ron hausmann

More 1921 Kissel Sport Tourster pictures in front of host venue Boca Raton Resort. Ron

All, Wonderful concourson Sunday and loads of beautiful and exotic antique and classic cars. We are thankful we were invited to participate. Ron Hausmann P. E

Only one in class field so pretty easy to be best.

All - Adventure continues.! Car arrived in Boca and has been staged on the show field at the Boca Raton resort. Very very hot and humid compared to Michigan, but car loves driving hot. Here are staging pictures. She’s first one in her class to make the field. Ron HAUSMANN P.E.

CTSilver; For a brief period in 1918 and 1919, Kissel marketed their “new” model cars, the “6-45’” or “custom built six “ cars under the name “SILVER-KISSEL”. There are no known surviving Kissels with this “Silver-Kissel” badging. However, other than the hubcaps and radiator badge which said SILVER-KISSEL, these cars were the same as the few months later 1919 and 1920 Kissels. On occasion, such Silver-Kissel hubcaps and radiator badges do rarely come up for sale (eBay). I don’t have any, but have seen pictures of them. I recommend you contact the Wisconsin automotive museum, Dawn Bondhaus, for deeper history. Take care. Ron Hausmann P. E.

Here are more top bow pictures. these were patched up and leveled. today I stained them and am impressed with how good these are turning out. Ron Hausmann P. E.

PAV824, I am told that Kissel actually invented the term “All Year Car” in 1915 to name these types of seasonally changeable bodies. I believe that’s the proper term to use. See pctures below. Although a great idea, common sense, in practice these were not easy yo a)produce, b) mount, or c) store. A. Producing them required beefing up the touring or roadster bodies and maintaining much more toleranced fittings. That pushed up the cost of the base car. And if you wanted articulated windows that slid down into the body, the woodworking was almost doubled. I know because I did it on mine. B. Mounting Them is about a two hour job for three men. Heavy oak tops with windows don’t mount easily without scratching. Kissel said two men could do it in an hour. That was sales BS. C. Storage of the winter top was the biggest hurdle I think. The wood top warps if it is put on the ground for any long period. And most garages and barns then had dirt floors. And these tops are big which negates storage inside. End result is that after a couple years these winter wood tops were disregarded and discarded. Sorry to be long winded. As an engineer, I’m always amazed by old engineering ideas. Ron Hausmann P.E.

All - The Boca Raton Adventure begins! Had the 1921 Kissel Sport Touring professionally detailed today. It shined up very nice! Will load the car on to a semi car hauler tomorrow morning for its trek from cold Michigan to Sunny Boca ! Will catch up to the car in Florida next week and unload it a couple days before show. Here are pictures today. Ron Hausmann P.E.

Doug - PAV8427, To your original question, Kissel Kar Company introduced their “All-Year” car models in 1915. These cars were roadsters or Tourings which had separate fittings for fitting removable winter sedan tops complete with fixed windows. In 1917, they took this idea a step farther and introduced removable “All-Year” car tops with articulated functional windows that rolled down into the lower body. This entailed building much more robust doors and bodies to take these operable windows. Very complex. Because these beautiful tops had to be stored, and they were carved wood, and because most garages and barns had dirt floors, the odds of these tops surviving a winter or two in storage were very low. Indeed, None of the Kissel 1915-1917 “fixed window” All-Year” tops survive today. And Only one articulated Kissel All-year top for 1918 survives. It’s mine. The surviving car is in my pictures below. It took me five plus years of carving and restoration to get it done but she is wonderful. This car is a 1918 Kissel All Year Gibraltar Sedanlette, Model 6-38. As above stated, it is the only surviving Kissel All Year car with a complete top. And as well, it is the only surviving Kissel “Sedanlette” of any year. A Sedanlette is a Kissel term for a two door, four passenger car. Here are pictures with the All Year top both on and off. The last pictures are some from when I bought the Kissel carcass and some of restoration. I have a complete timeline restoration thread of this car in the “restoration” forum under 1918 Kissel Sedanlette. Ron Hausmann. P.E.

