HISTORIANS, INC. July- August 1984 Issue Number 91 EDITORIAL COMMENT CHAPTER DOINGS Beyond a doubt, the most rewarding part of the job as Southern California Chapter editor of the SAH publications is the daily trip to the mail A copy of the SoCal Newsletter (second quarter 1984) box to see what kind of goodies the postman has left there. was received at this office a few weeks ago, and with it came Just about everything you read in these pages has come by an announcement of the Chapter's upcoming literature sale. way of that box, the principal exception being the comments This is the Second Annual Literature Fair and Exchange, which make up this editorial column, and this time the inspira­ and will be held on Sunday, September 24, 1984, at the tion fer the following remarks also arrived by mail in a letter Briggs Cunningham Museum, 250 East Baker Street, Costa from SAH member Steve Richmond, of Arcadia, California, Mesa, California, between the hours of 6:00AM and 3:00PM. who says: The rain date for this event is September 30. "I am enclosing the name of a possible prospective mem­ The Fair is restricted to automotive literature, memora­ ber, but I also want to put in my 'two cents' in favoring a bilia, and small collectibles- no parts or non-automotive items. larger publication. I think the dues should be raised to cover Vendor spaces, 20' x 20', are $15.00 each. For more informa­ whatever the cost increase. I find the Journal fascinating to tion: Randy Ema, 120 W. Chestnut, P.O. Box 374, Anaheim, read .and full of interesting facts, etc. California, (714) 991-0440, or Bill Cannon, (818) 358-6255. "In the very near future I will be sending along an inter­ An article by Jim Valentine appearing in this newsletter, view conducted with Victor Christen, a 95-year-old gentleman, which concerns obscure and perhaps non-existent early at· .vho recalls the automobile from its beginnings. He started in temps at auto manufacturing in California, is reprinted in 1905, at the age of 15, working for the Yale Motor Car Com­ this issue of the Journal. pany in Toledo. I hope that you will consider publishing it in the Journal. It will be complete with photographs and other Pioneer Chapter related material. By the way, Victor is still selling Chevrolets The Pioneer Chapter had two successful spring meetings '· . at age 95." in 1984. The first meeting was generously hosted by Walter •. 1 Mr. Richmond's letter touches upon every subject I had Gosden, national vice president, at his home in Floral Park, hoped to include in this column. He has sent the name of a New York, on Saturday, April 7th. Eighteen members and prospective member, to whom an application form, a copy of guests were present. After introductory remarks by chapter the most recent issue of the Journal, and a personal letter president Nathaniel Dawes, a short synopsis of Society prior­ has been sent. He also favors a "larger publication," which ities was given by Walt Gosden. Each member and guest were could, I suppose, mean more pages per issue or more frequent then allowed a self-introduction and presentation of their basic issues. Either way , it is obvious that both printing and postage automotive interests. Personal observations of current and costs would increase, but increasing the cost of membership past automotive events were also discussed. The meeting was might be an ill-advised measure. In an era when the price of then adjourned for food and refreshments. everything seems to be escalating almost capriciously, making Another meeting was held at the Dawes residence on SAH a better value than it already is seems to be the best idea. Sunday, May 6th, in connection with the H. V. R.A.A.A. Our publications are the glue that holds the group to­ annual spring meet at nearby Rhinebeck, New York. Hudson gether. Larger or more frequent issues (or both) will encourage Valley members and Tom Hu estis, from Buffalo, ew York, not only new memberships, but more annual renewals of the enjoyed an afternoon of discussion. present ones, which will make improved publications easily A meeting is being planned for late October at the White affordable. Hart Inn in Salisbury, Connecticut. Members will be informed Surely most of us know at least one person who should be of final details in September. a member of SAH. If that one person could see what we have to offer, perhaps he or she would be more inclined to join. Wisconsin Chapter Send in the name of someone who might be interested, and The annual meeting and election of officers of the Wis­ a copy of our most current publication will be sent, along consin Chapter, SAH, was held on Saturday, July 