IndianaCarGuy

Mid to late 20's, I know Chevy and a few other dealers would order a bodyless chassis to sell to a customer who would then take the vehicle to a carrige maker to have a body put on it, but your body looks to be one of the "ready-made" that was sold either to a customer, or put on later. Decent job, I must say. Have seen some really cobbled ones. Wish I could remember the name of a book I had on custom truck bodies,..I would suggest going to the American truck museum at Aurburn, Indiana, site for info, it is related with the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum, and they are working hard to promote antique trucks and such. There was a Company that bought chassis from Dodge and manufactured wood bodies in Loogootee, Indiana, it was related to the Graham Paige Trucks,..and they owned a bit of Dodge earlier,..but I am a bit fuzzy on that at the moment, and don't have all my notes,...trying to recall what issue of Indiana Historical Bulletin that was. Try the "Cruise-In" Website on Indiana produced cars, and ask about the article "A long way to Loogotee." Afraid I lost a few issues of my Indiana Bulletins, but I do recall they used DB chassis, and were very well built.<BR>RS

I just tried to find it, and I can't! All I was able to find was a FAQ from a Sate of Indiana site, under Elwood Haynes Museum, I am guessing the web site is down, or temporarily lost. Phone number is (765) 456-7500, it's at 1915 S. Webster St. in Kokomo.<BR>I do suggest the Cruise-in site, mentioned above about Indiana autos. Excellent resource. Search "Elwood Haynes Museum" until you find the museum site. Anyone else want to know about any "obscure" Indiana cars? By the way,...Haynes was far from obscure,... if you use a thermostat, or have a car with a three-point engine mounting system, these were all invented by Haynes. <BR>RS<p>[This message has been edited by IndianaCarGuy (edited 01-03-2001).]

The Elwood Haynes Museum, in Kokomo is the best resource on that car I know of. Haynes was also the inventor of Stainless steel, the first engineer (grad MIT, Worcester Poly)) to run an automobile company, and the first american inducted into the Royal Academy of Science in England. They do have a website, and it is worth checking out. I have driven a Haynes, and a Haynes-Apperson, they are some of the best cars I ever had the pleasure of driving. There is also a Haynes that was converted to steam by the Bryan boiler company, in Peru, Indiana, it is in Danville, Illinois, was built in 1917, and the Bryan Company still makes boiler tubes that fit it. The Haynes was chosen because it was a heavy, durable car, and more racy in body style than the Stanleys, which the motor was used from to power the Bryan/Haynes.<P>The family records mentioned above are mostly here at the museum, being taken care of by the state of Indiana. The family is involved in the museum.<P>RS<p>[This message has been edited by IndianaCarGuy (edited 01-03-2001).]

Try the <BR>"Museums at Prophetstown" site to see how a successful museum program can keep it's membership up to date on what is going on. Be informed, this entire idea and museum is less than 7 years old, and is already not only under construction, but the State of Indiana plans to open a several thousand acre park around it due to the support and educational foundation on which the museum is based. All done by a professional staff which was created LONG before the building ever began, as a matter of fact, they JUST recently moved into building quarters out of temporary offices. Anyone who thinks enough is being done should peruse this site,...I think it may be an eye-opener.<P>RS<P>

I am not denouncing anyone, nor do I think I have made any statements that were not backed up with suggestions, ideas and quite a few museum web sites and existing organizations that could be readily contacted and verify that my concerns are justifiable, progressive and within the limits of good judgement and concern. The fact remains, that I don't see any reason why information is not at least flowing,...<BR>People are being left in the dark needlessly and without good reason.<P>RS<p>[This message has been edited by IndianaCarGuy (edited 01-01-2001).]

You mean you can put a price on happiness?<P>rs

I think that kind of useful idea is long overdue. There are a lot of good ideas that can be tossed around and discussed,...or even asked about at other museums. This would be an excellent place to do so,..and I have heard no good reason why it isn't being done. If the people (plural) working on the ideas are so deeply involved that they can't take a few minutes to decide what to make public and what needs to be done next,...I am not so sure they can even accomplish what they set out to do.<P>Communication needs to be two way,... there are lots of people who could be involved who are not getting a chance. Check out the Brookline Transportation Museum site.<P>RS<BR><p>[This message has been edited by IndianaCarGuy (edited 01-01-2001).]

Someone built this car out of spare parts to confuse everyone 80 years later,..That must be it.<P>RS

Any books or resources on the DeDion 1896 Quadricycle? I located a really bad off one, and would like a bit more education before I commit to it. Already read about the couple of restored ones that remain,...apparently they were pretty bad runners, and not too impressive or dependable,...but,...I never claimed to be really bright, and I doubt lemon laws cover mistakes made a hundred years ago. Neeeevermind, it's been sold, and it was a 1899-1900.<P>RS<p>[This message has been edited by IndianaCarGuy (edited 12-31-2000).]

sell a Studebaker for Profit??? I didn't think I appeared that crazy......I meant as a driver and to keep as a very fine example of an original unrestored car,..maybe restore it some day.<BR>rs<P>

