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I do not worry about the value of antique cars, as a matter of fact, I have been wanting to add a '20's - 30's roadster for the past few years though I found them too expensive. I believe we are going to get a hefty round of inflation and that will cure current low values, not this year but next year. Governments around the world are running the printing presses as fast as they will go and dropping money from helicopters. Buy something, anything cash has no value. Stay well, Gary

I completed my first of six top straps, they are used to tie the top bows together and support the top material with x or cross bracing. The straps are three thicknesses of topping material and because I had some light nylon strapping I included it, too. My Singer sewing machine worked like a champ, a hot knife through butter. I needed bonded polyester # 69 thread but with the stores closed I could not order any, I turned to Amazon and even though they showed the thread delivery time was four weeks. Luckily for me, a local restoration shop gave me a spool to use as much as I need and return the rest. Thanks, Stan. In the post today, I received my application to have the McLaughlin judged in Auburn returned, sorry to miss it. Thanks AACA staff. Stay well, Gary.

I apologize David for putting words in your mouth and appreciate your willingness to share with me and others. I do follow your advice, using tacks instead of staples would have never occurred to me. Please drop in on this thread occasionally, thanks. Gary Van Dyken

Today I cut the duck cotton, which is a rough, thin material used to cover the wooden bows and top pads. In reading David Coco's advice I cut the bow material " on the bias" or 45 degrees and I installed the "duck" with tacks instead of staples. With nails it is easier to reposition the material to remove wrinkles and I do not know why I cut the material " on the bias" , I think it has to do with wrinkles too. In the photos, the first attempt to wrap the bow left a messy look, did much better the second time. The final photo are reproduction pins which secure the sockets to the holders, they cost $9.00 each and I need 4 of them but they are beautiful and there is a car in there somewhere. Regards, Gary

Sun is shining and the spring is the time to go for a drive. The 1939 Century started quickly since resting since Christmas and our 30 mile trip around a country block was pleasant and uneventful, except for tooting at a few people we recognized and getting waves and thumbs up from others. Washed the car in the driveway, dried it and put it away, ready for pre war events, when and if they occur. I washed the car, my wife says it is too large, she looks after the white walls. Stay well, Gary

David Coco (Trimacar) is a valuable resource for the AACA. I have been watching a fellow renewing his top on the Dodge Brothers thread and David once said he can take 40 hours just to align the bows before he begins the job of sewing and installing the new top. When I read that I thought to myself how can that be but since I am doing the measuring, lining up and rounding out the bows to produce a sharp looking top, I think how does he do the job so fast? In the photos under the pile of laundry is my project covered in wood chips after using a power plane to round out the bows. The second photo are locks I had a retired machinist make for me to secure the top prop nuts and the final photo is the area and prop nuts for reference. Regards, Gary

I've painted the top irons, which is the last of the refinishing, except for any missed items. 1915 McLaughlin is painted. A fellow brass car enthusiast in Ontario recently acquired and arrived home with this lovely 1913 McLaughlin model 25 touring car. He sent me a snap. Best of luck, hope the car gives you miles of smiles. Stay well, Gary

Try this. When I rebuilt my 3 3/4 X3 3/4" engine I overfilled the crankcase with a few liters, spun the engine by hand crank a few times to splash oil onto the cam, lifters, fill any pockets and drained the excess off using the petcock Brian mentions. Smoked when I started the engine the first few times but it is fine now. Best of luck, great looking McLaughlin. Gary

The executive of the Snappers Brass and Gas have decided to reschedule their meets from this summer and push the events to 2021, which I am thankful for and agree with. The spring and summer 5 day tours will now occur in 2021 and the 2021 events will be 2022 and so forth. The Snappers have three events in the fall and are on for now but we will see. Bev and are working on returning registration fees and will not make plans for 2021 until after the Old Car Festival in September. On the garage front, I continue to work on the McLaughlin's top sockets and bows. In the photo I've stretched a car cover over the bows to get an idea of the way the finished product will look. The definition of irony, we have time, pleasant weather, low priced gasoline, antique cars, but no where to go. Stay well, Gary

Beginning the job of fitting a new top by installing the sockets and bows to the 1915 McLaughlin C25 touring. Regards, Gary

Experimenting with photo editing software, my Model 31 parked on a gravel driveway last May during the Gilmore Museum's pre war days. Regards, Gary

Today I worked on getting my horn ready for paint. After removing it from the car I washed the horn 3 times with lacquer thinner to remove all oils which would weaken the adhesion of the new paint. The original finish was a thin layer of japan black paint which a spinning wire wheel stripped quickly. Next I sanded the parts with 220 grit sandpaper again to aid in adhesion. Washed the parts again with thinners and taped off the motor. I could have sandblasted the metal parts but I wanted to keep grit out of the motor. I have a collection of other parts to coat with epoxy primer, then a heavy coat of black Poly Urethane, the very definition of "over restored." Stay well, Gary

I sorted out an electrical problem with a simple fix, I hope. When I acquired our 1915 McLaughlin touring car it had been fitted with accessory, or after market, push pull switches to turn on the ignition and begin the starter/ generator spinning. I've taken out the incorrect switches but that left me with the original switch which would work but only occasionally. It seems the paddle? was worn and making inconsistent contact to the starter/ generator wire. I cut a strip of brass shim stock, 001", glued and wrapped it around the paddle. I've added 0.003" to each edge of the paddle and it seems to be enough, I've run through 6 start/ stops and it worked every time. The car also had an electric fuel pump which was removed and is sitting on a shelf. Gravity fuel flow for me. In the picture is the offending switch before restoration. The 2 push/pull switches on the left, turn on the ignition and start the generator motoring. The other 3 push/ pull switches are for the headlamps, dim lights and tail lamp/ dash light. I've circled the area of the switch that was built up without disassembly. Also, I have bypassed the circuit breaker, on the left with a pair of long springs, with an inline fuse. The round resister pictured on the right offers too much resistance so I am still in the woods with grandma's house in sight. Hope you understand, I find electricity difficult. Stay well, Gary

