Steve Braverman

My grandfather had a 1930 Lincoln, and I don't remember that large vertical intake horn. Then again, maybe I just don't remember it. It did not have any electrical doohicky on its carburetor though.

It looks like a Stromberg, and the model designation is consistant with other Strombergs I have seen. I don't know the application, but I'm pretty sure it's not Franklin. I could be wrong though.

The flywheel has a steel disc attached with screws, that I assume is replaceable, but it hasn't worn out yet in almost 90 years. The drive wheel has a soft material like brake lining but different. I'm not really sure what it is.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> The 1909's or at least the early cars only came in one model (Model G I believe, though I do not think they were advertised as a model G. This is the model that best aligns with the early cars). The early cars did not have running boards, only a step plate. </div></div> One more thing to add. A friend has an early Sears, and it's the long wheelbase truck model. So they did offer different models. It is quite different from my father's car and has the early engine which is quite strange. The opposed cylinders are not offset like every other engine, but instead the rods are "bent" to meet the crank journals. I don't know why they did it that way, but I've been told that the early engines had many problems. They are easily identified from the side of the car by the heads. The early cars had fins on the heads aranged like the slices of a pie, where the later heads had straight fins.

This is the bare chassis.

Here is a view from behind showing the friction drive.

Here are more pictures of the Sears while apart. This is the car with the body removed, getting ready to drop the engine.

My dad's Sears is a model J. That is apparently the most common model. It came with a top, fenders and running boards. It is registered as a 1910, but we think it is later than that. The car number is 3448, which is one of the highest we've seen. My father has owned the car for about 40 years, and has driven it extensively. He probably also has the largest collection of original Sears literature. A few years ago, it was getting real sluggish, so I tore the engine down and replaced the rings and reseated the valves. Now it's a real ball of fire. It was clocked at 25 mph by one of those "Your Speed Is" signs that the police leave around. 90 years of running with no air filter took its toll, but the lower end was still like new. This is probably the most reliable car we have in our collection. Here's a picture of my dad and his Sears.

It's definitely a Sears. I don't know how to tell if it's an early or late from this view. The engines are different, and can easily be spotted from the side of the car. Sears built cars from about 1908 to about 1912 or 1913. I've driven my father's Sears in the snow, and can say that chains would really be handy.

Paul, What would the correct soft tire cover look like on a '32? I had been told that the patent leather cover with white piping was still used until then, but I can't help but think it would look out of place on a '32. If I'm going to go through the expense of having one made, I feel it should be correct. Is there a drawing for this that Jeff would have? Steve

Maybe Flint? Definitely not Franklin.

Somebody had a lot of free time on their hands. This is also cool, no old cars, but cool. http://www.beemerhill.com/IBEM.wmv

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It is a rear end from a series 9 Franklin. 1916 through 1919 or so. That is all. John </div></div> Hi John, How can you tell a series 9 axle from a series 10? They look almost the same to me. Steve

I joined the Reo club a couple of years ago since I own a Franklin Olympic which is a Reo/Franklin hybrid. I was surprised to learn that either there are far fewer Reos surviving or the Reo group is just much smaller. I see many more Franklins around, maybe because I'm a Franklin guy.

Does anyone use a swamp cooler? How well do they work? I usually take a long trip in August, and it can get brutally hot. Any thoughts? I'm not expecting it to be as good as air conditioning, but these things seem to be all over the place. They must work somewhat well. They look neat too.

I think the planetary gears are another approach to spyder gears. That's all.

This is a Franklin rear end, or at least it looks like one to me. Franklin used this type of axle (aluminum center with truss) all the way to 1934, but I think this is for a car of the 1920s. I believe series 10 or 11, which makes it from 1922 to 1927. My 1932 series 16 has a different shape cover, but my father's 1923 series 10 looks like this one. I think the axles changed design in 1928 or 1929. Post this in the Franklin section, and somebody more knowlegable than me will be able to tell you for sure.

I believe this is referred to as a "Doctor's Coupe." They are not particularly rare, but then again rare is a relative term. Nice looking cars though.

in Poland! http://www.franklin-engines.com/

It looks like a modified Model T Ford judging by the wheels and the visible suspension parts. Although the exhaust is on the wrong side for a Ford engine.

I'm looking for a kill switch for a 1911 model G. The switch I need is brass and says Bosch on it. It's a simple push-pull switch for grounding out the magneto and killing the ignition.

I'm looking for a kill switch for a brass-era car. The switch I need is brass and says Bosch on it. It's a simple push-pull switch for grounding out the magneto and killing the ignition.

How about posting a picture and some info.

Considering the location, this is most likely not an American truck. The Swan intake manifold may indicate an American engine. It may not. Could be a European-built version of an American truck. On a trip I took to Portugal I remember seeing a bunch of trucks in a junkyard, I think they were called Bufords or Binfords. They were obviously a GM offspring as some were rebadged Chevrolets but others were more modern Isuzus and some I had never seen before.

I have a set of Pilot Ray lights, but the mounting brackets I have are wrong for my car. The lights were mounted on a Lincoln with a tubular cross-member in front. I want to mount them on a Franklin which has no crossmember, but only the flat bumper bracket irons. Does anyone have the brackets I need? Wanna sell, or trade?