I talked to a friend the other day who administers the entrance admission fees for a couple of museums in Wisconsin. It seems that, even though they have yearly admissions revenues of over $780,000, for about 120,000 people a year (average) the actual maintenance, administration and programming cost about a million and a half, which they fund through grants, state matching funds for educational programs, and fundraising through a museum association and endowment. However, endowment money is ONLY allowed to be used for upkeep, maintenance and emergency repair, no staff funding or EXHIBIT conservation or purchases. The volunteer staff is about 240, and the day to day staffing is about 20, with 8 historic buildings on 30 acres. Amazingly, the director is ALSO in charge of facility maintenance (engineering and history background) and he makes just over 100,000 a year, and the rest are low $40's or less. This museum is about 20 years old, and was begun by a farmer who donated all buildings, land, and about $50,000 in cash to the non-profit organization when he died. By the way,...it does not bear the name of either the former owner, or any director.<P>So what is a yearly budget going to look like when a museum is running? <P>RS<p>[This message has been edited by IndianaCarGuy (edited 12-30-2000).]

Hate to say this,..but what we lack in auto production today is people who love cars doing the design work, and I mean designing not just one area, but the WHOLE car. One design team does body, they shoe horn in the mechanics and electrical to get to within a price, and then the interior design is laid out to be "friendly."<P>I doubt anyone working in design production is capable of doing a concept car and have influence in motor, drivetrain, body and interior. Those days are gone.<P>RS<BR>

Anyone know of any really bad off cars, 1900-1907 that need a new home? I want something to keep me busy for the next 15 years,...<BR>RS

Car is 1913-1915,...not a Cadillac. Hats are suggestive of 1916-1919. Similar in size to a Moon,..but I don't think Moon had nickel rings on headlights, and these look to have some ornamentation on the headlight rings. Like a Buick. If I can find my pictures of the small car Olds produced around 1915,...nah,..it's not an Olds. Buick had a different headlight assembly,..but the sides look Buick-ish. No,..cowl is wrong. I don't know what it is,..I just know about when it is. Leaning to Buick, though.<P>RS<P>[This message has been edited by IndianaCarGuy (edited 12-29-2000).]<p>[This message has been edited by IndianaCarGuy (edited 12-29-2000).]

1917-18 Buick, BUT with balloon tires which were rare even in 1925. Note the spare is original. Odd thing is, the windshield looks like a Chevy from 1920. I'd say the picture is from 1924,..but not the car. That radiator sure looks Buick,....but the tires and windshield,..Hmmmmm!<P>RS

The car in the background is 1923-1925,..and <BR>not 1915,....other cars are early 20's, very late teens. It looks like a "T" hood, not familar with the chassis skirts, though, also, that side mount appears to be from about 1920, and european(?). Odd mix of styles, but not unusual at that time. Clothes are all wrong for 1915, too. Collar and tie style is mid-twenties. Wish one of them was standing, as pants and shoes are more telling. (the last car behind the driver resembles a 1925 Dort 5 passenger Sedan an awful lot)<P>RS<P>[This message has been edited by IndianaCarGuy (edited 12-28-2000).]<p>[This message has been edited by IndianaCarGuy (edited 12-29-2000).]

Maybe people ARE listening, after all.<BR>RS

Boy,..do I know about the cost of restoring,..lol! I am talking about a car that is a large sedan, all original, drivable, 85% interior, very usable and mostly in need of cosmetics to be a driver.<BR>Conditionwise, a high 3 or a low 2. To put it more plainly,..if the year was 1936, and not 2000,...this is a solid, used car.<BR>RS<p>[This message has been edited by IndianaCarGuy (edited 12-27-2000).]

I'm a reformed Luddite, and I don't mind it.<BR>( reformed Luddites complain about technology, but use it anyway!) I call computers the "sorta" antichrist. I'm still gonna find a way to hook up my 1928 Kellogg<BR>candlestick phone to this darned machine, or put an bellows system in it like a player piano.<BR>RS

What,..you mean I have to remember my password? I can't even remember my phone number! Anything that allows me to check on Studebakers, Marmons, Coles, Haynes-Appersons, and others all in one place is perfect for me. I'm not exactly a "classics" person, and if you guys would talk more about 1900-1925 cars,..I won't complain a bit,...really!<P>RS<P><p>[This message has been edited by IndianaCarGuy (edited 12-27-2000).]

Well put.<P>RS

have located a 1929 Commander,..in decent and running shape, to include interior, am I nuts, or is $4,250 cheap? Am going to try and get up and drive it as soon as possible,..but I can't talk myself out of it.<BR>RS

Thanks, Al. The truth is,..without a lot of help, what can anyone do?<P>RS

Ok,..we'll see what happens,..all you other folks keep this going if you like what was said here. Maybe we can't do anything,..but we can tell them our concerns.<P>Now I can get back to the technical stuff and<BR>looking for a car who needs a new owner,..<P>RS<p>[This message has been edited by IndianaCarGuy (edited 12-24-2000).]

Blame it on about three generations of corporations who fail to value people, each other, or anything but the almighty dollar.<P>There isn't much you can do to keep people interested in traditions, when they are losing so many everyday. It's enough to make you want to toss out the TV, the computer, and keep a player piano for entertainment. <BR>RS