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The Mystery of the Third Hertel

December 9, 2013, 6:30 am
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by Nancy DeWitt
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

1899 Hertel, #28
One of the most interesting of our Veteran Era cars is our 1899 Hertel runabout (also incorrectly referred to as an Oakman or Oakman-Hertel), which was profiled in earlier blog posts here and here. It basically consists of a body and engine mounted between two bicycle frames, although it has some rather clever engineering.

1898 Hertel (#37) sold by Christie's in 2002
The sign that came with our Hertel said it was the only remaining example, although a simple Google search revealed a second one that had been sold through a Christie's auction in London in 2002. That one now resides at the Sparreholm Manor in Sweden. A press release about its sale said it was one of three known to exist, so where was the third one? In late 2009, I received an email from the husband of Max Hertel's great granddaughter saying that they had seen a Hertel at a museum in Australia and would send photos. I assumed it was at the National Motor Museum in South Australia, but my correspondent never followed up with more information, and my internet searches proved fruitless.

John Pender's 1897 Hertel at the Melbourne Museum
This past October I decided to revisit my friend Google, and lo and behold, I got some hits on the third Hertel. It is indeed in Australia, at the Melbourne Museum. What a fascinating story it has! It appears to be the oldest of the surviving Hertels. The majority of sources I found say the car was built to order in 1897 for John Pender, a Melbourne businessman who made horseshoes and horseshoe nails. Pender was originally from Canada, and during an 1896 visit to North America he reportedly became so intrigued with Max Hertel's prototype that he ordered one for himself. His runabout is believed to be the first automobile imported to Australia, and the first car in Melbourne.

In an interesting twist to the story, one resource I came across claim that John Pender actually designed this car, and then collaborated with Max Hertel to build it in Chicago. Could that explain the differences between his car and ours? A Wikipedia entry states that Pender only built the transmission in his "Pender-Hertel":
John Pender had visited Chicago in 1896, and witnessed the Chicago Times-Herald automobile race where he was impressed by a car built by Max Hertel. After returning to Australia, Pender designed a new type of transmission and sent the details to Hertel. Hertel fitted one of his cars with Pender's transmission and shipped it to Australia.
During a parade in December of 1897, Pender's Hertel broke down and caught fire, suffering severe damage. It's unclear if he drove it again before he donated it to the Melbourne Museum in 1914. We would love to examine this Hertel and do a thorough comparison to ours. If you are going to Melbourne, please let us know.

The most interesting part of this story to me is that only about a dozen Hertels are believed to have been built, and yet three of these fragile cars still exist. That is a remarkable survivor rate!

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!

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Holiday Gift Guide

December 11, 2013, 7:00 am
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Museum logo ball caps: $14.50
All t-shirts: $25.95
Are you looking for a holiday gift for the old car enthusiast or fashionista in your life? Then you should check out the nice selection of items in our museum gift shop. We can ship these anywhere within the United States. Call us at 907-450-2100 for details, and by December 16 if you want something shipped in time for Christmas. Otherwise, stop by the museum on Sundays between noon and 6 PM.

One of our most popular gifts is a season pass, which is $40 for an individual or $60 for a family. These can be purchased at the museum on Sundays, or any time at the Wedgewood Resort reception desk. T-shirts and ball caps with our embroidered Auburn logo are also popular, as is the humorous t-shirt pictured above right and the onesie below.

Infant onesie in blue, pink or white: $16.50
Our museum book, Alaska's Fountainhead Collection: Vintage Treads and Threads is a wonderful gift at only $19.95. We also have a selection of fashion history books and the #1 reference for collectible automobiles, The Standard Catalog of American Cars: 1805-1942 ($75).


Other items in the gift shop include die-cast cars, ornaments, magnets, mugs, Edwardian hats, beaded purses, scarves, bookmarks, coasters, smoked salmon and a wide selection of vintage-inspired jewelry. The latter includes some lovely pieces from Jewelry by Harlow, My Mother's Buttons and Lauren-Spencer Austrian crystal.

We hope you'll stop by and support the museum this holiday season!



Michael Vincent Michaud cast glass necklaces: $54-$90



Fashion books: $14.95 - $19.95
* The museum books, passes and ornaments are available for purchase 24/7 at the Wedgewood Resort front desk.




