TWE143

It was suggested this might be a Kelly-Springfield. I have an old copy of Georgano's Commercial Vehicle Encyclopedia. It provides 2 photos to compare. The angle of the front fender at the running board looks like Int'l. A battery box shows on the K-S, but not on the Int'l. Paul55 suggested the nameplate indicates K-S, but the Int'l has one too as does the "mystery" truck. The Int'l has 14 spokes in the wheels, but the K-S only 9. K-S shows a chain drive, but the Int'l does not per Georgano's text. And there was an Int'l dealer in Louisville, but I don't know of a K-S dealer. Conclusion: it's an Int'l of 1915 to 1920. But I would still like to establish the year more closely. Thanks.

I would like to obtain the year and confirmation that it is an International for our local Historical Society. It belonged to a local (Louisville, OH) feed mill business--Star Mills, which is the oldest business in Louisville. There is no one left there who knows what it is. I suspect a circa 1920s International.

After my reply and looking back at Layden's post, I should add a bit more. I forwarded the info to Anthony, and he was then, apparently, able to refine the photo information even more. It contributed to his long article about the Glenwood FD; thanks to Layden for the starter info.

According to my fallible memory, that identification came from someone on this AACA forum some months ago. I received that issue a week or so ago, and noticed that photo. I'm glad it was identified. One of the problems we have is that contemporary accounts often do not provide the details of the chassis maker, the fire equipment maker, which may be different, and the year.

Thanks Layden. In the early years fire departments often converted used heavy/large autos to fire apparatus. They also used new chassis when they could afford them. This probable identification will be put with the photo in the SPAAMFAA Archives. (We are fire apparatus "nuts." If interested see our website at www.spaamfaa.org.)

Would like to know the chassis manufacturer that made this fire apparatus. Thanks.

3-D Printed Parts. Parts printed by 3-D Printing, also known as Additive Manufacturing, need to be considered as a source of replacement parts on our antiques when no other source can be found. Metallic parts have been printed for several years. The hardest part for us would be locating the part we need that can be borrowed or carefully measured, preferably by digitization, because we often have no drawings available—not just CAD (Computer Aided Drafting) drawings, but no drawing at all. Following are a few ideas written by David Wagman in an article about 3-D printed parts used in a nuclear power plant. “Mature” parts are especially suited for additive manufacturing, because replacements are almost impossible to find. 3-D sourced parts can allow our machines to continue to function even when an original replacement can’t be found. The parts can be reverse engineered (digitized) to become a “digital twin” of the original. In this case testing showed that the material properties of the 3-D printed part were actually superior to the original. You have probably noticed that many local libraries now have 3-D printers making parts out of plastic. Observing one of these will illustrate the printing principles. In industry they have been doing metal printing for some time. The cost will very likely be much more than a replacement original part, but if the original is unobtainable, 3-D printing provides an option.

AC: Interesting because I had a RR at one time, but my first love is fire apparatus. If you haven't, try posting to the SPAAMFAA Facebook page. SPAAMFAA is a fire apparatus specialist group. Also, know that there are people who build fake fire apparatus, usually chief's cars because they are relatively simpler. Thus, are you sure this is an original, or at least old, body? What was its function? It doesn't appear to be a pumper; maybe an ambulance? If an ambulance, why the ladder? I'll look thru my few photos to see if I spot this one.

We broke a spot weld holding a solenoid on a 6-volt starter. This removes the ground! Is there an electrically conductive glue that can be used to hold it in place?

Interesting! I was contemplating tiny screws to attach the slotted strip to the nitrophyl. The float slides within a tube to guide it. The original float was 2 cubes soldered together with the strip on top of it, but it has sunk due to cracks. It is 1.25" square x 2.625", with a hole in the middle for the gage spiral. If I understand your suggestion, the copper wire goes all around the float and is attached to the strip at both ends. Unless inset at the bottom to miss the hole, this would interfere with the gage spiral pass-thru. Makes me wonder if 2 parallel wires at the top would work in place of the strip.

I have some nitrophyl from which to carve a gas gage float. But I need to know how to attach things to it. Specifically a small slotted piece of brass to turn the gage needle. What will work?

Where can I obtain Nitrophyl or some other material for making floats for use in carburetors and for gas gages?

Most are good advice. Maybe most important is experience, lots of practice. After you get it down, you will find the first time thru the gears it will be different, because the tranny lube is still cold. The comment about "Mexican overdrive" is true, but you will have to downshift at times: when going uphill and you find out you need a lower gear, and when coming to a traffic light in high and it changes to green before you are stopped, but going too slow for high. Double clutch of course, and rev the engine up to match the gear speeds; this is where you need the experience (or good luck which I hope for.) Just wait until you get a truck with 2 sticks and you want to split shift--both at once!

Searching the forum & Google didn't provide this answer, can someone here? <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--> I found a half page article by Tom Reese while looking thru some old items. It was in Antique Automobile; I didn't note the date on the copy, but maybe 1980s. "In installing leather belts, remember, the inside of the cow goes on the outside of the fan belt. Install so your joint follows the pulley rotation rather that meets it." This reply came from a friend: “I did mine backwards. Seemed like the rougher inner surface would provide better belt friction.” Who can explain the reason for putting the cow inside out? Thanks. <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026"/> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout v:ext="edit"> <o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->

What was used for truck and commercial vehicle tarps in the 1920s plus earlier and maybe later? The Dec issue of Skinned Knuckles magazine had an article by Eric Haartz of Haartz Fabrics on materials used for trucks and commercial vehicles. He indicated that both oil cloth and untreated canvas were used prior to about 1915. From 1915 to c1930+ the use of untreated canvas was small, and oil cloth was used. This oil cloth was different than the coated cloths used after WW2, which were vinyl coated fabrics. I remember my Mother using this newer "oil cloth" as table cloths. The pre-WW2 oil cloth was made by fully soaking a cotton duck cloth in boiled linseed oil, draining the excess, then drying. So, for authenticity reasons, do we know whether oil cloth or untreated canvas (cotton duck) was used as tarps in the 1920s? My own interest is hose bed tarps for fire apparatus (of course), but the information will apply also to trucks and commercial vehicles. Thanks.