SMOKE SIGNALS The Official Publication of the ANKOKAS, NJ Region AACA

Nov./Dec. 2020 Volume 57, Issue 6 Happy Holidays!

In This Issue: ppImportant Ankokas News ppBarry’s California Report ppSynthetic Fuel ppIt Caught My Eye ppIntro to RVs ppWebside Ramblings ppHistory of Playing Cards In This Month’s Issue:

Looking Down the Road...... 1 News...... 2 Barry’s Report...... 4 Synthetic Fuel...... 5 It Caught My Eye...... 7 Intro to RVs...... 10 Rummage Box...... 12 I hope everyone enjoyed 12 Match Puzzle...... their summer as best as they could we would Ankokas Calendar..... 13 during this pandemic and you and AACA Calendar...... 13 like to follow the Fun Holidays...... 13 your families continue to stay well. same protocol as AACA From the Archives..... 13 It looks as though Covid-19 is headquarters and have all offices FAW puzzle...... 14 going to be around for awhile and Webside Ramblings.. 15 remain the same for the year 2021, History of will have its impact on events this and then next year vote for new Playing Cards...... 16 fall and winter. We have cancelled officers in 2021 for a 2 year term. Letter from the breakfast meeting planned for the Editors...... 18 This will be discussed on the Marketplace...... 19 November and the Holiday party is November zoom meeting. On our most likely going to be cancelled October meeting it was discussed as well . The virus is still around about planning a road trip next year and it looks like it will be here into to Gettysburg, PA and Steamtown next year. We will probably need in Scranton, PA . It was mentioned to continue to hold our meetings in the past what a great time we all on Zoom at least through March had when we traveled to Altoona, of 2021. I am hoping by PA for the weekend. Any input This newsletter is spring we can get on this would be greatly a publication of the back to some form Ankokas Region of the appreciated. In closing, Antique Automobile Club of normal. We will hopefully everyone of America, located in have to wait and southern New Jersey. continues to stay well and Material may be see. As for officers remain safe and don’t reproduced only if credit and directors for is given to the source forget the November 12th and we are asked for next year 2021, zoom meeting . permission to reproduce -Joe Dougherty, the material. If you have material President that you would like to contribute or you have comments or ideas about the newsletter, please contact the editor, Diana, at newsletter@ankokas. com.

President Joe Dougherty. Photo by D. Antinucci. SMOKE SIGNALS Page 2

ghgh Meeting Minutes ghgh Zoom meeting minutes October 15, 2020 Treasurer’s report - All outstanding checks have cleared. The online meeting was started at 7:30 pm with the pledge Our current balance looks good, with minimum expenses this to the flag. year. There is one bill that has not come in yet for a security A suggestion has been made to retain Joe Dougherty and update to our website. Steven Soppe will check on the bill. Tom McLarney as president and vice-president for third terms Submissions for the January/February 2021 newsletter in 2021. Normally these officers would only serve for up to should be sent to Diana no later than December 18, 2020. two consecutive years. AACA National has chosen to keep its Emails can be sent to [email protected]. officers and directors in place from 2020 to 2021 due to the It was reported that many shows have been canceled for ongoing virus pandemic. This move provides for a consistent October and November. There are very few events scheduled leadership to guide us through the current public health crisis. for the rest of the year. The AACA is still planning to hold This suggestion has been approved by the board and directors. their “Hershey” show (Eastern Fall Meet) in Gettysburg, PA in There was no objection by any members at the meeting. There November. Several Ankokas members are going to attend. Be will be a final vote on this at the November Zoom meeting. sure to check the AACA website for last minute changes to this Please read the story below for more information. event. A suggestion has been made to waive dues renewals for There were several suggestions about club events for 2021. There are only a few members who are actually up to 2021. Weekend trips to Gettysburg or Steamtown and day trips renew their dues in January. The cost to the club would not be to local attractions were mentioned. 2021 will be the year to that great. This suggestion has been approved by the board regroup and get back out on the road. and directors. There was no objection by any members at the Our next Zoom club meeting is scheduled for Thursday meeting. There will be a final vote on this at the November November 12, 2020 at 7:30 PM. You can log into the meeting 15 Zoom meeting. Please read the story on page 3 for more minutes before that time. information. Our December Zoom meeting with held on December 10, The November breakfast meeting at the Lamp Post Diner 2020 at 7:30 PM. You can log into the meeting 15 minutes has been canceled for 2020, due to the ongoing pandemic and before that time. limited social distancing at the diner. There being no more business, the meeting was concluded The Holiday party in December has been canceled for 2020, at 8:10 pm, with online socializing continuing for a while. due to the ongoing pandemic and limited social distancing at the restaurant. Submitted by Steven Soppe, Secretary, October 18, 2020. P

gh Continuation of Officers 2021 gh article by Kathy Petters number of consecutive terms of service. Joe and Tom have Every year, the AACA elects a new President and several reached the end of their second terms. In a normal year, they Officers and Board members. Officers serve one year terms, would be stepping down. In the interest of maintaining club Board members three year terms. In the September/October stability in guiding us through the pandemic, the officers and issue of the AACA Antique Automobile magazine, it was board feel it is in the club’s best interest to keep everyone in announced that the AACA would postpone election of new place to get us through 2021. officers until the fall of 2021. All of the AACA Officers and Board Normally, this would be brought up at a regular meeting and would continue for another year. They had many reasons for voted on at the following meeting. Membership attendance at making this decision, but it came down to “Now is not the time to in-person meetings is usually pretty high. And considering this make changes to the leadership”. issue would be voted on at the annual Breakfast meeting, with a In looking at our own situation with the ongoing pandemic, higher than usual attendance, a large portion of the membership Ankokas has faced the cancellation of all of our annual events and would have a say in the matter. all meetings are now held online. It’s been a tough year to say the Attendance of Zoom meetings has been lower than in-person least. Our officers and Directors have worked to keep the club meetings (more about that later). Because this is an important spirit alive and make the best of a bad situation. They are already issue for the club, you are encouraged to join the Zoom meeting working on ideas for making 2021 a strong rebuilding year. Using on November 12. But if you can’t join us on Zoom, we still want the idea set forth by National, it has been suggested that Ankokas to hear from you. Please feel free to call Kathy Petters, head of keep Joe Dougherty as President and Tom McLarney as Vice the officers nominating committee, at 856-767-4438 or email President for an additional term in office for 2021. [email protected]. Or contact any of the other Officers or Based on our by-laws, a president and vice president would Directors and let them know how you feel about this issue. This only serve for one year, with an option to serve for a second is YOUR club. YOUR opinion matters. We want to hear from you consecutive year. Secretary and Treasure are not limited in the on your support or opposition to this issue. Please speak up. P SMOKE SIGNALS Page 3

gh Waiving of Dues for 2021 gh article by Steven Soppe didn’t happen... well you didn’t get what you paid for. In a normal year, this is where we would be reminding you The suggestion of moving everyone’s membership to pay your dues to renew your membership for another year forward by one year was discussed and agreed by the or two in Ankokas. As you know all too well, 2020 has not Officers and Board, and at the October Zoom meeting. been a good year. All Ankokas events were canceled. Most Normally, this would be brought up at a regular meeting and local and AACA national events were canceled. Meetings voted on at the next meeting. Considering this vote would have been moved to online only (without Diana’s cookies). be at the annual Breakfast meeting, with a higher than usual It’s not what we bargained for this year. As an effort to try to attendance, a large portion of the membership would have a wipe 2020 from our minds, it has been suggested we waive say in the matter. payment of dues for 2021 and move everyone’s membership As has been noted already, attendance of Zoom meetings forward by one year. has been lower than in-person meetings (more about that We currently have 29 members who should be paying dues later). Because this is an important issue for the club, you are for 2021. At $25 per person, that comes to $725 for the club. encouraged to join the Zoom meeting on November 12. But Considering many of those people are over age 70, the total if you can’t join us on Zoom, we still want to hear from you. the club would receive is much lower (under $500). Now take Please feel free to call Steven Soppe, Secretary and head of into account the club did not have any costs for the Charter the Roster committee at 609-848-4843 or email secretary@ Luncheon, Tailgate meeting, Breakfast meeting, Holiday party, ankokas.com, or any of the other Officers or Directors and let printed roster, and the large cost of the Haddonfield show, them know how you feel about this issue. This is YOUR club. our 2020 expenses have been very low. And considering your YOUR opinion matters. We want to hear from you on your annual dues pay for your participation in these events that support or opposition to this issue. Please speak up. P

