allcars

Some of you ’20s Buick guys might enjoy this—shows celebrity player Tris Speaker with his then new top-of-the-line Buick Sedan. Story says he also had a Buick truck and Sport Touring on his Texas ranch. The pic and story are from a 1922 magazine for Ohio Buick dealers, so the car must be a '21 or '22—who can say for sure? Titled "The U & I in Buick," the magazine was published by the Ohio-Buick Co., a dealer/distributor in Cleveland. They started publishing it in 1921. I also have the introductory issue for 1924 models. Any other issues out there?

That's it! Seems virtually identical to the photo Jim provided, and searching around the web, I've found confirmation that the design was apparently a factory offering for the '29 Buick. One source says it was a "late" 1929 cap, another seems to suggest it was an option – an alternate to the Mercury running man ornament upgrade. It appears to mount onto the oval base for the standard (or "early") round radiator cap. Thanks to all for the comments. I collect vintage car images and the background on the earlier "pail-fill" types will be useful too, as I have images of unidentified cars with that type atop the radiator. Special thanks to Jim Boland for the ID on the '29 Buick cap.

Found an old and seemingly rather odd radiator cap. Has a small push-button to unlatch the hinged pieces that provide access to the radiator filler... you lift the fin and flip the base up to reveal the filler. There are no markings, but it seems well constructed and is heavy. The cap is oval. Wondering if anyone has seen one before, and if so, what it was on, or made for. Thanks, Allcars

Excellent analysis from Ken Green, as usual! Photo below from the 1940 Buick full-line brochure showing the instrument panel...

Thanks for the suggestions, Matt. You are right, of course, on the '41 signals' location. Doh! Checking the January 1941 Master Parts Book again, the application for the '40 part I need reads, "1940; 1941-42-49. I realize now that it is telling me that the '40 style signals were carried over on only the Model 49 Estate Wagons for 1941 and 1942 (because of their taillight design)—I initially misread the listing as meaning all 1941, and just the Estate Wagon in 1942 only—but I should have remembered that the '41s are different, even so. The book does call out the '39 part as different for some reason.

Looking for one of the two cover/socket pieces that mount on the inner side of the 1940-41 Buick decklid. These hold the turn signal bulbs in place and serve as a "reflector" more or less for the bulb (see photo). Includes the socket for the bulb and the socket on one of mine is "toast." The Buick part number is 924830 and the application is for all 1940 and 1941 Buicks, right or left. Don't need NOS, just a housing with a nice bulb socket that has lead a dry life. Everything else in my car's turn signal assembly seems fine. PM me if you have one you'll part with. Thanks! Allcars

Priced reduced on the '41 owner's manual...how about $20 plus shipping? Note that it includes all models, Special, Super, Roadmaster, Limited. Plus, being a late 1941 edition, it includes the 118-inch wheelbase Series 40-A Specials. Will be going to auction or back into storage soon if no takers. Thx

1941 owner's manual, Sixth edition (March 1941). Includes mid-year 118-inch wheelbase "40A" 1941 Specials. Includes lube chart and tire card. Very good condition. Shows some signs of use and age on blue cover and spine, but is very clean and unmarked inside. Lube chart clean, a little fold wear. No writing inside that we saw...even the lubrication schedule chart is still completely blank. (Think the notations inside the front cover are printed, but hard to tell.) Price $30 plus postage (will calculate for buyer). Shipping from Michigan. Prefer payment via PayPal.

Great car for summer fun...

Ken, thank you so much for checking these wheels by Motorwheel. Interesting to see that the size is indicated, in addition to a code that is a mystery to me.

Thanks for checking, really appreciate it. Different wheel vendors (Motor Wheel in your case) may not have used codes, if not required by GM.

My question is, do conventional Buick steel wheels from the '30s-'50s have date codes? I noticed that a set of 1953-55 type Buick “Skylark“ wire wheels I used to have (now gone) seemed to be date coded. The apparent code was on the part of the wheel that is concealed by the mounted tire. The codes "9" and "55" (presumably Sept. 1955) were embossed on each wheel, along with the manufacturer's stamp (Kelsey-Hayes) and the wheel size (15x6-L)—see photos. Has anyone else noticed date codes on their Buick's wheels? If someone has late 1930s-1950s Buick wheels without tires in their garage, it could help us all learn more about this subject if you could check them for such codes and let us know what you found. Thanks!

Just posted to Ebay this nice fold-down rear bumper guard for 1937-41 period car. Believe it to be N.O.S. and it is in exceptionally fine condition. See pics on Ebay for more images and details. Haven't been able to determine was made for a universal application or a specific brand. https://www.ebay.com/itm/263583024993?ul_noapp=true As it was difficult to determine value, thought sending it to auction would be best.

