work bench.
When I get more details I will pass them along.
Harry Lillo
Calgary

This is sad news indeed...

Oh No..., So sorry to hear!

Hank

I can't believe it. He certainly put a lot into that auction several days ago. At least it apparently wasn't a lingering illness.
We will surely miss him.
Rich

I am greatly saddened to hear of Stan’s passing. He was certainly one of a kind.

My deepest condolences to his family and friends.

Keep crankin’
Eric
Altadena, CA

Oh, my....
How very sad...

I am stunned, just spoke to Stan a few days ago and he was talking about a young guy he had been mentoring in the antique carburetors and was very happy to see him really doing well. I will miss Stan always enjoyed talking with. It is a loss to our community and I know to his family.

I don’t know what to say. I bought a couple carbs from him a year ago and only met him on the phone. He will be missed

Very sorry to hear that. I was lucky enough to meet Stan at OCF a couple years ago. A sad day for the old car hobby. My condolences to his family.

I'm sorry to read that. I don't think I ever met Stan, but have enjoyed his posts for many years. Condolences to his family and friends.
Norm

A sad day for fiends and autocollectors.

I meant friends. He was going to do a 5 ball for me for my 1910 T.

My prayers are with his family and friends.

So tragic! He, his knowledge and his enthusiasm for the Model T will be missed. My condolences to his family and us, his friends. Jim Patrick.

Oh my God, that is really shocking news! Very sad news indeed.

That is very sad news. I've wondered about him lately with that big auction he just did and his usual complaints. Our hobby lost a good man.

Keith

Condolences to his family and friends. Never met Stan, but read and enjoyed his posts on various topics including Ruckstells, carbs and his many adventures including playing in a band and auctions. At least some his wisdom is left here for others to learn from. May you rest in peace.

Alex

No way, this is very sad news and a true shock. I will also miss his posts and wisdom.

Wow! What a shock! I read the title 3 times before I could believe it. May he rest in peace.

Very sad news indeed. A momentous loss to all. may he rest in peace.

Very sad news. Stan was a master and will surely be missed by all that knew him.

Such a shock reading this post header, what a fine man and fellow T’er, have known him for 15 years.

A grand story teller with humor, and direct, honest, with upstanding character.

Only can type, ....

I’ll miss you my friend.

He was a man of many talents. Auctioneer, musician, story teller, author and of course, Carburetor King

He will be missed by many.

I met Stan at Chickasha a few years ago and bought some tires from him. We talked a while and I also liked to read his posts. Sad to hear of his passing but I will say this.
He was the type of guy who lived life and stayed busy going by his Auction life and his love of repairing old carburetors in his shop.
He will be surely missed. My condolences to his family.

Oh my, what a huge loss this is for not only his family & friends, but the entire old car hobby as well. He was a great man, talented in many fields. The only thought I have is that he did not linger with some dreaded malady, but I still think, 'Man, you left too soon!" He will be greatly missed, and I'm certain that stories of him will become legends in time. God Speed, Stan.

We all knew it had to happen. Someday. A very sad day indeed.

Tomorrow on earth isn’t promised. I will treasure meeting him at the centennial and having him autograph my Herman and Freda book. A square shooter, fer sure !

I was afraid this was coming reading between the lines in his posts the last couple of years, sure didn't think it would be this soon. RIP Stan, you will be missed. Dave

I had been out in my shop fixing something that I needed to fix, and spent another hour or two on my T as well. Came in, and found this thread when I sat down.

All of us, know people older than ourselves, so special, that we wish the day would never come. But that is not nature's way. That day comes eventually for everyone.
Stan Howe was very special, to a lot of people. And for a lot of good reasons.

Special condolences to his personal close friends, and family.

Rest in peace, Stan.

Sorry to hear the news. Stan’s great depth of knowledge of the workings of vintage carburetors was such a great resource for the model T community.

Oh no, this is terrible. I just spoke to him the other day, for he was in the middle of rebuilding my 1909 Kingston 5 ball. This is very sad news. Godspeed Stan.