AACA Renewals You received your AACA renewal form with your last copy of the Antinque Automobile magazine. Go to the AACA website to pay online or download the form on our Ankokas web site to mail it in. SMOKE SIGNALS Page 4 ghgh Eye Candy from California ghgh article and photos by Barry Goldsmith exercising their cars on the curves and enjoying the warm As all of you may be aware, any day, since the sun is always sunlight and views. At a place close to where the highway is shining, anytime and anywhere in California you may witness closed temporarily for road work, there is a place called the eye candy for car guys. COVID-19 with the insistence to social Stone Side Diner. This is a meeting place for bikers and car distance and masks has all but brought a temporary halt to enthusiasts to meet, eat, ffuel up their rides and swap stories antique, classic and custom car shows, as well as Cars and about their cars and bikes. Coffee meetings. But with less people working in offices and This picture (right) was other occupations, there taken on an early Sunday is a lot less traffic on the morning while taking local streets and highways. a break from riding my However, while on an early Triumph. I couldn’t resist Sunday morning walk, capturing a picture of I spotted this beautiful this beautiful late forties Triumph TR3 (right), being MG-TC. fueled up by its owner. On a recent Sunday On another ride on the Mulholland, I morning walk, passed a beautiful two-toned mid-fifties Austin Healy 100, I spotted this with its driver’s hair waving in the wind and a big smile on unusual work his face, going the opposite way. I continued riding toward truck stopped the Stone Side Diner and turned around just past the diner at a traffic light. at the road closure signs. I then retraced my ride going Can anyone back toward home. I had only gone about four miles, when identify the make I came upon the same Austin Healy I had seen going the and model of this opposite direction. Only now the car was standing off to truck? the side of the road with the hood up, and the driver out One of my of the car, standing a short distance away. When I spotted early Sunday the louvered hood and leather hold down belt, I knew I was morning activities has been exercising my Triumph Street seeing a rare 100M model BN2 Healy. I pulled over just Triple motorcycle. One of my favorite rides is to take on the past the driver and stopped my bike. I introduced myself to bends and tight curves of the Mulholland Highway. Below the owner and learned that a rare fuel line part had fallen is just a sample of one of the bends on this scenic highway. off the bottom of the one carburetor and was consequently This highway is a drivers dream come true, especially for lost somewhere back on the road. Fuel had poured from motorcycles and sports cars of all makes and vintages. It the car before it had been parked. The driver was waiting is a two lane road for a AAA truck to arrive and flatbed the Healy to a repair that climbs and shop down in the valley. I learned the Healy was a true, dives, with 15 documented, factory built, from new, 100M BN2, which MPH, decreasing had been beautifully restored a few years ago by a Healy radius hairpin turns specialist. It has been and 20 MPH, 90 used for vintage rallying degree right and and is driven regularly. I left handers with learned from the owner awesome vistas, that a car like this had if you have time to been driven by Carroll look. Shelby at Le Mans back in the 50s. I obtained Riding on the permission to take some Mulholland on Sunday pictures, which I hope you mornings, one can will enjoy. Just as a follow see various vintages up, I did see the Healy back on of beautifully restored the road this past Sunday as he Porsches, Maseraties, passed me going in the opposite all different years of direction on the Mulholland, so Mustangs, Cameros, obviously the owner was able to Pontiac Trans Ams have it repaired and road worthy and Austin Healys, again. Enjoy. P SMOKE SIGNALS Page 5 ghgh The “F” Word ghgh Carbon Neutral Synthetic Fuel

article by Diana Antinucci be part of the solution, maybe there’s a better answer. Enter Fuel. It’s become a dirty word. Everyone is excited about carbon neutral synthetic fuels. electric, solar, wind-power and hydrogen fuel cells. But today, Never heard of it? No worries, me neither. I came across I’m feeling dirty. I think it’s time we talk about fuel again. it as I was doing research for future tech articles. I got more In previous tech articles we’ve covered battery technology, excited as I learned more. Synthetic fuel is not new. The electric, solar cars and hydrogen fuel cell cars. The interest Germans developed a synthetic fuel in 1923. Franz Fischer in all of this new technology is due to the carbon emissions and Hans Tropsch pioneered a process that converted carbon humans are releasing into our atmosphere. From the start of monoxide and hydrogen into liquid hydrocarbons using metal the Industrial Age less than 300 years ago, carbon dioxide in catalysts at high temperatures and pressures. Synthetic the atmosphere has risen over 45% and carbon emissions fuels are used today, but these are not carbon neutral, being reached over 35.7 billion tons in just 2016. The effect of this derived from coal and natural gas. Carbon neutral synthetic is something that we are fuel can be produced in one of already beginning to see. two ways. Carbon dioxide or NASA is predicting droughts, carbon monoxide can be taken heat waves, severe wildfires, from the atmosphere or directly stronger and more frequent from an industrial process like hurricanes, sea levels rising steel production and then it by one to eight feet, the is combined with hydrogen complete disappearance of taken from water. The result is the Arctic ice cap and health called efuel, the most common and agriculture impacts. of which is oxymethylene To help combat these ether (OME). The second way effects, the Paris Agreement is to create a gas from bio of 2015 was signed by the waste and combine that with US, the EU, China, India and hydrogen to form a synthetic other countries representing biofuel. For this article, we are over 97% of contributors interested in the first method. to greenhouse gases. For the process to be carbon (Note: President Trump has neutral, the entire process announced his intention to cannot emit carbon into the withdraw from this agreement. atmosphere. The earliest date for this There are companies withdraw is shortly before our Drawing by NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio.Public domain. working on such a process, election.) The Paris Agreement including Carbon Engineering states that all electric supply will be carbon neutral by 2050 in Canada. Their Direct Air Capture system takes carbon and carbon emissions by cars are to be reduced by 80% of dioxide directly from the air, purifies it and compresses it into 1990 levels. Separately, the UK is looking to ban the sale of a liquid which can be combined with hydrogen to make ultra- gasoline, diesel and hybrid cars by 2035. The EU is hoping low carbon fuels, using only renewable energy sources (solar, to cut carbon emissions from cars by 37.5% between 2021 wind, hydropower or nuclear). They have been removing and 2030. Add to all of this the rising cost of fuel and its finite carbon dioxide from the air since 2015 and making it into supply and there’s a real need for an alternate. synthetic fuel since 2017. The technology has some major Right now, focus seems to be on electric vehicles. But backers too, including Bill Gates, Canadian Natural Resources is that really the best solution? Right now we lack the Limited, Occidental Petroleum and Chevron. One of the things infrastructure to support a major shift to electric vehicles holding it back is the political single-mindedness for electrical and the electric they run on is still not carbon neutral, being vehicles. Let’s look at some of the reasons the politicians may generated by plants using fossil fuels. The batteries that want to look at carbon neutral synthetic fuels. electric vehicles require are also problematic, with the impacts Taking carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere is the best of mining for materials and the scarcity, and therefore cost, of way to reverse some of the damage that’s been done. some of those materials. Electrification of our transportation Carbon Engineering’s Direct Air Capture system can remove also falls short for heavy loads and long distances. The size about a ton of carbon dioxide for only $100. A single plant of current batteries takes up too much cargo space and could remove almost a million tons per year. If Europe contributes too much weight. While electric vehicles may switched to carbon neutral synthetic fuels, it could prevent

