TheMoneyPit

The Graham is at least partially genuine, you can read the Fox makers mark on the front part through the hole in the backer but looks like the backer is a reproduction for a different emblem as the shield sits too high on the front. Also remember that the backers are usually marked just like the front on 2-piece emblems. As for the REO truck, I would want to hold it for an evaluation. Can’t tell if it is plated over solder there or what, but going by the sellers other items I would have discounted it as a fake without hard proof of originality before bidding.

Like the prediction above, someone was taken for $300 on the reproduction Colby emblem. Who else agrees that that this is doing damage to the future of collecting radiator emblems? As a long time enthusiast it’s definitely dampened my interest in anything that seller is listing! Here is my current project, nowhere near decided on what will remain and get mounted...

Congrats on buying a great looking Touring! First thing I can suggest is to join the antique Studebaker club and ask them for help. Post pictures of the vin plate on the front frame rail (not sure but that’s where it was on the earlier cars) - With that someone can tell you the exact series. If there’s a parts book being reprinted, buy it. Best money you can spend as you will know what to look for. Good luck!

No matter, I’m sure it’s going to be sold to someone who is either not reading this, or has convinced themselves that we’re trying to keep the price down for ourselves. Foolish people are easily separated from their money, and nothing we say here will help. It just ticks me off that the unscrupulous dealer probably knows what he’s selling and he couldn’t care less about the damage that is being done to the hobby...

The one I keep seeing is $950 and has a hole drilled in it above the M. It’s been listed several times and I don’t think it was sold, even if it were an original, a holed emblem shouldn’t bring half that, but Seeing people throw away good money on the fakes I cannot speak for the new wave of collectors.

I’ve seen a pin style mount used up to around 1917 on REO emblems, and the 1915 V8 Cadillac emblem also used it. I think it filled the void between soldering the emblem right to a brass radiator and the first it the attachment cups, clips, and integral studs used on later emblems. I would venture those came out shortly after radiators were painted up to the First World War when there’s an advancement in manufacturing processes due to the war efforts. It’s a theory anyway....

I will advise anyone to stay away from the Colby emblem, it’s another reproduction piece made to look right with a cup soldered on. I think if you look into it, you will find that style of attachment is much much later than the emblem is. Most early companies soldered the emblems right to the shell. Here is is a great example, look closely at it, not only is this Michigan emblem MARKED, but look at the solder pattern. And yes, there’s another on eBay that isn’t marked and pricey which I also think is a fake... BUYER BEWARE !!!!!

I think several, including the Allen that sold today for $333 and that Howard shown above are fakes that someone soldered a real mounting disk on so as to fake its credibility. If you know what you are looking for and know how the Pulfer reproduction ones looked you should be able to see through the smokescreen... Sadly, the guy is selling a lot more of these now and I don’t think that the younger or less experienced collectors are seeing it. His prices for the common stuff is running higher than expected too but at least the buyers are getting what they are paying for. It’s sad to see people wasting their money on fakes, but not my circus, not my monkeys... and not my money either, but buyers beware.

I have been following those sales as well, and I hope that my collection sells as well for my family after I’m gone... I don’t think he’s doing too bad on price but I agree that the Canadian built car emblems are gaining in popularity, and value because of this, as compared to the US built emblems. At least he’s not selling all the Pulfer Reproductions that’s showing up more and more frequently and being listed as genuine... that’s going to hurt the value as inexperienced collectors get burned IMO.

I remember the place well, I would beg my dad to stop whenever we went near there. He had a collection of radiator emblems and script that got me interested in collecting them, which has been a life long obsession for me...

I too agree that the post thread should not be deleted! I also think it should be up to the seller, not an unregistered guest, to edit his original ad to reflect the car sold or to remove the price from the original post. Re-selling is not illegal, but deleting the old ad and hiding the selling price does have the aroma of future deceit. If the original posting were a scam, such as using pictures skimmed from the internet to sell a car they did not own or some similar scenario, I would think that either full removal or a moderator making note of the situation and locking all further activity on the thread would be welcomed by all the users...

As for the hood itself, I would post it on a Model T only site like the MTFCA classifieds for the most exposure. Adding a price would help too... http://www.mtfca.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?3487/3487

My first thought is 1927 Studebaker (bumper, cowl lights, and radiator shape) but the image is pretty washed out...

I think you are OK - vacuum is just a fancy word for negative pressure, no?

American Austin (1930-34 I think) used it and its modeled after a fighting Bantam Rooster - the car would become the Bantam in 35 or 36. From what I recall reading Bantam came up with the first Jeep for the war but was too small to produce enough giving Willy's and Ford the chance to cash in on those government contracts. A few years ago there was a discussion about the other hood ornament design, picture attached, which is certainly genuine but has little to no known history. The Austin-Bantam club found a period picture of a car with this ornament on it but had no other information on it at the time. Austin is a very interesting orphan car with great history - I apologize if I've hijacked the thread...

One more case where the owner equates rarity with value? These are the types of cars I loved to see at car shows in the 1970's and even now have a great respect for, but the market has changed wildly since those times. The earlier sedans have taken the hardest hit with the exception of true Classic custom bodied automobiles and the more beautifully styled cars of the era (as opposed to the "big box" cars). Today there is more interest in the 1970's cars I rode to those shows in that the cars we were going to see at the time. I'm pretty sure Mike is being funny about making an offer for 10k, but if that car needs a lot of wood work done you would be paying too much even at that. As a reference there is also a 31 LaSalle on eBay with bad wood, at least it would be full classic once you put a ton of money into it's salvation. I know for a fact that the missing radiator emblem will cost you at least a few hundred dollars and with any "rare" car most parts are even worse.

I agree with the opinions above, even if the interior is a little tattered you can do an awful lot of work when you start at that price for any of the pre-war Ford V8's... if I had found it, I would just get her running right, then I'd cover the seats with a blanket and toss the dogs in for a fun ride once the salt is off our roads that is.

I think this one was made by a company called Faith manufacturing who did many "close" copies of the factory mascots - they were from Chicago area.

A good friend passed a while back and in his barn is an unrestored 1908 Ford S which he was trying to sell for an optimistic 40k before he passed. Flash forward - it was "valued" at 65k for the estate tax purposes and the executor is having fits since it would not sell anywhere near that money. I hate to admit it, but our hobby is over-pricing itself while values are on the decline. If you doubt this, look at auction results on e-bay for anything prior to 1930 (that isn't chopped) and any sedan made prior to WW2.

Thank you for posting this Terry!

The Jordan Playboy

I would be more scared at the amount of wood in that body and the cost of making it roadworthy let alone a full restoration... it is a prime example of being better off buying an older restoration in the long run...

I could be way off here, but with the very small radiator inlet and outlet it looks more like a condenser for a steam car than a radiator for a water cooled car... The engine is impressive!

Interesting car at a fair price considering the quality and it being a boxey sedan, but the headlights look like garbage on it...

I don’t know if it will help, but I know someone with two Wagner starters that should work - I had a 24 Special Six years ago and these are definitely the same as what I had used in place of the pot metal Remy unit that came on the car. They are both marked “Spec. EM 154”. One is in good shape and one has a damaged mount and would be only for parts. I asked and he said he would sell both for $100.00 plus shipping which might get pricey. PM me with your email and I can send the picture I have if you are interested.