Terry Bond

I recently added a couple of different versions of these cards to my collection. They advertise Cafe Martin in New York City. I'm now up to six different cards showing early automotive scenes. The artwork is great, and the first card especially is interesting as I've got a full sized lithograph with the same image but no advertising on it. These cares are pre 1908, also known as undivided back cards. I believe 1907 and earlier cards were all printed restricting the back of the card to address only. That was law at the time, so any message that needed to be sent along with the card was written on the front. By 1908 the law had changed and companies began printing cards with half the back for the address and half for a message. Anybody else collect these? Wonder how many different automobile themed cards are in this advertising "set." Terry

Enjoyed trying to beat the heat this past weekend by attending a flea market in a parking garage. Found this neat General Motors item and just couldn't pass it up for the price. It's peweter and well detailed as you can see. Looks like someone working on a door for a woodie. Don't think the piece is too old, and is obviously some kind of presentation piece for someone getting certified as a Master Technician (I think). Can anyone tell me what it is - how old, purpose, and maybe even who the guy who received it was? Thanks, Terry

Glad you saved the lights. They are certainly restorable. I have a friend in Northern Virginia who is restoring a Case and may be interested in them. if you want to send your contact info, email address or phone # I'll pass it along to him. You can email be through the forum. The tank does not go with the lamps. It probably would have worked to light them but isn't original for use on a car. cars of this era, early teens, used "prestolight" tanks containing compressed acetylene gas. The tank you have looks like a commercial garage type welders tank. Terry

Did you fly the flag today? I know many of you were in parades, enjoyed picnics, or just enjoyed a day off to play in the yard or go watch fireworks. Don't forget to think of those who are not able to get the day off - the police officers keeping our roads and cities safe, firefighters waiting for those stray embers ( especially in Colorado), folks working in our hospitals, and most importantly, those in harms way, who give us the freedom to enjoy all that life in this great country has to offer. God bless the USA! Terry

Sometimes the thrill of the hunt is the best part. Sometimes, the object of desire is so fantastic that it's eventual acquisition is the pot of gold at the rainbows end. Sometimes, you have to just wonder at the luck! I completed my button set! These are early 1900s gentleman's waistcoat buttons. The are small diameter, similar to tuxedo studs. They have glass covering a hand colored image on an early auto. I have no idea who made them but they are wonderful! It's taken me most of five years to collect this full set, but here it is! Now, the story - A long time ago, an old friend whose collection of automobilia eventually became a part of the famous Ray Holland Automotive Art collection, had found a set of these buttons in the Bermondsy flea market in London. I have a well done photograph of his set, in their original box, and always wanted to find them. Several years later, I came across a single button in the flea market at Hershey. A year later I discovered yet another one in an antique shop and asked the dealer (an antique button specialist) to be on the lookout for more. After a buying trip to England, I was offered the third button and snapped it up. I'm half-way there! There was a great ebay discovery a year later, and that dealer, also in London later emailed me and offered yet another one. Ohmygosh-I have five of them! It was a long wait but eventually, another showed up on Ebay. Was I ever surprised to find out that a good friend had bought it for me, knowing that I'd be out of town. It was the most expensive of all of them but worth a premium to finish the set of six. That evening, I had to ask the question - where will I ever find a suitable little box to put them in? I logged onto ebay, searched for "antique button box" and amazingly, there it was! The little red leather, silk lined box had the right look and the correct measurements. I couldn't believe it - and best of all, it had a very reasonable "buy-it-now" price on it. As I eagerly awaited its delivery from England, I began to wonder again - where would I find the little gold clasps that hold the buttons on a gentlemans waiscoat? I looked over my photo of the original set I had and thought I might be able to make them as there would be almost no chance of finding them. When the box arrived I anxiously unwrapped it and was thrilled to hold the perfect, exact box. I noticed a rattle inside the box, and carefully lifted out the lining only to find six little gold clasps in the bottom of the box!!! There are one or two that I'd like to upgrade the condition on, but I'm thrilled with this latest addition to my collection of stuff. It's neat, the hunt was a thrill, the luck unbelievable, and of course, now it has a great story with it. Enjoy the photo, and if you have a button like these to sell, let me know as I've got a good friend anxiously waiting for my extras. Terry

I've seen cars the owner swears had been painted with spray cans so I'm sure it can be done, but how long will it last? A while back on a MG car club forum there was a lively thread about painting using rustoleum. They even did a bunch of test panels to see how long the finish would last in direct sun, etc. Here are some links you can try. Some links (With Bs involved): If anyone is curious... rustoleum paint update : MGB & GT Forum : MG Experience Forums : The MG Experience Anyone use Rustoleum? : MGB & GT Forum : MG Experience Forums : The MG Experience Rustoleum Paint Job (You gotta try this) : MGB & GT Forum : MG Experience Forums : The MG Experience Carl French's project that was mentioned (in reverse order): Rustoleum paint, done rolling. : MGB & GT Forum : MG Experience Forums : The MG Experience Rustoleum paint First coat : MGB & GT Forum : MG Experience Forums : The MG Experience Rustoleum Day 2 ( AKA OMG, what have I done! ) : MGB & GT Forum : MG Experience Forums : The MG Experience You might also google "$50 paint jobs" to see more discussion. Terry

I've had good luck with McGuires detail spray on dried stuff. Let it soak for a few seconds then lightly buff. Sounds like a variety of treatments would work though. I used to carry a small bottle of bug and tree sap remover that i got at an auto parts store. Need to replace it so will go looking tomorrow when I buy new brake pads for the van (another weekend project!) Pine trees are no friend of antique cars!

