ron hausmann

Peter - thank you!

Hey Mike, The fittings that are damaged are replaceable with other fittings from more common Stromberg O series units, which I have. The venturri can be pounded out and a new machined unit put in. I had new ones I machined awhile back that would fit. So can you PM me with a price for this unit as is please? While it’s not correct for replacing a Kissel Stromberg OS-2, it’s easily adapted. The OC has one more economiser adjustment on it that the OS doesn’t have, but that’s a redundant feature. Thanks. Ron Hausmann P.E.

Mike, Is it complete? Do armatures move freely? Any outward damage? Other than that, those units are very sturdy. ron

Mike - I would be interested in the Stromberg OC-2 carb. That’s a side draft model that can be interchanged with Stromberg OS-2 carbs used on Kissel made 6-45 and 6-55 engines. Opposite hand than an OS, but can be adjusted. The Stromberg O series units are easy to adjust and tune and deliver alot of power. Thanks, Ron Haysmann P. E.

Here you go girls!

Wayne, Wow you really look close at my pictures. Yes I have two very old beat up wooden folding chairs from my childhood grade school. And they could be a hundred years old but I use them. Ron

Here’s the Kissel artist picture I’m using as a guide. Here’s then a Brandham catalogue picture from 1922. Some details changed when car went into actual production. Ron Hausmann P.E.

All - While the body, fenders, and chassis are off at the paint shop, I’ve been making good steady progress on detail items. Although this may seem slow, these special items are just as important to our correct restoration as are the big pieces. Here is the status as of July 27, 2022: 1. Stewart vacuum tank system is being refurbished. Lucky I took it apart because I found a cracked top. 2. fan, generator base, and hood hardware have been sanded and painted. 3. Gabriel snubbers have been rebelted with NEW Gabriel belts I have. If you ever try to belt these stubborn spring loaded things, you will need a big vice and a huge amount of raw power. 4. Gas tank has been painted and fittings readied for application 5. Wood slating of correct size have been made, stained, and varnished for the luggage rack. 6. Gabriel Snubbers and Gas Tank are now on the chassis. 7. I found a picture of this same Speedster in a 1922 Brandham catalogue which is identical to the picture that I am using as my guide, except this one shows the more regular Kissel step plates, not the double indented ones on the colored picture. This confirms my belief that Kissel never actually made the “double indented” step plates, although they showed on this one picture. There are no existing records or actual double indented steps that survive either. Enjoy. Ron Hausmann P.E.

It’s a late 1927 or 1828 Chevrolet engine to me. Some late 27’s had two exhaust outlets. All 1928’s had two. Push rod setup looks identical to mine in my 1827 Chevrolet. (yes I have one Chevy besides all of my Kissels). Ron

Whatever you do, it will be too little space in a year or two. Car guys automatically fill in all spaces.

All, I’ve been asked to bring my 1923 Kissel Gold Bug Speedster to this Concours and I’ve accepted. I understand that they are planning a full weekend event with a “Concours de Lemons” on Saturday and the formal Concours on Sunday. Details are on their website. They are closing Woodward but I’m not familiar with the times nor extent of street closures. The streets in that area can support rerouting traffic in my opinion. Downtown Detroit is certainly a far cry from Meadowbroook and St. John’s where we have exhibited in the past. As a decades long area resident, Detroit today is a different, much more vibrant city than it was ten years ago and certainly opposite of its poor images from twenty and thirty years ago. While It’s unclear how this deep downtown event will go, let’s give them a chance to make it a great success. See you there! Thanks, Ron Hausmann P. E.

31 Lasalle - Some very rare marques are well documented by owners clubs over the years, and in such cases it may be pretty reliable to believe that the rosters from such clubs are a close accurate representation of survivor cars. Our Kissel klub has been active for decades and we track known and once-known Kissel survivors. We track complete cars and parts-cars. So for us, those counts are pretty accurate. However, I know from experience that sometimes surprise barn-finds show up. In my case, in 2007 when I was lucky enough to find and purchase my 1923 Kissel Model 6-45 Gold Bug, the roster said that three such cars including mine, were in existence. Yet in 2014, another identical unrestored car surfaced in a nearby shed in Owaso Michigan. I quickly overpaid and bought it. There are now four 1923 Kissel Gold Bug Mdel 6-45 cars in the Kissel roster. I think you Peerless guys have a club and a roster of sorts. If it’s been overseen faithfully, you may be able to approximate your vehicle’s rarity thru that listing. Good luck. Ron Hausmann. P. E.