My Mother's Buttons rings ($38) and bracelet ($36)

Edwardian hats: $72 - $85

Austrian crystal brooch: $13.95
Harlow bracelets: $54 - $61

Die-cast cars and trucks


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Early Cadillacs in Fairbanks

December 16, 2013, 6:30 am
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by Nancy DeWitt
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum
1909 White Model M steam car.

Visitors to our museum are often surprised to learn that the first automobiles to arrive in Fairbanks were big expensive touring cars, rather than spunky little Model Ts. Prestigious names like Pope-Toledo, Franklin, White, Thomas, and Pierce were among those first arrivals between 1908 and 1910. Navigating what passed for roads in the mining district required the high-horsepower engines that powered these cars; plus, their owners weren't looking for a Sunday-drive pleasure craft, but rather a workhorse that could haul paying passengers and freight to outlying communities. A little Brush runabout and a Chalmers-Detroit roadster were imported here during this period, but they were most likely limited to in-town excursions until improvements were made to the roads.

J.H. Groves at the wheel of his 1910 or '11 Cadillac Model 30. Three of the
passengers are A.J. Nordale (mayor of Fairbanks from 1910-11),
Dan Driscoll (mayor from 1912-13) and Theodore Kettleson.
Photo courtesy of Frances Erickson
The first Cadillac in Fairbanks, a 5-passenger touring car, arrived by sternwheeler for J.H. Groves on July 3, 1913, just four days after the first Ford Model Ts were delivered here. Not surprisingly, Groves planned to use it as a passenger stage. Within weeks of its arrival, he decided to see if he could be the first to drive an automobile to Chitina. Alas, Bobby Sheldon and his Model T had a head start of several hours on him. Groves left town on July 30 with three passengers and then turned over the wheel to his nephew, Berkley Manford, at McCarty. The auto party rolled into Chitina on August 4, two days after Sheldon.

Although Sheldon would go on to start his Fairbanks-Valdez passenger stage service with Fords, he was sufficiently impressed with Groves’ Cadillac to purchase it in 1915. “Business is increasing rapidly and I find it necessary to give my passengers the best accommodations possible,” he said, preferring the heavier, more comfortable cars to the light Fords and Dodges. In 1916 he added a 7-passenger Cadillac to his stage line. A competitor, Henry Williams, imported a Cadillac the following year for his own passenger business. 

We have five vintage Cadillacs on display in the museum. Our 1909 Model 30 (named for its horsepower) is very similar to the first Cadillac in Fairbanks, but has a shorter wheelbase and demi-tonneau body. When it was introduced in 1909, the 'Thirty' was a remarkable success, with sales that year far outstripping those of every earlier Cadillac model. It's not surprising that one of these popular cars founds its way to Fairbanks over 100 years ago. The Thirty remained the sole model in Cadillac’s catalog for six years, and in 1912 became “The car that has no crank” with the introduction of the Delco electric starter motor. 

We hope you'll come check out our Cadillac display!

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!





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More Edwardian Motoring Fashions

December 23, 2013, 8:00 am
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by Nancy DeWitt
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

Last year I did a post on Edwardian Motoring Clothing, but since then I've found a few more fun photos to share. These ones focus on some of the special head coverings that were created to hold hats in place and to protect faces from mud, dust, and the cold while riding in open cars. We'd love one of those windshield hats for our collection, in case you have one to sell.

Some of these could be used today for walking around Fairbanks when it's -40 outside!











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Our Year in Review

December 30, 2013, 6:30 am
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by Nancy DeWitt
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

What a year! Each one just gets better and better, and 2013 was full of accomplishments. Most notably, we had our best year ever for attendance and gift shop sales. Based on direct feedback and on-line comments, our visitors were very pleased with their museum experience. In fact, their reviews on TripAdvisor earned us the top ranking for Fairbanks attractions for the second year in a row! It's never too late to submit your review, which you can do by clicking on this link.