All - As of February 11, 2023, here is the status: 1. Essentially every body attachment is done, restored, and awaiting body and fenders from painter. 2. Engine has been readied to take to engine- rebuilder. Generator, pump, starter, radiator, and hoses are done. 3. in this down time, have started to restore top side irons. These are nickel plated on a Gold Bug but mine are painted over and caked with 100 years of gunk. Today I spent four hours wire brush wheeling one of the two irons. See picture. These are in good shape. Will need to be re-nickled though. 4. in this down time, have also started restoring the oak top bows. Mine are in good shape but had hundreds of small tack holes. See pictures. I used the “West System” wood epoxy to fill and coat these. I’ll sand these down, stain, and varnish after the epoxy is cured. Take care. Ron Hausmann P.E.

They could also fit on early 1923-25 Kissels Ron Hausmann P.E.

All - Here are pictures of two of my running, unrestored Kissels. The green one is a 1921 Kissel Sport Tourster. Only one extant. Has 14,000 original miles. Runs like a beast. The blue one is a 1924 Kissel Victoria Coupe’. Possibly the ugliest Kissel ever made. Was Located in Wyoming, then Ohio. Has 30,000 miles and runs great. Also only one of that model that survives! The green 1921 Kissel will be at Boca Raton Concours de Elegance this month. Ron Hausmann P.E.

Larry - a decade ago I almost bought a 1920’s REVERE touring car with a Rochester-Duesenberg walking beam engine. Gorgeous engine that was running. A Rochester-Duesenberg walking beam engine is equipped with a Stromberg M-4 updraft carb. I have the advertisement that confirms this. That is a racing engine that needs that big M-4 inlet. Ron Hausmann P.E.

Here is that carb mounted on a Kissel Speedster, model 8-126 from 1929

K8096, Searching internet, it would fit some Gardner and Franklin cars. It also would work on Kissels with certain Lycoming engines. Ron Hausmann P. E.

All - Looking for cone clutch parts for Werner T-229 clutch/transmission combination. These were used in kissel 1916 to 1920 cars, and perhaps other marques. I specifically need the pressure plate behind the cone and the springs, but will buy more to suit. Call or text. Ron Hausmann P.E. ronaldhausmann@yahoo.com. 313-510-8463

I just soaked it in a bucket of hardware store “parts cleaner” but then disassembled and cleaned each piece with “carb cleaner”. Ron

Nope. Not same hill. See background. Also not same car. First one was a touring while second one is a sedan. Both are Kissels though. The cars have different bumpers and radiators. The second one doesn’t have a hood vent so it’s not a model 6-45. Likely a later model 6-55. Ron Hausmann P.E.

Yes it’s 1922 or 1923 Kissel touring. it’s doing a publicity hill climb in California, stuck in third gear to show its power. Believe it’s San Francisco. it has the legendary “Kissel 6”, either 6-45 or a 6-55 model. I can’t tell. Ron Hausmann P.E.

Laden, I’ll take it. We’ve done business before. Please send me your address etc. again Ron Hausmann P.E.

All dressed up and ready to go.! turned it over dry today for first time. will test run this week. Ron Hausmann P.E.

Looking good! New Kissel 6-38 engine. ron hausmann

Got severe Carpel Tunnel Syndrome carving all the wood for two cars over seven years. Between vibratory sanders, cuttoff saws, hammers, and other wrist- centered tools, both my hands were shot. Shots every few months worked for a few years, but at the end, had to have Carpel Tunnel surgery. It works although I can’t grip as good anymore. Ron Hausmann P.E.

Ok. How about “relatively easier”.

JB - true. But the operable parts are really in great shape and vibe had it spun at high speed do she’s ok. I agree with you, but it’s passed the reasonable tests. Ron