Chris Bamford

Well, that’s pretty cool. I see that KisselKar is listed — if there is a diagram for a 1912 KisselKar 4-50 that would be very interesting to see. Thank you Larry.

Jim, you are absolutely the man. As is so often true, getting the right answer requires asking the right question. A Google search for block chain (and wading thru all the the digital 'blockchain' references) quickly determined I am looking for B506 block chain, 1" pitch and 1/2" blocks. Apparently Curved Dash Olds use a similar product with 5/16" block width for starter chain. According to the CDO club website, the solid block type B is closest to original but the sintered blocks can break under stress. The laminated block type L is stronger and would be a better choice for my safety-critical application. Both are illustrated below. Interestingly, the 'safe working load' rating is the same for both types. It's too late in the day to get a specific price quote, but online "rack rates" are something in the order of $100/ft! Here's hoping somebody got the decimal point in the wrong spot... Thank you for pointing me in the right direction.

Thank you George, Franklin, 37HD, RedBrier, Mark, Wayne, Dave & Restorer. I'm grateful for all your comments and suggestions. I've emailed both RM Fowler and Diamond Chain to inquire further. That Fowler outfit in the UK looks particularly promising... the 'double-roller' chain they supplied for an 1892 Peugeot (bottom of their webpage HERE) looks like just the ticket. I showed the chain and sprockets to a couple knowledgeable vintage-ag folks last night and they didn't recognize it. Having said that, we have an excellent auto and agricultural museum close by and I'll run it past their restoration shop just in case. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Some more background info on the car and my chain quest for those interested: I've owned the Orient for 27 years; it's been a runner and driven every one of those years. The car is apart now for a general fettling, and one of the issues I hope to correct are weak drive chains. Whether the chains were weak by design or from age (or a combination thereof) they are a safety concern I would like to address. With the CVT friction-drive transmission (drawing below) the reverse range makes a very handy service brake, easy to modulate and more effective than the single 5" x 1" drum the factory provided from new (mine is early-1906 production; they soon went to a two drum system). Trouble is, a sharp application of reverse for braking can result in a broken chain pin and, thus, no brakes at all beyond that one little ol' drum. Voice of experience here—twice—and of course one doesn't generally apply the reverse brake sharply without good reason. Fresh underwear please! This car was 'restored' from a complete original around 1955 and proudly sports badges from Hershey 1955 and 1956 plus several other regional meets in the later '50s. My intention is to preserve whatever 1906 finishes remain (mostly underneath and within) and the exterior 1955 black and red paint as a sort of time-capsule of 65 year old restoration standards. As such, the notion of adapting modern sprockets and chain, while doable, would look out of place and holds little appeal. I find the dual 116 and 67 year-old patinas charming and adamantly preserve as much of both as possible. More photos and info on my Orient HERE, and a video walk-around HERE. Thanks again for your interest and I'll update the thread as there are developments.

I would like to replace the drive chains on my 1906 Orient Buckboard. Chain pitch is 1" with a sprocket thickness of just under 1/2". Standard #80 chain is 1" pitch but is wider (5/8" sprocket) and worse, is not compatible with the 1906 tooth shape, which is both higher and wider. Photos and dimensions follow, all comments and suggestions most welcome...

My first experience steering a motor vehicle was in our camperized early-'50s Chev or GMC school bus at age of 10 or 11. It was a primitive gravel road — Dad put the transmission in low and it idled along slowly as my big sister and I took turns piloting. My first solo driving was as an unlicensed 15 year old in the family 1965 Pontiac Strato Chief sedan (bottom of the line Canadian model, 3-on-tree, straight six). Mom was at work, Dad on a rare trip out of town but didn't take his keys... Most of our grandkids have had early experiences behind the wheel... sometimes only steering, sometimes in full control of my '26 T touring and closely chaperoned. Photo below is our eldest grandson at age three. The photo doesn't show it but we are rocketing along at about 2 mph in my 1912 KisselKar and he is earnestly keeping us on the straight and narrow. He was able to change direction on request, but the heavy steering and low velocity meant a very wide turning circle.

The long-running June “History Road” event has been overhauled for 2022 and beyond. It is now tagged “The Ultimate Car Show”, one day only, Saturday July 9 this year and the same July weekend going forward. Warehouse tours were on the program for previous show weekends and a popular feature — here’s hoping they will offered this year as well.

