December 2017 The Brass Lamp

Dodge Had a Winner for 1953 Gerald Perschbacher

“ engineering would build only the very best,” noted Bill Stoeckel in his article, “1953 V-8,” appearing in a late- year issue of WPC NEWS, Chrys- ler Products Restorers Club, P.O. Box 3504, Kalamazoo, Michi- gan 49003 (Richard Bowman, editor and club president). Mr. Stoeckel does a highly admirable 1953 Dodge Meadowlark job of compiling a multi-page treatment complete with statisti- cal details, history, insights, and single most significant The article pointed out that visuals. change that Dodge made for this design did not offer 1953, and that was the ‘Red space for carbon build-up, “Hailed as the ‘Active for Ac- Ram’ V-8 engine. The most thus offering a high com- tive Americans,’ the 1953 Dodge important feature…was the pression ratio “and still op- was offered in three series: Cor- hemispherical combustion erated on regular grade onet, Meadowbrook, and Mead- chamber which placed the gasoline.” That 241.4 cubic owbrook Special,” ran the arti- spark plugs in the center of inch power plant provided cle. The ranges were listed from the combustion chamber 220 foot pounds of torque, top to bottom, and details were Each set of valves required its a very respectable number added on the various body styles own rocker shaft giving these in that era. While more in each. These …offered the engines the title of ‘dual rock- expensive to build than en- er shaft hemis.’” gines of wedge design, INSIDE THIS ISSUE Continued on page 3 >>> By the way, this is probably • Dodge for 1953 the same Bill Stoeckel who • Final Automotive Trivia had been an officer of the • William Mitchell HCCM a couple decades ago, • Activities Calendar and was a man right • Gardner Comes Home to his core. Part One

• George Mason & Nash

The President’s Joseph F Yochim (314) 602-9498 President Column… By Joseph F Yochim Mark Goldfeder (314) 878-2786 1st Vice President/Programs

Al Mercer (636) 928-8672 Holiday greetings everyone! our 75th anniversary year began. In 2nd Vice President/Membership 50 years ago on December 2, 2019 HCCM will be celebrating 75 1967, the huge old river boat the years. I am very excited looking Delta Queen sprung a leak and forward into the 2018 calendar Jackie Allen sank while moored just north of (314) 741-4158 year. Lots of fun activities will take Acting Treasurer the Eads Bridge on the St. Louis place. riverfront. I can still remember Martin L. Hassel standing on Lacledes Landing The last full week of May, I plan to (314-232-5934) staring at the brown swirling wa- do a road trip with classic cars Recording Secretary ter. And the beautiful white Delta down to Lake of the Ozarks. I will Queen riverboat of the bygone have more information and specific era sitting helpless listing in the details at the January meeting. Dr. Gerald Perschbacher water. Many attempts were (314) 849-5249 made to raise the boat that We will also do the Hot Summer Corresponding Secretary turned out to be futile. The high Nights car cruise again in the river levels and the ice took their month of June, along with some Directors toll on the old wooden boat and other surprises that I will divulge to John Clark (2017) buy the spring of 1968 she was the membership. Ron Nelson (2017) declared derelict. Vacant (2018) Thank you to all that came to the David Stephens (2018) Along with that event, I remem- Christmas party. It was a wonderful Kevin Williams (2019) ber how, as a child, each Christ- time at the Glen Echo Country Club. Sharon Mercer (2019) mas back in the old days we Johnny Rabbit did three rounds of would go down town to see the trivia. Some of the questions were Ron Nelson wonderful Christmas window 9826 Affton View Ct. easy, some of those questions were St. Louis, MO 63123 displays along Seventh Street really challenging, even for natives (314) 638-7131 downtown. of St. Louis. The end result was that Brass Lamp Editor everyone had a wonderful time. And 1967 was a banner year for Kevin Williams the city of St. Louis because the Come join us as a volunteer to help (314) 481-9111 Cardinals had just won the World at the St. Louis Auto Show taking Webmaster Series in October. The celebra- place January 25—28, Thursday tion went on all the way to Neal McIntyre through Sunday. Christmas. (314) 494-0346 Special Events Coordinator Looking forward to seeing every- Little did I know that 50 years one in our general meeting on Fri- later. I would become the presi- day, January 19 starting time 7:30 dent of the Horseless Carriage PM. Club of Missouri. As all of you know this will be my third con- From my family to all my car club secutive year as your president. family happy holidays and a happy Ladies and gentlemen, it has New Year! www.hccmo.com been a privilege to serve all of you and be the leader of this or- Sincerely (314) 991-HONK ganization. We are the oldest car Joseph F Yochim club not just in the Midwest, we HCCM President Celebrating 73 Years are the oldest car club in North America. In St. Louis! Last month our countdown to

2 <<< from front page

“with reasonable care” the engines “were almost indestructible.”

