The Choke Rod preserving and restoring the Model A Ford since 1956

Transcription

1 The Choke Rod preserving and restoring the Model A Ford since 1956 Volume 51, Issue 12 MAFCA Certificate of Merit December 2007 San Francisco Bay Area Chapter Model A Ford Club of America We Remember Joe Hillman see page 3 Christmas Banquet at Sharp Park - Saturday December 8 see page 5 for details Upcoming Tours President s Brunch - Sunday January 13 Classic Car Show - Fisherman s Wharf - February 15, 16, 17

2 The Choke Rod page 2 Official Publication of the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter MAFCA OFFICERS PRESIDENT Greg Martinez VICE PRESIDENTS Tom Escher SECRETARY Barry Kinney TREASURER Steve Owsley PAST PRESIDENT 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 before the 25th of the month for publicaton in the next month s issue of The Choke Rod. Articles and photos may be submitted to: sowsley@pacbell.net or mailed to Steve Owsley at 1350-d Scott Street, San Francisco, CA PRESIDENT: VICE PRESIDENTS: SECRETARY: TREASURER: TOUR CHAIR: EDITORS: FASHION EDITOR MEMBERSHIP: PAST PRESIDENT: Greg Martinez Tom Escher Barry Kinney Steve Owsley Jeanine Mahl Walter Caplan Steve Owsley Rachelle Marquez Walter Caplan President s Message Hi Folks, Holiday season is here and from the deepest parts of my soul, I wish all of you family, friends, extended family, and all people of all beliefs a very peaceful and joyous holiday season. As this concludes the year we have many things to reflect on: some good, some not so good, but in the end it s all good. A good day to be alive and on the road. So I wish to thank all of the people who helped my term as your President, many thanks. Also I want to thank all members for their participation. It has been an honor to serve as our Club steward. I want to wish those who make this Club fun the best of luck in life, and always try to remember the Carz are the Starz, Greg Martinez 2008 Classic Car Show February 15th, 16th, 17th Registration forms will ba available December 15th on our website: The San Francisco Model A Ford Club encourages membership in MAFCA, the National Model A Ford Club. Benefits include an excellent bi-monthly 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 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.

3 The Choke Rod page 3 JOSEPH A. HILLMAN September 13, October 29, 2007 On October 29 th our friend Joe Hillman passed over the great divide into Heaven. Joe owned a Model A Ford Coupe. Before I met Joe, I would see Bob, Joe, and Jenny driving their coupe down to 24 th Street to do a little grocery shopping at the Bell Market. More often than not, they would be dressed in era fashion fitting the car. Joe was an active member of the San Francisco Are Deco Society, the Mid Peninsula Old Time Auto Club, and a lifetime member of the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter. Joe and Jenny attended most Club events in full era costume, including the annual Great Gatsby event at the Dunsmuir Mansion in Oakland. Joe was an accomplished San Francisco historian. Several times each month Joe and Bob would serve as docents to the San Francisco Maritime Museum on the Hyde Street Pier. Joe led the Model A Ford Club on several memorable historic tours of the Pier, the ferryboat Eureka, and the to USS San Francisco Memorial. Joe was a member of the Greatest Generation. He served his country honorably in the United States Navy. This might help explain his love of San Francisco maritime history. system in San Francisco. He brought them all to a Club meeting and entertained us with stories of the Municipal Railway (Muni), its development, and the evolution of the cars that graced the rails. Although you never would have guessed, Joe was a skilled horseman. He kept several at his ranch in the hills above Santa Rosa. Joe didn t talk about himself. So it was a surprise when he invited the Club to spend a day at the ranch picnicking and playing horseshoes. Unfortunately, we were unable to meet the horse he was out to pasture. The Club visited the Luther Burbank Home and Gardens in Santa Rosa and then enjoyed a wonderful day at the ranch with Joe and his family. If there is a Heaven I know Joe is there. He was an honorable man who never had a bad word to say about anyone. He liked everyone he met and they liked him. He never lied to or cheated anyone. He loved his family, his church and his place of birth, San Francisco. Joe fought the good fight; he finished the race and he kept the faith. We will miss him. Barry Kinney One of the most memorable presentations I heard Joe give was on the San Francisco White Front Trolley Cars. Joe had collected about forty large photos showing early construction of the Municipal Railway