Smart, talented in many fields, and no slouch as a writer.
'Bye, Uncle Stan. See you down the road. Explaining carburetors (what else?) at the midwinter clinic, January 21, 2012.

Chickasha Prewar meet, March 21, 2014.

Bummer. I think about this stuff all the time. All my interests are old things
and the oldsters that know about old things. This whole mortality thing seems
inescapable, and every one of these oldsters passing is an incredible loss of
knowledge and experience. I know very little about Stan, other than the peripheral
information posted to this forum over the last 10 years, but I wince at the loss
of wisdom and skill and the thought of one less highly knowledgeable member of
the T team to carry the torch forward. Who will take his place ?

Sounds like he made a good run of life though. A lot to be said for that.
Godspeed, Stan. You will be missed.

What a shock! So hard to accept. RIP my friend.

Stan was certainly one of a kind, and a kind one at that. He bent over backwards to help me and friends here in Australia with carburetor rebuilds, often rescheduling them to fit in with opportune transport arrangements with travellers coming home. Just a month or two ago I emailed him with a report on the H1 Holley he rebuilt for my 1912 van, a job he sent back years ago. I'm back to one crank starts!

I'm sure he would have wished to go out with his boots on, working on something. My condolences to all his friends and family.

Allan from down under.

Sad news about Stan's passing. My prayers for his family. I have several of Stan's rebult carburetors for my projects and a unrestored 1925 TT he once owned.

I know it’s no consolation and a little cliche’ to say it but, he died in his workshop, at his work bench, doing what he loved most. I think that if you HAVE to go, you should go doing what you love most and do best. He lived life to the fullest to the very end doing it his way...RIP Stan. Jim Patrick

My condolences to his family and friends.

I never met Stan in person, just over the phone. He was a wealth of knowledge and always willing to spend time to help out fellow Model T'ers.

Adam

Stan will be missed by all that knew him and actually those that did not know him. He was a gifted musician, machinist, teacher, historian and on and on.

OMG, what a shocker as I sat down this morning with coffee. Stan was indeed a Renaissance man.As a fiddle instrumentalist and vocalist I’ll cherish the CD he gave me at Chickasha. What a guy! I’ll surely miss him...

Very sad. Stan patiently answered all of my pestering rookie emails during my first Ruckstell rebuild.

Good grief, what a shock to see. RIP Stan. I've only talked and emailed with him a few times, but always a pleasure.
Jeff...just hope it's not too soon. Life is too short and precious. Perhaps we can at least say he moved on to the workshop in the sky doing what he loved doing. We can only hope for the same.

Very sad news. Stan was a man of many talents and had no problem speaking his mind. The few times we met, he always had a story or two to tell. You will be missed. Rest in peace Uncle Stan.

One of a kind!! Sorry to hear that!! Bud.

A sad loss for the Model T community. Stan knew his stuff when it came to carbs but more than that he was a great character. Sounds like he passed doing what he loved to do.

Sad news indeed. At one point in the 1990s (I think), I read something that Stan had posted on this forum. I was editor of the St. Louis club's newsletter at that time and emailed Stan to ask for permission to use his quote. He replied that I could use anything he posted on the forum whenever I wanted. That started an email correspondence that went on sporadically for years. This is what he wrote:

STEWARDSHIP
“On a serious note, we are all just stewards of these cars. Somebody owned them before we did, somebody will own them after we are gone. The money that we pay for them or the money that we take for them is just a way to determine who will steward what car and for how long. It is our obligation to steward not only the physical Model T, but also the knowledge, the folklore, and the spirit of the cars to pass to the next generation of owners. We need to be telling the stories as well as the knowledge of how to set the spark and adjust the gas.”

I think I will re-read Herman and Frieda this weekend....

A legend of the T hobby passes. Had always hoped to purchase a Strom OF of his so I could have one rebuilt by an expert. Sad news.

Darin

It’s easy to see the quality of his work from the picture of his workshop. Strived to be perfect in every endeavor of his life. And what a perfect way to leave the Earth, doing what he loved. God’s speed my friend.

