John N. Packard

This will be my fifth Master Editor award. I received a Master Webmaster award in 2001. I find the print medium easier to work in than the electronic. There are some really outstanding chapter websites on line now. While I was doing both I could use the same material in each one. However digital picture quality for the printed page is far beyond what is required for the web site. I spent a lot of time in Photoshop creating two sets of photos. I used Pagemaker for the Chesapeake Bulletin and Frontpage for the website. Pagemaker has a lot of built-in features that make it easy to do creative things. I don't find that to be true in Frontpage, so my site is pretty "plain Jane". jnp

The 'letter' was waiting for me when we returned from a two-week vacation in Myrtle Beach yesterday. Nice retirement present don't you think? See you all in Philly. jnp

Dave, I concur with the Eastwood recommendations. Have had excellent results with their products. jnp

Bruce, Well deserved recognition! You and Di do an excellent job with The Horn. Chesapeake Region has successfully produced The Bulletin with our temporary editor Ted Schneider residing in Cumberland, so your California plan should work well for you. jnp

Bruce, Will you try to do the Horn from California or does that job fall to Di as well? I had a six week tour in Denver for the Martin Company back in the sixties. Eleanor and our daughter Laura were with me for the first month and then I stayed in the Ranch House Motel for the balance of the stay. We had a wonderful time touring Colorado while there and my interest in antique autos was stimulated by the number of well preserved antiques in the area. I suspect that you won't have too much spare time in California with all there is to see and do out there including antique cars. Have a safe and great trip and keep us posted on your car adventures! jnp

Well PackardV8, 50 cents an hour would be nice. That's what I made doing yard work for folks back in the fifties! jnp

I got a set of door sills for my '54 Patrician a few years back from an outfit in New Jersey named "Door Sills." Excellent workmanship and very nice appearance. I believe I found them about the middle of the White Field at the Hershey Fall Meet. jnp

JT, I've been generally satisfied with the items that I have bought on eBay. I like the Buy-it-Now feature. Recently have used it more than bidding on items. Several years ago there was a bidder that I just could not beat. I tried sniping and bidding high amounts and he beat me every time. It got to the point where if he was bidding on an item I wouldn't even try. I have sold a few books and literature items on eBay and generally made about 25 cents an hour doing it. But I did get rid of the stuff. jnp

Rick, What I do to the deep pocket guys is bid them up so they will have to dig a little deeper. Haven't been burned yet! jnp

Rick, The trunk handle/lamp license data in the Packard 35-41 parts book is a little confusing. Under group 31.173 Handle, Trunk lid lock (with key lock) part number 353192 is listed for use with a trunk rack on both models 1382 (sedan) and 1385 (coupe). Part number 356606 (Lamp License) is listed for models 1382 and 1385. Under group 30.634 Lamp (License) Assembly part number 348692 (with handle) is listed for models 1382 and 1385. Part number 348895 (with trunk rack) is listed for model 1382, (not listed for 1385). Under each of these group numbers there is a reference to the other. So it appears that one handle/lock assembly is used with a trunk rack and the other for vehicles without the trunk rack. One lamp assembly is used with the trunk handle on vehicles without a trunk rack, another is used for vehicles with a trunk rack. No illustrations are given. Hope this helps! jnp

joe40pack, Here's the facts: From the 1935-1941 Packard Parts List. Group 31.151 EMBLEM, Trunk #349868 (Fleur-de-lis) Models 1372-6-7-82-4-92-4-6-7 #353148 (Packard shield) Models 1372-6-7-82-4-92-4-6-7. Model 1382 is the Packard Six 4-Door Touring sedan. The 1940 One-Ten One-Twenty sales brochure shows the Fleur-de-lis on the trunk of a sedan. You have a choice of two emblems. Moral: Always research authentic factory documentation! jnp

Harry, I have that video from Walter Miller and it is quite informative and very interesting. I particularly enjoyed the sequences that showed various dealerships and their staff. It seems to me that if the second bow from the front is flat, there might be a tendency for water to pool in that area. There is curvature on the other six bows. Thanks for your reply. John P.

I'm replacing the top bows on my 5th series Packard sedan. From front to rear each one of the seven bows is longer than the one in front of it. The second bow appears to be flat on top, whereas the other bows have curvature. Am I correct in assuming that the second bow is warped and on its replacement I should match the curvature of the other bows? Also the side rails that the bows attach to is dry and cracked in some places. Is this an application for Quick Poly to fill and seal the cracks? Your comments are appreciated! jnp[

jd26pack, The information I have indicates that the Bijur lines can be flushed with kerosene and the recommended oil was Mobiloil B. I don't know what that translates to today. I have a 526 sedan with the Bijur system; but haven't done anything to it as yet. In the earlier models more points were lubricated by the system than in later years. jnp

Harold M. Gilbert 15 Jefferson Street Dansville, NY 14437-1407 jnp

You never know what you will find. I was there Friday and in the late afternoon came across a box of clips for mounting stainless steel strips on a '37 Packard running board. Parked on the armory lot. Got there earlier than in previous years and parked much farther back. Must have been a good crowd. jnp

Rick, I think you will find that the Twelves were detailed differently from the Super 8's. If Peter Hartman is still around, he might be able to shed some light on this. My 1502 Limo has a crest on the rear doors that I have not been able to identify. The original color was maroon and somewhere along the way it was repainted blue. I have thought it might have been used as a funeral limousine. Perhaps the cloth mat was replaced; but why on the back wall? I tend to think it is original. As I mentioned in my eMail, cloth was probably used on the sides to fit smoothly over the wheel housing. Interesting mystery! jnp

Rick, Check your email for my response. Ribbed rubber back and floor. Fabric on the sides. jnp

Packard53, Except for Cadillac, where are they all now? Nuff said! jnp

Frank, Your motor has bearing inserts. jnp

Rick, Here is what I have found. As you stated the covers consist of four pieces each. The "C" shaped section that goes over the wheel tread has two inner pieces riveted to it. There is a rubber pad folded over the lower portion of each inner piece and held in place with two round head rivets. The pad is 4&1/4 inches long and the fold on each side is 7/8 inch high; so the pad dimensions are 4&1/4 by 1&7/8 to allow for the fold over the end of the inner piece. On the fourth (outer) piece of the wheel cover there is a rubber bumper 1 inch in diameter and 1/4 inch thick at both ends of the circular chrome strip. It is secured by a nut and molded bolt. It is similar in appearance to Restoration Specialties universal rubber bumper #990415 except that it is secured by a molded-in bolt. On this same piece on the inside edge of the inner circle are two inverted L-shaped rubber bumpers that are secured by a metal plate that is 5/8 inch long and 1/2" high. I don't find any item in my catalogs that is similar. I took 15 digital images of these items. The attached photo shows the folded rubber on the lower edge of the 3-piece cover. Send me you e-mail address and I will send you a ZIP file of all 15. Select the ones you are most interested in and I can send you images up to 3.5 megs in size for greater detail. My garage loft does not make the best photo studio! jnp

Rick, I have a 1502 limousine as well. The sidemount covers are in the loft of my garage. I'm vacationing in Myrtle Beach this week; but should be able to get some photos for you next week. This is primarily a V-8 Packard crowd. jnp

The last Tucker is #1026. In the picture it appears to be a bronze color; however in my notes I describe it as tan. Photo attached. jnp

Jack, The third one was painted gray. It is #1022. Photo attached. jnp

I checked my notes from the tour and don't find any reference to the Miller Indy racing cars. Attached is a photo of Tucker#1001. jnp