Barn find Barnfinds

[Waldo]

I am aware the term "barn find" is not always popular, but I am using it because everybody knows what it means. I used it twice, because these cars, all 5 of them, were barn finds years ago and they are just seeing the light of day again.

First of all I am president of the local MTFCA in Omaha Ne, have been for 5 years and will be until I give up, nobody else will do it. That means my contact information is out there on the website, I probably get one inquiry a month, last week I had 2. The second one is what I am writing about. The caller's father has passed away, and he had 1 car for each of his 5 children.

Typical the children do not want them, and they are old enough now that there are no longer 5 left. Monday I visited the location in a central Omaha location in a back yard. Four of the cars are brass T's there is a 12, a 13, a 14, and a 15. They are all supposed to be complete, and while they look good, they all need a complete restoration. Two are touring's, the 12 is a touring, and the 15 is a roadster. The fourth is totally apart, and is up in the rafters of the shed. All of the brass radiators and headlights are tucked away in the basement of the house. The 15 is supposed to have a rebuilt engine, and be ready for paint.

All through the garage, and adjoining sheds there are T parts. There must be 10 complete engines, here and there. A stack of nonstarter flywheels, mag rings, a rack of wheels, cabinets and drawers of miscellaneous small parts all over.

While we were looking, a sister came up and said she remembers travelling to western Nebraska in the 1953 Chevy to pick some of these cars up. Do the math, a 1953 car, this might have been 1960 or earlier. These have been buried in the sheds for 50 plus years.

ALL of it is for sale, the gentleman is aware they, in their present state are not worth big money. He really would like someone to make an offer and haul it all away for him, from talking to him I think it would be at a reasonable price. Or I'm sure he will part it out. I was with Jeff Fries, Jeff had visited the site 15 years ago, and he said nothing had changed since then.

PM me and I will pass his contact info on. Down side, the father was a hoarder, and a carpenter. There are many piles of wood, scraps of wood and just stuff also in these sheds, and the cars will have to be dug out.
The fifth car is a Brush, and also looked to be pretty complete.

[fbergski]

Grew up in Omaha, if this guy was a model t guy I'm sure my grandfather knew him way back when. My Gpa was the treasurer of the HCCA Nebraska chapter for many years. Both my t's were stored in Omaha for years before heading west to California. I hope all those t parts find a good home.

[DHort]

Sounds like a perfect 15 for Steve Jelf.

p.s. Say hello to Jeff for me.

[Steve Jelf]

Until I get the carcass of my 1915 home, I can't commit to anything else. I haven't seen it since the wreck, but I suspect some important pieces are still usable. I still need to clear some storage space. My shop and the rest of the place look like they were stirred with a stick.