Celebrating the Model A for More Than Sixty Years

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The Choke Rod preserving and restoring the Model A Ford since 1956 Volume 62, Issue 6 Celebrating the Model A for More Than Sixty Years June 2018 San Francisco Bay Area Chapter Model A Ford Club of

1 The Choke Rod preserving and restoring the Model A Ford since 1956 Volume 62, Issue 6 Celebrating the Model A for More Than Sixty Years June 2018 San Francisco Bay Area Chapter Model A Ford Club of America Memorial Day Commemoration See page 5 Upcoming Tours Saturday June 16 - Father's Day at St. Anne's Home - San Francisco Sunday June 24 - Pride Parade - San Francisco Sunday June 24 - Friday June 29 - MAFCA National Convention - Sparks, NV Thursday August 30 - Sunday September 2 - Portland Tour - Portland, OR Photo by Earl Hibbler

The Choke Rod page 2 Official Publication of the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter MAFCA TOUR CHAIR: EDITORS: MEMBERSHIP: OFFICERS PRESIDENT Barry Kinney VICE PRESIDENTS Tom Escher Gunard Mahl Greg

2 The Choke Rod page 2 Official Publication of the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter MAFCA TOUR CHAIR: EDITORS: MEMBERSHIP: OFFICERS PRESIDENT Barry Kinney VICE PRESIDENTS Tom Escher Gunard Mahl Greg Martinez SECRETARY Joan Peterson TREASURER Jeanine Mahl PAST PRESIDENT Gary Barrango The Choke Rod is published once each month by the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the Model A Ford Club of America. It is mailed free to each member in good standing and mailed to other antique car clubs in exchange for their publications. The Choke Rod takes no responsibility for the accuracy of materials, dates, places, prices, etc of its contents. Permission to reproduce is hereby granted provided credit is given to The Choke Rod. The Choke Rod welcomes articles, art work, ideas, suggestions, etc. Please submit any and all material to the editor by the last Monday of each month. Articles and photos may be submitted to: sfmodelaclub@icloud.com or mailed to Walter Caplan at 157 Warren Drive, San Francisco, CA Gary Barrango Walter Caplan Scott Williams Walter Caplan 2017 San Francisco Model A Ford Club President s Message The Club celebrated Memorial Day at the Presidio National Cemetery. We joined the parade at the Main Post and traveled the short route up to the cemetery. Prior to the parade we enjoyed coffee and conversation. Thanks to everyone who participated. Our next Club event is Fathers Day at St. Anne's Home. Mark your calendar: Saturday June 16. We meet at 1:30 pm at 300 Lake Street. There will be an afternoon social with refreshments following the driving tours through the Presidio. This is one of our annual events. It is important that we fi eld as many cars as possible so that all the residents at St. Anne's will have an opportunity to take a little excursion with us through the Presidio. They look forward to and enjoy spending Fathers Day with our Club. Please RSVP Walter Caplan whcaplan@comcast.net so St. Anne s can prepare suffi cient snacks and refreshments for all who attend and participate. The Portland Tour is looking good. We have twelve people attending. Lodging and transportation have been arranged. We will review our plans and make adjustments where necessary at our monthly meeting on Thursday June 14. A group of us will meet for dinner before the meeting at the Monte Cristo Club, 136 Missouri Street (Potrero Hill) at 6 pm for pizza, salad, and beverages please RSVP so there will be enough for everyone. Feel free to join us. RSVP Walter Caplan at whcaplan@comcast.net or See you at the meeting. The San Francisco Model A Ford Club encourages membership in MAFCA, the National Model A Ford Club. Benefits include an excellent bimonthly publication, The Restorer, providing technical information and free liability insurance when participating in Club Events. MAFCA Model A Ford Club of America, Inc. 250 South Cypress Street La Habra CA Barry Kinney MAFCA dues are $40 per year. Dues for new members may be paid at any time. Dues paid between November 1 and December 31 are valid for the remainder of the year paid plus the following year. Along with your check send in your name, spouse s name and complete address. An optional $10 initiation fee includes a club pin, decal, badge, windshield card and a back issue of The Restorer magazine. If you use Mastercard or Visa, include the expiration date and your signature. Membership includes a subscription to The Restorer.