Lady Michelle braved -29°C to join me for a brief outing minutes after midnight. Hats off to all the spouses who enable our obsessions. Happy New Year to All!

That overlong cord powers a battery blanket, coolant immersion element and a magnetic heater on the sump. It’s-29C / -21F here today.

Occasionally, one or two carefully-curated accessory lamps can transform the most mundane of motorcars into something magnificent...

Harold’s suggestion is solid. I’ve done similar jobs this way and it works well. Trying to cut and install little vinyl pieces into the recesses will take forever and probably not look particularly good. Then when they start peeling and lifting after a while…

Our city-central neighbourhood was developed between 'teens and the '40s, with a typical 50' lot width. Recent zoning changes aimed at increasing density allow developers to split these lots lengthwise and build two skinny houses. Up and down the alley just in our one block there are five pairs of skinnies occupied or under construction. The two-car garages on skinny lots are typically narrow, by necessity, and short, to allow for long houses and still a bit of backyard space. Neighbour Ryan across the alley bought a fancy new Ford F250 extended cab a couple years ago which turned out to be 3" too long to fit in the garage... out came the Sawzall and the 2x6 studs in front of the that lane became 2x2s and the truck juusssttt fits. Since then, that lane has been repurposed for bicycles and other garage junk but the slenderized studs remain.

PM sent

Should be no problem — my policy on giving parts away free is I need a photo of the destination vehicle and coverage of shipping cost.

This was a few years ago when I took our cultural exchange billet from Nicaragua out tree shopping in the old Ford.

Either the '26 T Touring and '47 Dodge generally get a load of presents before Christmas. I made a bunch of new ones this year for the Dodge, as the old ones were looking pretty tattered. The Dodge is rarely garaged and most years a few go missing overnight. Not a big deal — they are mostly liquor store boxes wrapped in festive dollar store tablecloths and weighted down with garbage (this year it's demolition rubbish from a nearby infill). That whole load of Dodge presents cost less than $20 in wrapping supplies. The Dodge may even qualify as a gas-electric hybrid... the dollar store Santa mascot has a photovoltaic panel and dances merrily away from dawn to dusk, even on cloudy days.

That was a very interesting read. Thank you!

Perhaps the numbers are not sizes per se, but factory tool numbers. Is there an illustration or description of factory tools in your manual?

Thanks for the photo. Neat that the Dodge has been your family for all those years. PM me your postal address and I’ll get your and Staver’s clamps packed up and on the way.

Cutdown, I'm around the world from you in Western Canada. Having said that, we've travelled in your particular part of heaven, and hosteled several nights in nearby Piahia and Ahipara in 2018. Lovely lovely country... I thumbed my way around both islands in 1973 and introduced my beloved to the place three years ago. Postage won't be cheap, but whatever it is you could repay by PayPal or if that doesn't work I'll give you an name and address in Gisborne where you could send it — a good friend there posts me their NZVCC Branch newsletters regularly and this would help compensate for his troubles. No charge for the clamps — all I ask, as with 1912 Staver above, is a photo of the vehicle where the items will be used.

A period or as-bought photo of the truck would be OK too, and doubtless of interest to the forum.

Not for sale Greg, but free for the postage. They cost me nothing and I’m happy to see them go where needed. All I ask is please post a photo or two of your Packard in this thread, and PM me your mailing address.

Staver, there are 10 of the ones on the left and three of the ones to the right. You’re in the lower mainland and may have known Jim Lier in Summerland… he gave me these in a box of miscellaneous rim clamps maybe 25 years ago when I was putting together a set of wheels for my KisselKar.

Derek, I went thru my wheel clamps the other day for that fellow (in Oz?) who was looking for some. Anyway, it turns out I have a number of Motor Wheel clamps but unfortunately no bolts though. You are welcome to a couple of clamps for the price of postage. I also have a number of surplus Firestone, Stone, and no-name rim clamps if they are helpful to anyone.

My 1906 Orient Buckboard BR Runabout. Owned and on the road since 1994. 21 mph flat out on smooth, level road. 10 mph brakes. 4-HP ALAM Rating, but no match for the other four-horse power setup in the photo.