continued on page 6 SMOKE SIGNALS Page 6 The “F” Word continued from page 5 almost anywhere. The US Navy is looking at doing it now, using the release of 2.8 billion tons of carbon dioxide between the extra energy from nuclear reactors on their ships. 2025 and 2050. Carbon neutral synthetic fuels also have less It’s not all good news, of course. Currently carbon neutral contaminants compared to fossil fuels, including sulphur, synthetic fuels are more expensive than traditional fossil fuels, nitrogen and particulates. but not by much and the cost is expected to drop. At the The switch to electric vehicles has also been slow. At least rate of one system removing a million tons of carbon dioxide half, maybe up to 90%, of the cars on the road in 2030 will per year, tens of thousands of systems would be required still be driven by internal combustion engines. The electric car to remove enough to get back to “normal” levels by 2040. technology requires a completely different infrastructure. The Other challenges are getting the entire process “green” and volume and density of carbon neutral synthetic fuels are very extracting the necessary hydrogen. But there are companies similar to the fuels we use now, so there is no need to change working on the problems. infrastructure. Everyone could keep their internal combustion Carbon Recycling International’s George Olah plant in engine cars and still help the planet. Even before we’ve totally Iceland is the only facility converting carbon dioxide into made the switch, these synthetic fuels could be added to the fuel fuel on an industrial level, partly because the most efficient we use now to lower the environmental impact of fossil fuels. The technique to do this requires nanoparticles that are costly to technology used to make carbon neutral synthetic fuels can also produce. Scientists at the University of Southern California be used in the production of more than 3,000 products currently and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory are looking made from fossil fuels, from credit cards to smart phones. to change this. In February 2020, they produced carbide Remember that electricity doesn’t stack up against nanoparticles of a metal called molybdenum. They attract fossil fuels for long hauls or heavy loads? The first electric carbon dioxide to start the reaction. Previous attempts to commercial airplane is set to go into production soon, but it use carbide nanoparticles used too much energy in their only has a range of 600 miles and has only nine seats and creation and produced particles that varied too much in scaling up is impractical due to battery size and weight. As size, a problem because the reaction only happens at the for trucks, only Tesla believes that electric is the future. The surface of the particles. The new molybdenum particles amount of batteries required cuts the size of the payload require much less energy to produce and are uniform in by a third. The first electric container ship is set to go into size. In 2019, Rice University produced fuel from carbon operation in 2022. It has a capacity for only 120 containers dioxide using renewable energy and the University of Illinois and will only travel thirty miles between ports in Norway. For used artificial photosynthesis to produce fuel by converting comparison, today’s container ships carry 4,000 containers, carbon dioxide using visible light and gold particles. traveling 12,000 miles at speeds three to four times faster. In August 2020, the University of Cambridge went one Carbon neutral synthetic fuel can be used in all of these long- better. They have developed a stand-alone device that haul and heavy-load vehicles, without effecting weight, size creates synthetic fuel, with almost no by-products, using just or infrastructure and at about $4.00 per gallon and costs are sunlight, carbon dioxide and water. The method could be expected to go down. scaled up and used like solar farms to produce “green” fuel. There are also military applications for carbon neutral synthetic So, when might carbon neutral synthetic fuel be available? fuels. Right now, convoys have to transport fuel to the military. Delegates at the conference for the Association for Petroleum One of Carbon Engineering’s fuel systems could be run on a and Explosives Administration, a UK based organization, small nuclear reactor and synthetic fuel could be produced were told that it could be commercially available by 2025. McLaren expressed interest in the technology in April 2020 and Porsche expressed their interest in September. Prometheus Fuels in California, with the help of BMW, will start selling carbon neutral synthetic fuel that works in any existing gasoline car, without modification, in California in late 2021, rolling it out to the rest of the country and beyond in 2022. They are also working on technology that removes carbon from the air permanently. This is good news, not only for our planet, but for those of us that love classic cars and worry about their future in a world where internal combustion engines can no longer exist. P

Drawing by The Royal Society of Chemistry. Used under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 unported license. SMOKE SIGNALS Page 7 ghgh It Caught My Eye ghgh

article by Diana Antinucci had flared fenders, but it closely matched the car that went So, I was looking through pictures that I had taken for to showrooms. Tom Kellogg thought they should go with candidates for this article and I came across some pictures that the four-seat coupe, so that’s what they went with. Just five I had taken at the Silver Diner in August of 2017. That’s when I weeks after Loewy’s team had begun work on the car, the saw her. Curvy, sporty and just a little... quirky. Oh, yeah. It has Studebaker board approved construction. to be her. Everyone, I give you the Studebaker Avanti! The design had to be reworked to fit onto a modified Studebaker started making carriages in 1862 and made 109-inch Studebaker 1961 convertible Lark chassis. The car its first car (which was electric) in 1902. When the Avanti had to be lengthened, effecting the headroom in the rear debuted, Studebaker was 100 years old, but was in real seat, causing the roof to be raised. As a result, some early trouble. It was losing to larger automobile manufacturers that production models showed that a vacuum formed above the could produce more cars rear glass, causing the rear window to be sucked at lower costs. In 1956, out. Some further changes were made to the Studebaker had merged shape, fixing the vacuum problem, and a power with Packard in the hopes bulge was added to the hood. They named their that the infusion of cash new car the Avanti and it was introduced to the from Packard and the public at the New York International Automobile larger dealer network of Show on April 26, 1962. Immediately afterwards, Studebaker would save the only two working models were taken on a both companies, which 24-city tour amid an advertising frenzy. Egbert’s would eventually merge gamble worked. Orders and deposits poured in. with Nash and Hudson, The Avanti was a very different-looking car, giving them enough of the designed specifically to break away from the market to push out Chrysler designs of the 1950s. Wedge-shaped with and become one of the minimal chrome and a Coke bottle pinched “Big Three”. Unfortunately, “waist”, the Avanti sported a large rear window Studebaker had lost some 1963 Studebaker Avanti at the Silver Diner in August and “fast-back” rear end. The interior had of its dealer network and 2017. Photo by D. Antinucci. aircraft-style instruments and four bucket seats was less than truthful about similar to those used in Alfa its situation. The merger was Romeo. The 1963 had round a disaster. What Studebaker headlights, but these were needed now was a Hail Mary. changed in August 1963 to Enter Sherwood Egbert, square headlights for the who took over as Studebaker 1964 models. One of its president in February of most distinctive features is 1961. According to legend, the front of the car. It was on the back of an envelope one of the first cars designed during an airplane flight, without a conventional grill, Egbert doodled what he instead taking in air from thought would be competition underneath the vehicle for the Ford Thunderbird. through an air scoop below Egbert gave this doodle to the bumper. Raymond Loewy, the man Raymond Loewy’s sketch of the Avanti. Public domain. Library of Congress ID Because of the complexity responsible for the 1953 USZC4.3923. of the body shape, it was Studebaker Starlight coupe. decided that Studebaker Loewy brought together a hand-picked team of Tom Kellogg, would save both money and time if they made the body from Bob Andrews and John Ebstein and sequestered them in a fiberglass. They out-sourced this to Molded Fiberglass Body rented desert ranch house in Palm Springs, California. Given in Ashtabule, Ohio, the shop that did the fiberglass for the their short timeframe, they needed to avoid distractions and Corvette in 1953. A couple of happy side-effects were that any interference while keeping the project a secret. Egbert it made the car lighter, and therefore faster, and that more wanted a car ready for the 1962 New York International Auto Avantis may have survived because of their no-rust bodies. Show. Working sixteen hour days, within eight days they To save on cost, the Avanti design team was told to choose had a small clay model, showing a two-seat sports car on a chassis from existing stock. They chose the Studebaker one side or a four-seat GT coupe option on the other. This Lark convertible, keeping the 109 inch wheelbase, but clay model was shorter than the eventual production car and shortening the chassis overall and adding anti-sway bars and