This well-written and finely researched article offers car collectors the opportunity to figuratively kick tires on a make and model they may have a keen interest in investigating. Readers who are so inclined may ask about the supply of top-line Coronets (and others in the line for 1953). Sticking with the Coronet V-8 as an example, Mr. Stoeckel indicated prices and weights for five body styles in that range. The four-door sedan was made in the greatest number with 84,158 heading to buy- ers. Next in number came the Club Coupe with 36,766. Third was the Diplomat at 17,334, followed by the Sierra Station Wagon at 5,400 and, lastly the at 4,100. When you think about it, if scarcity is what a collector wants, he or she may just as well find a Sierra rather than pay big bucks for a Convertible.

3 Coming Back Home: the Travels of a Gardner Part 1 by Gerald Perschbacher

The 1920 Gardner returned to its point-of-manufacture in St. Louis in 2006, having spent most of its usable life in other states. During those “wandering years,” the questions surfaced: where had it been, when, and under whose ownership? That was the mystery that begged to be solved.

kota, from where it then traded hands and went to New Hamp- shire where it spent a handful of years as a fun car. It wasn’t restored, but its four-cylinder Lycoming engine performed well, leaking radiator notwith- standing. As time progressed, the fun of ownership wore off and the car went up for grabs “Did you see that Gardner?” a an old car. Yes, some months at Hershey. friend asked. I was examining later the car arrived near my the wares, parts, and automotive home and was safely tucked into Contacting the museum estab- gems at the Hershey Fall meet in storage. The ACQUISITION was lished a firm friendship with 2005 when the encounter hap- sealed. But then came the ques- Dave Geisler, whose family runs pened. “Gardner?” I asked. “No, tions. Where had the car been? the Pioneer Auto Museum and I haven’t seen one. Where? Who had owned it? Being a pre- “auto show” nearly every day of What space?” I countered, realiz- war car made those answers the year. Even so, Dave had ing the only safe way to find a harder to find. Many years had only a sketchy recollection of vendor at the massive meet was passed. the car. That’s because his fa- to know how the space was posi- ther and uncle were establish- tioned by letters and numbers. I’ve owned several old cars pur- ing the collection and, in the chased from original owners or early 1950s, were obtaining “I don’t know, but if you walk their families, and in those in- various unusual and very old several rows over, then head that stances, it’s generally easy to find cars from collectors in key way,” he pointed, “you’ll see it.” paperwork tracing the early years points around the country. of the vehicle. If a vehicle was One of those areas was in Lots of luck! That was my passed down to children or northern Illinois and southern thought. Regardless, I perse- grandkids, they had recollections . “I’m pretty sure vered, covering the general area or articles or pictures or some that Gardner came from some- once, twice, up to five times, other traceable information that where up there,” said Dave, each time widening my scan. On filled in the early history of own- sorry that he knew of no old the second day I found the ership. In some cases, wise col- paperwork that survived the car. “HELLO!” I told myself, walk- lectors were able to obtain the years of museum owner- ing up to the canopy covering canceled, original title of first ship. This matched with the the 1920 Gardner touring car. ownership. But this Gardner had AACA badge affixed to the a difficult history to trace. dash, saying the car had been This isn’t an article about that Word of mouth from Ben, the on a tour in that vicinity during discovery at Hershey, as much as seller, indicated the car had been the 1950s. it is about finding the history of in a museum in Murdo, South Da-

4 Unperturbed, I searched for infor- membership roster for July 1957, Sidelights featured the 1908 Duer mation. Since there were few well- mentioning Mr. Evenson with only highwheeler owned at that time established car clubs around 1960 the Gardner listed. I concluded he by Harold M. Gilbert of Danville, and earlier, it seemed logical to had a favorable inclination to New York, one of the earliest seek out regional club publications keep that touring car while selling swappers at Hershey. for information. This was some- what akin to a prospector in 1849 the others. The trail continued in setting out to find a gold strike in October 1958, when mention was But I was hoping to find a con- California by using his brain and made of the Des Plaines Valley nection between the Murdo car hard work to find the choice loca- Chapter holding an outing. Mr. museum and the AACA region in tion to begin “digging.” Evenson was listed several times Illinois. I found that link in the as a chapter officer and event or- July 1959 issue, wherein a quarter What came to mind was a modest ganizer. He also wrote historical page ad was run by the museum! stack of publications called The articles for the publication and (at Sidelights of Midwest AACA, for the least once) was pictured alongside The Gardner was still owned by Illinois and Wisconsin regions of his old Franklin. One article he Mr. Evenson in October of 1960, the Antique Automobile Club of America. Most of the early copies wrote for the May 1959 edition of according to the roster for that I obtained came from the preser- year. In May of 1961, a sentence vation efforts of a former publica- noted that “Bud,” as he was tion editor, L. Morgan Yost, a well- called (instead of Roald), then respected collector who spent his owned a 1937 and 1930 fruitfully early hobby years in Chi- Nash 490 coupe along with the cagoland. An architect by profes- Gardner. The Gardner was still sion, Morgan also was very active listed as his in January of 1963. nationally as a fan of classic cars, Later that year, the publication brass-era cars, and . noted he was concentrating on