The Choke Rod page 3 Father s Day at St. Anne s Home Saturday June 16 2 pm This year marks our sixteenth Annual Father s Day Gathering at St. Anne s Home with the Little Sisters of the Poor.

3 The Choke Rod page 3 Father s Day at St. Anne s Home Saturday June 16 2 pm This year marks our sixteenth Annual Father s Day Gathering at St. Anne s Home with the Little Sisters of the Poor. Be a part of our celebration with the residents and staff of St. Anne s Home. Assemble at the Home at 1:30 pm for the event. Located at 300 Lake Street between 4 th and 5 th Avenues. The residents at St. Anne s Home are eagerly anticipating our arrival on June 16 th. It gives them great enjoyment to see and ride in our old cars. There will be an afternoon social with refreshments following the driving tours through the Presidio. Tour Leader: Barry Kinney, RSVP Birthdays & Anniversaries Walter Caplan June 2 John Fioresi June 7 Paul DeMartini Jr. June 12 Marilyn Chiotti June 18 Kenneth Wayne Patsel June 19 Adam Rosenblat June 26 Sean Sullivan June 27 Rose Craig Jr. June 29 Kevin Blaine Patsel June 30 Adam & Colleen Rosenblat June 2 Steve & Mary Karr June 10 Greg & Casey Martinez June 17 Daniel & Juanita Sullivan June 19 Bob & Carol Costa June 19 Paul & Maria DeMartini Jr. June 25 Frank & Judy O'Brien June 27 Donald & Linda Parsons June 30 Refreshments at the May meeting were provided by Cynthia Torres Gary Barrango will provide refreshments at the June meeting 48 th Annual Pride Parade Sunday June 25 It is the 48 th anniversary of this distinctly San Francisco experience. Our contingent will be near the front of the parade and afterwards we will proceed UC Mission Bay for a picnic lunch. If interested in driving your A in the Pride Parade, contact Walter Caplan for more information at whcaplan@comcast.net or call Tour Leader: Walter Caplan Portland Tour August 30 - September 2 The plans for the Tour to Portland in August are complete. Hotel and travel reservations have been made. In summary, we will arrive in Portland on Thursday August 30, 2018 and depart on September 2, During our stay in Portland we will visit the Western Airplane and Auto Museum, The Columbia River Gorge, and the Evergreen Air and Space Museum. Those club members who will be attending include: Walter Caplan, John Zuffi, John Bettencourt, Earl Hibler, Mike Cunneen, Kathy and Joe Higgins, Cynthia Torres, Charlie Kascal and Victoria Acosta, Barry Kinney, and Don Barnes, for a total of 12 people. We have reserved two cars with Enterprise Car Rental. We will arrange to pick up those people arriving by train on Thursday afternoon and anyone who will be arriving at the airport. Those club members who are driving will come directly to the Kennedy School House Hotel at 5736 NE 33 Avenue in Portland, Oregon. Overnighter to Murphys Ironstone Concours d Elegance Friday - Sunday, September By popular demand, for a twelfth year the Club is planning another fabulous weekend tour to the gold country with stops along the way, group dinners, and a fantastic car show on the beautifully landscaped grounds of the Ironstone Winery in Murphys. A limited number of hotel rooms have been reserved by Barry Kinney for club members on a first come, first served basis. If you reserve one of the Club rooms, you will be obligated for two nights No exceptions. Call Barry at to reserve a room.

The Choke Rod page 4 Pacific Coast Dream

engine, Pacifi c Coast Dream Machines in

they're all on display at Dream Machines.

