1939 PRESIDENT / 1940 COMMANDER

[SANDY'S CHOICE]

If at first you don't succeed!

 

I need close up photos of interior door handles and window winders for both vehicles.

Both are four door sedans.

Thanks.

[SC38dls]

I have a 38 State Commander if that helps. I have no idea if they would be the same.  

[SC38dls]

This is from the 38

 

[SANDY'S CHOICE]

Thank you so much for taking the time to help.

From checking the Body Parts Catalog the handles are the same. Now I know what to look for!

The winders are different numbers, but if the handles match, the winders will look similar.

The difference is the catalog lists tenite (plastic) knobs for 39, not die cast, as yours are.

Again, I really appreciate your help.

Bryson

[SC38dls]

Glad I was able to help. There's not a lot of us around with this year range so we have to be able to do what we can. Mine was in a barn for 40+ years all mechanicals were rebuilt and paint was just buffed out. Some areas could use reprinting but it's only original once. If your ever in the Lexington KY area I would love to see the President model. Have fun 

[SANDY'S CHOICE]

Quote

 

Hi

I'm in Australia!

So my chances of finding parts locally are minimal. I rely on eBay!

I only know a little of the history of my President. It was a local car in Newcastle New South Wales.

It was abandoned on a property north of the city. 

About 2004, I met a guy who used to drive it around a bush track until the motor gave up, when he was a kid.

It's rough as.. but still a Studebaker President with an Australian assembled body. RHC chassis from Canada.

I've bought most of the jewelry pieces off eBay. Now one winder down (same as yours), three more to go!

It's one of four rusty old Studebakers I've found and acquired as retirement projects.

Now I'll work past retirement to ensure their restoration.

Meanwhile, they're rusting away loved. One day there'll be photos.

Cheers

Bryson

[1927Chevy]

Bryson

here in Chicago working past retirement age to support my habits.

Ken

[SC38dls]

Bryson you may want to check with a fellow by the name of Robert Kapteyn at  Studebaker@mac.com. He is an older gentleman that has a lot of the parts we need. He had the original wood rear seals I needed and an original speedo cable for the 38. His prices are fair and he is a very helpful nice guy. He may just have you handles. 

There is a fellow about 10 miles from me that also has 3 semi trailers full of parts his father purchased when Studebaker closed. If he ever gets them unloaded to where he can inventory them we may have a new source. He says he has fenders, brakes, electrical, instruments and a whole lot more. I keep checking with him every six weeks or so. If it happens I will let you know.  I would be happy to check with him for anything you made need. 

You have to agree the road trip here would be quite an adventure. 

Have fun down under.  

Edited July 31, 2016 by SC38DLS (see edit history)

[Spinneyhill]

Just looking at the diagrams in the parts manual, the '40 Commander has quite different handles to the '39s.

[SANDY'S CHOICE]

Hi to all.

At 42, my dad left farming to become a Registered  Nurse. I followed in his footsteps. He was 56 when I was born and I cared for him at home when he was dying of cancer.

I fully expected that I would retire at 65. 

Now I'm happy that I work in an industry that supports senior Nurses working well past retirement. I have one colleague who's 74, working 56 hours a fortnight.

At 62, I do 78 hours. Four nights a week; overtime when I can get it.

It pays for the Stude parts off eBay!!

As I work in Aged Care, I'll just keep working there till I can move in!

Graham, in the pictures I've seen of 1940 handles, they're the same as 1941 and 1942. Only the door trim stainless varies

I am ambivalent and conflicted about making my 1940 Commander look American, because it didn't when first sold in Australia.

But it will be a 1940 Studebaker that looks mostly like a 1940 Studebaker, not a hybrid of 1939 and 1940 parts. It will still have a 1939 body!!

When is a Studebaker not a Studebaker when it is all Studebaker parts, even it's 226 cu. in. heart!

And I'm still having trouble deciding which car to start on. Sandy is not impressed that I'm buying parts, but not working on one.

Fancy a woman trying to motivate a man to work on Studebakers. She's one in a million!

And I've contacted Bob Kapteyn just in case there was a run on those timber oil seals!

I think I could have made them out of the pailing fence I tore down, but I would never begrudge an 80 year old man anything when he is such a treasure to Studebakerdom.

Thanks guys for the chat and the help. The search continues and the work will start.

Cheers. Bryson

[1927Chevy]

Tallyho !!!!

[go-studebaker]

Hi Bryson 

I don't think I have ever seen a RHD 39 president that was Canadian. If it was sold in Oz it was probably a US assembled car supplied in CKD form and T J Richards bodied from Adelaide. 

From memory those interiors are different to US assembled cars and the interior handles would have been plastic and common to Fords Chevs and other cars assembled by Richards. So you may want to do some of the bigger swap meets  in Oz to land the correct handles as US ones would be wrong for that car. 

 

They do do show up from time to time as new so since a Commander body was the same as a President just find an original Oz Commander and follow that. When I get back to the UK I can probably find pictures of my old 39 from Sydney for you to follow. 

Regards

Greg

[barryh]

I have a 39 Pres parts car here at The Texas Studebaker Ranch & can help with your '39 window crank, which IS indeed different from '40.

