cxgvd
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Posts posted by cxgvd
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Good for you and Cindy to receive your shots, my neighbours and Stan and Jane Uher too this week. The fellow installing the upholstery in my McLaughlin got his last week and I expect he will be here tomorrow safe and sound. I wish I could say I feel invincible, but we are always mindful.
Regards, Gary
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This month I started to replace the 35 year old top of my Model 31 by making patterns, ordering new 59" steam bent top bows and 12 yards of black on black Stayfast topping material. Mark Shaw replaced his top recently and I copied his photos because it is beautifully done and he used the rear window shape I have seen in original Buick literature. Ontario entered a stay at home order for the next four weeks to flatten the Covid curve, should be about the time I need to replace my top. Being a home body it is good to have an interesting hobby which can keep you home.
The first two photos are Mark's new top and then our car.
Get vaccinated, Gary
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Without changing my ignition/lights switch, I installed the new fuse box and two push/pull switches hidden behind the dash board. Hopefully the setup will prove to be reliable and not leave us sitting on the side of the road.
Stay well, Gary
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After working on my switch which controls the starter, ignition and lights I believe it is not reliable. I am advertising and asking around if someone has an incomplete switch I can adapt to use modern push pull type switches and a new fuse box. Then the car will have modern components but still look authentic and no one will know I've upgraded until they peer under the dashboard My original switch will still be intact for the day when a technician who understands electricity can get it properly working as intended.
Get vaccinated, better days ahead, Gary
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The way I am used to seeing the rubber divider strip is attached to the bottom pane, lip inside. Here is a photo of my 1915, I also ran the rubber under the nickeled caps on the ends to secure everything. Good luck, Gary
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Booked at the Sure Stay by Best Western in Auburn, I missed two years ago because the Meet was a Grand National and last year due to the virus. The US/Canada border will have to be open for tourist traffic, here's hoping.
Regards, Gary
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Finished assembling and installing the Stewart speedometer in the dashboard of the 1915 McLaughlin. One piece missing is at the platers before I can test it.
Heard from the upholstery man and he tells me he is ready to recover the seats in April. Onward and always onward. Gary
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Speedometer project update. I've stripped the speedometer i received last week to its bare components and unstuck the input shaft. I've cleaned the glass and it will be fine to reuse. Cleaned and polished the silver face with toothpaste, a few imperfections remain though it is original and reproducing a decal for the face is beyond my abilities nor is necessary for my use. I cut a chuck of walnut to hold the body securely as I reassemble the parts before slipping it all back into the case which will be painted black.
The next photo is the location I chose to mount the speedometer head. It should be out of the way of feet, have a short cable with no tight bends and the nut hold the steering wheel can read it. I've been learning the everything I can concerning speedometers and charted the wheel gear, swivel and pinion gear cause the speedometer cable to spin 1009 times per mile at 30 MPH.
Stay well and wish me luck; Gary
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Cool weather for the next few day but I saw a robin and summer is close, hope we can enjoy it. I have some parts to finish the nickel plating on the 1915 McLaughlin and I am going to try a new shop in London, On which my friends have recommended. When I called to make an appointment the shop told me the usual turnaround time to complete the job is two weeks. Excellent. Two hubcaps, two hood clamp tops, a speedo swivel, 5 tube dust air caps and a speedo bezel for my recently acquired unit. All the parts are made of brass and should come back beautifully shiny .
I also have an original, read old nickel, set of fancy wings which fits both the '15 and '13 Buick radiator filler neck. I'll hold it back until I see their workmanship though. This shop is an hour form my home and in a smaller city then the shop I have frequented before, in Toronto.
Stay well, get vaccinated; Gary
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Lately I've become interested in antique speedometers. Today I had the opportunity to obtain a spare for my 1915 McLaughlin and maybe use it in my 1913 Buick which does not have one. The first Buick outfitted with a speedometer as standard equipment was the 1914 Buick model 55, the big six.