We are never ready to see somebody's name RIP on the forum.

Thank you, Dick for posting Stan's quite. That pretty much sums him up. Like many of you, my relationship with Stan goes back many years. We first "met" on the forum, and e-mailed many times, and talked on the phone many times. Since he lived in Montana, it was a not easy to meet in person. The times when we met were in placed like the Portland swap meet, the Puyallup Swap meet, and the Centennial. In 2009 we were on a road trip going through Montana. I called Stan to let him know, but whadaya know, he was going to be gone during our travels. I thought the miles were just as long going his way as they were coming my way. Stan was always re-inventing himself. School teacher, musician, rancher, auctioneer, Guru of Ruckstells and the Carburetor King. I know that he complained terribly about people calling him all hours of the day, any day, looking for "free advice," but I also know his "inner circle" was very small and I think he actually liked hearing from all of "us" pestering him with our questions and cries for help.

I will miss him. I will be in Weiser Idaho next month during the time of their fiddle festival. I asked Stan about it and he said he had not been there if years. I don't know if he penciled it in on his calendar or not, but he knew the offer was there with the promise of prime rib and whiskey.

Unca Stan is gone now to work on God's Ruckstells and carburetors on the Tour of Eternity. I will see you again, my friend, one day when I join the tour. Until then, I will miss you.

Rest in Peace.

Met Stan at Chickasha 2017 while he and I were sitting on a bench taking a rest. We introduced ourselves and when he found out where I was from, he reminisced about his participation in the Prescott Cowboy Poets Gathering and the festivities later on Whiskey Row.

What a multitalented and fascinating person. He will be sorely missed.

Sad news to hear and condolences to the family.

Stromberg OF - Stan’s choice for best overall Model T carb, which he so vehemently espoused in countless threads on this forum. His passion made admirers of folks who had never even met him.

More history gone, very sadly..Dave

My condolences to Stan's Family and his friends.

Prayers to the family............

My prayers and condolences to Stan's Family and his friends.
A loss of a true craftsman.
R.I.P.

Wow. What a shocking and profound loss for the Model T family.

Had a nice conversation at Chickasha with him several years ago. First class guy.

I’m going to miss him, especially when I drive through for supper and breakfast!
On another note, he has a carburetor of mine. I believe he hadn’t opened up the box, so hopefully it will get sent back to me.

Stan had a radio program on Montana Public Radio, MTPR. This is a photo of Stan taken in his home studio, February 2008.

I tried googling [youtube "stan howe"] and found this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZT6vp-YgkIg

A many-faceted man.

I am shocked to read this, i talked to him last month about sending me another throttle rod for a U&J carb, he shipped it right out, i purchased four U&J carbs and manifolds from him, they are pieces of art, he will be greatly missed.

Rick

Oh Stan, how so very many will miss you!!!!

Every time an old man dies, a library burns to the ground.

His family, his friends and fellow hobbyists will feel his loss for years to come.

Thank you, Stan Howe.

What A Sad Day For many Of Us1 A Great Guy & A Great Talent! He Will Be Missed! Stan RIP

This reminds me of the day Elvis died. Unbelieveable. What a loss. My sincere condolences to the family and Stan's personal friends.Bill

At some point I am not surprised, but as sad as can be anyway. Stan was not saving him self, to our benefits.

I also first "met" Stan via this Forum and had the privilege to meet him in person at Chikasha 2010: Here he had just landed in Chikasha and was already surrounded by "fans"
Well, now I expect he will not reply to the e-mail I sent yesterday asking if he had any Stromberg OF's.
Kondolences to his closest friends and family from Denmark!

Hard to say goodbye to an old friend-----Good times with him at Chickasa---best dinners were in Amber. He picked up my ruxtel for rebuild at The Centenial where i also bought two Stromberg O Hs from him. Those excellent carbs are his "legacy" running my Model Ts----RIP Paul

Stan the man
Was first class
In all that he had done.

Some was serious wok,
But much was just for fun.

Carburetors would gils’n
At auctions he would cry,
He would sing & lead a band,
He certainly was not shy.

