What’s
Happening! |
- The biggest news of the year is that the
vehicle is completely "skinned" with new sheet metal.
In mid-December, it was transported (towed) to a local body shop (B&M
Customs) where they finished the new sheet metal (with the help of
some of the volunteers and a dozen gal. of body filler), sanded and
primed the vehicle and painted the lower section. It was returned to
the shop on 12/27 and looks great. A major step indeed! Thanks to an
excellent job of towing and maneuvering it back into the barn by Curt
Sharp of Merl’s Wrecking Service.
- The lower section is painting black
where aluminum trim and rubber bumpers will be mounted. The very top
still requires finishing since we ran out of money to have B&M
completely finish the outside. Check out the web site soon for
up-to-date photos.
- This metal work and priming was
done during December while the Tuesday work group sessions are on hold
and some of the workers take a well-deserved winter vacation. Don and
Carol are in Australia as I write this but should be back by the time
you read it.
- The above accomplishment is the status
as of the end of 2002 but many other key steps were completed to make
the movement of the Futurliner possible. Some of the most significant
include:
- The lighting fin is another big
accomplishment last month. It has been rebuilt with new lighting
fixtures (both 110 VAC fluorescent and sealed beam floodlights), sheet
metal and gearing. Thanks to Graybar Electric (along
with their suppliers GE Lighting and Cooper Lighting) for
donating over $2000 worth of fixtures, bulbs and flood lights. Thanks
also to Ryan DeVries for building two new link arms at home for
the linkage. The process of installation was quite involved. Don
had to pull the vehicle out of the garage with his pickup, Del had to
steer it with a pipe wrench, and Kenowa Lumber (Dennis
Fuller) loaned a "Sky Trak" to lift the light fin over
the top of the Futurliner. This machine is able to lift up to 6000#
over 40’ in the air so it managed the light bar quite easily. The
light bar (or "fin") is now in position and operates thru it’s
full range of extension by rebuilt gears and 110 VAC electric motors.
A few clever modifications were required to help it operate in the
lower positions.
- The new brake system is virtually
complete. This is the only area in the restoration you recall that has
been upgraded from the original 1950’s design for safety reasons.
- The wheels have been restored and
painted (red) by Steve Cordes at his family truck tire
business. We have mounted an old set of tires and wheels on the
vehicle during the restoration to allow it to be towed to the body
shop.
- A temporary steering wheel has
been installed to allow steering although without the power assist
working, it is fun to turn. The steering wheel has been recast by Richard
Gumm and completed by Bruce Berghoff. But we are using a
temporary one during the restoration to keep the new one untouched.
- A number of smaller but essential parts
are being rebuilt or fabricated including rear door latches, inner
wheel well liners, rear bumpers, running lights (40 are on the
outside!), turn signal housings, rubber bumper sections and the
radiator (thanks to Weller Truck).
- The Autronic Eye (automatic headlight
dimmer) has been rebuilt and supplied by John Oldenburg.
- We continue to receive much needed parts
(or at least pattern material) from the Futurliner that Brad
Boyajian has in Calif. This was part of a donation as we reported
on in past newsletters. Thanks to the efforts of Dave Mikol, John
Martin Smith (NATMUS), Brad, Dean Tryon and Ron
Bluhm (GM Power Train Div), the first batch of parts were
delivered in October.
- Wayne Jackson
called Steve Kassis at "The Filling Station" to order
headlight trim rings and other components. While they were talking,
Steve took an interest in the project and ended up donating these parts
to the project. Steve’s web site is http:/www.fillingstation.com
with an online catalog. He sells Chevrolet and GMC reproduction parts
for cars (1916-1964) and trucks (1918-1972).
- Mike Ball with help from Al
Batts continues to catalog information that comes in, respond to
request for information to a variety of people doing research and/or
articles on this part of GM’s history and prepare displays for
various events. Mike is also taking videos of the work sessions along
with digital pictures.
-
The Tuesday work group size
continues to grow with up to 22 men working plus many of the wives
supplying lunch and coffee break nourishment. Some of these work days
start with the outside temperatures below zero degrees so Don’s new
heated workshop is really appreciated. The core group that meets
regularly includes: Jim Baker, Mike Ball,
Al Batts, Bruce Beimers, Stan Bowers, Del Carpenter, Fred Carpenter,
Connie DeJong, Ed Devries, Bud Dinger, Jeff Dornbush, Ron Elzinga,
Wayne Jackson, Don Mayton, Art Meidema, Marty Reed, Wes Myrick, Dick
Saddler, Jerry Sigler, Wally Snow, Howard Sullivan and John Wiltjer.
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Paraders
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- As a result of the efforts of Jim
Morris and his updated Paraders address list, we have identified
3 spouses of Paraders and we have contacted them to see if they
would like to follow the restoration project. So far, Rita
Stevenson (Clarke) has responded by e-mail and would like to
receive the newsletters.
- Jim Morris
arranged for a group photograph at the reunion. One photo is Paraders
only and one is the Paraders with their spouses. These were taken by a
professional photographer and are available from Betty Juell,
1785 Lilac Ct., Jenison, MI 49428. Cost is $15 for one or $25 for
both. Jim indicated he will help you identify the participants in case
they have changed in the 50 years since you may have seen them. Be
sure to let Betty know on your check which photo you want.