Other highlights from 2013 include:
  • We hosted a number of school field trips at the museum and offered rides in the Snow Flyer to almost 50 children during Tired Iron week.
  • Historic fashion consultant Abigail Cucolo joined our staff for several months and accomplished a whirlwind of projects. She led fashion tours, wrote blog posts, organized our storage room, cataloged over 700 items into a database, repaired garments, and added over 30 new outfits to the galleries. She also curated our "Beauty and the Bird" exhibit and created several new displays, including ones on undergarments, Fortuny gowns, and WAVES uniforms.
  • Our docents continued to provide valuable support, from educating visitors and providing security during private receptions, to dusting cars and helping Willy with innumerable repair projects in the shop.
  • We worked hard to improve the visitor experience and began offering free audio tours with admission. One guest wrote of the audio tour: "Very good and really adds to the experience."
  • We acquired J. Parker Wickham's library and now have a wonderful collection of resources for research.
  • We participated in the Vernon L. Nash Antique Car Club annual show, Golden Days Show and Shine, and a fairly soggy Golden Days Parade. We were delighted to be selected to carry the winner of the Miss World Eskimo Indian Olympics pageant and her court in our 1919 Pierce-Arrow.
  • We added a number of videos to our YouTube channel, which receives about 2,500 views a week.
  • We had five articles published in national magazines, including The Bulb Horn, Horseless Carriage Gazette, Air-Cooled News, and The Classic Car. The museum was also featured in articles in Alaska Magazine, The Ruralite, and Old Cars Weekly.
  • Our historian attended the National Association of Automobile Museum's annual conference in Lincoln, Nebraska, and was elected to the NAAM board of directors.
  • Our manager attended a number of national and regional events, including the Chickasha and Bakersfield Swap Meets, the Scottsdale auctions, and the Hershey Swap Meet.
  • With the help of some great volunteers, we got one of Fairbanks's first Dodge automobiles running again and helped drive it to Valdez to commemorate the first automobile trip to the coast. The story is posted here.
  • In July we hosted a full house for a presentation about the 1908 Great Race by Jeff Mahl, great grandson of the winning car's driver, George Schuster. He gave a fabulous program and we thank everyone who came (and NAPA for sponsoring the event!).
  • We added three automobiles to the Fountainhead Collection, including a 1902 Knox, 1906 Pope-Toledo, and 1910 Schacht. The Pope-Toledo won several awards before we shipped it north, including First in Class (Antiques) at the Kirkland Concours d'Elegance, and Third in Class (A-1 Antiques) and the Ansel Adams Special Award at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
  • The majority of the museum automobiles got a tune-up and some road time this year. Here are a few out getting some exercise--can you identify them all?
Thank you all for another great year!

























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    Photo Quiz #1

    January 6, 2014, 6:30 am
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    We're digging through our accumulation of photos and have several that we can't identify. So, to kick off the new year, we're starting a new quiz series hoping that our readers can help.

    The photo of these lovely lasses was taken along the Seward Highway and comes to us courtesy of Candy Waugaman. Can you name the make and year of the car?


    It looks like those front fenders have seen some hammer time!
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    In the Shop: 1934 Offenhouser Midget Racer

    January 13, 2014, 8:52 am
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    by Willy Vinton
    © Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

    Since the weather has been in winter mode, I have procrastinated on working on this project. That's because as soon as our Offy midget racer is ready, I will want to fire it up and see how it runs. Come on, spring time!

    This is the piston and rod configuration of the little racer.  As you can see, it is of the highest quality of the time, and as good as most today in the performance line.



    This is the gear drive for the front of the engine that drives both camshafts, oil pump, and the magneto.

    It's interesting to note that there is no timing marks on any of the gears from the beginning, but one would think that over time someone would have marked them for convenience of quick assembly if needed. I find it to be a very high quality set of gears, and tolerances are great.




    One of the problems we found is the near valve seems to be either different from the others, or the keeper is not seated properly, so it will be removed along with the others to make sure they are all seated and installed as they should be.











    This shows the crank case with the openings that give access to the crank, rods, and the fasteners that hold the block to the crankcase. The block on the right shows the cylinders with the water jacket covers off. At this time the crank is fitted and two rods installed, so watch for it this spring, as it should make just a little noise when it fires up.

    You can learn more about our Offenhauser midget racer in this video.





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    Early Bus Transportation in Alaska

    January 20, 2014, 6:30 am
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    by Nancy DeWitt
    © Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

    The first internal combustion buses appeared in the late 1800s in Europe, but Fairbanks wouldn't see its first one until 1925. Until the early 1920s, locals packed themselves into wagons, narrow-gauge train cars, automobiles, and trucks for in-town transit or rides between Fairbanks and other towns. One example is the Saurer truck at right, which served as a bus on July 4, 1913, transporting passengers to the ballfield to watch the first airplane flight over Fairbanks.