It's good to get out of the house, especially on a pleasant spring afternoon, my wife and I travelled to Sarnia, On about an hour north. I snapped a few photos along the Bluewater Parkway next the the St Clair river. The black faced speedometer is original to the McLaughlin and is restored. The silver one is identical except for the colour of the face. During 1913 Stewart Speedometer switched from a sweep hand to the drum, magnetic indicator.
Stay well, Gary
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The Gilmore has a full calendar of events, English cars, German car, pre war weekends, etc. which keeps thing lively. Last time I was there (pre pandemic) they had a display in the main hall of about 17 Duesenbergs. My wife and I found a nearby Bed and Breakfast which cut down commuting from Battle Creek or Kalamazoo.
Regards, Gary
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Queen's University in Kingston, Ont. has an archive of McLaughlin family, carriage and motor car materials. When I contacted them for the brochure for 1915 they scanned and emailed me a 32 page book covering all three models McLaughlin produced that year. With Covid restrictions in place I held onto the file until conditions eased and my printing shop reopened and could do the job. The original scan would not let them make it into a book without a lot of cutting and pasting so I had them print it with the highest quality the way it was. I cut it apart and placed the pages into plastic sleeves and made my own book. It is not a collector's item, useful facts for a rare car instead.
One interesting fact, my 1915 has a Stewart speedometer as standard equipment, my 1913 Buick doesn't have a speedometer. The first Buick, in my research, to list a speedometer as standard equipment is the 1914 B55, big six. Earlier than 1914 the speedometer is after market, a dealer installed item. Since no one is alive today who bought these cars new we need the sales books to show me the way.
Stay well, Gary
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Good to see photos of the Whippet. How does the old expression go, " If you can't beat it, Whippet."
Spring weather Monday? Gary
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Doug: Remembering I'm a retired car salesman, good for you.
Hope your mom is well, Gary
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This morning I sent an email to Bob Giles organizer of the Vintage Tour and added our name to the list to attend. The Vintage Tour is open to vehicles built by 1931, it is like a Snapper event but with twenties cars, Dodge Brothers, Hupmobiles, Imperials and Buicks. Our car is the slowest but I leave a bit earlier than the others and get in a bit late for lunch, it is a very good time with a friendly and outgoing bunch.
Funny story, our first VT I did not take the opportunity to fill the gas tank when I could and ran out of gas going up a long grade. Our 1913 Buick has a gravity feed fuel delivery system, I had to roll the dead car down the grade and back onto a laneway with Bob Giles riding the runningboard. Once the Buick was parked on the flat the engine was restarted and I reversed up the long grade. I had enough gas in the tank to complete the trip. It's all good.
On the same tour my water pump failed and Bev and I caught rides the rest of the week.
The last tour was in Kingston and Bev and I had to miss it for a family wedding. Last year was postponed due to the virus. This summer I hope to successfully finish a Vintage Tour.
The photo is our car in front of the antique Penn Wells Hotel in Wellsboro. Pa and repairing the water pump at home.
We live in hope, Gary
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Three weeks of cold and snow made for a dark February, spring is in the air today, Saturday. Cleaning up the yard led me to the space where I keep my 1913 Buick and it seems to have weathered ( pun intended) the winter well. I gave the crank a lift to rotate the engine without turning on the gas or setting the choke. I gave the crank another turn, to open the closed valves and close others, the engine started and ran a few seconds. She seems tired of winter and Covid restrictions, too, ready to ramble.
Think spring, Gary
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Welcome to the AACA Forums, David. I would suggest you start your work on your grandmother's car by cleaning the body with soap and a little water, degrease the engine and driveline and vacuum the interior. Save anything you find since it may or may not belong to the Model K. Photograph everything.
Join a car club, read history and repair books, don't be in a hurry.
Ask questions.
Hope your grandma is well, Gary
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Here is my list of important cars from Buick in the early days which I feel made GM a viable concern.
The model C of 1905 continued as the Model F and G, popular today with the one and two cyl bunch.
The Model 10 was built starting in 1908 and continued, growing larger, adding electric start and left hand drive, until 1915. Historian say the Model 10 was the only profitable GM car and was the cornerstone of the company.