His memory will linger on,
Tales we will tell,
And all of his work we will say,
That it was mighty swell.

What a terrible shock... You know this happens, but when you hear about it it kinda just floors you. RIP, Stan...

A must read

I only had the pleasure corresponding with Stan over the last few years. You can't hardly help but get along if you "get" guys like Stan.
He was very proud of these carbs he did for me. It pissed him off to no end when they got moved to the services forum. The very interesting auction in Montana post on the General forum was Stan's shot at bald face advertising on the general forum. I couldn't wait to help him out!
Seemed to work. Rest in peace sir. You left your mark on me and I'm a better person because I got to cross your path.
Mike Peternell

Stan Howe, a man of great knowledge and many talents died, as the old saying goes, "with his boots on" at his work bench. I think that's probably the way he would have wanted it. I talked to him several times on the phone, E-mailed back and forth and I had a nice long one-on-one lunch with him when he was in Rochester for the National Model T Tour a few years ago. I splurged a couple years ago and got one of those Stromberg OF carbs from him . . . figured to put it on my speedster project.

Stan was a font of information and also a nice guy. He rebuilt an original Breeze carb for my Model 20 Hupmobile and, reluctantly, took on restoring an aluminum Waltham carburetor for my Metz. In fact, I was about to send him my 6th annual email about this carb, on which he claimed to have "45 minutes of work left to do"... in 2018. It became a standing joke between us, as he never took any deposit on the work, and I had long since substituted a Holley in the car. My emails always produced stories about his family and experiences with old cars, etc. I'll miss him.

Phil

Although we've only met by phone, he left a lasting impression. I just viewed the youtube of him playing fiddle, wow what a talented guy!

Meeting him in person must have been quite the experience. In remembrance, we should all follow his example, and live every moment.

Never met Stan in person, I've read his comments on the forum, and watched some of his videos on YouTube, I play music and tinker in the shop also. I hope to leave this world doing whet I love as Stan did. God bless.

John Michaelree

I first had contact with Stan in 1990 when I decided my 1924 Coupe needed a Ruckstell axle. Stan had advertized the necessary bits in The Vintage Ford and he agreed to ship them down to San Diego and then offered phone advice on the assembly. That axle is on the Coupe to this day. He told me later the axles were getting too heavy so he was stopping restoring them and moving into carburetors. Over the years I have restored several Stromberg OF carburetors, always using his parts and advice. Funny he would complain endlessly about all the phone calls he received and how they ate into his day, but he never cut me off or refused to answer the phone. We met for the first time on one of the “shootout” tour in Sierra Vista. Then again in Calgary when he needed accompanying for one of his many songs. I volunteered my daughter Carolyn and since then my name changed to “Carolyn’s Dad” which stuck for the next twenty years. Still later we met again on a Montana tour when he needed an assistant for an impromptu auction and he asked for Carolyn’s Dad. Who could refuse?
Over the years I’ve called him many times usually to talk Model Ts, but he had many other interests such as music, writing, auctions and ranching. One time he explained the difference of a farmer and rancher to this English city boy. He was a rancher…..
I’ll miss Uncle Stan even though he was only two years my senior, the phone calls and his Facebook and Forum entries were always great to read.
Rest in Peace my friend

I saw this post not long after it started. At first, what popped into my mind was "That's a pretty nasty joke", then, after I read the original poster's writing I realized that it was far from being meant as humor.
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Howe at the Bakersfield H.C.C.A.'s Southern California Pre-War meet several years ago. I introduced myself by my Forum handle, modeltspaz, so he knew who I was.
We exchanged a few forum back stories and chatted for a short time until the the browsers started getting a little thicker.
The hobby and the forum has lost another gem. Stan now joins the likes of Charlie Shaver, Ralph "RD" Ricks, and a host of other irreplaceable contributors, the likes of which will, most likely, never to be seen or replaced.
To add to this, my wife's 37 year old nephew was found deceased on Monday by my daughter and son. It was by his own hand. Former intravenous drug user. Lost his mother less than a year ago. Just couldn't cope.
Rest in peace Mr. Howe. You will definitely be sorely missed by many.