The weather was clear, although a little

4 The Choke Rod page 4 Pacific Coast Dream Machines If it has (or ever had) an engine, Pacifi c Coast Dream Machines in Half Moon Bay is the place to see it. Classic cars, modern cars, airplanes, military vehicles, boats, motor cycles they're all on display at Dream Machines. The 28th annual show on April 29th was no exception. In addition to the wonderful collection of vehicles, there were lots of kinds of entertainment: biplane rides, monster trucks, motorcycle acrobatics, a live music stage and a food court. The weather was clear, although a little chilly on the coast. Unruly children were trussed up in the bungee cord trampoline or placed into large hamster balls but otherwise the crowds were well-behaved and enjoyed the activities. If you've never been to Dream Machines before, make a point to go next year. It's not a show to miss. Want to see more photos of this event? There's lots more at Scott Williams Photos by Scott Williams & Tom Mullins

The Choke Rod page 5 Memorial Day Commemoration Memorial Day began with the raising of the fl ag over the parade ground at the

This day has been set aside to commemorate and remember those Americans who lost their lives in service to their country.

Certainly, we enjoy the time off from work and the afternoon BBQ with friends and family, but we should never forget why or for

We were staged near the historic Offi cers Club and Post Headquarters at the top of the Parade Ground.

Presidio Fire Department truck with lights ablaze. The procession followed the U.S.

The route was lined with veterans, friends, and well wishers waving fl ags and clapping hands in an expression of their

Following the closing ceremony which included a 21-Gun Salute and the playing of Taps we met at the Presidio Golf Club Cafe for

5 The Choke Rod page 5 Memorial Day Commemoration Memorial Day began with the raising of the fl ag over the parade ground at the Presidio followed by a 4-Gun Salute and the playing of the Star Spangled Banner. This day has been set aside to commemorate and remember those Americans who lost their lives in service to their country. Attending a celebration of this kind brings home the meaning of the day. Certainly, we enjoy the time off from work and the afternoon BBQ with friends and family, but we should never forget why or for whom we celebrate this day. This year we had 12 cars decorated with fl ags and bunting. We were staged near the historic Offi cers Club and Post Headquarters at the top of the Parade Ground. We were joined by a local veterans motorcycle club and high school marching bands from South San Francisco, all followed by the Presidio Fire Department truck with lights ablaze. The procession followed the U.S. Army Color Guard through the Presidio to the National Cemetery. The route was lined with veterans, friends, and well wishers waving fl ags and clapping hands in an expression of their appreciation of our cars and the pre and post war history they are meant to represent. Following the closing ceremony which included a 21-Gun Salute and the playing of Taps we met at the Presidio Golf Club Cafe for lunch. Our Model A Club is honored each year with an invitation to attend. However, we would not look so good or attend in large numbers if it weren't for the efforts of Walter who organizes this event for the Club. Special thanks to Ralph for making commemorative buttons for all of us. Thanks to Club members who attended and who help to make Memorial Day a meaningful event. Barry Kinney Photos on top row and above by Cynthia Torres. Photos left and below by Earl Hibler.

The Choke Rod page 6 Model A Era Wedding Attire - 1928 The styles of weddings were as varied as the bride and groom.

6 The Choke Rod page 6 Model A Era Wedding Attire The styles of weddings were as varied as the bride and groom. From the very formal to the more casual, the bride and groom dressed in their fi nest attire. Though the more formal wedding dictated a lavish gown and veil for the bride and tails for the groom the more modest wedding featured many of the same elements but to a lesser degree. In the following months you will see examples of each year and the style that was in vogue. The individual taste of the bride decided the fabric and color of the wedding gown. The traditional satin, for it's soft draping appearance, transparent velvet, silk, taffeta, tulle, lace, chiffon, and organdy were some of the materials used in making the dress.. Reprinted from A Book of Fashion Facts, MAFCA