continued on page 8 SMOKE SIGNALS Page 8

It Caught My Eye continued from page 7 The Avanti had some very desirable options. Air conditioning rear radius rods. The Avanti boasted the first disc brakes on was available, but only with the R1 engine. Power steering an American car, located in the front with drum brakes from was also an option, along with tinted glass for the rear Lockheed located at the rear. The disc brakes used for the and side windows and electric windows. An AM radio was Avanti were the same 11.5-inch disc brakes from Bendix available in 1963 with an AM/FM radio available in 1964. Wood that were used on the Jaguar E-type. Power brakes were grain dash and steering wheel were options beginning late in standard equipment. Like the chassis, the suspension was 1963. There were several other revisions late in 1963. There also borrowed from the Lark, with heavy-duty coils in the was a new grill for the radiator scoop, chrome drip moldings front and heavy-duty leaf springs in the rear with anti-roll above the doors and redesigned parking lights. Some of the bars front and rear. This gave the Avanti a very comfortable cars built in late 1963 were registered in 1963 and others were ride, but at the expense of sharper handling. There were registered in 1964, making it nearly impossible to tell just by three transmissions available, all from Borg-Warner and all looking if an Avanti is from 1963 or 1964. with center console shifters: a three-speed manual, a four- Reviews for the Avanti were generally quite good. Road & speed manual or a three-speed automatic. The Avanti also Track timed an R2 Avanti from 0-60 in 7.3 seconds, faster than had a Dana 44 hypoid differential as standard equipment or a the Mustang, which ran at 7.6 seconds, topping out at 120 Dana “Twin Traction” limited-slip differential as an option for mph. In a straight line, they claimed the R3 Avanti matched $40, with certain engines. well against the Shelby The power plants GT350. They also said it had offered in the Avanti were quick steering and good something special. The brakes, but took off points Avanti was the fastest for its handling and lack of production car in the world, traction in hard turns. Car reaching over 178 mph and Driver and Motor Trend with the supercharged 289 also gave it very favorable cubic-inch engine option. reviews. In late 1962, it broke 29 Sounds like a great car, world speed records at doesn’t it? And it was. It Bonneville Salt Flats with might have even saved Andy Granatelli behind Studebaker. The company the wheel. The engine that contracted to do the achieved such records was 129-piece fiberglass body a modified 289 cubic-inch ran into problems, causing V8 “Jet Thrust” Studebaker delays in filling orders that Hawk engine dressed up with a standard chrome kit had poured in during the that included chrome air 1963 Studebaker Avanti with an R3 engine.. Photo by Greg Gjerdingen and used marketing campaign. Many cleaner, rocker arm covers, under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license. fiberglass pieces had to be oil filler cap and dipstick reworked after they were handle. Even at the base model, the engine was outfitted with sent to Studebaker to get them to fit on the cars. Studebaker ¾ race high-lift cam, dual-breaker distributor, four-barrel carb was forced to set up their own fiberglass shop, but by then and dual exhausts. The Avanti was offered with three engines. it was too late. Buyers were already cancelling orders. The base R1 was 289 cubic-inches, producing 240 horsepower Studebaker couldn’t even produce enough Avantis for all and capable of 0-60 in 9.5 seconds. The R2 had a belt-driven the dealership to have a floor model. Another problem arose Paxton SN-60 centrifugal supercharger that increased output with the retail price. The base price was $4,445 and a well- to 290 horses and a lower compression of 9.0:1. The R2 could equipped Avanti could cost $5,000. The Chevrolet Corvette make 0-60 in 7.5 seconds, bringing it close to the Corvette Stingray two-seat coupe was only $4,252. Many people that and certainly faster than the Thunderbird or Riviera. The R3, cancelled their Avanti order actually bought the Corvette. the engine brought to Bonneville, produced 335 horsepower Egbert had planned on selling 20,000 Avantis in 1962 and from a 304 cubic-inch engine. Sadly, only nine Avantis were only managed to sell 1,200, with just under 4,000 selling ever made with the R3 engine by Studebaker. Granatelli later the following year and only 809 were registered in 1964. By bought the remaining R3 engines and retrofitted some Avantis this time, the public had gotten wind that Studebaker was in with this engine. There were two experimental engines that serious financial trouble and customers dried up. Egbert, in never went into production. The R4 was a non-supercharged ill health left the company in November 1963 and closed its 280 horsepower V8 with dual four-barrel carbs. The R5 had American factories in December 1963, moving production to two Paxton superchargers on a fuel-injected V8 that made 575 Canada and finally closing for good in 1966. This was surely horsepower. Granatelli took a car fitted with one of these to the end of the Avanti, right? Bonneville in 1963 and ran it at 196 mph. continued on page 9 SMOKE SIGNALS Page 9

It Caught My Eye continued from page 8 Other bits to have a look at are the upper control arm Not quite. Studebaker stopped producing the Avanti in bushings which wear quickly and the steering linkage which 1964, but sold all the tooling, the Avanti name and production has many grease fittings that will cause sloppy steering if rights to a pair of Studebaker dealers named Nathan Altman overlooked. Original brakes are available, but expensive. and Leo Newman. Studebaker even considered bringing Other makes of brakes can be put on the Avanti and there are these Altman & Newman cars into their showrooms before ready-made upgrade kits. These options may or may not cost Studebaker shuttered in 1966. Altman and Newman launched you show points, depending on the club and the knowledge the Avanti II in 1965 under the Avanti Motor Corporation, with of the judge looking at the car. Transmissions and clutches are few differences from the original Avanti. Because Studebaker sturdy and readily available and reasonably priced if needed. was gone, the power-plant changed to a Chevy Corvette Almost all suspension parts are available new. 300hp, 327 cubic-inch V8 and there were some changes Power windows can be difficult to adjust and align if there made to the hood and front fenders to fit the new engine. is a problem. If there is anything wrong with the interior But at $6,500, higher than Corvette or the Jaguar E-type, it stainless trim, this can be hard to replace. If the upholstery was hard to sell. By 1969, only 300 of the hand-built cars has a problem, a good upholsterer will be necessary as kits had been sold. Altman and Newman sold the Avanti to real are usually not top quality. Also, finding the correct vinyl can estate developer and Avanti fan Stephen Blake in 1983, be a problem. The sun visors are also in short supply. Door who changed the car’s name back to Avanti, eliminating the and side panels, carpeting, headliners and windlace are all chrome bumpers in favor of integrated, body-colored resin available. bumpers and a set of square headlights. Blake also offered An Avanti with an R1 engine, with its 10.5:1 compression, a convertible. Blake built up a dealer network and ran with may be prone to overheating with today’s gas. I saw two some promotional stunts, but paint issues eventually put suggestions for fixing this issue. One was to remove the core warranty costs through the roof and the company went plugs and flush out the block. The other was to lower the bankrupt in 1986. Blake sold Avanti to Michael Kelly who changed the chassis to a GM G-body chassis and did compression to about 9.0:1 by using semi-dished Studebaker business as the New Avanti Motor Corporation. Kelly then pistons. The supercharger is expensive to rebuild and so is sold Avanti to John Cafaro only a year later. Under the name its accompanying bracketry. Both the naturally aspirated and Avanti Automotive Corporation, Cafaro kept the convertible, supercharged engines were optional in the Lark and the Hawk, but also offered an odd four-door sedan. By 1991, with a lack making engine parts more plentiful, but this may not apply to of G-body chassis and some legal issues, AAC closed its the brackets for the superchargers which were more heavy doors. After a few years, AAC built three prototypes of a new duty in the Avanti. The engines are very dependable, but many Avanti AVX, based on the Pontiac Firebird, but the company leak oil. was forced to close again. In 2001, John Seaton and Michael Desirable options include tilt wheel, AM/FM radio and the Kelly (the same Michael Kelly) bought Avanti and redesigned elusive R3 engine. The air conditioning, only available on cars the Avanti with Ford chassis and engine. In 2005, Kelly moved with the R1 engine, is fairly reliable, but some parts of the production to Cancun, Mexico. A year later, Kelly was arrested system can be hard to find. on fraud charges unrelated to Avanti and the company closed Avanti produced cars in 1962 and 1963, which were titled again. In 2011, the Cancun factory, filled with Studebaker and as 1963 or 1964 cars and made running changes instead of Avanti parts was sold. being separated by model year, so it can be difficult to know If you’re thinking about purchasing an Avanti, there are what year Avanti you’re looking at. Rain drip molding was some things to be aware of. Because of the fiberglass body added above the doors in May 1963 and a thin horizontal bar which doesn’t rust like other cars, almost all Avantis will grill was added over the lower front air intake at the same present nicely. But the fiberglass itself may have problems. time. Squared-off headlight bezels replaced the previous A body that has cracked in the past may have had repairs rounded ones in August 1963, along with several other using body filler. This will not work with the Avanti’s layered changes in that month. fiberglass body and the crack will reappear in the same place. The good news is that Studebaker did not destroy its To repair it the correct way, the gel coat must be removed, inventory of parts or its parts centers. These were sold when the filler taken out and new fiberglass placed properly. With Studebaker went out of business in 1966. More good news is the fiberglass body, you may think you don’t have to worry about rust. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Common areas that Studebaker did not destroy build sheet records either. All of rust include the steel A-pillars hidden behind stainless steel build sheets are available for purchase from the Studebaker trim and the sub floor panel torque boxes. The torque boxes National Museum. can be expensive to replace at $1,000 to $1,700 for a pair of Average base price for a 1963 R1 Avanti is $31,600, with reproductions and replacing them requires removal of the body an average price of $34,700 for an R2 and $56,400 for an R3. from the frame or cutting away the fiberglass rocker panels Average base prices are the same for 1964. Avantis can be for access. The frame itself may rust and the rear leaf springs had at a reasonable price and it’s worth every penny for the and rear tubular cross member should be checked. If the cross attention they attract. P member is badly rusted, the only cure may be a donor frame. SMOKE SIGNALS Page 10 ghgh Recreational Vehicles ghgh