Pouring over issues from 1954 and sprucing up his Nash. Was inter- newer, mention was made of col- est being lost in the Gardner? lector Roald S. Evenson of Joliet, Probably. Illinois, and the cars he owned. The April 1954 issue stated, “Bud” was listed as his chapter’s “Among the cars…restored or in director for several years includ- the process are a 1925 Franklin, ing 1964. Then his trail went 1920 Gardner, 1917 Ford, 1924 cold. Subsequent issues I have Ford, 1922 , 1923 do not mention him, which leads Dodge, 1917 Davis, 1905 , to the hypothesis that he moved 1912 Buick, 1926 Chrysler, 1914 Ford and…a 1913 Stearns-Knight or otherwise may have dropped that’s really a wow!” Naturally, the from the hobby. If so, he likely mention of the Gardner held my sold the Gardner to the museum. attention. In fact, it was the sole So, you see, there may be re- Gardner mentioned in that region, search value in maintaining old the very area which the Pioneer regional club publications for Auto Museum gleaned for old such a time as this. cars.

Mr. Evenson was a whiz at con- Part 2 next month structing crossword puzzles that appeared in the publication. He liked to ease into the puzzles questions about the cars he owned, including the Gardner. In the file I also found a regional

5 Put down that rubber chicken and pay attention! National Clown Week—yes, it’s a real thing—has been observed the first week of every Clown Cars August since President Richard Nixon signed a joint resolution into Courtesy of Historical Vehicle Association law back in 1971. So, here is a look back at some classic examples of one of clowning’s most iconic props. Klowns In A Car If Ringling Bros. Circus (which closed its tent flap for good this past summer after 146 years) was the world’s best known circus, then this little car has to be in the running for clowning’s most famous car. Lou Jacobs first popularized his version of the clown car gag during the 1950s. Instead of recruiting a bunch of his clown cronies to pile into a car with him, Jacobs achieved comedic effect by cramming his 6-foot frame into a 23-inch tall custom and performing a number of solo sketches for audiences throughout his 60- year run with The Greatest Show on Earth. Jacobs built his original car around a washing machine engine. A replica is now on display at the Ringling Bros. Circus Museum in Sara- Here’s a bit of trivia for you: The clown-car routine sota, Florida. (where an implausibly large number of clowns emerge from an impossibly tiny car) was first made A Car Named Peggy popular by Cole Bros. Circus performers in 1950. But the seeds of inspiration for this classic gag ac- tually go back to the silent film era and the now iconic memories of the Keystone Kops tumbling out of a classic Model A paddy wagon.

Custom Clowning

According to this brief history in The Old Mo- tor, “Peggy,” the flying red horse of Mobil Oil fame, was the “King of Clown Cars” in 1939. Built by members of the American Legion in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, the car was made popular in parades all across America for its gravity-defying antics. Two men seated in back provided a counter balance for Peggy’s 6 frontend. The car also featured a custom braking World Record Cram Car system that allowed the driver to spin the car in place by engaging one brake at a time. Peggy is on permanent display outside the David McAllis- ter American Legion Post #239 in Lawrenceburg.

Cruising the Strip

If you want to set the world record for number of clowns in a car, you would first need to attain the standard automobile with which such a rec- ord can be set. And it’s not a Volkswagen Bee- tle. In 2013 in the French town of Castries, 31 clowns shoehorned themselves inside a Citroën 2CV. Citroëns (of which the one above, modified by U.K. car customizer Andy Saunders is based) were manufactured from 1948 until 1990. If you ever wondered the secret of cramming the maximum number of clowns into a car (and c’mon now admit it, Who hasn’t?), check out Car and Driver, which expertly unlocked the secret formula of the classic stunt in a feature story you can read by going to the URL at the bottom of this paragraph. According to Car and Driver‘s 2011 interview with Greg DeSanto, executive di- rector of the International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center, it’s not about false floors and traps doors in the bottom of a car. And it’s not about using a kit car customized to look smaller than it really is. The real trick, instead, is in the stripping. By fortifying the springs (to prevent drag) and stripping the seats, liners, panels and the barrier to the trunk, you can “easily” squeeze anywhere from 15 to 20 clowns into a standard MINI Cooper, Fiat or the ever-popular Volkswagen Beetle.

