vintagerodshop Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 Who here can help me with some info on a 1915 Crane-Simplex car number 2315. this car is a dual cowl blue with red wire wheels.Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Mark at the AACA Museum has some hands-on experience with Crane-Simplex. Otherwise, the AACA Library & Research Center may also be able to help you out. However, I guess I should assume that you are looking for information on that specific car.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintagerodshop Posted May 21, 2014 Author Share Posted May 21, 2014 That is correct. The Google will give me lots of general info. I am looking for any history on this particular car. Also a general idea of surviving numbers and some contacts with other owners who can help with info as I go into some repairs to ensure I am keeping it correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 If you're working on one and have mechanical questions, perhaps a call to Jay Leno's shop might be in order. He has one, and is usually very helpful when it comes to relatively rare cars. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 I'll send you a PM with some contact information for a few people involved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintagerodshop Posted May 22, 2014 Author Share Posted May 22, 2014 This is very helpful I will call the numbers today and start the ball rolling. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintagerodshop Posted May 23, 2014 Author Share Posted May 23, 2014 A big thank you to West Peterson who assisted in putting me in touch with other Crane Simplex owners. Here is a picture of my car taken this morning and the info I have received to date.Hi Kirk,Thanks for your phone call. I hope you really enjoy your new beautiful car! Remember the fun is driving them.I have little history of your 1917, Simplex #2315; but believe I do have the original owner. Here's what I know to date:The chassis was tested 3/6/1917, on snow & ice covered roads of New Brunswick, NJ, using a "light enclosed drive test body" and chains on the rear wheels, by a Simplex test driver and delivered 3/10/1917, by Gladen [a Simplex employee]. This info is from a test book in my possession, author unknown. Don't know who or where it was delivered to. Based on the 2315 car number and the test date I believe its a 1917, and the 1915 designation incorrect; 1915 car numbers stopped around #2100 or so.It was registered in CA by Carlton Earl Miller, San Mateo in Nov. 1917, #308132, & Flatiron Bldg, San Francisco in 1921, #310450. This from CA registration data received recently.I have no other owners prior to Al Johnson in 1996.Your car's body is believed to be its original Healey body. Also it had the wire wheels when tested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted May 27, 2014 Share Posted May 27, 2014 That's neat. Thanks for letting us know what you found out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R W Burgess Posted May 27, 2014 Share Posted May 27, 2014 "I have little history of your 1917, Simplex #2315; but believe I do have the original owner. Here's what I know to date:"A little history? Wow!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trimacar Posted May 27, 2014 Share Posted May 27, 2014 Great history and a neat car.....I have the history of my Pierce back to 1953, and thought I was doing well!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintagerodshop Posted May 28, 2014 Author Share Posted May 28, 2014 Not Bad for a couple posts and two phone calls. I have to say being young I am spoiled in having the internet at my finger tips. I sure it was a lot harder having to write letters and drive all over the country for parts and leads. Thank you everyone who has contributed to giving me information to help with my cars.Kirk Stevenson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintagerodshop Posted September 13, 2016 Author Share Posted September 13, 2016 So out of the blue a car friend sends me a link for a picture that showed up in his email inbox from a vintage picture blog he subscribes to. He forwarded it to me knowing i also have a Crane-Simplex. It was taken in San Fransisco in about 1919 to 1920. I was shocked to find out it was my car. The rear cowl always looked a little awkward to me with the placement of the cowl vs doors and the rear windshield being so far back. it is very difficult to raise the cowl with the top on. I always assumed the cowl was added when the car was restored in the 70's. I was very surprised to see it in this early picture. I still wonder if it was a afterthought. maybe by the original owner. if you look at the old picture the rear door handles are removed? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted September 13, 2016 Share Posted September 13, 2016 Now that was your lucky day Kirk. I notice the original tires seem darker than the current ones. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A. Ballard 35R Posted September 14, 2016 Share Posted September 14, 2016 Kirk, was the new Simplex roster keeper of assistance to you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintagerodshop Posted September 14, 2016 Author Share Posted September 14, 2016 12 hours ago, A. Ballard 35R said: Kirk, was the new Simplex roster keeper of assistance to you? I am not sure who that is. The only person i have spoken to that i would refer to as a sort of roster keeper was William Bell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A. Ballard 35R Posted September 15, 2016 Share Posted September 15, 2016 8 hours ago, vintagerodshop said: I am not sure who that is. The only person i have spoken to that i would refer to as a sort of roster keeper was William Bell. Bill Bell died at least a year ago and he was the extremely dedicated Simplex roster keeper. His records were incredibility detailed and included total production and not just survivors. He was not always popular with those who shall we say manufactured huge Simplex Speed Cars out of cars that had started life in a very different form. Sounds as though you were able to come up with excellent history on your own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 (edited) On 13/09/2016 at 9:28 AM, vintagerodshop said: So out of the blue a car friend sends me a link for a picture that showed up in his email inbox from a vintage picture blog he subscribes to. He forwarded it to me knowing i also have a Crane-Simplex. It was taken in San Fransisco in about 1919 to 1920. I was shocked to find out it was my car. This is what makes the INTERNET so much fun and intriguing!! Never before have so many photos that were thought to have been lost all of the sudden reappear on a site somewhere! I really like seeing this. Craig Edited October 14, 2016 by 8E45E (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 The internet is amazing. We are working on the only surviving (as far as anybody knows) 1942 Packard Civil Defense ambulance. We knew that it had been involved in a traffic accident in 1942 in Long Beach, Calif. . Thanks to the internet we were able to find a photograph of the actual accident scene, 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 You wouldn't write the Packard photo story into a fiction novel. It's amazing what one can find on the World Wide Web......... hope no one thinks I'm old because of the WWW reference! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
automuseum Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 Thought you would be interested in seeing the Seal Cove Auto Museum's Crane-Simplex #2308 with coachwork by C.P. Kimball. Thanks to Bill Bell, the Internet and the CCCA Forum, I have been able to trace the car back to its original owner, Evaline Kimball Salisbury. From Mrs. Salisbury, the car went to Gordon Snook for his wife, Pauline where it became a fixture at car shows and events around the Upper Hudson Valley. After Mrs. Snook's passing the car went to Richard C. Paine Jr., and remains in the Seal Cove Auto Museum that he founded. The car is in amazing unrestored, original, condition... You can still see the initials E. K. S. on the back doors for its original owner, Evaline Kimball Salisbury. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 Been to Mt Desert Isle twice on vacation. Both times wife refused to allow me to visit your museum or do anything related to antique cars, We may have to vacation separately this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now