Showing posts with label 1911 Ford Model T. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1911 Ford Model T. Show all posts

A Busy Anniversary Week

by Nancy DeWitt
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

June 1 was the 5-year anniversary for our museum's official opening. It seems like only yesterday when we opened our doors for the first time! We had a very busy week leading up to this milestone. Visitor traffic has really picked up now that the cruise tour groups are hitting Fairbanks, although we are seeing a lot of independent travelers, too. No matter where they're from, they can't resist putting on some old-timey clothes and getting in our 1911 Everitt for a photo.

Last week Willy stayed busy leading tours in the museum while helping me put some finishing touches on our newest exhibit: Extreme Motoring: Alaska's First Automobiles and Their Dauntless Drivers. We have organized an impressive collection of original Alaska cars and several others identical to the first ones to arrive in Fairbanks. Exhibit panels tell the stories of our early motorists and their adventures and inventions. These are also vividly displayed in our large collection of historic photographs, including many newly discovered ones, displayed throughout the museum.

Another fun feature in our Alaska exhibit are four videos compiled from the film archives at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. You can see modified snow vehicles in action, watch cars traveling down the old Richardson Highway and crossing the Tanana River on the old cable ferry, and see a variety of early cars motoring around several Alaska towns and Mt. McKinley National Park. We really hope you will come to the museum and see the Extreme Motoring exhibit this summer.

Last week we sent another book off to the designer, this time a coloring book that will appeal to children and adults alike. It's a "Ride Along with Bobby Sheldon" coloring book that highlights his inventions and adventures, and it is whimsically illustrated by Fairbanks artist Sandy Jamieson. Hopefully we will have the books ready to sell by late July.


As if this wasn't enough to fill our week, we had a booth at the annual Vernon L. Nash Antique Auto Club car show at the Carlson Center over the weekend. Many thanks to volunteer Ron Dane for driving our 1911 Ford Model T depot hack to the show, and to volunteer Rod Benson for helping man the booth. It was a fun event and there were a lot of great-looking cars at the show. We'll post photos over on our Facebook page later this week (you don't need a Facebook account to view our page).

Many thank to all of you who made our first five years such a success. Now on to the next five!



Coming to Fairbanks to see the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum and other area attractions? Support the museum by staying right here at Wedgewood Resort. All guests receive half-price admission to the museum!

Fairbanks Golden Days 2013

by Nancy DeWitt
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

This beautiful hack is made from
birch and cherry wood.
"The bulb is out on your
arm turn signal, sir."
Golden Days is an annual celebration commemorating the early history of Fairbanks and our Gold Rush heritage. It kicks off with a party at Pioneer Park that includes a Show and Shine. We take a museum car to the show each year, although we were a bit delayed on the way there with our 1911 Ford Model T depot hack.



As always, the Show and Shine organized by the Vernon L Nash Antique Car Club was a hit.


For some reason, the traditional wear for many women at Golden Days is a dance hall costume, which to my knowledge was not seen on the streets of early Fairbanks. The "Good Girls" felt the need to show our disdain for the "Good Time Girls," but the men seemed to approve of the latter.

Photo by Kristie Dickerson

The event also featured live music, free food and olde-fashioned games for children...


...and about $40,000 worth of gigantic gold nuggets to admire.

Of course, the highlight of Golden Days is the annual parade. This year Willy drove our 1919 Pierce-Arrow Series 31 touring car, which had the honor of carrying the winners of the Miss WEIO (World Eskimo-Indian Olympics) pageant. A great end to a fine week!


Coming to Fairbanks to see the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum and other area attractions? Support the museum by staying at one of the Fountainhead Hotels.  All guests receive half-price admission to the museum!

Edwardian Motoring Clothing

by Nancy DeWitt
Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

When automobiles were a novelty during their earliest stages of development, drivers and passengers wore whatever they had available, usually the same attire they chose for riding in horse-drawn carriages. But as automobiles became more common after the turn of the 20th Century, specialized clothing and other motoring gear became essential to protect oneself from clouds of dust, flying rocks, and mud and oil splatters. The first cars were “open,” having no windscreens, door or side windows. Even those riding in automobiles with windshields and tops were vulnerable to dust and oil splatters.


To protect their clothes, both men and women wore loose topcoats of leather, or dusters. Dusters ranged from simple linen garments to silk coats accented with pretty trimming, but unlined linen dusters with no trim were the easiest to wash. Most had large pockets for maps, gloves, bandanas and other travel necessities. Some men wore dusters made of canvas or oilskin to protect their clothes while changing flat tires and making on-the-spot repairs. You can see several styles of duster on display in our museum.

A 1909 Sears Catalog lists a simple “Duster of Linene in fine-quality Chambray in gun-metal gray” for $2.98. For inclement weather, a lady could purchase an automobile coat made from rubberized mohair for $8.98, while one of rubberized silk cost $14.98. Sounds cheap, but these would cost you around $75, $225 and $370, respectively, in today’s dollars.