    A few weeks later Robert Sheldon made his pioneering drive between Fairbanks and Valdez, proving that an automobile stage line to the coast was possible. For many years he relied on Model Ts, Cadillacs, and Dodges for his business, but eventually added buses to the fleet. By the 1920s he had formed the Richardson Highway Transportation Company (RHTC) with James L. Galen and George Hazelet, and in 1925 acquired the Graham Brothers bus shown here. "First Big Bus Comes to Town" proclaimed the May 25, 1925 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner that year. "A fourteen-passenger bus was received on last night's train by the Richardson Highway Transportation Company for local use throughout the summer."

    The RHTC next acquired the bus at right for carrying passengers between Fairbanks and the coast. I have not been able to identify its make, nor has the Museum of Bus Transportation. The coach somewhat resembles a Flxible, which was commonly mounted on chassis from Buick, Studebaker and Reo. I don't recognize the chassis either and cannot read the emblem above the radiator. There is some resemblance to Studebaker buses of the time (and there is a reference to the RHTC owning a Studebaker bus), but the front end isn't right. Any idea what it is?

    The RHTC owned two of these buses, one of which was driven on the Richardson Highway by Bill Frame in the late 20s and early 30s. Thomas Groves drove the second one between Fairbanks and Circle "to connect with up and down river boats" according to an ad in the News-Miner.

    In 1925 Robert Sheldon, James Galen, and Fairbanks mayor Thomas Marquam acquired the first automobile transportation concession in Mt. McKinley National Park. The Mt. McKinley Tourist and Transportation Company (MMTTC) used a variety of vehicles to carry passengers on tours, including a fleet of Studebaker Big Sixes, the Graham Brother bus shown above (and the 2nd car in this line), and even a horse-drawn stagecoach brought in from Yellowstone. Most of their customers traveled to the Park entrance by train, and then they were transported 12 miles to a base camp at the Savage River.


    One of the most intriguing early buses in interior Alaska was a ca. 1924 Fageol (pronounced "fadgl") safety coach owned by the MMTTC, shown here with driver and naturalist George Lingo*. The name derived from its low center of gravity (it had an underslung frame and "under-worm" axle) and its extra wide track. The 5-door, 22-seat coach was powered by a 4-cylinder Hall-Scott engine and sat on a 218 inch wheelbase. Sheldon's daughter, Frances Erickson, recalls that the Fageol was very upscale. By 1929 the MMTTC had 22 buses in their fleet, including these three that need to be identified.
    From Snapshots from the Past: A Roadside History
    of Denali National Park and Preserve
    Available from Alaska Geographic
    Of course, there were other buses in Alaska before 1940, but I lack the space to cover all of them. You can read about the Skagway "Street Car" tour buses here and see a photo of Juneau's first school buses here and here.

    Above photos courtesy of Candy Waugaman and Frances Erickson. May not be reproduced without permission.



    *According to the University of Alaska website, "Lingo was one of the organizers for the Mt. McKinley Tourist Organization, a group struggling to put 'The Mountain' on the map as a tourist attraction as early as the late 1920s. Several winters he was assigned the job of traveling through the U.S. placing exhibits of Mt. McKinley Park in all major transportation companies, and meeting with tourist companies and the press. In 1932 George was elected to the Territorial Legislature as a Fairbanks representative. He was 31 at the time, the youngest man ever elected to the House and the first Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines' graduate to hold public office. He served two terms." Frances Erickson remembers that Lingo knew how to pick up porcupines bare-handed, which no doubt prepared him for his career in politics!








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    Scottsdale Auction Week

    January 27, 2014, 6:30 am
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     by Willy Vinton
    © Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

    Things finally slowed down enough for me to write a little bit about the Scottsdale auction week I attended recently. I didn't buy anything for the museum, but saw some interesting stuff. At right is a very unique and attractive 1916 Stutz Bulldog Special. It has a custom body, much different from our 1918 Bulldog. These cars were special ordered and custom built for each buyer to their liking.


    Take a look at the custom cabinets in the rear seat area of the Stutz Bulldog. These must have been ordered by someone who liked to party a little, as the right side opened to a bar. Overall it is a very nice car and the last year for the open valve T-head engine.
    It was hard to miss this 1952 Mercedes, which made me think of the colorful VW bug owned by Kelley Rivers in Fairbanks. It was completely hand painted "to bring the car into harmony with nature." I thought that's what rust was for? I don't know why anyone would do this to a car, but it did draw a lot of lookers and comments, both good and not so good. Otherwise, it looked to be a very nice car that could be improved with a paint job.