[SANDY'S CHOICE]

20 hours ago, go-studebaker said:

Hi Bryson 

I don't think I have ever seen a RHD 39 president that was Canadian. If it was sold in Oz it was probably a US assembled car supplied in CKD form and T J Richards bodied from Adelaide. 

From memory those interiors are different to US assembled cars and the interior handles would have been plastic and common to Fords Chevs and other cars assembled by Richards. So you may want to do some of the bigger swap meets  in Oz to land the correct handles as US ones would be wrong for that car. 

 

They do do show up from time to time as new so since a Commander body was the same as a President just find an original Oz Commander and follow that. When I get back to the UK I can probably find pictures of my old 39 from Sydney for you to follow. 

Regards

Greg

 

[SANDY'S CHOICE]

Hi Greg

Is that as in Greg Dxxxxn

If so, you may be a junior member here but well known in Oz.

I can say I have been wrong many times before. My 39 President, 40 Commander and 34 Dictator are all TJ Richards "King of the Road" bodies.

Because the VIN plaque says Walkerville Ontario, I figured Canada was in there somewhere.

Somewhere earlier in this feed I said I'd rather have a Studebaker with correct time jewelry. I certainly don't want cheap plastic pieces that were common to Fords and Chevs and Richards' specialty Chrysler products. It would be a lot more Studebaker than having a SBC motor.(although I do have some spare Magna motors; which is almost fitting because TJ Richards went to Chrysler, including Valiants and then to Mitsubishi!)

I do remember seeing some of those cheap plastic handles at swap meets years ago and dismissed that idea then.

The 39 President has no handles or winders.

The 40 Commander has two broken stubs of those cheap handles; but it has 39 door stainless, the three verticle and one horizontal top bar.

I'll put those in the President because it had been stripped of all jewelry; tail lights, dash gauges, everything removable and sellable at swap meets.

I've probably even bought my own dash back at the Newcastle Swap Meet in about 1988!

And now a question: Did you buy that yellow and black 1937 President with the Salmons body on eBay UK?

That would be something to turn up to a National Meet in!

Cheers

Bryson

[SANDY'S CHOICE]

6 hours ago, barryh said:

I have a 39 Pres parts car here at The Texas Studebaker Ranch & can help with your '39 window crank, which IS indeed different from '40.

Hi Barry

I checked the body parts catalog and the ones pictured above may have been used in 1939 as well as in 1938.

The BPC says that the 39 had same looking handles with tenite knobs, not die cast.

I need four inside door handles and four window winders.

Can you help me out?

From Google Images, 1940 handles and winders are the same as 41-42. I have a 42 President.

I have asked Robert Kapteyn if he can help me out with these.

Cheers

Bryson

Pictures would be good. Thanks.

[SC38dls]

Bryson just so you know the last time I talked with Robert his son was helping him out as he was having some health issues. It may take a little longer than usual to hear back from him but don't give up. He is a very nice man and seems to go out of his way to be helpful and get you the right parts. Have fun 

[go-studebaker]

Hi Bryson 

 you have me down to a tee. 

 

Cant think ink why I am so well known back home as I have been away a long time in the uk

 

if your car has walkerville on the id plate does it have a TJR stamp on the body?

 

i am sure they imported some cars but have never seen a 39 that was a Canuck car in Oz with a TJR body. 

 

there is a super low mileage RHC car available in the UK at the moment for under 10k gbp

 

Yes I bought the 1937 president salmon convertible sedan. It's a train wreck and will cost a bomb to do. I have no immediate plans to work on it yet as I have a 33 st Regis that needs a little tickle to get registered and a 39 convertible that needs a little time to get back on the road first. 

Regards

Greg

 

i am back home in Toronto visiting my wife's family at the moment

 

[SANDY'S CHOICE]

2 hours ago, go-studebaker said:

Hi Bryson 

 you have me down to a tee. 

 

Cant think ink why I am so well known back home as I have been away a long time in the uk

 

if your car has walkerville on the id plate does it have a TJR stamp on the body?

 

i am sure they imported some cars but have never seen a 39 that was a Canuck car in Oz with a TJR body. 

 

there is a super low mileage RHC car available in the UK at the moment for under 10k gbp

 

Yes I bought the 1937 president salmon convertible sedan. It's a train wreck and will cost a bomb to do. I have no immediate plans to work on it yet as I have a 33 st Regis that needs a little tickle to get registered and a 39 convertible that needs a little time to get back on the road first. 

Regards

Greg

 

i am back home in Toronto visiting my wife's family at the moment

 

 

[SANDY'S CHOICE]

Hi Greg

I've been an off and on ghost member of the Newcastle club for 42 years. I'm now with the newly formed Hunter Valley Studebaker Driver's Club.

I'd see you write stuff in StudeNews like Stude's in movies. It still excites me and annoys the crap out of Sandy when I yell out: "There's a Studebaker!"

Just a good memory for some stuff that interests no one!

Toronto Ontario or Toronto NSW. I'm at Anna Bay. If you're close by, you could come and see my cars and doubt my sanity like everyone else does!