7, at rola, yith an application form and a personal letter. Wisconsin, as one of the highlights of the lola Annual Car ' One hundred new memberships could make a 12-page Show and Swap Meet. The Board of Directors meeting pre­ Journal a possibility. And two hundred could provide four ceded the general business meeting, at which Bill Cameron, instead of two issues of Automotive History Review a year. of Minocqua, was elected as the new president of the Wis­ Shall we give it a try? consin Chapter. Statement of Financial Position as of March 31, 1984 (Unaudited) Assets Editor Editorial Office: SAH Journal General Fund Richard B. Brigham 1616 Park Lane, N.E. Art Director Marietta, Georgia 30066 Maryland National Bank-Commercial John M. Peckham Growth Account $8,888.14 Publications Committee Richard B. Brigham T. Rowe Price Prime Reserve Fund 408.62 Beverly Rae Kimes, Chairperson John A. Conde Advance a/c Secretary's expenses 265.11 George B. P. Ward, Jr. Frederick D. Roe Deposit a/c 1984 banquet 250.00 $ 9,811.87 The SAH Journal published Copyright1984 six times a year by The Society The Society of Automotive Awards Endowment Fund of Automotive Historians, Inc. I Historians, Inc. T. Rowe Price Prime Reserve Fund 894.91 SOC IETY OF AUTOMOTIVE HISTORIANS' OFFICERS, 1984 PRESIDENT SECRETARY Publications Endowment Fund: John A. Conde Charles L. Betts, Jr. i 340 Field way Drive 2105 Stackhouse Dr. T. Rowe Price Prime Reserve Fund 16,319.92 Bloomfield Hills, MI 4801 3 Yardely, PA 19067 James J. Bradley Memorial Fund: VI CE PRESIDEN T TREASURER George B. P. Ward, Jr. Walter E. Gosden c/o Maryland National Bank T. Rowe Price Prime Reserve Fund 2,903.56 197 Mayfair Avenue P. 0. Box 987 Floral Park, NY ll 011 Baltimore, MD 21203 Total Assets $29,930.26 Liabilities and Net Worth Persons interested in joining the Society of Automotive Historians, write to Charles L. Betts, Jr., Secretary, Liabilities (Unpaid Obligations) $ 118.25 2105 Stackhouse Drive, Yardley, PA 19067. If you have moved, forward your new address to Charles Net Worth (Fund Equities) L. Betts, Jr., 2105 Stackhouse Drive, Yardley, PA 19067. Material for publication in the Journal or Automotive GenerarFuna 9,693.62 History Review should be sent to Richard B. Brigham, Awards Endowment Fund 894.91 Editor, 1616 Park Lane, N.E., Marietta, GA 30066. Publications Endowment Fund 16,319.92 Bradley Memorial Fund 2,903.56 BACK ISSUES OF SAH PUBLICATIONS Total Liabilities and Net Worth $29,930.26 FOR YOUR FILES AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY REVIEW Statement of Income and Expense for the three With the exception of number two, all issues are available months ended March 31, 1984- (Unaudited) from one to fifteen. Price is $3.00 per copy, plus $1.00 postage per order in the USA. General Fund NEWSLETTER AND JOURNAL Income Out of print: 3, 4, 6, 7, 23, 26, 43. Dues $2,780.00 Very limited supplies: 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 12, 33, 34, 39. Interest 144.36 These are priced at $1.00 each, while they last, not to be Contributions 103.76 included in quantity prices quoted below. $ 3,028.12 All other issues: The following price schedule applies; Expense Single copies, each . .. ......... .. ....... $1.00 Printing $ 350.00 Any ten ... ... ........ .. .... $8.00 Typesetting & Layout 320.00 Any twenty-five .. ............... .. $17.00 Postage 82.82 Al l ava ilable from #10 thru #75 .... ...... $33.00 Mail Service 94.05 Please add $1.00 per order for postage in USA Telephone 8.39 For sh ipment outside the USA please make payment in Xerox 24.21 US funds and add ten percent of the amount of your Office Supplies 138.28 ord er for shipping. Advance a/c Secretary's Expense 250.00 Make checks payable to The Society of Automotive Directors' Meeting Expense, Historians, Inc., and mail to Fred Roe, 837 Winter Street, Philadelphia 50.00 Hol li ston, MA 01746 USA. Other 37.31 1,355.06 Excess of Income over Expense .$..__1673.06 2 DID THEY EVER BUILD A MORELAND AUTO? the past few years, to try out various features of design and construction. by J. H. Valentine These new automobiles were to be produced by an The Moreland Company, with offices at 257 South unnamed new company with a proposed capitalization of Spring Street in Los Angeles, California, had Watt Moreland $1,000,000, having facilities separate from those of the truck \..._) as president, B. Franklin Mansfield, vice president, and G. H. firm. The new cars would have six-cylinder engines, a 118-inch Townsend as secretary. In June of 1909 they showed a proto­ wheelbase, and disc wheels. Three body types would be avail­ type Moreland roadster to the press.