In these days of COVID-19, some may be hesitant to stay in stay in the RV. You’ll need storage for clothes, shoes, camping a hotel. But what if you could travel and never have to leave a gear, RV accessories, food and anything else you want to second home? Welcome to the world of the RV! When I first bring along. As for décor, unless you want to spend a lot of started researching this topic, I had no idea how far down money, you may have to embrace the color brown and bring in the rabbit hole you could go. RVs range in size from small color with pillows, quilts, etc. teardrop trailers to luxury homes on wheels. So, this is going Let’s talk about money. In later articles, we’re going to to be an ongoing series of articles. Let’s start with some basic talk about some really spectacular RVs. Be honest with considerations. yourself about whether or not the RV you really love is in There are a couple of things that are not subject to change. your budget. If you are buying a new RV, remember that the One of these is the number of people that will be regularly salesperson is not your friend and Manufacturer’s Suggested using the RV. Everyone is going to need a place to sleep, Retail Price is just that…suggested. The first price offered so you have to make sure that you buy an RV that can by the salesperson will probably be the MSRP. Offer 30% accommodate everyone. But does everyone need their own less. If you can’t get close to that, don’t be afraid to walk bed? Can they share a bed? away. The best times to shop for a new RV is at Is it acceptable for some the end of the month or at the end of the year, of them to sleep on pull- when salespeople are trying to make quotas. out beds or bunk beds? Is Also, when new models are coming out, you can privacy at a premium? If get good deals on previous models that haven’t so, you’ll want an RV with yet sold. Make sure everything is included in the bedroom doors and dividers. sale price, this includes the hitch, the equalizing The overall size of the RV system, sway bars and/or electric brakes. Will should also be considered. they set everything up for you? Will they give While the RV you’re looking you an instructional walk-through? Do they offer at may sleep four people, is financing? it going to feel cramped? Part of your budget If your RV is going to have Above: Volkswagen Class C considerations should include bathrooms, how many do Motorhome. Photo by High everything after purchase also. Contrast and used under the you need for the number Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 If you’re planning on a trailer, of people? You should also Germany license. Right: Teardrop as opposed to a motorhome, keep your pets in mind. trailer. Photo by Tacticaltv and do you have or can you They will need a place to used under the creative Commons afford the truck you need to Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 sleep also. And maybe International license. tow it? Insurance is another room for a litter box. consideration. Motor homes How often do you plan need separate insurance, to use the RV? Do you plan to roam the country with your but towable RVs can be covered by the liability of the tow RV as your permanent home or will it be used just a couple vehicle. Check with your insurance company. Mechanics weekends a year? You will need less space for an occasional that work on RVs can be hard to find and repairs can be vacation and more if this is going to be your new residence. expensive, possibly thousands of dollars. Parts may be What kind of excursions are you planning? Are you going hard to find for RVs that are more than ten years old. Annual to places that have hook-ups or do you plan to do a lot of maintenance can be a couple of thousand dollars every year, boondocking (camping on rural land with no hook-ups)? If including a sealant inspection of moldings, windows, hatches you plan to visit state and national parks, these places have and doors every spring and fall. Fuel may also be costly, as limited space for the really big RVs and these spaces fill up no RV is a gas sipper. The good news is that an RV can be fast, so you may want to consider a smaller RV if possible. considered a second home for tax purposes, as long as it What features do you need? Make a list of what you must has a kitchen, bathroom and bed and you spend at least one have and stick to that list. If you plan to cook a lot, take a week a year using the RV. good look at the kitchen. Some RVs have smaller ovens, Do you want to buy a new RV or used? Used may not be cooktops and refrigerators and others have residential your worst choice. Depending on what you want, an RV could sized appliances. Decide what you need. Same thing with be a major investment and a new RV looses about 21 to 25% clothes washers and dryers. Some RVs may not have kitchen of its value as soon as it leaves the lot. After about five years, appliances or laundry facilities. Do you want a TV and how the value reaches a plateau, depending on condition. Also, many TVs do you want? Make sure that the RV has enough buying new gives no guarantees. Brand new RVs can leave storage for you. This partly depends on how long you plan to the factory with defects and no final inspection. Factories

continued on page 11 SMOKE SIGNALS Page 11 Recreational Vehicles continued from page 10 bet is to buy from a reputable dealer, but if you’re buying from expect dealers to do inspections and make any necessary anywhere else, beware of scams. Don’t wire anyone money repairs, which they may or may not do. New RVs may also and if something feels wrong, back away slowly. suffer from “lot rot”, or ongoing water damage from sealant There are a couple of things you should know and carry leaks. If you buy a used RV that’s a few years old, but has with you once you have your RV. First, there are some been well-cared for and has maintenance records, you can tools that you’ll want with you, including a lug nut wrench, expect to pay half of what it cost new and it has already had wrenches that fit for every bolt on the RV, cordless drill, air all the bugs worked out of it. Used RVs can also come with compressor, flashlight, duct tape or Flexseal, scraper, folding things you will need, such as hoses and covers. telescopic ladder, 12 volt stranded wire, wire nuts, wire brush, Take some time to mull over your decision. Do your pry bar, torque wrench, socket set, multimeter, multi-bit research. Go to a dealership and some RV shows and look screwdriver, needlenose pliers, wirestripper/crimper, lineman at your options. Search for RV online forums and clubs and pliers, channel locks pliers, utility knife, hammer, Dremel tool get tips from other RV owners. Look through publications with cutting and sanding bits, hose clamps of various sizes, like RV Trader to get a feeling for pricing. Still not sure what bungee cords, zip ties, electrical tape, Teflon tape, tape kind of RV you want or even if an RV is right for you? You can measure, a digital tire gauge (you need to check your tires rent an RV and give it a try. Just take your time and make the often) and leveling blocks. Leave these in the RV. You don’t decision that’s right for you. want to get to Yellowstone, So, you’re looking at have a problem and then RVs, but what should you remember that all your tools be looking for? First, you are at home. should know that even if Know your measurements. the RV is new, it should be This includes your height, your checked carefully. Check length (including anything everything: seals, fans, trailing behind you) and the upholstery and make the distance between your tires. dealer go through every The distance between your system, including propane, tires should be checked while air conditioning, slide-outs, you travel and while there may engine and whatever else be some small variation, larger the RV might have. Look variations indicate a broken especially for mold as this center pin or a bent axle. is a sure sign of leaks or Until you can remember these other water problems. Look figures, keep them written at every surface, including somewhere near the driver’s inside closets and cabinets. seat. Bring a flashlight with you Pop-up Camper. Photo by Pete Hoffswell and used under the Creative Commons Depending on your RV, and a moisture meter. Attribution 2.0 Generic license. you may have water tanks. Anything that registers Your fresh water tank is your more than 20% is trouble. Check for floor damage. Bounce drinkable water. Your gray up and down on the floors, particularly in the bathroom and water tank is runoff from your washer, dryer, sinks and kitchen where water is used. Everything should feel very showers. Your black water tank is from your toilet. You should sturdy. Give the walls a push while you’re at it. Open any be familiar with how much your tanks hold, when they need exterior panels and look for rust or corrosion. It’s also very to be emptied and where to empty them. You will need to important to check the tires. Even on a new RV, there’s no clean out your fresh water tank occasionally. You will also guarantee that the tires are new and they can be expensive to want a pressure regulator as city water pressure can harm replace. Check the date code on the tires, found on the DOT the plumbing of the RV. It’s also not a bad idea to bring some label on the sidewall. There is a four number code that will bottled drinking water with you. give the week and year that the tire was made (2516 would Sunlight is hard on your RV, so you will want an RV cover be the 25th week of 2016). Tires should be replaced every and wheel covers to keep your tires from dry rotting. five years. Ask for maintenance records and research the VIN Along with the basic tools we listed, you will also need number to see if the vehicle has been in any accidents or has household items such as pots, pans, dishes, silverware, recalls. If it passes in all these areas, ask to take it for a test spices, colander, etc. These you can leave on the RV. Do drive with the salesperson. You drive, then switch and have not leave anything perishable in the RV when it’s not in use, the salesperson drive so you can see what the passenger including in the refrigerator or freezer. experience is like. Find a parking lot and try backing it up. All Next time, we’ll start reviewing the different kinds of RVs. of the adults using the RV should be comfortable driving the There’s a great variation in what’s available, but we’ll cover it RV, so take everyone along for the test drive. Finally, your best all. The next issue is going to be about Pop-up campers! P SMOKE SIGNALS Page 12 ghgh From the AACA Rummage Box ghgh Hershey Memories dinner shifts at the Lodge. A couple of the years passed, I joined AACA in 1971 (looking By Don Barlup forward to my 50-year pin next year) and have walked Hershey Vice President – National Headquarters & Library each year since, even with a broken leg on crutches. About This year, for the first time since 1954, we will not be 10 years or so ago, I finally realized the legs and feet could no walking the flea market. Granted, in 1954 you could walk the longer take the abuse, so I started vending in the Red Field. flea market in 15 minutes, give or take 5 minutes. My fondest remembrances were taking $50.00 along to spend, My first walk was at age 11 in 1958 with my father. finding what I needed for my 1940 Pontiac, having lunch, and Everything was inside the old stadium, cars at the one end going home with money left over. Those were the days! and flea market at the other. Maybe a good half hour slow Of course, we can’t forget the mud! Some years it was walk! so bad that you actually lost your shoes or boots in the Flash forward 10 years to 1968; I was working at the muck. I remember one vendor who was in the low part Hershey Motor Lodge as Assistant Food and Beverage of the Blue Field, parts floating and a sign posted “Gone Manager. In those days, the lobby was a drivethru. I had an Fishing”. afternoon off and heard the car show was in town. I headed to Yes, we will miss the Hershey flea market and car corral this the Blue Field (now part of the park). The field was about half year, but it will make next year’s anticipation even greater. full and I had no problem covering it between my lunch and See you at the Eastern Fall Nationals in Hershey! P ghghgh Mutt Match Puzzle ghghgh National Mutt Day is Dec. 2nd! Match the name of the mutt on the right to the description on the left. Answers on page 18.

