wayne sheldon

That is SO-OO bad! Nasty. Just plain WRONG! It is going to take twenty minutes before I can clear up my eyes from laughing! (I am sorry) The irony, the Karma that must be involved? I don't know. Some people just cannot seem to avoid hitting deer. And I will add, that deer can jump from shadows in ways that NOBODY could miss them! But usually, most of the dozens of times I have seen other people hit deer? They just aren't watching for them. Many, many times, I have watched as others driving ahead of me would hit deer that I would see in plenty of time for them to miss the deer. I see them from farther back, and they don't see them until too late. I have never actually hit a deer.

I managed to find them last night. Wasn't easy. I agree with Mike West. There is a lot wrong with the Franklin, but the price is right. One question though. Is the engine the original? If not the original Franklin engine, is it the correct year/series engine? I am not a Franklin expert so cannot tell myself. A decent looking and probably with very little effort a very usable car! The wrong parts do not seriously detract from the appearance, and likely improve the drivability. It could probably be made more year correct without a lot of trouble, Franklin parts are still usually available (excellent club support!). If I were in a slightly better place right now? I could be seriously interested (I would want to make it more year correct myself) (and I am on the left end of the continent). It could be a great car for many people.

And THAT is one of the most common and contentious discussions often found on these antique car forums!

It does sadden me a bit that a steam car was involved. But I know these things can and do happen. I also know that I would rather be hurt doing what I love doing than to sit safely at home not doing things I enjoy. I hope his injuries are not worse than alluded to, and he can recover fully and quickly!

You know better than most how far people today have come.

I know that what I have read so far has not said what car, if any, was involved. Stanleys, whether deserved or not, have a bit of a reputation for such flareups. Actually, what my steam friends tell me is that people that know what they are doing with them, and are being a little careful, rarely ever have such flareups. Not with Stanleys or most any other marque steam cars. It is usually relative newcomers playing with cars not properly set up and adjusted that burn their hoods. Although I have known a few expert level people that would admit they too had burned a hood. Since Jay Leno is considered to be one of the top experts working with steam cars, I halfway suspect it was not a steam car at all. It could have just as likely been a static spark around a fuel transfer. We all tend to occasionally play loose with potentially dangerous materials and equipment. We as a hobby need reminders from time to time that these things can and sometimes do blow up in our faces! Regardless. Jay, we love you! Get back to full health quick!

History needs to be considered in the context of its time. Open cars had been the normal thing for most of three decades. It wasn't to them like it is to people today. It was normal. On top of that, people still knew others that were still using a horse, with or without a carriage. A touring car with a good body and close top was far more comfortable and warm, especially in winter or rain, than an open carriage which had to be very lightweight for the horse's sake. And that touring car was oh so much more comfortable than sitting atop a horse (especially in the rain!)! Also, remember that in the 1920s, everybody knew a lot of people old enough to have lived half their lives before automobiles became commonplace. People then appreciated their place in history! They appreciated the modern conveniences and new technologies a lot more than people do today.

Ouch! Best wishes for a speedy full recovery! I have never seen a Stanley do such a thing. I have known several people that own and tour with Stanleys, and heard quite a few stories, and seen the burned hoods. I hope to see more Stanly activity before too much longer. However, I would prefer to see them behaving well. Take good care of yourself Jay!

Photo can be found in the proverbial hundred places on the internet. Proper credit is unknown.

Cooling an engine that way, through a large container of water, wasn't very effective or efficient. But it worked. Stationary engines used boil-off water jackets from before automobiles commonly clear up to World War Two. The harder the engine gets worked, the more heat the cylinder generates. the faster the water boils away, and the more often water must be (carefully!) added. Easier to watch the water level while working around the stationary engine. However, the same principles apply to moving vehicles. During world War one, motor vehicles used around the war zones often had fragile radiators destroyed beyond repair. Clever men often replaced radiators with cooling tanks and crude plumbing. Such photos are not uncommon. Desperate farmers during hard times sometimes did the same thing. "No worries mate! She'll get you there!"

Before I had to sell the gray model T racing car I used to have, the last Endurance Run I drove it on I was alongside one of their National racing cars in the starting lineup. I managed to keep within earshot of them for several miles! What a wonderful sound! I passed them, they passed me. Back and forth for a few miles! Fun stuff! Bob, I had heard they had a crash? But I never heard any details.