4 The Choke Rod page 4 Battling the Rust Monster In the antique auto restoration game rust is the eternal enemy and finding effective ways to vanquish the evil *Rustolamite is the Holy Grail of the crusade. Rustolamite is the element responsible for sneaking in and turning all ferrous metal a reddish brown color every time your back is turned. (Rustolamite was discovered by that intrepid explorer Duck Dodgers who, by the way, also discovered the rack & pinion molecule) In our ever vigilant search for better ways to de-rust Model A parts and thanks to the magic of the internet we have discovered an effective, inexpensive and safe method for removing rust from parts. It would also work for fenders, etc. but would take a pretty large container. This method was explained on the Rodders RoundTable website by a street rodder (we won t hold that against him) named Steve Knickerbocker. Electrolytic De-Rusting Process The process by which rust forms is electrochemical in nature so this method employs a reverse current flow in an alkaline bath at a higher voltage to reverse the process at a quicker rate. There are actually two forms of rust: iron III oxide or red rust (Fe2O3) and iron II oxide or black rust (FeO). Black rust is a smaller molecule. The electrolytic process converts red rust to black rust and in the process the black rust becomes weakly bonded to the base metal. The black rust that takes the place of the red rust can be easily wiped, washed, or brushed off leaving rust free base metal. Any pitting that has occurred will remain, this method will not repair damage, but the pits will be rust free. Supplies needed: - Battery Charger - Some metal to use as an anode - A non-conductive container of suitable size - Sodium Carbonate (washing soda) or Sodium Bicarbonate (baking soda) - Some bits of plastic, such as coffee can lids, to use as insulators - Water Washing soda can be found in the laundry section of the supermarket, probably Arm & Hammer brand. The container can be any kind of plastic receptacle. I use an 18 gallon Rubber Maid brand tote. The anode can be any kind of scrap steel or iron. Stainless steel may be best because the anode gets consumed in the process and stainless will last longer. The larger the surface area of the anode the better. Fill the container with enough water to cover the part and pour in a good quantity of soda. The more soda, the faster the process. Submerge the part to be de-rusted. Attach the battery charger negative clip to the part. Put the plastic insulators under and around the part as necessary so that it doesn t short-circuit to the anode. Connect the positive battery charger clip to the anode, above the liquid. If the clip is in the solution the clip will be consumed like the anode. Now, plug in the battery charger and watch the ammeter. Switch to the highest voltage. If the meter pegs out switch to a lower setting. If the meter show a low charge rate sprinkle more soda in the solution. Keep adding soda until the meter is at ½ to 2/3 of the scale. You will see bubbles forming on the part and maybe on the anode. The bubbles are hydrogen and oxygen so provide at least minimal ventilation. Let the process run for a few hours or even days depending on the size of the part and amount of rust. Large or oddly shaped pieces may need to be turned periodically. Unplug the battery charger before touching the liquid. There will be a brown scum that forms on the surface of the solution that will dissipate after you turn off the charger and the rust silts out to the bottom. When the part is de-rusted, remove it from the solution and dry it. Use a wire brush or wire wheel to remove the film of black rust. You will now have bare iron or steel! The de-rusting solution doesn t wear out and can be reused indefinitely, just keep adding soda and more water as necessary. If you need to dispose of the solution you can water your garden with it. Adds iron to the soil! This is not a hazardous substance, which is one of the reasons I like it so much. ****CAUTION**** If the part you are de-rusting is painted or has grease or oil or other chemicals on it these will become part of the soup and contaminate it. I wouldn t want to eat a carrot grown in soil that contains dissolved lead based paint. Larry Seemann Inland Empire A s Reprinted from Dick and Sabina Burton s website

5 The Choke Rod page 5 Birthda thdays s & Anniversaries December Birthdays Melanie Marie Patsel December 9 Steve Karr December 14 Frank O Brien December 18 Bill Tempone December 19 Paul DeMartini December 31 John Zuffi December 31 December Anniversaries Steve Owsley & Jack Green December 12 Springer & Howard Teich December 24 Christmas Banquet Saturday December 8 Sharp Park Restaurant & Lounge at Sharp Park Golf Course - Pacifica 5:30 pm Cocktails & Appetizers 7 pm Dinner Directions from San Francisco Take US-101 S Take the DALY CITY exit onto I-280 S toward DALY CITY Bear RIGHT on CA-1 S - go 4.7 mi Turn RIGHT on FRANCISCO BLVD - go 0.2 mi Turn RIGHT on SHARP PARK RD - go < 0.1 mi Arrive at CA-1 & SHARP PARK RD, PACIFICA, right side of road Refreshments at the November meeting were provided by Springer Teich Franz von Uckermann will provide refreshments at the January meeting Letter from chapter President-elect Looking ahead to our upcoming 2008 year, I am very excited about what we have on tap for the club. Plans are moving ahead for our 6 th annual Classic Car Show at Fisherman s Wharf in February The Show promises to be bigger and better then ever. We already have people signing up for the Show, and some are bringing as many as three of their own cars! We have many more outside activities planned then there has been in the past. With this commitment comes many more obligations - - so we really need your help as a member to make this Show a success as it has been in the past. As in the past, we have again been approached by other groups wanting to partake in and help us host this event, but we feel we should try and keep this event solely run by our club and it s members at this time. Also, by keeping it in our Club we can make larger donations to our charities and assist these organizations in helping those of us who are not so fortunate. With that in mind please keep Presidents Day weekend February open and plan on helping us setup, run, and take down this wonderful event. We will have many more details at the Christmas Banquet and also at the January meeting. So I hope to see you at one or both of these upcoming events. So for now you can all get yourselves ready for the holidays ahead. I ll see you soon,