All - Here is status as of July 8, 2022: 1. Body, fenders, hood, and assembled and painted chassis have been delivered to painter ( Paddock) for fitting of painted fenders and body to chassis. Once done, I will finish the remainder of painting and finishing. 2. Gabriel snubbers are being refinished and painted. They are now ready for new original Gabriel belts wi hich I have been hoarding. 3. Steering shaft mechanism has been completely redone, adjusted, and painted. Ready to go onto chassis. 4. Suicide seat frames have been painted and are ready to upholster. 5. All radiator shell, windshield, door handles, bumpers, and other bright work items have been delivered to nickel shop (Fini) to be re nickeled. 6. Inner fender mud flap circular stays have been refinished and ready to mount. Next steps are taking engine to rebuilder, me overhauling the Stewart vacuume tank, engine accessories, and starting to buff up the aluminum step plates. Ron Hausmann P.E.

Hey K8096, Pete Heller had two Kissel Gold Bug speedsters in the 2000’s I believe. One, a 1927 Kissel 8-65 now is owned by a collector here in Michigan. He drives it a lot. The other was a 1921 model 6-45 Gold bug. I have pictures of it on my website with Peter. His son Andrew now has it and had it professionally restored. It won the Pebble Beach Concours several years ago. Google “1921 Kissel Gold Bug” to see pictures. Thanks, Ron Hausmann P.E.

Hey Doug, I’ve got a spare steering box for this model if you need. I’ve taken apart and refurbished a couple earlier 1920’s kissel steering gears and with patience, it’s been ok to do this myself. Those earlier ones didn’t seem to have shims, but screw- down pressure on the shaft. Hers a 1923 box. Ron

All - Here’s a 1919-ish Kissel 2.5 ton General Utilty truck that was found in North Carolina. It runs. Top speed is 17 mph. Speed demon. Basic nice model early truck. Ron Hausmann P.E

All - Here’s a 1917-ish Kissel 1-ton flyer truck sitting outside of a small museum in rural Wyoming. They won’t sell it. I tried. It’s just sitting outside while the wood deteriorates. Go figure. Ron Hausmann P.E.

1912Staver - yes Kissel was supposedly one of the first carmakers to introduce drops into the originally used ladder frames. Their advertising articles in the teens made a big deal of Kissel being among the first to do this. Double-Drop was their term Ron

Better pictures of a pristine 1923 Kissel “double-drop” Gold Bug Speedster rolling chassis. Wheels and tires are temporary. Final wheels and tires will be antique white and gray respectively. Ron Hausmann P.E.

All - Status as of June 21, 2022 1. Rolling Chassis has been completed. Gabriel wnubbers and gas tank will be added later. 2. Roll-around temporary wheels and tires have been assembled and mounted. 3. Brake system has been assembled and adjusted to work as much as possible. Had to do some cutting to correct warped brake bands. 4. Wonderful suicide seat frames which were being made by a blacksmith in Washington state have been delivered and test mounted. Some of the original holes actually lined up perfectly! 5. Last body work on fitting side seat slides and faces is done. 6. in total, the rolling chassis and the body can now be taken to my painter for final fitment and assembly of fenders and body on to the rolling chassis. !!! While those parts are at the painter, I’ll work on restoring the steering shaft, Gabriel snubbers, gas tank, and trim items. Ron Hausmann P.E.

Don’t know. There are several of this style survivors. Ron

All - The car in the foreground is definitely a Kissel Gold Bug Speedster, likely a six cylinder model from 1927 or 1928, judging from the tire size. The 8 cylinder cars had a longer wheelbase than the 6’s, and this one appears short to me. The fenders are late twenties style. Ron Hausmann P.E.

I’ve taken several apart. The old thermostat and tube come out of the housing and can be replaced with new ones you can buy. Restoration used to have replacement thermocouple body and tube sets. Maybe they still do. All the other parts disassemble. Getting everything to face correctly is a pain in the posterior. Ron Hausmann

It’s not Kissel. At least not 1916-1928 Kissel nickel era. Ron Hausmann

JV - yes he springs have huge bronze bushings. The shackles themselves are needlessly complicated with lefts and rights too! And all of the brake rod connections have little bronze bushings. ron