    Of course, no auction would be complete without a "Duesy." Wow, this 1929 Duesenberg LeBaron-bodied Model J phaeton was a spectacular car inside, under and all around! I spent a lot of time drooling over this one, and took several pictures. I noticed that they had the "elder" guys detailing this car, and not the young ones. It was originally owned by the notorious John Duval Dodge, and ended up selling for $1.7 million plus 10% buyer's commission.

    Here is an interesting Stutz with a fabric body. It was not the most attractive car at the auction for sure, with the fit and finish far from good looking, but it probably made someone happy to take it home.








    After the auctions, we got to enjoy the longest-running weekly car show at McDonald's in Scottsdale. There were around 500 cars or so on display, including lots of unusual stuff like this VW. It must have been built for young folks, because with no doors it would be rather hard for us old folks to put on and take off.  Ron decided he didn't want it, and our wives agreed.
    And then there was this! Someone obviously had a lot of time, a VW that had been hit from the rear, and a couple rusted-out '57 Chevys. We tried to figure out what the goal was on this project:
    1. how to make a VW faster.
    2. how to make a '57 chevy get better gas mileage.
    Or, was he just winging it? Whatever the goal, he did get it done, but I think I would have left the wing off the top.

    It was a good week, but I'm ready to get home.

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    Baby Doe Tabor and the Red Dress

    February 3, 2014, 6:30 am
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    by Nancy DeWitt
    © Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

    Doris Langley Moore dress.
    Among our collection of 600+ historic textiles are several garments and accessories that reportedly belonged to famous figures, or people with well-known names. These include a man's morning suit custom made for E.P. Pillsbury (of the Pillsbury Foods family) and a 1930s dress custom made for Mildred Barnes Bliss, the wife of the U.S. Ambassador to Argentina (1917-1933). We also have a lovely dress from the collection of Doris Langley Moore, costume designer for Katherine Hepburn in "The African Queen," fashion historian, and founder of the Museum of Costume in Bath, England.

    In some cases we can verify a costume's provenance through photographs or paperwork, but in many cases the best we can do is "attribute" the gown or suit to an individual. Such is the case with this eye-popping, red silk dress fashioned with latticed bands of crimson velvet. It was made by Chas. A. Stevens & Brothers was reportedly owned by Colorado resident Elizabeth McCourt Tabor, best known as "Baby Doe" and once called "the best dressed woman in the west."

    Baby Doe was the second wife of wealthy silver magnate Horace Tabor. Horace created a scandal in 1883 when he left his first wife to marry Baby Doe, a woman almost half his age. They lived a lavish lifestyle and Baby Doe gained a "reputation of one of the most beautiful, flamboyant, and alluring women in the mining West." At one point the Tabors were among the five wealthiest families in the country, but they lost their fortune following the repeal of the Sherman Silver Act and subsequent Panic of 1893. Both died destitute, Horace in 1899 and Baby Doe in 1935. Her story inspired two books, a Hollywood movie, and the opera, The Ballad of Baby Doe.

    Just as with the cars in our collection that were once owned by celebrities, a garment with an interesting provenance often leads to intriguing questions. If this dress was owned by Baby Doe during the height of her husband's wealth, it would have been made during the 1880s or early 1890s. The vibrant color, high neckline and lack of a bustle and drapery point to the latter. Yet, there are elements such as the puff sleeves, pigeon breast, and train that are more indicative of the late 1890s and early 1900s--after the Tabors lost their wealth. Perhaps Baby Doe was always on the cutting edge of fashion, and just happened to have a dress that was ahead of the fashion curve?

    Regardless of its provenance, it is an exquisite dress. The color is so rich it almost makes your eyes water. In addition to the velvet lattice and elegant layers on the trained skirt, there are other fine details that delight the eye: the velvet floral accents on the bodice, the black and ivory inset lace collar, and the whimsical trim on the shoulders. One might say this dress is rather busy with so many textures and accents, but that seems appropriate for a ostentatious millionaire forever known as the "miner's sweetheart."



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    Back Seat Driver's Guide

    February 10, 2014, 6:30 am
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    This handy guide was printed and distributed by The Alaska Miner, a weekly supplement to the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner printed from 1938 to 1941. We wonder if drivers really handed these out to passengers?