All three cars have a big TJR stamped into the front fire wall. The President, besides its body tag, also has an upside down shield with a kangaroo on it marked TJ Richards. Actually, only the 34 and 39 have The Black factory plates. The 40 Commander has a smaller zinc plate with just the number.

Sane people have said to me: "You should sell yours and buy one that goes" but mine are different. Another Lark or Hawk turning up at a meet is another Hawk or Lark. A 34 Dictator or 39 President, now that would be something.

A 42 President, even more something. I imported it thinking it was the only one in Oz. Turns out a guy in Grenfell has an ambulance or something. Haven't read the article in "Rotating Spokes" yet. It arrived wet and sat on the lounge room floor drying. Only just picked it up the other day.

As you can see; I'm prone to "havachat"!

Cheers

Bryson (Piddington in the phone book / whitepages.com.au)

[SANDY'S CHOICE]

5 hours ago, SC38DLS said:

Bryson just so you know the last time I talked with Robert his son was helping him out as he was having some health issues. It may take a little longer than usual to hear back from him but don't give up. He is a very nice man and seems to go out of his way to be helpful and get you the right parts. Have fun 

Hi

I had just finished work this morning and checked on emails.

I sent you a reply but, like sometimes happens, I got it wrong and it did't deliver.

I had a chat with Bob when I bought the timber oil seals.. Told him I'd read all 1700 odd pages of the Studebaker Forum and knew of his stroke, his heart attack and him falling off the roof! That would be enough for most guys. He's super human!

If have sent an e-mail to Bob about the 1940 Commander inside handles and winders.

I've had the 34 for forty-two years, the 39 President for coming up thirty years, and so it goes on.

I bought them all as retirement projects. Now that I'm nearly there, I'll be working past retirement age to support my obsession.

So I'm in no rush to get parts. There's always a price for anything you need! There's bound to be the parts out there to find.

The search is on.

Thanks for the heads up

Bryson

[rbk]

Bryson.

I am looking for these handles but was interrupted by a other hospital stay.

Jut got back home.

I have a long list of items to look for for others.

It has been extremely hot here and the warehouses at 90 degrees.

I have well over one hundred window cranks and winders but all in plastic bins ready to be sorted and inventoried.

Hoping that it would cool down soon.

Robert Kapteyn

[SANDY'S CHOICE]

Hi Bob

The Nurse in me says take care of yourself first.

My cars have gone without handles and winders for many years, a little longer won't bother them or me!

All the very best.

Bryson

[go-studebaker]

Hi Bryson,

my old car - which was Clare Glasson's Richards Bodied 39 is coming up for sale in the UK at Historics at Brooklands in a few days.

 

See ebay UK item number  

 

162159452361

 

Anyway, you can see the correct handles for your car are the plastic covered ones. Because your car is Australian assembled, you may find that Richards made and used their own type of window regulators in the doors and a US one may not fit. Also the mounting of the handle may be different from an OZ car to a US one.

 

I can't quite remember if Clare's old car was a notched thread or a square mount. When I am home, I will see if I can find a more detailed image.

 

Regards

Greg

 

[SANDY'S CHOICE]

Hi Greg

Thanks for the story.

A very nice car.

Somewhere in the car's history, someone made it two tone green. Did it always have maroon upholstery?

My President was iridescent dark green but painted over with a flat light green. It had dark green leather seats and dark green door trim.

It's a restorable wreck, but it's a President.

When guys in Sydney spend $50,000.00 on a Hyundai, it's still a Hyundai! (Insert 1990's anything for Hyundai. Sandy owns a Hyundai!)

Once again, if I put Studebaker door handles in a Studebaker, is it any less a Studebaker?

No, Studebaker door handles don't fit; but I like them better than TJR plastic ones.

Months ago, I googled T.J.Richards. In 1915, they became the exclusive agent for Studebaker automobiles.

A son, H.C. started a separate business dealing with Oakland, maybe that's where the GMH history came in.

H.C. took over TJR and sons when dad died.

TJR was eventually absorbed by Chrysler Dodge and eventually Chrysler Australia and eventually Mitsubishi.

I will probably continue to make mistakes and be corrected by experts.

So far all I've done is collect rusty Studebakers as retirement projects.

Two of them actually drove under their own power while I have owned them!

I found the picture of the Salmons convertible on the Forum when I read all the entries.

I don't think it's yours because it doesn't have the fender parking lamps.

Something to aspire to.

I need all the help and advice I can get.

Of course, like everyone else; I'll not necessarily take advice!!

Just ask Sandy!!

 

[SANDY'S CHOICE]

Greg

I guess the same number does make it yours!!

A lot of deterioration in, say, thirty years.

Bryson

[SANDY'S CHOICE]

Credit where Credit is due:

The photo of the 1937 President Convertible Sedan with body by Salmons and Sons was

Posted on September 12, 2012 by junior member:

mfells

Matt's wife is the baby in the photo!

I was being polite with thirty years; Matt gives his wife's age away!

The story is currently on page 58

Salmons and Sons was eventually taken over by TICKFORD

who, funnily enough, did a collaboration with FORD Australia

in the late 1990's and early 2000's.