1. Benji A. This Mastiff/Labrador retriever mix’s real name was Spike. He was found in a shelter in Van Nuys, 2. Bobbie the California and almost didn’t get the part he’s known for because he was too sweet. Wonder Dog B. This fictional mutt with yellow fur and brown ears took his name from a character written by the 3. Buck author for a car dealership commercial. 4. Laika C. This titular protagonist from a 1955 Disney film is a stray mutt that falls in love with a Cocker 5. Muttley Spaniel. 6. Odie D. One of the best-known dog actors of the 1960s and 70s, his real name was Higgins and he 7. Old Shep appeared in both television and movies over a career that spanned fourteen years. His trainer found 8. Old Yeller him at the Burbank Animal Shelter as a puppy. 9. Owney E. This mutt spent eleven years at sea as one of only two animals classified as a non-commissioned 10. Sinbad officer. As Chief Petty Officer, he served in the Navy and served during WWII. He was honorably 11. Tramp discharged and spent his remaining years serving at Barnegat Light station in New Jersey. 12. Underdog F. In 1923, this mutt walked 2,551 miles over plains, deserts and mountains to rejoin his family. Upon his death, Rin Tin Tin laid a wreath at his grave. G. This fictional 140 pound St. Bernard/ Scotch Collie mix eventually joins a wolf pack and becomes a Klondike legend. H. This fictional mutt becomes a superhero whenever his paramour, Sweet Polly Purebreed, is being menaced. I. This fictional mutt was created in 1968 and was voiced by Don Messick. He is known bestfor his wheezy laugh. J. This mutt was found on the streets of Moscow and became one of the first animals in space. Unfortunately, she didn’t make it back. K. This mutt followed his shepherd owner to the hospital, then followed his master’s body to a train, then spent the next five-and-a-half years waiting for his master’s return. L. This mutt served at the post office, beginning in Albany, NY in 1888. Eventually, he traveled with mail bags all over the country, making a mail trip around the world in 1895. This little mutt, preserve, now rests at the Smithsonian Institution.

Figure 11-1: Above left. Figure 11-2: Left. Figure 11-3: Right. Figure 11-4: Far right. See page 19 for descriptions. SMOKE SIGNALS Page 13 ghghgh Ankokas Events 2020 ghghgh Nov. 12: Zoom meeting, 7:30PM Dec. 10: Zoom meeting, 7:30PM Go to http://www.ankokas.com/calendar.cfm for updates. ghghgh AACA Calendar 2021 ghghgh All dates subject to change doe to the ongoing pandemic. Please check www.aaca.org for updates. Feb. 11-13: AACA National Annual Convention. Philadelphia May 6-8: AACA Central Spring Nationals. Auburn, IN. 201 Hotel, Philadelphia, PA. June 17-19: Eastern Spring Nationals. Saratoga Springs, NY. April 8-10: Southern Spring Nationals hosted by the Hornets Go to www.aaca.org/Calender/aaca_calendar.html for more Nest Region. Charlotte Auto Fair, Concord, NC. information and listings.

ghgh Fun Holidays to Celebrate in Nov. & Dec. ghgh Nov. 1: National Authors’ Day Dec. 1: Antarctica Day Nov. 3: Public Television Day Dec. 2: National Mutt Day Nov. 4: King Tut Day Dec. 4: National Dice Day Nov. 5: Play Monopoly Day Dec. 5: International Ninja Day Nov. 7: International Merlot Day Dec. 6: National Miners’ Day Nov. 8: Cook Something Bold Day Dec. 10: Dewey Decimal System Day Nov. 10: Sesame Street Day Dec. 13: National Guard Birthday Nov. 11: World Origami Day Dec. 14: Yoga Day Nov. 17: Homemade Bread Day Dec. 15: International Tea Day Nov. 19: National Camp Day Dec. 17: Wright Brothers Day Nov. 20: Absurdity Day Dec. 18: Underdog Day Nov. 22: Go For a Ride Day Dec. 21: Celebrate Short Fiction Day Nov. 23: Fibonacci Day Dec. 27: Howdy Doody Day Nov. 24: D. B. Cooper Day Dec. 28: Card Playing Day Nov. 29: Square Dance Day Dec. 28: Short Film Day gh From The Archives gh Army Surplus By the time school started again, I could work a lathe, wire originally printed April 2003 an engine and do other mechanical chores that I had once article by Howard Steinberg thought beyond my talents. And much to my surprise, I In the mid-1950’s, a broker acting for the Israeli government enjoyed the work. contacted my father. He wanted to know if my Dad could By late fall, the thirty or so units had been brought to running supply approximately thirty Word war II US Army surplus 4x4 condition and delivered to Philadelphia. We assumed that and 6x6 trucks for the state of Israel. The trucks had to be in they would be shipped out right away. But, mysteriously, they running condition. Once paid for, they then had to be delivered never left the port. Years later, customers of ours who went in to the pier in Philadelphia for shipment overseas. and out of the pier area on business would report that he army My Dad accepted the contract and thus began a frantic trucks were still there, rusting quietly, never to leave. summer-long search to fill the order. By the mid-50’s, P many of these vehicles, so sought after at the end of hostilities, were now relegated to contractors’ back lots and farmers’ fields. After all, civilian production had by now caught up to demand. The rough riding warriors that had smashed the Axis powers had finished their heroic work. The world had moved on and modern trucks were the order of the day. I remember going out with my father on weekends to hunt down enough of these relics to meet the terms of the contract. And find them we did. One by one, they were wreckered to my Dad’s shop. I worked as a helper in the garage that summer to get the trucks running. SMOKE SIGNALS Page 14 ghgh Sesame Street Puzzle ghgh November 10th is Sesame Street Day! Find the words below in the puzzle. Answers on page 18.

Left: Jill Biden and Michelle Obama pose with Sesame Street characters in 2011. Photo by Elaine Sanchez. Public domain. Right: Sesame Street characters entertain a crowd at a US Naval Air facility. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Vivian Blakely. Public domain.

1. BERT 2. BIG BIRD 3. BOB 4. CAROLL SPINNEY 5. COOKIE MONSTER 6. COUNT VON COUNT 7. ELMO 8. ERNIE 9. FRANK OZ 10. GORDON 11. GROVER 12. JIM HENSON 13. KEVIN CLASH 14. MARIA 15. MR. HOOPER 16. OSCAR THE GROUCH 17. SESAME STREET 18. SNUFFLEUPAGUS 19. SUSAN 20. TELLY

Elmo. Photo by Walter Lim. Used under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license. SMOKE SIGNALS Page 15

