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Volume 1 No. 5 The Official Monthly Publication of the Ford & Mercury Restorer’s Club of America May 2005 Feature Vehicle of the Month: April 30 Garage Crawl a Super Event! 1927 Ford Model T n April 30th the FMRCOA members were treated to an “An Animal’s Best Friend” Oexceptional garage crawl organized by Mike Fontana. About 60 club members participated in the event that started at Jack Krompatic’s house in Farmington Hills where we had coffee and donuts and viewed the vehicles in his garages. The state of Jack’s “project” garage where he currently was working on an old Merc made me feel right L to R: Phil Lyon, George Patrick, at home! Jack’s collection includes Jack Krompatic, and Ed Goff several early 50’s Fords! Next we motored to Alex Atard’s House in Farmington Hills. Alex’s collection of cars and other antiques and collectibles is amazing! He began his car collection in 1958 and has over 50 cars mostly from the late teens into the 20’s. Some of these cars have been restored, but a majority are sitting outside in Owned by the open in their “original” state. Roger Hodyka There was a certain “charm” and eeriness about the way these rare automobiles sat there – almost aurel and Hardy made me buy my first Model T. I love T’s waiting to be brought back to life Lbecause they are so mechanically simple. It’s so simple that three again! monkeys and a small child could take one apart and reassemble it In the mid-eighties Alex began Some of Alex Atard’s Cars! again. My father would tell me stories of how he could buy one for building a “western town” on his five dollars in the 1940’s. Once he was coming home from a trip to property. The town consists of a number of streets and buildings the lake and his T started knocking and shaking real bad. He pulled Continued on page 7. over at a gas station, pulled off the bottom cover of the engine pan, cut off a piece of his belt and used it to replace the worn babbitt. He put it back together, filled it with oil, and drove it on home. Boy, An Interview with a Slot Machine Pioneer talk about simple! Decendant I bought my 1926 four door Model T in 1984 from the son of the n May 11 I had the unique opportunity to meet Arthur (Art) original owner who bought it new. His name was Ray Small, and OCaille of Canton. Art is the grandson of one of the “The Caillie he really was small. Small and very fat. In fact, he was so fat that he Brothers.” My interview with Art was arranged by our Associate could no longer fit under the steering wheel and that is why he was Editor, Denise Rohde, who works at the Glacier Hills Retirement selling it. Ray’s father’s name was also Ray, and the two Rays lived on Community where Art’s wife of 52 years, a small farm outside of Saginaw. The roads were all still dirt and no Eleanor, resides. (Glacier Hills would be a one ever salted them in the winter. Ray said that is why the car lasted great place for an FMRCOA mini car show so long without rusting away. as the folks there seem to love old cars!) Ray’s father kept very accurate records of every car, truck, tractor, or Between 1892 and 1937 the Callie Brothers farm equipment that he owned. He told me that the car had three were pioneers in a number of areas. They engine rebuilds, eight rebabbiting jobs, two sets of fenders, one rear designed and manufactured innovative, end, nine batteries, and 43 sets of tires! He told me that the set of beautiful slot machines; candy and gum tires on my car now was bought in 1960. Three of those tires are still dispensers; coin operated “moving” picture on my car. Continued on page 4. 1904 BIG SIX Slot Continued on page 6. The Rotunda Times The Rotunda Times FMRC Published by: FORD AND MERCURY RESTORERS Ford and Mercury Restorers Club of America CLUB of AMERICA P.O. Box 2938 Dearborn, Michigan 48123 www.fmrcoa.org P.O. Box 2938 • Dearborn, MI 48123 Newsletter Staff 2005 OFFICERS Editor President Bob Guetschow 248.328.9113 Steve Rohde 734.995.8702 [email protected] Vice President Art Cervi 248.553.8897 2955 Bateson Ct., Ann Arbor, MI. 48105 [email protected] Associate Editor Secretary Phil Lyon 734.422.0595 Denise Rohde 734.327.1302 [email protected] [email protected] 3369 Pontiac Trail, Ann Arbor, MI. 48105 Treasurer Steve Rohde 734.717.5444 Display Ad Editor [email protected] Phil Lyon 734.422.0595 [email protected] Director John Hill 734.455.8611 34945 Elmira, Livonia, MI. 48150 Director Mike