6 The Choke Rod page 6 Annual San Francisco City Tour - The Presidio The annual San Francisco City Tour has become the most popular Club tour of the year. This year it rained the day and night before the tour, so tour leaders made contingency plans: a shorter tour for a few brave souls willing to drive their cars rain-or-shine. But as luck would have it the concerns were quickly forgotten Sunday morning. The day was cool but bright and the sky cloudless - - a perfect San Francisco day. By nine am there were twelve antique autos, their chrome sparkling in the sunlight, parked near McDonalds in Stonestown. The number of cars attending broke the record for the 2007 year. The tour traveled across town north on Sunset Boulevard, through Golden Gate Park, past the buffalo paddock, the fly casting club, the model boat clubhouse and Spreckels Lake, and then north on 36 th Avenue. We followed 36 th until it ends at Lincoln Park, then entered the Park, drove past the Palace of the Legion of Honor, and on through Sea Cliff, and into the Presidio through the 25 th Avenue Gate. Our long line of cars drove along Lincoln Boulevard, with its spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and the entrance to the Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge on our left. Winding our way through the western portion of the Presidio, we passed by the Log Cabin, and continued past the entrance to the Bridge itself, and down to old Fort Point, directly under the south anchorage of the Bridge. From there we went by the Pet Cemetery, drove alongside Crissy Field, and then circled around and through the Main Post. We viewed the new Letterman Digital Arts Center complex, built by George Lucas (on the former site of the recently demolished Letterman Hospital), meandered through the side streets of beautiful red brick homes in the East Housing area and Lover s Lane, and then proceeded along Presidio Boulevard to West Pacific Avenue. This led us directly to the Presidio Clubhouse (which is just inside the Arguello Gate). Here we found plenty of parking, and on entering the Clubhouse we were greeted by a smiling host and a lovely table which had been set for Brunch in anticipation of the arrival of our party of twenty-five. We enjoyed cocktails, a wonderful brunch, great conversation, and an all around fun time. The views form the Presidio of the Marina and the San Francisco Bay were spectacular. The Presidio has been transformed from a military fort into a national park with natural areas for wildlife and native plant habitats. Historic structures and gracious homes have been restored and the designed landscapes add interest and beauty to the entire area. Although our tour was all about friends and cars, we came away from this National Historic Landmark with a better understanding of the Presidio and its place in American history. Congratulations to our tour leaders Walter Caplan, Steve Owsley, and Jack (Sleepy) Green for another enjoyable and educational San Francisco City Tour. article by Barry Kinney & Walter Caplan Photos by Kerry Fehlberg RENEW see Insert for 2008 Membership Form

7 The Choke Rod page 7 Annual San Francisco City Tour - The Presidio

8 The Choke Rod page 8 Reprinted from MAFCA

9 The Choke Rod page 9 Reprinted from MAFCA

10 The Choke Rod page SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA MAFCA TOURS IT S THE JOURNEY! NOT THE DESTINATION! MONTH DAY TOUR LEADER TOUR JAN 28 GREG MARTINEZ PRESIDENT S BRUNCH - HARDING PARK FEB 16,17,18 SF MODEL A FORD CLUB CLASSIC CAR SHOW AT FISHERMAN S WHARF MAR 10 THE BOB CRAIGS TECH SEMINAR AT CRAIG S AUTO MAR 17 JEANINE & GUNARD MAHL BILL ROSE S MODEL A CRAB & STEAK FEED APRIL 8 JEANINE & GUNARD MAHL EASTER AT PACIFIC ROD & GUN CLUB APRIL 29 BARRY KINNEY DREAM MACHINES - HALF MOON BAY AIRPORT MAY 12 WALTER CAPLAN CRUISE TO SANTA CRUZ MAY 19 OWSLEY/CAPLAN A DAY AT THE RANCH - CAMPO SECO, CA MAY 20 KINNEY FRIENDSHIP DAY - CANADA COLLEGE JUNE 7 RICHARD C. WEBSTER LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN JUNE 16 CAPLAN / OWSLEY ST. ANNE S HOME - FATHER S DAY WEEKEND JUNE 24 CAPLAN / OWSLEY PRIDE PARADE & PICNIC LUNCH AT CRISSYFIELD JULY KINNEY NO. CALIFORNIA / SOUTHERN OREGON TOUR JULY 25 WEBSTER LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION AT ATT PARK AUG 12 GREG MARTINEZ SWAP MEET AT PACIFIC ROD & GUN CLUB SEPT 9 KINNEY ANTIQUE AUTOS HISTORY PARK - SAN JOSE SEPT CAPLAN / OWSLEY / MACHADO OVERNIGHTER-MURPHYS-IRONSTONECONCOURS OCT 7 THE MAHLS 28TH AVENUE BLOCK PARTY - SAN FRANCISCO OCT 14 CAPLAN / OWSLEY JIMMY S OLD CAR PICNIC IN GOLDEN GATE PARK OCT 20 WEBSTER / OWSLEY A DAY ON THE BAY - BENEFITS SPECIAL OLYMPICS NOV 11 KINNEY / CAPLAN ANNUAL CITY TOUR -- THE PRESIDIO DEC 8 SF MODEL A CLUB CHRISTMAS BANQUET If you would like to lead a tour, please call Jeanine Mahl We encourage Club Members to plan additional driving tours throughout the year. There is room for more than one activity or tour per month. If you plan to attend a tour, please RSVP the tour leader Schedule of Events 2008 Sept 1-3 Stuck in Lodi, Labor Day 2007, Host - Tokay A s Sept 30 Placerville Jazz Jubilee, Car Display Oct 6 Lumberjack Day Parade - West Point (Calaveras County) Dec 5-9 MAFCA Annual Membership Meeting, Southern California, Host SCRG June 22-27, rd MARC / MAFCA World Modal A Ford Meet, Addison TX, Host - Dallas Model A Ford Club Aug 4-8, 2008 Northwest Regional Meet, Medford, Oregon, Host - Rogue Valley A s

