lump

Last year I bought an estate collection of radiator emblems and hood ornaments from an antique dealer. While I was there, he took me next door to see a Franklin touring car (1911, if I remember correctly). It was also for sale. But the LAST thing I need right now is another project. Here are some photos. It looked fairly complete and pretty solid. I THINK his price was 10 or 15 grand...but it was several months ago, and I'm not positive. So, what do you all think about this one?

Thanks everyone, so far. The size can be seen by comparing it against the old tennis rackets hanging behind it. I would guess that it is ABOUT 40" long. Don't know if its backside is a lighted sign also or not.

Last fall I posted some photos of some radiator emblems and hood ornaments that I had bought from an estate. Later I visited the antique dealer (who had inherited those items from an uncle), to see about buying a few more. While I was there he showed me a nice old lighted "PACKARD SERVICE" sign. He asked $500 for it, and while I liked it very much, I was forced to spend my limited funds on the rest of his entire collection of badges and ornaments. Now this spring he will be coming to a local non-automotive antique show near me, and could presumably bring this sign to me. Could someone kindly offer me some value guidance here? I am fully aware that any collectible antique is worth only exactly what any particular buyer would pay. But I'm trying not to overpay for such things these days, in view of the realization that one day I'll need to resell this fascinating stuff (or my family will). Can anyone advise whether his price is reasonable for this old lighted sign, please? (I've never bought a lighted antique car dealership sign before).

Sorry to learn of another old-school antique car collector passing. The hobby has too few already, and this person sounds like someone I would have really admired. Marty, is he the gentleman on the scooter in your photo?

I personally love collecting early stuff from the brass era, like enameled radiator badges, brass horns & lights, data plates, etc. I absolutely love the photos I've seen of Terry Bond's collection. The early stuff is where my personal collecting interest lies these days. Having said that, I run the CARS & PARTS SPRINGFIELD SWAP MEET & CAR SHOW events in Springfield, Ohio, 3 times per year. I've bought quite a bit of the early stuff there myself over many years. But the fact is that we only get a very few vendors who bring such items. I would be very happy to dedicate an area of the event for brass cars and/or parts, if some vendors who have those pre-war parts would come. (I'm not thinking that something like this would be much of a financial boost for my event, frankly, but I would be thrilled to see those parts there. And, I would be glad to be able to shop among them myself). Our next swap meet will be Memorial Day weekend, May 24, 25, and 26, 2024. We typically sell about 1,500 to 2,000 vendor spots, and usually have about 600 cars-for-sale on site. We get between 15 and 18 thousand paid admissions, depending on the weather. So we have already covered the costs of facility rental, insurance, advertising, staff, utilities, etc, with our existing swap meet event. If anyone knows anyone who is connected to any group of pre-war cars and parts and thinks there might be some need for to make room for something like this, have them contact me.

I would not expect them to be very desirable. But you never know what folks will buy at a swap meet. If they were mine, I would give them a decent burial. But that's me.

Aftermarket imitation wire wheel caps.

LOVE this thread, and the photos of all the fabulous collections. Keep 'em coming!

Awesome beast. Cool crew. Great video.

Probably a cowl light, with the side lens and bracket. The shape reminds me of some Cadillac lights I have seen.

My handle, "Lump," comes from a history of both lightheartedness and deep sadness; with memories both wonderful and horrible...and a sense of both personal inadequacy and personal pride. My dad was a tall, very strong hardworking man. Widely respected by the sheet metal brothers he worked with as a skilled man who could be counted on every day, every time. He was strong as an ox; quiet, solid, and firm in his convictions. He had grown up with parents who both worked, including a father who was a very good industrial electrician....but also a physically abusive alcoholic. As a result Dad drank VERY little in his lifetime. The tough hard men Dad worked with liked him, and urged him every day to join at the bar after work, for "just one." He always agreed, to keep the peace, but NEVER showed up there. His first name was "Bill," and since he wouldn't drink with them, they gave him a good-natured nickname after a Red Skelton drunk character, "Willy Lump-Lump." The nickname stuck, but eventually was shortened to just "Lump." I eventually earned an apprenticeship in the same union, and men who had worked with my dad instantly began calling me "Little Lump," or "Mini Lump." I didn't mind. He was a damn good man, and well-respected. I was actually proud of the handle. Then on October the 23rd, 1978 a truck driver crossed the center line and wiped out my entire family. It's a long, complicated story, which I'll leave alone for now. But before too long, I began to notice that all the guys I worked with were now simply calling me, "Lump." Slowly I began to feel a growing sense of pride, although I knew I could never measure up. Eventually, I got out of the trades, and launched a business in an entirely different field, which I knew nothing about. That was over 40 years ago. Hardly anyone knows me by "Lump" now. So I'm grateful to be able to use that handle here, among friends. Thank you all, for that.