Fontana 248.926.0160 Staff Contributors Director Doug Osborn 248.597.0940 Harry McAuliffe 313.534.5974 [email protected] Phil Lyon 734.422.0595 [email protected] Vic Hollingshead 248.474.4356 The Ford & Mercury Restorers Club is a hobby organization whose Larry Swanson 248.474.3902 [email protected] purpose is to foster and promote the acquisition, preservation and Membership Roster Editor use of all Ford vehicles, 25 years of age and older. Brian Saylor 248.486.8851 [email protected] Club Historian David Cheklich 248.391.3934 [email protected] WEBMASTER Jim Crawford 313.724.9117 [email protected] Editors’ Message his month we’d like to thank Roger Hodyka for not only The Ford and Mercury Restorers Club of America, Inc. Tproviding us with his Feature Vehicle, but also for writing the newsletter, “The Rotunda Times“, its contents, club logo, entertaining story that went with it! I’ve had a Model T since 1967 articles, and artwork are the property of the Ford and Mercury and it’s a great vehicle. Mine had a powerplant transplant in 1996 Restorers Club of America. No changes, additions, deletions when I put a complete 1984 Mustang 2.3 L powertrain into it. or reproductions are permissible without the written approval Now it’s very reliable! of the Ford and Mercury Restorers Club of America, Inc and its duly authorized representatives. We’d also like to thank Lowell Reams for his educational article on brake systems. We’d very much like to continue to put more such material into the newsletter! As indicated on page 1, Denise Rohde located our interviewee, The FMRC Membership Advantage!!!!!! Arthur Caillie. Perhaps some of you know interesting people who our Board officers and Editors take extra effort to we can interview for the Rotunda Times – or maybe you’d like to Ybring you FREE Classifieds and Schedule of Events be interviewed yourself? Please let us know! found within your monthly newsletter. Take advantage This month we have no letters to the editor. We’d like to get this of these benefits your membership provides. Post your going again! Members are encouraged to send us their letters schedule where you can refer to it easily. Submit your dealing with car questions, club events, or other suggestions. We’ll ads at a meeting or mail to Phil Lyon your ad editor. For try to get the questions answered by various experts including other more information on becoming a member go to http:// club members. www.fmrcoa.org/ or write to: All members are encouraged to submit articles as often as possible. FMRC Membership Secretary You can email them to us, or mail us files or typed or even P.O. Box 2938 handwritten text! Material should relate to the automotive hobby, Dearborn MI 48123 transportation or related interests. You don’t have to be a good Dues are $25 before & $30.00 after DEC 31 writer either – we’ll edit your stuff and it’ll look great! Thanks for your support! Steve & Denise Rohde, Editors Page 2 The Rotunda Times PRESIDENT’S PAGE May 2005 th n April 30 , the club sponsored a garage tour starting at member Norm at 734-432-5065 or Larry at 248-474-3902. Jack Krompatic’s house. Jack has several cars sandwiched in his th availableO space, but the unusual part of this first stop was the many Any last minute registrations for the Barn Show on June 12 should die cast cars and car and antique items displayed in his house. This call Mike Fontana at 248-926-0160. was topped off by a number of slot machines and electric games. At the May meeting, Roy Stull suggested that we do something special Our members were delighted by all they saw. The club provided for Alex Attard, who was our 2nd stop on the April 30th garage tour. coffee and donuts at this stop. The board decided that Alex be presented with a framed certificate We then moved on to Alex Attard’s house and a display of cars, car of appreciation. Mike Fontana and I presented the certificate to Alex th parts and antiques that had all of the group’s jaws dropping and on May 15 . Alex was delighted with the club for thinking of him. hearts stopping. Alex has converted his property into a fantasyland Another issue was presented at the May meeting by Don Olson. with 52 old cars that ran the gamut from old derelict hulks to Don asked the club to donate a trophy to the Grumpy Old Men’s restored examples of some pretty rare cars like Durant, Hupmobile Car Club, who along with Classsic Auto Show Place, is sponsoring and Willys Knight, to name a few.