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/the- physics-of-clown-cars-feature

7 “Horseless Carriage” added to the National Historic Vehicle Register Courtesy of The Historic Vehicle Association

The pages of history are lined with failed attempts to create an automobile in the 19th century. One such “” that re- mains with us today is the Benton Harbor Motor Carriage. The “motocycle” as it was also referred to in period was designed and built by the carriage builders, Albert and Lewis (Louis) Baushke of Benton Harbor, MI with the help of William O. Worth, an engine builder and inven- tor from Chicago. The trio intended to compete in the 1895 Chicago Times- Herald “Motocycle Com- petition” (one of the first The Benton Harbor Motor Carriage automobile races in America). company after producing restored it and donated it their one and only car, to the Hershey, Penna., Unfortunately, they didn’t Worth went on to found AACA Museum, Inc. in complete the car in time the Chicago Motor Vehicle 1995. and when it was first test- Company and other enter- ed in early 1896 it proved prises, where over the next The Benton Harbor was to be a failure and the decade, he produced a recognized as part of Baushke brothers and handful of automobiles un- American automotive herit- Worth parted ways. Alt- til falling into obscurity. age with its inclusion in the hough the Baushke Worth retained the original National Historic Vehicle brothers gave up aspira- Benton Harbor until the Register. tions for an automobile 1930s and it was eventually sold to David Kolzow who

8 George Mason was a Go-Getter for Nash & AMC by Gerald Perschbacher

profit of $18 million. Simms said Mason “was re- sponsible for creating the first , the 1950 Nash ‘Landau’ (convertible).” the next year came a two-door wagon in that line, then two and four door sedans. As American Mo- tors was being formed, Mason took the lead spot in the merger plan.

Mason was well liked due to his jovial spirit and good business sense. He was philanthropic, al- so enjoyed fly fishing, and – something I will add – he was a religious man. It was pancreatic can- Canadian Phillip Simms compiled a fine short article cer that laid him low and stole his life. Following titled “George W. Mason and Nash Motors,” ap- him at the top post at American Motors was an- pearing in AM Spirit, November-December of other capable man, although not comfortably 2017. Drawing on four well respected print sources, adept with hands-on mechanical work (a fact at least one of which knew what it was like to work conveyed to me by John A. Conde, who worked under Mr. Mason, the text brims with information. at Nash and AMC). That person was George Romney, who later was a potential presidential Born in North Dakota in 1891, “his life was quite candidate in a U.S. election! different from that of Charles Nash. He enjoyed a road to personal and financial success. During his An interesting history is encapsulated in the early teens he learned auto mechanics at a Maxwell smaller corporations of car making in Ameri- garage. Soon he began selling cars.” ca. Don’t you think more car clubs should write about that and the impact on their regions? With succeeding experience at a Buick agency, then a tire vulcanizing business, and still later a motorcy- AM Spirit cle dealership, Mason learned the ropes of business Northern Ramblers Car Club management. He gravitated toward design, con- Editor: Chris Kaszuba struction, and leadership. Even the First World War 6-23 Stanley Ave. did not curtain his interest. In fact, it fostered his Etobicoke, ON M8V 1M9 experience. In peacetime, Mason went from Max- CANADA well (again), then to Chrysler, next to a refrigerator company, and finally (in 1927) to Corpo- ration. There he settled into top management and turned the company from a million-dollar deficit to a million in the black.

“In 1936 his personal income exceeded $193,000,” said the article. “That year, 73-year-old Charlie Nash invited Mason to work for him. If he were to make the move, Kelvinator had to move with him.” Thus, Nash-Kelvinator became a corporate reality. Isn't it interesting that Mason's life-story holds the attention of car collectors in Canada, where the influence of Nash and AMC were only a 1950 Nash Landau shadow of the success the companies held in the U.S.A.?

Mason’s story is one of rising success. In 1946 he headed the Automobile Manufacturers’ Associa- tion. The next year, Nash-Kelvinator enjoyed a net 9 TRIVIA THANK YOU…

…for following this monthly feature. This last issue is a special person whom I reserved for the final se- lection. He alone was the driving force behind the post-World War II conflict automotive designs. There are some of you who are going to say we left out highly qualified people. (Henry Ford is a good example). Yes, he along with others were left out, but not by any resentment of their popularity. Con- versely most of the people not included have had so much written about them inclusion in this group would have been redundant.