Mike Spaziano.

Ruxstell and Carb guru as well as esteemed Model T author. RIP Stan. I count it as a blessing to have met you in person and enjoyed that you have freely shared your Model T knowledge and skills with all in the hobby. My signed copy of "The Adventures of Herman and Frieda" takes pride of place in my Model T library. So sad to hear of your sudden passing, but what a way to go, at your bench doing what you loved!

One of the best days in my life. What a man.
I have faith you are in a better place now.
Dave Dunlavy

This world, without Stan, is a much poorer place...

I had the opportunity to meet Stan and visit him at his workshop. I am running his of carb and ruckstell rear end. He was great and talented person! RIP Stan

My T has some Stan Howe parts in it and some of his shared knowledge is rattling around in my head. He was his own man, a bit of a character, dedicated to the hobby, generous with his knowledge and opinions. We are the worse for his passing but the better for having known him. My sympathies to his family and all who mourn him.

Godspeed, sir. Never met ya, but read your posts religiously. The T community will definitely miss your wisdom.

Til the big roundup in the sky, happy trails.

jk

Harry Lillo wrote: ↑

Fri May 21, 2021 7:56 pm

I just heard from a mutual friend in Montana that our good friend Stan Howe passed away at his work bench yesterday morning.
His friend Jeff had called a couple times and couldn't reach him so he came into town to check on him and found him at his carburetor work bench.
When I get more details I will pass them along.
Harry Lillo
Calgary

Harry Lillo, or anyone else, have any word on services? A search for an obituary from the local Helena funeral home has turned up nothing as of last night.

Stan posted these words of wisdom back in 2018 when talking about his older brother.

“There is a lesson to be learned there. Is it not better to die with a lot of friends than a lot of money??”

Yes it is Stan, yes it is.

I spoke to Bev and Jeff (Stan's friends) this afternoon. Jeff had spent two weeks with Stan preparing for the auction.
The family are still making funeral and other arrangements, but nothing has been finalized at this time.
I will continue to post information as it comes available.
Harry Lillo

Thank you Harry.

I can’t believe it. Uncle Stan a true gentlemen. I will remember his true passion in our hobby. We will miss him. My condolences to his family.

Wow,Sad news,I met Stan in 2008.Good man with alot of smarts. The statement was made in a above post,"Every time an old man dies, a library burns to the ground."
This time it was equal in size to the library of congress.

Never met or spoke but we had a lot of email chatter and I loved his posts. His work on my 5ball was sheer artistry. A great loss. Condolences to friends and family

The news of Stan's death sent me to my bookcase and I plan to re-read the Herman and Frieda book I have. I had forgotten this.


I am now all the more determined to re-read it.

Two years ago I went to March Chickasha. Not to be a vendor and I didn’t need to buy anything. I just took my wife to introduce her to friends from all over and take Stan to Amber OK for a steak dinner. You see, he attached that tiny roller he makes that actuates on the brass “ramp” of my OF... at no charge!.. said he makes enough money off other people. Anyway I was regaled with stories ! What a Prince of a man ! Had us in stitches all dinner My wife had an elevated appreciation of me after that night

That is sad news indeed, He will be missed, most by his loved ones but surely by a lot in the T community who new him.
Luckily a lot of his posts can be found right here, not all his knowledge is lost.
Although a library may have burned, we keep some of the embers alight !
R.I.P. Mr Howe

I would be great if one of his restored carburetors was on display at the Model T museum.

I am truly sad, my wife and I had the pleasure of joining him for breakfast at one of his favorite restaurants and then the day at his home and shop. My bucket list included another day with him. Bless you Stan, Ken

I had the pleasure of meeting Stan at Bakersfield 2019, and I sold him a Zenith S4BF. I got it for a good price and sold it to him at cost, he said, "No, you've got to make a profit, here, buy the neighbor kids an ice cream cone." He was a good guy, I'll miss him a lot.