ghgh Webside Ramblings ghgh article by Diana Antinucci the videos on optical toys, stuffed toys and dollhouses. You can The National Automobile Museum in Reno, NV has more also tour the museum with a father and his children, with Curious than 200 cars spread over 100,000 square feet and four KC or with KC vids. galleries. The galleries are connected by hallways, with historic With the holidays fast approaching, I thought our DIY this time street scenes on one side, complete with cars, store facades, should be about gift wrapping. Some people have a problem artifacts and sounds, and a timeline of the era portrayed on the wrapping presents. I’m pretty good at it, but even I look at what other side. Most of the cars come from the collection of William I’ve wrapped and think, “I can do better.” So, here’s some hints F. Harrah, who owned about 1,450 cars and had the largest for all of us. First, just putting the gift in a bag is not acceptable. collection in the world. When Harrah died in 1978, his hotels If you have to use a bag, spruce it up a little with tissue paper and his car collection went to Holiday Inn. In 1981, Holiday Inn and ribbons. Second, always wrap on a flat, hard surface. Third, made the deeply unpopular decision to sell off the collection. while there is some truly beautiful wrapping paper out there, it’s The governor attempted to delay the sale and there was a not necessary. Brown paper from paper bags or parcel paper group that was interested in purchasing the collection, but can be made to be just as pretty using the rest of our tips. If you both failed. In the end, a nonprofit organization was founded, have someone that likes puzzles, print out some puzzles and which ultimately built the National Automobile Museum, and wrap their gift in that. You can also layer your gift wrap and use Holiday Inn donated 175 of Harrah’s cars to the museum, with cut-outs to expose the layer underneath. Use scraps of gift wrap another sixty vehicles donated by to decorate another present by others. Among the cars kept here cutting shapes or putting a strip are Elvis Presley’s 1973 Cadillac down the center. No matter what Eldorado, Frank Sinatra’s 1961 paper you are using, sit your gift Ghia, John F. Kennedy’s 1962 on the paper so that it’s diagonal Lincoln Continental, John Wayne’s to the paper and use double stick 1953 Chevrolet Corvette, a 1928 tape. If gifts belong together, wrap Ford Model A given to Mary them separately but stack them Pickford by her husband, Douglas together and tie them together with Fairbanks, the 1948 Mercury Eight ribbon. Speaking of ribbon, use it driven by James Dean in Rebel in different ways. Layer a thinner Without a Cause, one of the three piece with a thicker piece, put two 24k gold-plated DeLoreans built strips side by side or use wire- for American Express, the only edged ribbon to make bows. Don’t surviving protype of Buckminster have ribbon or really can’t deal Fuller’s Dymaxion, a one-of-a-kind 1907 Thomas Flyer at the National Automobile Museum. Photo by with it? Try paper tape. Seriously, Phantom Corsair and the 1907 Tobias Haase and used under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 look up “washi tape” on Amazon Generic license. Thomas Flyer that won the race and plan to spend at least half around the world in 1908. You can an hour looking at the choices. If see some of the museum yourself at their YouTube channel, your paper is plain, use paint markers, chalk markers or glitter Toy Man Television Tour Part One and Part Two, The Best to liven it up. You can use fabric to wrap instead of paper. Auto Museum Ever and Celebrity Cars Exhibit at the National Look up “furoshiki” for more about that. After you’ve wrapped Automobile Museum. your present and added ribbons and bows, add some other Now, let’s take a stroll down memory lane to the largest embellishments, like mini candy canes, pine cones, evergreen museum of very small things. The National Museum of Toys sprigs, small jingle bells, etc. An important tip is to wrap as you and Miniatures was established in 1982 in an old mansion on buy. If you wait until the last minute, you may feel overwhelmed. the campus of the University of Missouri-Kansas City and most After you have a few presents bought, wrap those, then buy of its original collection came from the collections of Mary more. After the big day is over, remember to recycle and reuse. Harris Francis and Barbara Hall Marshall. It started with 7,500 If the paper can be balled up and retains its shape, it can be square feet and two full-time employees and with expansions recycled. Put your ribbon in a bag to be reused, along with in 1989, 2004 and 2014 it now houses over 86,000 objects embellishments. Store your gift wrap and accouterments in a and is the world’s largest collection of miniatures and one of garment bag hung in the closet or a plastic container under the the country’s largest toy collections. At the museum you’ll see bed. See links below for videos. Happy holidays! wooden boats, tin toys, dolls dating back to 1750, original 20 Elegant Gift Wrapping Ideas Barbie dolls, vintage Hot Wheels, miniatures that will blow your DIY Gift Wrapping Ideas mind and dollhouses that are the kind of dollhouses I wanted 10 Fantastic Gift Wrap Ideas when I asked for one for Christmas one year. You can see more 27 Clever Gift Wrapping Ideas For Lazy People of the museum at their YouTube channel. I particularly enjoyed P SMOKE SIGNALS Page 16 ghgh History of Playing Cards ghgh article by Diana Antinucci ranks and playing cards had four suits: cups, coins, swords Like so many things, the origin of playing cards is lost to and polo sticks, taken from the interests of Mamluk aristocracy. history. Part of the problem is that paper cards do not survive Europeans later used these same suits, but polo sticks became the ravages of time very well, so evidence of paper playing clubs because polo was almost unknown in Europe at the time. cards is scarce. Scarce, but not entirely lacking, so we do The games played with these Egyptian cards are not known have some clues. and these decks stopped being exported in the 16th century. One thing we do know is that, contrary to some beliefs, Playing cards enter the European historical record in 1377 in tarot cards are not the predecessor to modern playing cards. a manuscript written by a Swiss monk in Germany. He makes Tarot decks do not appear in the historical record before mention of playing cards and different games being played 1440 AD, well after playing cards. The twenty-two cards of with them. By this time, card games were already popular and the major arcana from tarot decks may have been added to were surrounded by drinking, gambling and other vices that regular playing card decks to expand the court cards and brought them to the attention of religious and civil authorities. these expanded decks were used primarily for gaming. Tarot Playing card games were denounced from the pulpit and in cards were not used for divination until around 1750. 1377, Paris passed a ban on card games being played on So, where did playing cards come from? There is evidence workdays. By this time, playing card decks had 52 cards in from Tang Dynasty China (9th century AD) of games involving four suits: swords, cups, coins and clubs and court cards playing cards. These cards represented coins or strings of consisting of a king, an upper marshal and a lower marshal, coins and may have been both the instruments with which generally speaking. There has been speculation that the four suits represented different social classes in medieval European the game was played and representations of the stakes for society: cups for clergy, swords for the military, coins for which the game was being played. The first record of a card merchants and clubs for peasants, but there is no evidence for game being played is in the Tang Dynasty record of Princess this and the variation in suits across decks and countries does Tongchang playing the “leaf game” and there is a Tang not lend itself to such generalizations. Dynasty book about playing cards. If cards originated in the In Italy, late 14th century decks had kings, queens and Tang Dynasty, this puts them contemporaneously with the knaves. In Spain, the court cards were kings, knights and origins of dominoes, mahjong and the first printed books. By knaves and the numbered cards had no 10. The most popular the 11th century, playing cards were found throughout Asia card game in Spain, ombre, also did away with eights and and from here they made their way to Egypt. nines, resulting in a forty card deck. Cards at this time, from The oldest surviving playing cards, consisting of four both Italy and Spain, were beautiful hand-painted items that fragments, date to the 12th or 13th century AD in Egypt and were expensive to produce and own. Eventually, methods were are held at the Benaki Museum in Athens, Greece. Court introduced to bring down the cost, but the next big innovation cards had abstract designs, but had the names of military was to take place in Germany.

Ming dynasty era Four Mamluk cards: six of coins, ten of polo sticks, three of cups and seven of swords. Knave of coins from the earliest known Chinese playing card Photo by Countakeshi and used under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 European deck. Public domain. circa 1400AD. Public International License..Public domain. domain.