In the batch of vintage radiator emblems I recently bought, there were a couple that I didn't recognize. Does anyone know if this one is automotive at all? Thanks so much for your expertise.

Hello, Last year I bought an estate collection of emblems, badges, data tags, hood ornaments, etc. Lots of cool stuff in there. This particular brass tag intrigues me, since its newest patent date is 1918, and because it instructs the user to change oil every 500 miles. Does anyone recognize this old tag, please? Thanks in advance!

Quite a while ago I stumbled onto six Buick hubcaps at a yard sale, of all places. I normally ignore most hubcaps, but these looked familiar, and much older than what you usually see in an environment like that. I'm really hoping the experienced folks here can tell me the correct application for these. Thanks so much, in advance!

We have seen fake money orders at our business. They looked really good, too. I prefer PayPal or cash, but I accept personal checks...as long as there is time for the check to clear.

I found this cool old pair of cowl lamps some time ago. It's always nice to find a pair, of course. And this pair still has both lenses, rims, reflectors, and rear jewels in place. I bought them planning to hang them in my den, along with radiator badges, brass horns, cast iron car toys, etc. But it occurred to me that someone might have the car, and really really need these. I have no idea what vehicle they may have been from. The large size (see tape measure in photos) makes me think of a big car. I am guessing from the late teens through the twenties. Does anyone recognize them at all? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

I recently bought an estate collection of car badges, emblems, etc. Among them was a 2-piece lightweight sheet metal Buick emblem, with the word "AIR," riveted onto the main Buick crest badge. I have GUESSED that it might be for the in-car control unit for a very early Buick dealer-add-on air conditioning system. Is anyone familiar with this badge?

Hmmm...I've bought a LOT of very-rough "projects" over the years, but here is one good example. When visiting family in Massachusetts, I encountered a back-yard unofficial salvage yard filled with vintage junked cars. I ventured onto the property, and soon met the owner. The timing was perfect, as he had just been battling local government over taxes and etc, and wanted to leave the state. He would indeed sell me the cars, but only if I bought ALL of them, in a package deal (another big story, for another time). Yes, I bought them, and spent the better part of three years hauling them out of there. One of the coolest cars there was also one of the roughest... a 1942 Ford convertible. But man, it was ROUGH!

Around here, sellers of cars in this condition are quick to say something like, "All it NEEDS is..." and follow that up with a quick and flippant list which sounds like it can be restored in a week or two, "Just like they do it on TV!

I like it. Let me know if you establish a price for it.

Very cool. What IS the price, please?

Would look great on my wall!

Contact old car fan on this forum. He and his brother are in Ohio, and between them they have some Grant project cars and parts. Don't know if they want to sell any Grant stuff or not, though. They are in Ohio

No worries. I understand. My experience with Dad's issue is firmly burned into my brain, because we had tried EVERYTHING else, to no avail. Dad took off the wheel, removed the cotter pin, and put some muscle into tightening that nut. Then he put in a new cotter pin, and like magic the problem was gone. And like I said before, Dad's old car buddies were a bit bewildered at the time, as none of them had ever experienced that problem/solution. I don't mean to suggest that your problem is exactly like Dad's, nor that tightening that nut will help at all. But it was the right solution all those years ago. And if I ever face a symptom like that, I'll absolutely have to try it for myself. I sincerely hope you will be able to solve the problem, and when you do, we would all like to know the solution. Cheers.