One thing not yet mentioned in all the info on the Sentimental Tour is that some of us got to gas up at $2.99/Gal. I heard it was even lower elsewhere but whether you needed a full tank or just a couple of drops, it was nice to see the price below $3 (even if it was just a "squeeze" below). I guess all the talk about $5 a gallon is designed to make you feel better about paying $3. Oh- and I think Wayne even won a basket of Virginia made goodies in one of the raffle drawings. Terry

Great posts Wayne! Susan and I just got home a bit ago and are yet to unpack, but it was a great tour! There isn't much better scenery that out there in the Valley, and the history abounds. It must have been hard to pick form all the great choices of places to visit. Since we didn't have a car that fit in this era we went out and stuck our thumbs in the air, riding first in a 1932 Desoto with Bob and Sally Murray, then two different "57 Chevys, owned by Lowell and Linda Cooper, and Gary and Barbara Baker, who we also rode with on the Sentimental Tour in Texas. John Stone loaned us his 1929 Model A Phaeton for Thursdays drive and the weather and roads were perfect for that car. Firday we spent time in that great 1931 Chevy with Tom Getz. We found out a long time ago you don't need to own a suitable car if you want to be a part of these great tours. There is usually a back seat available and plenty of AACA members anxious to get to know you better. By the time the 2014 Sentimental comes around we hope to own a car from this decade though. This was another of AACA's fabulous tours and we enjoyed every mile of it. Thanks to the hosts for putting together a fabulous event for us. Terry

Posting this in "Art" rather than "memorabilia" but it's good either place I guess. Enjoyed our visit to the Reading PA meet - nice flea market there that produced a couple of goodies for the collection, then Sunday the brass car swap meet nearby provided a batch of old spark plugs and a neat early drivers cap, but the best finds were on the way home in an antique mall. I was pretty happy finding a couple of nice items there including an early 20's accessory catalog for Model T Fords, a nice wooden box with an image of kids driving an early car on it, and the best discovery - this print of "The Peerless Girl #1." According to what i've uncovered, Peerless Motor Car Company used the image of a pretty girl dressed in motoring attire as their "model" each year. They began with this one in 1903, and each year, introduced a new girl. They were used in advertising for that year. The live girl was also a model at auto shows. Additionally, these prints were produced to hang in dealers showrooms. I understand this went on for 12 years then stopped. I've not studied the subject in great depth but have heard that nobody has ever found a print of Peerless Girl #12, so there is question that a print of her may not exist. I've had Peerless Girl #4 in my collection for years, and this weekend added the #1. One of my "rules" is that three = a collection, so I'm well on my way. I'll get these properly matted and reframed eventually. Meantime, the search is on for the rest of whatever the set is. Not an easy task i'm sure as it was at least six years between finds. Anyone else seen them or have one? Terry

Congratulations on your purchase - were those in a small antique shop here in Virginia along Rt 460? If so, I looked over those a couple of weeks ago but didn't purchase them. I think they are old photographs of some original drawings. I'm anxious to see what info surfaces here on the forum. Let us know what you find out. What other goodies did you uncover? As I recall there were some Model A parts, some old parts catalogs, etc in that shop along with a model railroad layout being put together. I did purchase a couple of early 20's model T accessory catalogs there. Terry Terry

All the more reason to get to Hershey! See you there. Terry

This may end up in Meets and Tours, but it's a great idea for a group looking for something really cool to do! Our local MG club just finished their 10th annual Wine Tour. We had 14 MGs on back country roads in the Lynchburg Va area, enjoying the winding roads, the history, and some nice Virginia Wines. We were fed a wondereful deli lunch at one winery, and were always treated like royalty when we arrived. Got to tour a historic mill, Patrick Henry's home, and stayed in a wonderful old shoe-factory converted into a luxury hotel in Lynchburg. We ate some fabulous food and had a great time. I'll try and post some pictures later but we sure had a great time and are eager for the 11th annual tour next year to a different part of the state. Maybe we should do a seminar on this at Philadelphia - without the samples of course! Terry

After many stops/starts and anxiously waiting it's HERE! The new Web Site is up and running and looks great! Can't wait to see things progress as we had envisioned as they come to life. The best club in the world now has the best website - and it's just the beginning! Thanks to Peter G and the HQ team for their hours of hard work making it happen. Way to go team!! Terry