Back to this final great man. The second war of “wars to end all wars” was over and was ready to convert to civilian production. Only they had no designs for the 46-48 models except the old 39, 40 styles of before the big one. Knowing the time frame to get new designs before the public was at least 3 years ( may have been the only exception), all three manufacturers made small cosmetic changes and started selling new cars to the American public. Demand was great and the O.P.A. was still requiring authorization for the general public to purchase a new car.

This month’s selection to be a member of this hall of fame was Head of Color & Design at G.M. He alone ordered the drastic changes to the 1949 models to the rounded, smooth lines of the commonly called 50s style. He was the first to sketch the tail fins of the American Fighter Plane and incorporate them into . That plane was the U.S. Airforce twin tailed P-38. Those round smooth lines with two tail fins found their way to American showrooms first on the 1949 Cadillac. Those fins infected the design of the other major manufacturers in all brands of automobiles. Fins reached their epit- ome in 1959 on the Cadillac and , two different style fins one vertical and the other horizontal.

Once again “I thank you” for following my Automotive Hall of Fame Nominees. It has been two years since the first nominees were presented to you. I am sure you have some you would like to add and some you would delete. But just maybe, we have all learned a little more about the heritage of our favor- ite automobiles, the Collector Cars.

Bill Tabor

William L. "Bill" Mitchell born July 2, 1912 in Cleve- land, Ohio, was an American automobile designer who worked briefly as an advertising illustrator and as the official illustrator of the Automobile Racing Club of America before being recruited by Harley Earl to join the Art and Color Section of in 1935. Mitchell is responsible for creating or influenc- ing the design of over 72.5 million automobiles pro- duced by GM, including such landmark vehicles as the 1938 Cadillac Sixty Special, the 1949 Cadillac Coupe DeVille, the 1955-57 Chevrolet Bel Air, the 1963-65 and 1966-67 Buick Riviera, the 1961- 76 Corvette Stingray, the 1975-79 Cadillac Seville, and the 1970-81 Chevrolet Camaro. Mitchell spent the entirety of his 42-year career in automobile design at General Motors, eventually becoming Vice Presi- dent of Design, a position he held for 19 years until his retirement in 1977.

10 The Brass Lamp

The Publication of the Horseless Carriage Club of Missouri, Inc. december 2017 Activities Calendar

Information in this calendar is summarized. See flyers for 2018 Club Events Calendar events —go to www.midwestswapmeets.com January 19 7:30 General Meeting, Logan 2018 SWAP MEETS CAR SHOWS, ETC. February 16 7:30 General Meeting, Logan March 16 6:30 St Patrick Feast, Logan January 25-27 St Louis Auto Show STL Conv Center April 1 Easter Concours d’Elegance show April 1 Easter Concours d’Elegance Forest Park May 18 7:30 General Meeting, Logan September 9 Wheels in Motion Westport Plaza June 15 6:30 Strawberry Festival, Logan September 16 HCCM Show & Swap Meet, Hlywd Casino June 17 Father’s Day Car Show, MOT September 22 Brass & Nickel Show, Mus. Of Transport July 20 7:30 General Meeting, Logan August 19 11 AM Annual Picnic Car Cruises and other events can be accessed at September 16 HCCM Show & Swap Meet, http://clubs.hemmings.com/lakerscarclub Hollywood Casino September 21 7:30 General Meeting, Logan Major Auctions and Events September 22 Brass and Nickel show, MOT Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale AZ January 13-21, 2018 October 19 6:30 White Elephants, Logan Leake Auction Oklahoma City February 23-24 November 16 6:30 Chili Cook-off, Logan GAA Classic Cars Greensboro NC March 1-3, July 27-29 Hemmings Motor News Great Race Buffalo NY June 23

Alert! Please check the club web site monthly at HCCMO.com for notices of club event cancellations or changes in time or location due to weather or other circumstances.

FOR SALE 1958 Station Wagon 39,500 miles Asking $10,000 Contact Gerald Perschbacher for information 314-849-5249

The Brass Lamp is a monthly publication of The Horseless Carriage Club of Missouri ©2017 All Rights Reserved. Material from this newsletter may be reprinted or shared by our club members with proper citation and written consent from the editor. 11 The Brass Lamp 1953 Dodge Sierra wagon, oneofthe classic Dodge models of1953. A Publication of the Horseless Carriage Club of Missouri, Inc. www.hccmo.com (314) www.hccmo.com 991 Read moreRead on the front cover and inside. - HONK