continued on page 17 SMOKE SIGNALS Page 17 History of Playing Cards continued from page 16 usually the Ace of Spades, would receive a tax stamp. In 1828, Germany began using wood and copper plates to print a law passed requiring the Ace of Spades to be purchased cards. This gave them the ability to mass-produced decks of from the Commissioner for Stamp Duties, specially printed with cards and gave them dominance in the market. Germans had the manufacturer’s name and the duty paid, giving the Ace of different suits: acorns, leaves, hearts and hawk-bells and their Spades a more elaborate design. This continued even after the court cards included kings, an upper marshal and a lower tax disappeared and manufacturer’s made their own aces. The marshal. Twos were also eliminated from the deck, giving production of playing cards and the demand both increased, the Germans 48 cards. The Swiss had similar decks, but replaced cost decreased and the tax went away, leaving the market open leaves with shields and hearts with flowers. With the ability for unprecedented production, production that was led by one to mass produce decks, novelty card decks appeared on the man in particular, Thomas de la Rue of London. By the 1860s, market, using suit symbols like animals and kitchen utensils. de la Rue had swallowed up or out-competed most smaller German dominance in playing cars was relatively short-lived companies and cards with his designs became the standard. due to French inventions. The French, like other countries, It was also around this time that double-ended court cards had four suits, theirs being coeurs (hearts), piques (pikes, became common. Before this, court cards had full portraits, later becoming spades), carreaux (tiles, specifically diamond- but recognizing the court cards in your hand required you to shaped tiles) and trefles (clovers, which became associated put them upright, revealing that you with clubs). The French divided these had court cards. Double-ended cards into two red suits and two black suits eliminated the need to turn cards. and simplified the symbols, making them When playing cards came to the US, much easier to recognize quickly. The they made several important changes. simpler shapes could also be produced The New York Consolidated Card using stencils, much quicker than wood Company introduced indices to the or copper plate printing. French decks playing card deck in the 1870s, making proliferated and it is the French decks it easier to see what is in your hand that gave modern playing cards their while holding the cards tightly in one familiar look. The French also gave a hand, thus the first indexed decks were permanent place in the court cards to the Queen. This resulted in 52 card called “squeezers”. In these decks, decks with a king, queen and knave or Kings were abbreviated as K, Queens 56 card decks with a king, queen, knight were Q and Knaves were Kn. This led and knave. The French also associated to some confusion between kings and their court cards with specific historical knaves, so knaves became Jacks (J). and literary figures: King David (KS), The US also introduced jokers to the Alexander the Great (KC), Charlemagne deck. Euchre became a popular game (KH), Julius Caesar (KD), Pallas Athena in the US after the Revolutionary War. (QS), Judith (QH), Rachel (QD), Argine In euchre, the Jack of the trump suit (QC), La Hire (JH), Ogier (JS), Hector is the highest trump card, called the (JD), and Lancelot (JC) and it is from right bower, and the jack of the suit of these associations that we inherited the the same color is the second highest familiar patterns of court cards. The high trump card, called the second bower. Imperial Bower, or joker, by Samuel Hart 1863. The joker, or juker, a variation on the value of the Ace may also have its root in Public domain. Revolutionary France, where kings, queens name of the game, was invented as the and knaves were taken out of the deck, highest trump card in the game, called the replaced with Liberties, Equalities and Fraternities and the Ace best bower. The first time a joker was used as a wild card is was placed highest. Kings, queens and knaves were placed recorded in 1875. back into the deck with the emergence of Napoleon, but the Before the 19th century, the backs of playing cards were Ace kept its value. left blank and were often used as scrap paper. This became a With the explosion of playing card production in France, the problem, as any mark on a card gave it away, even smudges, French government saw a way to raise revenue and began fingerprints, etc. Complex designs began to be printed on card taxing cards. To escape these taxes, some card manufacturers backs to avoid this. The first card backs with pictures were moved operations to Belgium and large quantities of cards printed in 1831 to celebrate the coronation of King William were exported from Belgium to England. In England, the and Queen Adelaide. Not long after this, pictures of all kinds suits we know today were given their modern names: hearts, appeared on card decks, leading to cards used for advertising. diamonds, clubs and spades. The Ace of Spades was also Today, card games are among the most popular games played given its special status here. England also began taxing throughout the world and some people collect entire decks or cards and no deck could leave the factory without the tax just specific cards from a deck. Card Playing Day is December being paid. To prove hat the tax had been paid, the top card, 28th, so maybe this is your opportunity for a new hobby! P SMOKE SIGNALS Page 18

ghgh Letter From The Editors ghgh Diana: OK people, listen up. Usually Steven and I have a light- Steven: Please reach out to the officers and directors if you hearted message to share with you, but this time we are taking have any questions or comments. Their contact information is a much more serious tone. in the box below. Steven: And it’s not about the plague or wearing a face mask. Diana: I guess there could be one other reason people aren’t Diana: Those are important issues, but we want to talk about attending the Zoom meetings. our meetings on Zoom. Attendance is way down and we want Steven: What’s the reason? to know why that’s happening. Are you uncomfortable using Diana: No cookies. Zoom, do you have a computer that can’t run the program, is there a technical issue you can’t resolve? Steven: Ankokas wants everyone to be a part of the club and the meetings. Even though we aren’t meeting in person, we still have important club business to discuss and club decisions to make that affect everyone. Diana: In November, we have two very important issues to bring before the membership: extending current officers and directors for another year and waiving dues for 2021. These are important issues and require a vote by the membership for approval. Your vote counts. So, we are asking two things of everyone. Steven: First, if you are having a problem with Zoom, if you don’t like it, can’t use it, or want a different way of holding a socially distant meeting, PLEASE call one of the current officers on the phone and talk to them about it. Let someone know how you feel about this. It’s your club, and your voice needs to be heard. Diana: Second, regarding 2021 officers and dues, if you can’t join the Zoom meeting on Thursday, November 12th at 7:30 “I know Halloween is over, but I heard her muttering about Christmas. Just PM, call one of the current officers and tell them how you feel tell her I’m sleeping and wake me when it’s over.” Photo by S. Soppe. about these two important proposals. We want to hear from you. You can read about these proposals at the top of this Answers to Mutt Match Puzzle on page 12: 1D, 2F, 3G, 4J, 5I, newsletter. 6B, 7K, 8A, 9L, 10E, 11C, 12H

Figure 11-1: Benji 1979. Photo by Rob C. Croes. Dutch National ANKOKAS REGION, AACA Archives. Public domain. Figure 11-2: Sinbad. US Coast Guard publicity still. Public domain. Figure 11-3: Owney. National Postal ANKOKAS is a southern NJ Region of the AACA Museum. Public domain. Figure 11-4: Laika on Romanian postal dating back to 1964. stamp 1959. Public domain. Ankokas Region PO BOX 343 Riverside, NJ 08075 www.ankokas.com [email protected]

JOSEPH DOUGHERTY, PRESIDENT DAVE HANN, DIRECTOR [email protected] [email protected] 856-435-6798 856-304-3951

TOM McLARNEY, VICE-PRESIDENT NANCY DOUGHTERTY, DIRECTOR [email protected] [email protected] 856-287-2310 856-461-6688 BERNIE SHUSTER, DIRECTOR KATHY PETTERS, TREASURER [email protected] [email protected] 856-429-7739 856-767-4438 DIANA ANTINUCCI, DIRECTOR STEVEN SOPPE, SECRETARY [email protected] [email protected] 609-848-4843 609-848-4843 JEFF SCHULTE, DIRECTOR KATHY PETTERS, PAST PRESIDENT [email protected] [email protected] 856-234-1623 856-767-4438 SMOKE SIGNALS Page 19

ghgh Member Marketplace ghgh For Sale: 1952 Allard J2X For Sale: USA 960-T Pro Trig-Blast reproduction. Registered as a 2004 Sandblasting Cabinet. New List J2X and has a fiberglass Allard body, price…$1200.00. My price $500.00, you 1952 Cadillac 331 engine, dual quad pick it up. Call Tom McLarney 856-461- carbs, and a 1953 Olds 3-spd trans. 8084. Recently restored with new tires, wire Wanted: Enclosed Garage Space. wheels, paint, interior, dash, guages, Looking for an enclosed garage space roll bars, side pipes, wiring and in the Ankokas area, April through shocks. Less than 1,000 on the rebuilt October for a 1930s vehicle. I’m looking drive train. Asking $50,000. Call Chuck to bring one of my older vehicles down Culver 609-372-8535 or 609-261-5598. for the upcoming car season and 7/23/19 need an enclosed place to park the Wanted: ‘49 Buick Roadmaster 2dr. vehicle where I could secure the vehicle that needs restoring or a 1963 Pontiac and make any necessary emergency Tempest. Alan Coshland 609-801- repairs. Vehicle is 16 ft x 8 ft. 24 hr. 1167. Chuck Culver’s Allard reproduction. access to the garage not required, Wanted: One of the following cars: access upon appointment is fine with 1977-78 Buick Riviera, 1969-71 Pontiac me. Would be nice to park my daily Catalina, Bonneville or Grandville or 1973-76 Chevrolet driver at location while stored vehicle is being used. Price Caprice. Most colors considered. No projects. Call Howard Negotiable. Contact Kyle Blake BlakeRestorations@gmail. 609-820-0329. 06/10/18 com or 443-564-7268. 2/23/20 To place an ad in Member Marketplace, please e-mail [email protected]. Important Reminder!

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Ankokas will hold Zoom meetings on Nov. 12th and Dec. 10th at 7:30PM. Please check the website and your e-mail for updates.

We’re on the Web! See us at: Reminder! www.ankokas.com Regular meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month at 7:30PM on the second floor of the Haddonfield Municipal Please pay your Building.

Director meetings are held on an AACA dues for “as needed” basis as determined 2021. by the officers. SMOKE SIGNALS Page 20 The Ankokas Region would like to thank its sponsors and encourage its members to patronize these businesses whenever possible:

1708 West Marlton Pike, Cherry Hill, NJ

America’s most convenient bank

1701 Route 70 East, Cherry Hill, NJ

Independently owned NAPA stores with convenient locations in Hainesport Hinski- 609-261-5070 and Mt. Holly 609-267-2360. Tomlinson Funeral Home

1302 Route 38, Hainesport, NJ 609-261-0209 81 Haddon Ave., Haddonfield, NJ 08033 856-429-5060 Kenneth W. Tomlinson Mgr./Owner NJ Lic.# 3583 Traditional and Cremation Services Prearrangement Counseling www.Hinski-TomlinsonFuneralHome.com

www.toplinecompany.com 856-662-6400

Ankokas member Peter Bull