Another great event in Charlotte! Been going for years and it's always a great time visiting with old friends, finding treasure in the flea market and enjoying the beautiful cars on Saturday. Yes-the format is great! No neckties!!! A big thanks must go to the folks working on the field judging, and the folks in administration who put it all together in time to do the awards presentation. I know the larger the meet the more difficult it is to get all the admin done (ask me how I know!). Mel Carson and all the folks in the HNR deserve congratulations for such a great friendly meet! I'll try to get a few pics done soon but we're still tired. The new format gave us a chance to hit the road early as we had a Sunday club event we wanted to attend back here in Tidewater. I'm sure you will see this kind of thing done again. We tried it several times over the years and it's always been well received. See you next time- Terry

Let me be the first to say what everyone else is thinking - it's easier and much cheaper to buy a new repro. Unless there is something really special about yours it's going to cost more to redo than you can imagine. You'd need to strip it down first and that includes removing the glass tube, glass, face plates, gaskets, etc. It's probably made from pot metal also so you'll most likely need to get some work done on that unless it's in exceptional condition. Sometimes, if the frame is in great shape you can buff it up so it looks almost lie new and if you go that route you won't need to dismantle everything to clean it up. Tell us a bit more about what you're doing and include some pics so we can see more. is it for a special vehicle? Terry

Nice looking lamp - recommend you save some time and money for Hershey and find the mate for it! Looks like it was nickle plated. I'd recommend leaving the reflectors in the lamp. There is usually an asbestos pad sandwiched between the reflector and the back of the lamp that was used as a heat shield as well as a cushion for vibration. If you try to pull the reflector out you may end up pulling some of the silver plating off the reflector. Not even thinking about the dangers of the asbestos. The silvering looks pretty good and the crack really doesn't detract that much from it as a display piece. It should buff up nicely and the majority of the nickle will probably come off in the process. I don't see any cracks or serious dents. Looks like you'll need to come up with a burner and the elbow for the gas connection. Recommend you email Bob as he mentioned parts from previous restorations - he may have the right burner and gas line parts for you. If you can't find burners I may have a few in my "for sale at Hershey" box. Terry

Fascinating! I can recall as a young boy visiting my grandparents in Arkansas. While my folks had them out for a nice Sunday breakfast after church, the rest of us were home watching some guys install their anniversary present - a TV set - one of the first in the area. I'll never forget the look on their faces when they got out of the car upon arriving back home and they saw that antenna strapped to their chimney. Those were the happiest tears I've ever seen! Terry

I see a golden opportunity for a magazine editor or inspired writer here - obviously AARP needs someone to serve as their "automotive expert." There are so many people who are in the hobby and get their magazine I think they should make a big effort to get some good stuff (and the right stuff) into their literature. They should be embracing the fast approaching antique mini-van craze! I'll be glad to take those old brass cars off their hands while they enjoy their air conditioned comfort!

Thanks for the "plug" Wayne - the CJE was fun and I was impressed and pleasantly surprised at the number of newer and younger judges attending to learn more about Brass Cars. The expertise in that area is indeed declining, so it was refreshing to see the good crowd we had in Fla. Had some very gracious owners too who volunteered their vehicles for the CJE. I'm certainly not an expert but I do enjoy sharing my experience with brass era cars. We'll probably do that again in Charlotte and wherever else I can fit it in. Brass is beautiful! Terry

We just lost the speedo cable in our MG recently. The noise described sounds very familiar. Thought it was the speedo head at first but when we pulled out the cable only about a third of it came out. Pretty easy fix. We used the lithium grease. Our new cable had some plastic cups at each end to keep the lube inside the casing so it wouldn't work its way up into the speedo head. Had to get it fixed quick since Susan just signed up for the new AACA mileage award program. Terry

Interesting thread. I was jokingly discussing my collection of collections with a friend this past weekend and we decided that a future hot collectible might be television rabbit ears. There is an amazing variety of them around and you can probably fill the back of your truck with them right now from all the thrift stores. Don't know if anyone uses or even makes them anymore. Get em while you can! Remember what happened with old typewriters? A few years ago they were not worth saving but now some are selling for big bucks. I guess there have always been really rare ones but as soon as someone publishes a value guide, lids off the pot! Is there a price guide yet for old TV sets? Terry

Lots more to restoring them than just shining up the brass. Some photos would be helpful. Castle is a pretty good quality lamp but like all early lamps, they may suffer from some cracking in the brass. Only real solution to that is to replace the damaged piece and that usually involves more than the average brass-polishing collector can handle. Sometimes it takes two or three lamps to make one good one. See if you can post some good photos and we can discuss further. Are you interested in cleaning it up to put on the book-shelf, restoring it to use? If you intend to resell it my recommendation is leave it alone and let someone who needs it do the work. I've collected brass for a long time and had some success restoring things for myself that don't need new parts made, but it's a very time consuming process. Terry

There isn't a 13th floor in tall buildings, I've got a good friend leaving on a cruise that isn't sailing until the 14th (as if it really makes any difference with cruises these days), and there i3th stop on some bus lines. Just to be safe I left work a bit early to catch a nearby antique shop that I've not been in for about a year. Found a great early auto magazine for $6 - Automobile Dealer and Repairer magazine from 1911 with some great ads in it. I don't mind the "13th" at all! Terry

William, are you looking for info on the pics you posted? Give us a little more info and we'll try to help. Terry