7 The Choke Rod page 7 Technical Q &A - Part 1 Excerpts of question to and answers by MAFCA's Technical Director Chuck Christensen Q: What does AR mean? Don Aspey A: The term AR is commonly used to refer to the early 1928 Model A ' s with the left hand parking brake handle placement. As the Model A was developed and changes were made during the fi rst few months, some of the parts were changed for improvement or cost saving. Any time a part goes through a change, the part number assigned also changes. With the Ford numbering system this change frequently involved the suffi x of the number. Example: The water pump has the basic part number This means that most water pumps on Ford cars will have that same basic number. The Model A water pump would be an A-850 l. The 1932 Ford 4-cylinder water pump would be a B-8501, etc. I f a change were made in the water pump during Model A production, the number for the new water pump might be A-8501-A. A second change could fi nd the number as A-8501-B. Then for what- ever reason the original number may be changed to A AR, meaning that it was replaced. The A R as the suffi x o f the parts was adopted to refer to the early 1928 Model A's. Hope this isn't too confusing. This is how it was explained to me. Q: I have a 1929 Roadster that I have had for 35 years. The brakes went out of adjustment. When applied the brakes would gradually slow the car down and would eventually stop, but the brakes would not lock. I had some work done on the car and some small parts and drums were replaced. Tow,when the brakes are applied. the whole front end of the car shudders violently from side to side. If you depress the brakes hard, the car will stop. Various people have looked at the brakes and haw given up. Possible suggestions are: cracked wheel hubs, worn out king pins, improper caster (that would imply a bent axle). wheels not " in true," and engine not in alignment with the frame. From looking at the engine mounts, they look okay. Any help you can give me would be appreciated. David M. Bush A: My thoughts on front end shudder during braking would be centered around worn suspension and/or steering parts, like worn king pin/king pin bushings, tie rod ends, drag link ends, steering arm loose. The fi rst things I would check would be the tie rod and drag ling ends for lack of lubrication and looseness from wear. If the balls on the ends of the steering arms are worn out of round this could be part of the problem. Were the brake linings replaced and what kind of lining material is on the shoes? The bonded lining is usually harder and may cause a shudder depending upon the condition of the drums. Q: Can you tell me the torque to use on the rear axle nuts holding the brake drum on the axle? Can you give me a recom- mendation or where I may be able to fi nd the recommended value listed? Paul Hohman A: Les Andrews, in his book "Model A Ford Mechanics Handbook" gives a torque of 125 Lb.Ft. and then install the cotter pin. I usually tighten to a little less and see if the cotter pin hole lines up. If not, I tighten until it does. Don ' t tighten and back off to align. Tighten more until you can install the cotter pin. Q: I want to attach an engine stand mount (fore and aft type) to the fl ywheel hous- ing/cover. It's a 4-point mount, and the engine is complete with fl ywheel, clutch, and pressure plate installed. Am I going to run the risk of damage to the fl ywheel cover? Thomas Armstrong A: I don't think you'll have any problems with the fl ywheel housing as long as you space your attaching bolts around the housing. I think you would be better off with one of the special adaptors which attach to the side o f the engine. You have better access to the engine, particularly at the rear.. Reprinted from The Restorer, November-December 2005

8 The Choke Rod page SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA MAFCA TOURS IT S THE JOURNEY NOT THE DESTINATION MONTH DAY TOUR LEADER TOUR JANUARY 14 BARRY KINNEY PRESIDENT S BRUNCH - HALF MOON BAY FEBRUARY 3 SATURDAY SF MODEL A FORD CLUB CRAB FEED - MONTE CRISTO CLUB, SF MARCH 17 SATURDAY BARRY KINNEY ST. PATRICK S DAY PARADE & FESTIVAL - SF APRIL 1 RALPH HOFFSCHILDT EASTER PARADE - UNION STREET, SF APRIL 28 KINNEY F. A. S. T. SPRING HILLCLIMB - AUBURN, CA APRIL 29 SF MODEL A FORD CLUB DREAM MACHINES - HALF MOON BAY MAY 20 MPOT FORD CLUB FRIENDSHIP DAY - REDWOOD SHORES MAY 28 MONDAY CAPLAN MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCE - PRESIDIO JUNE 16 SATURDAY CAPLAN / KINNEY ST. ANNE S HOME - FATHER S DAY WEEKEND JUNE 24 CAPLAN PRIDE PARADE - SAN FRANCISCO JULY 21 SATURDAY KINNEY RADIO DAY BY THE BAY - ALAMEDA SEPTEMBER 15 SATURDAY KINNEY ANTIQUE AUTOS HISTORY PARK - SAN JOSE SEPTEMBER TBA MARIN A'S OKTOBERFEST - MARIN ROD & GUN CLUB SEPTEMBER CAPLAN / MACHADO OVERNIGHTER MURPHYS-IRONSTONE CONCOURS SEPTEMBER TBA MAHL 43 RD ANNUAL 28 TH AVENUE BLOCK PARTY OCTOBER 7 BARRANGO COLUMBUS DAY PARADE - NORTH BEACH, SF OCTOBER TBA CAPLAN SF OLD CAR PICNIC - GOLDEN GATE PARK November 11 SUNDAY CAPLAN / KINNEY VETERANS DAY PARADE - FISHERMAN'S WHARF DECEMBER 1 SATURDAY CAPLAN / KINNEY SFPD BRAVE THE BAY - AQUATIC PARK DECEMBER 8 SATURDAY SF MODEL A CLUB CHRISTMAS BANQUET - VAL S - DALY CITY If you would like to lead a tour, please call Gary Barrango at We encourage Club Members to plan additional driving tours throughout the year. There is room for more than one activity or tour per month Schedule of Events Jan 14 Jan Jun SF Model A Club President's Brunch Half Moon Bay Turlock Swap Meet 2018 MAFCA National Convention Sparks, NV Hosted by the Northern California Regional Group - NCRG