The fashionably large hats of the time proved a challenge for female automobilists. Large scarves could be wrapped over a hat to hold it in place, but narrower hats were more practical. Automobile bonnets also came into fashion and were especially favored by women daring enough to drive their own car. Whatever the style choice, many wore gauze veils to protect their faces from dirt and oil. 

Male motorists favored caps, goggles and gauntlet gloves, as modeled here by museum manager Willy Vinton. Because of the need for frequent tire changes and repairs, men often wore breeches with boots or leather leggings, rather than trousers. 

In the winter, fur coats were popular among both male and female motorists, supplemented by lap robes, fur muffs and foot warmers in open cars. Today, it is not unusual to see someone without a coat or hat driving in Fairbanks at -40ยบ. Times have changed! 









Ford Model T Seeks New Relationship

by Nancy DeWitt

Hard as it is to part with one of our beautiful museum cars, we've decided to sell our 1911 Ford Model T Runabout. We have several other Model Ts in our collection and need to make room for some recent acquisitions.


If you are looking for a Brass Era Model T that is ready for shows and/or excursions, this sporty automobile is being offered at the Gooding Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona on January 21, 2012.

For more photos and a description of the car, click here for the Gooding auction catalog page. You'll need to spend a few seconds creating a password in order to view the full listing.

In the Shop: Mercury-bodied Model T Speedster


by Willy Vinton

Just out of high school? Need a sports car? Can't afford a Stutz or Mercer? Back in the 1920s the answer was to go out and find a Model T Ford, strip the body off, hop up the engine and purchace a Mercury Speedster Kit. The cost of the kit ran about $185 and would make a sporty little ride like the one in our museum. We finally had time this week to attach its step plates, so that was Tuesday's workshop project (along with a few others).

This is the finished product. As you can see, the steps help complete the car (ignore the skinny guy in the driver's seat). This speedster is a fun little car to cruise around town in, (warm days only).
The engine is a Model T Ford built in 1923, equiped with a Rajo overhead conversion, upgraded ignition system, and a few other custom tricks. A stock transmission, built with a up graded high speed clutch, delivers the power to the rear diff, which is stock T.

Thanks to the crew for their help with this project. Ron Allen, Rod Benson, Paul Tekin, and Mike Lecorchick.

You can see a video of this speedster here.

We Get Around

by Willy Vinton

The rather short window of warm weather for driving antique cars in Fairbanks is slowly closing. As a result, there's been a flurry of activity in the museum shop to get the rest of the cars outside for some exercise. In addition to the Stanley & Buckmobile featured in recent posts, we've taken out the following in the past few weeks, either for short drives around the Wedgewood Resort campus or for runs around Fairbanks with the Vernon L Nash Antique Car Club:

1932 Chrysler Custom Imperial Series CL convertible sedan (coachwork by LeBaron)

This is a very impressive car to drive and see operating--very smooth and it is stunning to see up close. It has one of the finest restorations you will ever see.



1921 Daniels Model D 6-passenger touring (our star mechanic Charlie Jergens at the wheel, with docents Ron and Nancy Allen along for the ride).

This car has a very strong presence--a very striking car to drive and see. It is an original car with a 1960s paint job. We rebuilt the radiator and did some minor engine work, so it is good for another 50 years.


1907 Franklin Type D landaulet

This is a 4 cylinder, air-cooled car. It's a little temperamental and requires lots of attention. It smokes a little (okay, a lot), but that keeps the operator from getting mosquito-bit, as the bugs stay clear of it. In spite of its little issues, it is a fantastic piece of history.
Our new 1923 Mercury-bodied Ford Model T speedster.

Okay, now we're talking fun. This was the ultimate in a poor man's sports car. If you could not afford a Bearcat or Mercer, you just stripped down a T, got a Mercury speedster kit, hopped up the engine and you had this. What a kick to drive!
1911 Ford Model T open runabout

We just finished a full rebuild on the transmission of this car, so it was good to see it outside in operation again. If you were in the museum the last month, you saw the car on display, completely disassembled while we waited for parts (the transmission drums were the hold up). Runs like a charm now! Photographed at Creamer's Field by Ronn Murray Photography.

1905 Curved Dash Oldsmobile

This was the second time this season we had this cute little automobile out for some exercise. It is a very fun car to operate. You really don't need a speedometer, as you know when you're going fast enough! The "CDO" was one of the most popular cars of the day.




1936 Packard V12 Series 1408 

What a car! Charlie had it out for a test drive on Wednesday, and we are now working on the vacuum brake system. Once the brakes are up to specs, we'll put a few more miles on this impressive car.




1929 Ford Model A deluxe coupe

We just moved this to our corporate office for staff to use for errands. Like all old cars, this one requires a little TLC from time to time. We had to replace the ignition switch and put a head gasket in to make sure that it runs trouble free. If you see her cruising around Fairbanks, wave and smile, because she looks pretty good for her age.
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