- We also have just received the mailing
addresses for Dow Gordon and Bill Mayer and a new
address for Ken Kiernan.
- Jim Tolley
found a letter in his files that he wrote a few years ago recalling
his first year with GM (1954) and with the Parade of Progress. It is
nearly 2 pages long so we cannot reproduce it here but it does make
interesting reading. He started with the GM Public Relations Staff
doing odd jobs with the Parade (mostly picking up trash with a stick
with a nail on the end for the first several weeks). His first break
came in Rochester NY (your editor’s hometown) when he was given the
chance to present a concept car. From that start, he became a lecturer
for the balance of his 2 years on the Parade. Jim left GM and
Chevrolet in 1978 and retired from Chrysler in 1988. In 1985, Jim was
honored by PR News and was given a gold stick with a nail on the end.
A fitting end to his career.
- On a related note, we heard from Dan
McUsic who was with the GM Preview of Progress, a program that
ran in the 60’s and 70’s. He reports that many of the GM
Marketing and Public Relations people started their careers with a 2
year assignment on these presentations which were done primarily in
schools across the US.
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Posters
&
Hats |
- As we reported in the last issue, the
posters and hats are available thru NATMUS for $10 each plus $3
shipping. Quantity orders will have a break on shipping and will be
approximately 20% above the single item shipping charge. Contact
Bobbie at NATMUS for specifics for your quantity. A good number were
sold at Hershey and NATMUS is beginning to receive orders. An order
form and additional info is on the web site. The mailing address is
below on the Donation Form – please use the street address
and not the PO box. Credit cards are accepted at the museum.
- You can also see the poster (along with
it’s history) and the hat on the web site (http://www.futurliner.com/poster.htm).
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Project
Needs |
- A local firm had volunteered to
restore the air conditioner but has discovered that it is not
repairable. They have however committed to build us a new unit.
Since we want this to appear to be the original, we need the sheet
metal box that encloses the air conditioner. These were standard GM
units that fit in the trunk of the 1952-54 cars and have the "Frigidaire"
emblem. Does anyone have a box or even just the emblem?
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Posters
&
Hats |
- A poster has been developed from a
painting by John Falter which was the cover of the 1953 GM Annual
Report. John Falter was a popular artist and did many covers for the
Saturday Evening Post (and other magazines) until he died in 1982.
When he attended a Parade of Progress in 1953, he took many photos
of the Futurliners and displays and then using his artistic license,
painted a canvas of the essential elements of the Parade. John
Falter tried to "bring out some of the homeliness and humor of
mid-western town and home life" and hence, the title of the
poster is "We Hope To Set a Boy to Dreaming". It is
very well done and a collectors item for all of you who are
interested in the history and the restoration project.
- This canvas has been carefully
recreated in the form of a 18" x 22" poster that will be
sold to help raise funds to complete the project. They are being
sold at Hershey this month at 5 booths by members of the work crew
and will also be available from NATMUS. Cost is $10 each plus $3
shipping and handling. All proceeds go to the restoration project.
- The new Futurliner baseball type hats
developed by Al Batts and given to the Paraders at the 9/4
reunion were also sold at Hershey. They will also be available
through NATMUS for $10 each. They are dark blue with an excellent
red and silver embroidery of the Futurliner on the front. They look
great and should bring more visibility (and money) to the project.
- Our thanks to the folks selling posters
and hats at Hershey: Fred Carpenter, Del Carpenter, Ed DeVries, Wes
Myrick, Bruce Beimers, Bud Dinger, Wayne Jackson, Connie DeYong, Bobbie
Smith, Stu Allen, Arnie Seeger, Don Mayton and Dean Tryon.
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Financial
Status |
- The bank account at NATMUS is
depleted!
The $4000 cost
of finishing the body took us down to basically zero so any financial
help would certainly be appreciated. This fund covers a variety of
other smaller items that the volunteers must purchase. Any of you that
are located far from Zeeland Michigan and would like to help, this is
the perfect way to help and a great way to start the new year. All
donations are tax deductible. The donation form is on page 4 below in
the newsletter. We appreciate all the donations so far. Proceeds from
the purchase of posters and hats also go towards this project as we
mentioned.
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Misc.
Notes |
- A 1957 Buick has been donated to the
project with the idea that it would be painted the same red as the
vehicle and as the fleet of cars that accompanied the Parade. Thanks
to Gary Cunningham for this donation and Wes Myrick and Ron
Verhey for driving it over from Detroit. It does require it’s
own restoration that will be a future project. It is being stored at Jerry
Sigler's house in Dorr, MI for the winter.
- The project continues to be a favorite
stopping place for many old car clubs and many make a donation to the
project after the visits.
- Our continued thanks to Montana
Paints and Wyrick Co for supplying paints, primers and
other supplies to the project. This is one of the most significant
contributions over the last year or more.
- Don is in the process of writing an
extensive article on the history of the Buick 6 cylinder engine. This
engine started life in the 1920’s, evolved to GMC where it was used
in a variety of vehicles (including this Futurliner and Korean war
vehicles) and continued, with modifications, into the 1960’s. We’ll
let you know where and when it is published.
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