January 2006

FRONT SEAT NEWS

MODEL T FORD CLUB  NORTHWEST OHIO, INC.

Bob Hollister, Pres.; Bob Torbet, V-Pres.; Jack Putnam, Treas; Jim Cook, Sec/Ed

NEXT MEETING: January 4th 2006 7:30 at Jack Putnam's shop 1215 Hancock Rd 28; Bluffton, (4th house east of Anderson Tractor Supply), Phone (419) 358-6313

The Anuual December/Christmas meeting was held and a wonderful time was had by all. In the absence of any formal minutes, I would like to recap the last year and look to the comming year as a chance for the club to be a more active club for new members. 2005 was filled with the usual monthly meetings (business, food, stories, projects, oddities) at Jack Putnam's shop in Bluffton, Oho.  We only deviated from the traditional first Wednesday of the month on a couple of occassions.  The newsletter has been and will be delivered on the week of the monthly meeting.  This seems to act as a reminder of the meeting and gets everyone in the Model T spirit for the meeting.  Some of the members have gotten more into touring with their Model T's. I see this as a good sign for growth.  We have members attending the Northwest Ohio club day tours, All Ohio Jamboree, parades, and a few have even touring outside of the state with other organizations.  We are represented at the Old Car Festival at the Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan and a lot of the old car auctions both in and out of the state of Ohio.

2005 in Review (January)

We began 2005 with a couple of the Herman and Freida stories. These Model T stories are written by Stan Howe of Helena, Montana. Stan is a friend of the club and gave us permission to use the stories in the winter months when not much was going on in Northwest Ohio because of the cold.  He can relate to the winter lull based on his Montana lifestyle.  As a result of the Herman and Freida popularity, Stan has made a group of the stories available for purchase.  Check either the MTFCI or MTFCA publications for ordering information.

2005 in Review (February)

February brought back the T-100 engines for a checkup.  They were leaking oil all over Greenfield Village, where they have been in service for the last couple of years. They are estimated to have over 30000 miles on them at this point. It seems that those engine pans that gave them so much trouble to begin with were still a problem. The alignment was off and all of the rivets had wobbled themselves loose. Since the engines were being fitted with starters at the same time, it was decided to replace the

pans during the retrofit. The original bearing setup was still in place and really didn't require any adjustment.

2005 in Review (March)

In March we learned about the return of the Adams truck to its home in Findlay, Ohio. Bill Phillips had been tracking it down for many years and had finally gotten the family to donate it to the Historical Society in its home town.  There was to be a dedication in which the club was to participate; but, it never materialized.

The club is interested in more than just restoration. They are also interested in touring these pieces of history, not only for their own enjoyment, but also for the benefit of the general public. As part of that quest, we sometimes try to make the original design a little bit safer. One of the cases in point is the floating hub. The original design of the rear axle allows for the rear wheel to come off in case of a break in the rear axle. This is a very dangerous situation; since the braking system of the Model T is totally dependent on the rear wheels. Dave Nolting and Ben Statts have been working on an updated design that will help to make for a safer Model T.

2005 in Review (April)

April brought back the real thrill of having meetings in a working shop. There were a few blocks there that Jack had been working on. He took the time to tell us the story behind each of the blocks. It was amazing to think about the difference in time that two, at first glance, identical blocks can be so different in expense when it comes down to time and energy involved in getting them ready to go into a fine running Model T.

2005 in Review (May)

May was the month of the saggy rear main. This problem is present in most Model T's. Over time the rear main just wants to settle with the weight of the transmission and the torque tube combined.  The only way to correct the problem is through brute force and a straightening fixture. These things aren't easy to find. Either they are held by those who don't want others to have them or they are priced out of this world

2005 in Review (June)

In June we had some real fun with the people at the Mennonite Memorial Home in Bluffton. It was a chance to get the cars out for a drive and some sharing of stories with people that remember these cars as everyday drivers.  We had a nice meal following the show over at Jack's air conditioned shop.   At the June meeting we were given a demonstration on how to keep those bands together during a hogs head change.

2005 in Review (July)

July was the highlight of my year. I finally had a chance to take the club members on a tour of my world. We toured the collections of Frank Bogner, Don Ballriech, Wayne Coffman, Berlyn Geary, and Richard Runions Radiator Shop.  Lunch was at the Pioneer Mill along the scenic Sandusky River. There was a little bit of something for everyone on this tour including a stop at an old fashioned drive-in rootbeer stand with cute little car attendents. Go back to the August newsletter to see the wonderful pictures of this tour.

2005 in Review (August - September)

These are really the big touring months of the year. My family went to the Finger Lakes region of New York this year and of course Labor Day Weekend was the Annual All Ohio Jamboree, held this year in Southwest Ohio.  This year's host club set the bar quite high for next year. We'll see what comes next.  The following weekend is always the Old Car Festival, probably the best car show in the country, because it is an active show with pass and review, car games, judging, and joy riding around the village.

Looking Into Next Year

I would like to see the club continue on its present road of more touring and get togethers. In the past we have tried to pick weekends and times when everyone could show up. The problem is that only a handful show up anyway. There were a couple of the club tours that I missed and that's OK. The point is to plan the events and take whoever comes for the ride of their lives. We learn more about these cars everytime we drive them. The more they are driven the better they run. The better they run, the more fun they are to drive. Let's aim at having more club functions this year. I don't care what they are (touring, tech meets, parades, shows, picnics). The point is to get out and drive the cars. If you don't have a car to drive, let the club members help correct that problem.  I wouldn't let Brent Mize miss a tour last year just because he couldn't get a car there.  I was sure enough about his driving ability to loan him one of mine.  Collectively we can make things happen!