11 The Choke Rod page 11 Minutes of the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter Model A Ford Club of America November 8, 2007 The meeting was called to order at 8:01 pm by Vice President. The minutes of the October 2007 meeting were approved as printed in the Choke Rod. There were no guests present. Reports of Officers Vice President Barrango: A Motion passed changing the start time for monthly meetings from 8 pm to 7:30 pm beginning in January of The slate of Club Officers for 2008 was elected by acclamation of Club members present and eligible to vote: President: Vice Presidents: Greg Martinez Tom Escher Secretary: Barry Kinney Treasurer: Steve Owsley Tour Chair: Jeanine Mahl Editors: Walter Caplan Steve Owsley Fashion Editor: Rachelle Marquez Treasurer: A Motion was made and seconded asking that the annual Club dues be increased by $10 to $35 per year. Discussion: The cost of producing the Choke Rod is approximately $20 per year. This includes the cost of postage, toner, paper and copy machine maintenance and repair. Other major costs to the Club include insurance for officers and directors. Dues income is not spent on Club sponsored events including the Classic Car Show or Swap Meet. The Club will not be able to meet its financial obligations for year 2008 without a dues increase. The last dues increase was in The Motion passed unanimously by members present and qualified to vote. Secretary: The suggestion was made that State Senator Leland Yee be invited to speak to the Club about legislation affecting the collector car hobby and that other Bay Area Car Club members be invited to attend. Tour Chair: Look for the Christmas Reservation flyer in the Choke Rod - fill it out - send in your reservation to Jeanine Mahl, no later than November 29th. Editor: The Editors have agreed to continue to serve in their capacity for year 2008 but plan to relinquish the office and their duties in year Refreshments: Thanks to Springer for bringing refreshments to the November meeting. Franz von Uckermann will bring refreshments to the January meeting. Meeting was adjourned at 8:37 pm. Minutes respectfully submitted by Barry Kinney, Secretary SF Model A Club Monthly Meetings: The meetings continue to be held monthly, the second Thursday of each month at 7:30pm (note time change effective January 2008). The location is the Monte Cristo Club at 136 Missouri Street in San Francisco. The meeting place is located in safe neighborhood and parking is convenient. If you have questions or need directions, call Gary at (415) (daytime) The next scheduled meeting will be at 7:30 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2008 A number of club members gather for dinner before the monthly meetings at 6 pm Please feel free to join us -- January dinner location will be at Goat Hill Pizza at 18th & Connecticut.

12 Photo from the Robert Marquez family - A Past Winter Club Tour The Choke Rod, complete with inserts, is available online in this Choke Rod President s Message (page 2) Remembering Joe Hillman (page 3 ) Tech (page 4) Club News (pages 5) San Francisco City Tour (pages 6-7) Fashion (pages 8-9) Schedule of Events (page 10) Meeting Minutes (page 11) Insert: 2008 Membership Renewal Form & self addressed return envelope San Francisco Bay Area Chapter Model A Ford Club of America PO Box San Francisco, CA CHRISTMAS BANQUET SATURDAY DECEMBER 8 5:30 pm Cocktails & Appetizers 7 pm Dinner Sharp Park Restaurant & Lounge Pacifica artwork: Paulline Marquez