Thanks Doug; These are difficult times, Bev and I have no activities which we can attend for the next few months, everything on hold. My mom and I used to be considered homebodies, now I am self isolating and supporting the health effort. Not so bad for me, Bev, also stays home and makes me lunch. Life is good with friends and photography. Regards, Gary

Yes Larry, our friends Charles and Darlene invited Bev and I to a high wheeler get together at the Gilmore Museum maybe about 2015. Earlier in this thread I said "these are the good old days!" I seems I was correct since we are facing, self isolation, postponements and cancellations today. The best part of the early car hobby to me is the willingness of owners to share their cars by letting us sit in them, give rides or teach others to how to master driving them. Here are a few more photos from the recent past I picked out from my files to demonstrate. Stay well, Gary

Covid-19 and me. I do not have it, however, it has certainly affected me though everyone is feeling some pain. I've lost enough money from my retirement stock holdings to buy a Packard, but not as much as a VW microbus. I remain especially inspired by the positive reactions from my fellow Canadians, auto plants building medical devices, musician hosting internet shows or even from the porch, and daily briefings from the Prime Minister for instance. The cancellation of the Auburn AACA meet has hit me hard, I planned to have my newly finished 1915 McLaughlin judged there. I am working on the car and hopefully it will be finished by May but now I have nowhere to go. A new party dress and my date stood me up. For the Snapper's tour in July, the US/Canada border is closed to tourism, many restaurants I chose are not presently available and we have 33 registrations to date from people who are counting on Bev and I for a pleasant week of driving around Kent County. It will be May before we know what to do. Here are pictures from the recent past. Hoping for a successful outcome from the Coronavirus. Gary

Thanks everyone; Please take your time and thanks for the update. Gary

I knew the owner and the car well, he was a happy member of the Kent Historic Auto Club. Enjoy your new wheels, it should be a well sorted car. Regards, Gary

Finished. Gary

This thread is informative but dismisses the efforts the organizers have invested in hosting you. Please take a moment to send the folks a thank you note for putting on tours, shows, etc. you are sorry to have to miss and wish them the best. My wife and I are hosting a tour in July, so far, it is a go, but the dining halls we have booked are now closed, by government order. Now what, I can to find alternate arrangements. We are on but all of our work for the past year will have to be revamped for the current reality. Wish us luck, Gary

I am replacing the rear carpet and had the my 1913 Buick model 31 outside, weather was cool, calm and dry, too nice to pass our first drive of 2020. Regards, Gary

I've been interested in floor coverings for the rear tonneau for my early Buicks lately. Coco mat is lovely for the 1915 McLaughlin, looks antique and the car has chestnut linoleum running board mats and front floor to match. My 1913, however, is decorated in black and white colours with a thread bare, modern material, black carpet. Once a person loads the car with luggage and lawn chairs, rear floor is covered anyway. My friend Gregg Lange, from Michigan, told me an original old Buick he knows of has a thin material floor covering and that comment got me thinking instead of carpet, something else. Yesterday Bev and I visited a huge fabric store and I bought a piece of poly cotton blend fabric in dark gray and I plan to change the rear floor. It is bonded so I can cut it to shape and have the edges serged. Also in the photo is a sea grass mat I was going to use for carpet but Bev has been liking to keep it in the house. The top photo is a detail of my model 31 carpet and the second photo is the material I want to use laying on a sea grass mat. Go cat, go. Gary

First the elephant in the room, then a Snapper Tour update. Presently there are no reports Covid-19 cases reported in Chatham Kent. Registrations continue to be sent in for our Chatham 5 day tour and plans are being tweaked. Yesterday I sent a message to the Snapper's club offering to postpone or cancel the event, Bev and I would be disappointed but understanding, I heard back, carry on. For the Buick side of things, we have 3 1913 Model 31 attending. We were together at the Old Car Festival last fall, I have toured with Larry and Joyce, and with Lisa and Jim, but Larry has not run with Jim. This summer we three are at the same hotel and driving together. Jim told me he rebuilt his engine over the winter. We received a registration for a 1915 c55, 7 passenger touring car from Michigan and a second big 6 from Ontario hasn't registered but may be there. I haven't gotten anything for a 2 cylinder Model F/G though they are around, however, one of our stops has an original, museum quality car to look at. We have a c37 roadster from Michigan and a buddy from Ontario contacted me and said he sold his Ford and bought a 1913 McLaughlin 25 series touring car. With my c25 that will be 2 McLaughlins and 7 Buicks to date. The picture was taken at last years Old Car Festival at Greenfield Village. Good times. Gary

Charge on, this afternoon I finished the rear floor woodwork, fit the tool box, made a pattern and then installed a 5/8th" thick cocoa mat. I think the under seat toolbox, that is what I call it, is a McLaughlin only feature. I saw cocoa mat in a friends car last summer and felt it is perfect for my car, also used for model T Ford rear mats. Leather covers the tool box and back of the front seat. The photos are start to finish and self explanatory. Regards, Gary

Crime Story, On Amazon Prime, TV series in 21 parts, set in Chicago 1963. Many scenes with and around cars with rock and roll, blues and jazz music. Gary