The big six, series 55, began in 1914 and propelled Buick into the twenties with a modern engineering.
Also built but in smaller numbers the lovely and powerful Model 17 and the smallest car the Model 14 were less meaningful to GM, though popular today. The Model 45 is a wonderful car, roomy and fast, just outside the HCCA date.
Really just an exercise to show some snap shots of early Buicks, but feel free to comment. The first is a 1908 Model F, mostly original and very old restoration. Then a pair of 1912 Model 25 series. A 1914 Model 55, 5 passenger touring car. Three model 31's with a model F and finally the penultimate, 1915 V-12.
Regards, Gary
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I've been a judge and had cars judged a few times and appreciate the efforts of everyone. Sometimes I am surprised my cars scored so well and when it didn't I knew why and understood.
Funny story, we were on weekend driving tour which took us to a small town's parade. A fellow on the tour drove a beautiful 1932 Auburn and he lost to a scruffy Model A and he was angry. A friend reminded him the winner lived in the town and the trophy had nothing to do with the cars.
When Covid-19 conditions allow I plan to show a car I restored from an older restoration. I hope to receive my First Junior, the car will never look as well again, and then it will resort to a touring machine. Cars should be shown for awards, it is an important function of collecting.
Stay well, Gary
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Though this posting is not antique Buick related I want to share a Hurrah to the NASA engineers who successfully landed a car on Mars. The video of joy following "seven minutes of terror" gives me hope for the human race's future. When I watched on the news the steps which had to be pre programed for the landing to occur and they did it, the staff seemed to be all about thirty years old, well done. Some threads on these forums carp about young people do not care about antique cars, I don't care too, let them carry on. We old folks should step back and get out of their way.
Stay well, Gary
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I think the correct term for the device which winds up the magneto before releasing and spinning it fast enough to create a spark is called an impulse. At least when I contacted a rebuilder to order a spare mag and told him I needed an impulser he knew what it was.
On my 1913 Buick with a 201 cubic inch engine, it has never kicked back. A few years ago a group of us stopped at a High School shop class and I had a line of teenagers try to crank start my Buick. With my impulse device a child can start the engine if they can get the engine to rotate, any speed, when the impulse releases the Bosch generates spark and the engine runs. The students were thrilled, their teacher was first and then supervised. I would retard the spark for every start and advance it afterward for a smooth idle, shut down before the next student turn ( pun intended).
Stay safe, Gary
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I am 67 years old and do all my own antique car work. All help is in the community, library books, you tube videos, local restoration shops will bail you out if you are over your head, plating shops make everything you send in look beautiful, you can buy tires, etc. People say it is rewarding, even small progress is grand and when you are out showing or cruising your car ( assuming you finish ) you can tell the public I did it myself.
Regards, Gary
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My thoughts concerning 1940's cars I do not find them comfortable to drive in traffic. I bought a 1939 Buick Century sedan a few years ago to drive to long distance events but I feel as if I'm being tailgated and generally crowded. I think the other drivers around me expect it to be modified, faster and it is not. I drive the speed limited or a little above and my 320 cu In engine will keep up with traffic. I feel I am not getting any respect for the cars limitations.
My other car, a 1913 Buick touring car, is wonderful to drive, everyone stays well clear. It is obliviously stock and even at 35 MPH I am a contented motorist.
Stay safe, Gary
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Hello Bob; Bev and I plan to attend the Vintage Tour. That being said I do not see how it is possible considering todays conditions and restrictions. We are hosting an AACA Snapper Tour in August and I am not making any plans until May with the exception of arranging a host hotel, final banquet site and taking names. I'll send you a PM with some thoughts from the Snappers and HCCA with some possible work arounds.
We live in hope, Gary
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owning, fixing and driving a Snapper's era Buick
in Me and My Buick
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Began my Model 31 top replacement project. I received new oak bows yesterday from an Amish wood shop in Ontario, $20.00 each times 4 or $15.00 USD.
I marked them for orientation in case they are different side to side.
I made a window pattern with 8X 41/4" square lights with 3/4" bars between. Seems about right.
Stay well, Gary