They do also have a brass era Packard. That link, once you are in You Tube might lead you to other similar videos.

This the one?

JAK, What body builder for your Lincolns? Just me being curious. Besides, I know a bunch of model L owners.

The exploded muffler photo is nothing unusual, and I personally would not worry about it. Regardless of when etc. The outer shell looks like common heater flue pipe, and was a common "fix" in the hobby for mufflers of that era as it just happened to be a nearly perfect fit. I can't offhand recall ever using the stuff for a muffler myself, way too thin and the crimped seam is nowhere near strong enough! But I knew a lot of people, including good friends that used it that way many times. People today have forgotten what carbureted cars were like. The fuel mixture wasn't truly consistent, and even in well adjusted cars excess fuel occasionally would build up in the exhaust system. Often, that would result in a resounding kaboom! A properly built muffler would usually contain the minor explosion. However, those thin poorly crimped flue shells would blow wide open at the first provocation. Heard a dozen of them years ago. Seen many more after the fact. In the photo, I can see that is what it is. It is a minor sorting item at the worst. Likely just a decent outer shell (which I gather has already been replaced?) and minor timing and carburetor adjustments. Many years ago, even a very good friend of mine who was quite anal about tuning his cars perfectly, had to blow up three cheap flue shells before he let me make him a real steel muffler shell! His cars always ran so sweet! Always started quickly and idled as slow and sweet as any car you ever saw. He drove his car a lot, and about once a year he would blow the muffler wide open. Until I made a good shell for him.

In most states, specialty license or registrations such as antique, collector, horseless carriage, and even hotrod, say in their rules that the vehicle cannot be used to haul or tow anything! Many such state laws (if you actually read them?), even if you had a beautifully restored Peterbilt truck, you couldn't "legally (?)" carry a picnic basket for the car show lunch. I sometimes wonder how the rules really read if your Peterbilt tractor was pulling a same vintage Fruehauf trailer? (I know, yours isn't a Peterbilt.) Some collectors put standard modern vehicle licensing on their collector tow vehicles in order to avoid the potential legal ramifications. It may even be necessary to use regular automobile insurance in some states. The collector car insurance companies are not generally going to insure a vehicle that is being used outside the legal restrictions of its licensing. Regular licensing and regular (trailer included!) insurance may be your best option. Some parts of the antique automobile hobby really love their little trailers. Model T Ford camping trailers and 1930s color coordinated utility trailers are very popular within some antique automobile groups. I often wonder how many of those people have looked into their insurance coverage for those things?

I figured it was a technological slip, albeit one with an ironic twist to the potential meaning. I find this car intriguing, and would love to see it restored. Too many wonderful and deserving Classic automobiles out there and too few people with the means and desire to restore them. The sad state of the world today. Interesting prewar cars like this one I usually check back on everyday to read comments from people more in the know like yourself. That way I keep learning more about some things I may never have. Thank you.

Over the years, I have restored several cars that few people would have been foolish enough to have done. I have a couple "project piles" still that I hope to yet do. However I certainly cannot buy any others that need much work done before driving them.

Are you referring to the "But darling, I HAVE to spend more money on the car if we are ever going to enjoy driving it!"

Ouch. That has got to hurt. I wish I could seriously consider it.

I sure know that problem. My 1915 model T runabout should have been finished over five years ago! It has been about three months from running for over four years now.

My one from the Studebaker rear end was not as large as 5 1/2 inches. From memory, I would guess about four inches. It is probably still buried in a box in my parts storage (I rarely throw anything away and don't think I ever gave it to anyone?). If I thought it was close, I would try to look for it it after it stops raining (which we very much need!).

Oh joy. Virtual scale plastic models. Actually, there is a lot of real potential here for being able to study cars or concepts. But only if the people creating the programs do the job right, and make it accurately. Otherwise, it is just another fantasy plastic model. Sorry.

An engine that has sat for a long time? Do not force it! An easy to fix stuck valve could turn very quickly into a very expensive repair! Usually, an engine can be freed up and be okay to run with a bit of careful checking and general service. Pretty well covered by m-mman.

Sometimes it is the era one is collecting, not the personality. Personally, I would prefer Teddy for both the era and the personality! We have a couple lap robes. Only one really nice one! It is carefully packed away. I should probably have it appraised by someone that knows lap robes, however I doubt it has any significant value. Sure is beautiful though!