There has been considerable speculation on this forum and elsewhere as to the relationship of pre-World War II B-L-C (Brown-Lipe-Chapin) fog and driving lamps to the very similar (usually identical) Guide lamps. It has more or less been stated that B-L-C lamps were made by GM for sale through non-GM vendors of auto parts and accessories, while Guide lamps were distributed through authorized GM dealers. However, the GM Guide historical information below indicates that before World War II, from about 1936 to 1942, both GM Guide and B-L-C lamps were distributed as factory-authorized equipment, with geography being the determining factor as to which brand was provided. This official information is extracted from a comprehensive 1952 internal document entitled "GUIDE LAMP HISTORY Chronological Outline, 1906 – 1952," (See the entire document text at http://charlesbullock.net/Guide/History.html) 1936 Guide continued to grow and expand. In January 1936 the Brown-Lipe-Chapin Co., Syracuse, N. Y. was named a plant of Guide Lamp. Originally established in 1895 to make a two-speed bicycle gear, the company had been connected with General Motors since 1910. The Syracuse plant turned out lamps, bumper guards and hub caps for the eastern section of the United States. 1942 (July) Brown-Lipe-Chapin plant was made a separate division. They immediately converted to war work to manufacture machine guns for the armed forces. Guide Lamp was then at its all-time peak. The division was the world's outstanding; producer of automotive lamps and was also the manufacturer of many metal stampings and die castings for GM cars and others. This explanation for the existence of both Guide and B-L-C lamps indicates that either brand can reasonably be considered of equal 'authenticity' on the appropriate GM car.

Yes, it does consistently go back further. Buick, etc. illustrated lists go back to 1924-25 and there are even earlier items listed, but not illustrated (and not as comprehensive as the illustrated listings). So, without going through the whole book, it seems safe to assume most makes go back at least 10 years (1926-36) if they were in production during that period. There is a LOT of information in this catalog. (Serious buyers, query me via PM if you want to confirm a specific date range for a given make of car or motor.) Thanks, A. Ballard, for pointing out my oversight...much appreciated.

UPDATE: SALE PENDING AS OF 2/5/2018 - ITEM LIKELY NO LONGER AVAILABLE Victor Gasket Guide, April 1936 396 pages + cover. Highly detailed lists of gaskets, grease and oil seals, etc. used on gasoline engines. Illustrated with many line drawings…great reference! (Presumably, you could scan and scale the drawings up to actual size to make templates.) Illustrated lists go back to 1924-26 and less detailed listings of earlier items without illustrations are also included. It seems safe to assume most makes go back at least 10 years (1926-36) if they were in production during that period. Covers about everything made in U.S. with gas engine: cars, trucks, tracked vehicles, etc. Has bound in 12-page Victor news magazine, with story about newly opened Asbestos plant, etc. 8.25x10.75 inches. Very good condition, binding in good shape. Pages are a little warped, from prior dampness, but no strong odors or stuck pages. $40 plus postage. There is a LOT of good and useful information in this catalog. (Serious buyers, query me via PM if you want to confirm a specific date range for a given make of car or motor.) PM if you would like to purchase ... Thanks, "Allcars"

That's a '40 61C for sure. Nice find! (I collect vintage images, too.)

For what it's worth here is a photo taken in 1941 of a 1941 Roadmaster (and Century) 15" wheel with the 3-clip arrangement and a Firestone whitewall tire. This is cropped from an image of a '41 Roadmaster stripped of caps, trim rings and bumpers for a May 1941 stock car race (it was leading when this very tire blew and sent it over the guard rail). The 3-clip wheels are 1941 only, but the hubcaps for them were used 1941-1942 except 90 Series and 1946-47 on all, (per January 1, 1949 Master Parts Book, which does not list the 1948-49 hubcap...?).

Can anyone tell me if the rocker panel trim moldings for 1941 Pontiac Streamliner (B-body) and Custom Torpedo (C-body) lines are the same (both have a 122-inch wheelbase)? A master parts book covering 1941 might tell the story. The molding in question is about 87 inches long. I also have one measuring about 83 inches, which I assume is for the 119" wheelbase Deluxe Torpedo (A-body) models. Thanks for sharing your expertise! Allcars

Thanks, I will check it out!

Looking for a good operational 1942 Buick step-on-parking brake assembly. Prefer Grey color, but Tan considered. Parts Book indicates brake assembly I'm looking for was used on all 1942 Buicks except Series 90. Thanks.

1933 General Cab, made by General Motors Truck & Coach in Pontiac, MI...must be about the only one out there!

Delco generator 1102779 / 2A16. Taken off a low-miles '48 Buick Roadmaster years ago. Think it will fit 1948-52 Buicks and possibly other 6v GM cars of that period. Prior owner of the Roadmaster said it was not working, so he'd replaced it. Spins free. Case clean and nice ID tag. Very heavy...costly to ship. Planning to be at Brookfield Thursday p.m. for a couple of hours and again Saturday mid-day for the show. We are leaving early tomorrow morning (Thursday) for Wisconsin so need to know by late tonight whether to bring it along or not. Call me at 586-212-6057 to discuss.

btt - price reduced

Any one want it for $50? (+ shipping, if needed). NOTE: Our plans have changed, we are looking to stop at Brookfield on Thursday afternoon for a couple of hours and be back again Saturday mid-day. We are leaving Thursday morning for the show and will only be bringing it if we know someone wants it. Call me at 586-212-6057 to discuss. 1938 Buick Special hood side molding - driver’s side. 57 inches overall in length. Very nice condition. Slight bending at cowl end from someone prying it loose, presumably (not me!). Very clean and nice for a used piece. Have not tried to polish, will clean up even better. Some surface rust coloration on lower edge. Other minor imperfections no doubt if you look closely, but darned nice for a used piece NEW Price: $50 plus shipping if not delivered at Brookfield. Thanks for looking!