9 The Choke Rod page 9 Al Thomas for Secretary Joan Peterson San Francisco Bay Area Chapter Model A Ford Club of America May 10, 2018 The meeting was called to order by President Barry Kinney at 7:30 pm. The minutes from the previous meeting were approved as written. There were no guests. Reports of Officers President: President: Barry discussed the upcoming Portland trip in September. He provided handouts that included the tour instructions and a handy guide. He also talked about the Kennedy School Hotel which will be part of the tour. Vice President: No report Secretary: No report Treasurer: No report Editor: No report Food and Beverage Chair: No report Tour Chair: No report For The Good Of The Order: Barry mentioned that John Bettencourt is working on a possible Bocce Ball event at Aquatic Park. Friendship Day was discussed. It will be in Redwood City on May 20th. Some members plan on attending. It was noted that there will be a number of events for the weekend of May 12th Cynthia Torres brought refreshments to the May meeting. Gary Barrango will provide refreshments for the June meeting. There was no further business and the meeting was adjourned at 8:20 pm. Respectfully submitted by SF Model A Club Monthly Meetings: The meetings continue to be held monthly, the second Thursday of each month at 7:30 pm. The location is the Monte Cristo Club at 136 Missouri Street in San Francisco. The meeting place is located in a safe neighborhood and parking is convenient. If you have questions or need directions, call Gary at (415) (daytime) The next scheduled meeting will be on Thursday, June 14, 2018 A number of club members meet for dinner before the meeting at the Monte Cristo Club, 136 Missouri Street (Potrero Hill) at 6 pm for pizza, salad, and beverages please RSVP so there will be enough for everyone. Feel free to join us. RSVP Walter Caplan at whcaplan@comcast.net or

The Choke Rod is available online in color at www.sfmodelaclub.org in this Choke Rod President s Message.

...........page 4 Memorial Day Commemoration...........page 5 Fashion.........................................page 6 Tech.

.............................page 9 San Francisco Bay Area Chapter Model A Ford Club of America PO Box 31387 San

10 The Choke Rod is available online in color at in this Choke Rod President s Message page 2 Club News page 3 Pacific Coast Dream Machines page 4 Memorial Day Commemoration page 5 Fashion page 6 Tech page 7 Schedule of Events page 8 Meeting Minutes page 9 San Francisco Bay Area Chapter Model A Ford Club of America PO Box San Francisco, CA JUNE MEETING Thursday June 14, :30 pm - Monte Cristo Club 136 Missouri Street (Potrero Hill) San Francisco

Celebrating the Model A for Sixty Years

The Choke Rod preserving and restoring the Model A Ford since 1956 Volume 61, Issue 12 Celebrating the Model A for Sixty Years December 2017 San Francisco Bay Area Chapter Model A Ford Club of America