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    Docent Day at the Museum

    February 17, 2014, 6:30 am
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    by Willy Vinton
    © Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

    The museum recently helped celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Japan Airlines charter flights to Fairbanks with an open house. As with most events in the museum, we had to move several cars to accommodate the food and people. Our docents provide valuable assistance with this task. As we do on many of our weekly volunteer workdays, we started with a "quick" coffee break and discussion about the day's goals. Then, we were off and running in all directions to put the museum back in order after Monday's event. Above right is Steve overseeing the correct placement of ropes and drip pads for the 1911 Ford Model T depot hack.

    Some of the cars get stored in the shop during events. Here Terry, Rod, and Mike get ready to skate the 1914 Grant out from under the lift, where we had to store it to make room in the shop. Otherwise, when we have six cars in the shop there's no room for projects. The skates are a great tool to use around the museum. One goes under each tire, then each is jacked up so the tires are off the floor and the car can be pushed in virtually any direction.

    Once everything is put back where it belongs, it's time for another coffee break to wash down some cookies and discuss the next project. We decided that it was time to do something with the '09 Model T Ford, which developed a serious knock in the engine last summer. With only 20 or so miles on it, I think it may have been a very poor engine build from the start, so we will know before long.




    We let Rod, the youngest of the crew, work on the easy-to-get-at things, while Mike, the oldest docent, got underneath for the hard-to-access parts. What's wrong with this picture???? I guess that's what happens when you get too many chiefs in charge! I noticed Steve gave them a hand, but it seems to be just resting on the seat...





    With the hogshead ready to remove, we were able to check the 4th main. It seemed to be okay, so I suspect that we will find an issue with one of the main bearings in the engine. Next Tuesday we will pull the engine out of the car and proceed from there to find the problem, I think the guys are having fun with this project. I know we sure appreciate all the help that our docents give us, and hope they learn a little with each project.


    The day ends with the firewall and the steering out of the way. We got a lot done during this docent work session! Even some of the floor got scrubbed, thanks to Paul and his floor scrubber driving skills. Be sure to look into the shop if you come by the museum on Sunday to see our progress on the Model T.

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    Museum Wins Prestigious AACA Award

    February 24, 2014, 6:30 am
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    Every year the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) presents national awards to recognize exceptional achievements and contributions to the AACA and the preservation of collector cars. At their annual meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in early February, the AACA Plaque for Outstanding Achievement in the Preservation of Automotive History was presented to the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum.

    The AACA is the world’s largest special-interest automobile club, with over 60,000 members in more than 400 chapters across the U.S., Canada, and over 50 countries. “We are honored that the AACA recognizes not just our commitment to preserve and exhibit antique vehicles,” says museum owner Tim Cerny, “but also the immense effort we have dedicated to researching, archiving, and sharing automotive history.”

    Cerny believes that his museum has a vital responsibility to document and preserve such history for future generations. Nancy DeWitt, the museum’s historian, has spent countless hours researching their most rare cars, including several one-of-a-kind and sole-surviving models. Her research also focuses on the colorful stories behind Alaska’s first automobiles and motorists. 

    Nancy DeWitt and museum manager Willy Vinton
    with the award.
    “Until our museum opened in 2009, Alaska’s automotive heritage was completely overshadowed by our aviation, rail, and riverboat history,” says DeWitt. “We have worked hard to change that, at the national as well as local level.” She has published several articles in national magazines, writes a history column for the museum’s blog, and recently authored a book about the museum collection.

    DeWitt’s research also forms the basis for the signs, interpretive exhibits, and historic photos and videos displayed in the museum’s galleries. “Our goal is to present automotive history in an informative, engaging format.” Feedback from museum visitors indicates they are on target, with this comment being typical: “The signage was readable and informative, and full of stories to help you remember these unique cars. Neither of us are car enthusiasts, and we LOVED it.”

    Thank you, AACA!

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    Early Snow Vehicles in Alaska: Part 1

    March 3, 2014, 6:30 am
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    by Nancy DeWitt
    © Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

    Last Sunday, we fired up our 1917 Model T Snow Flyer and gave rides around Wedgewood Resort. The Snow Flyer was made from a kit one could buy to covert a Model T into a rig that could travel on snow. A similar kit, pioneered by Virgil White in 1913, was the first time the word "snowmobile" was applied to a tracked snow vehicle. I have yet to document that a Snow Flyer or Snowmobile kit was used in Alaska during the first part of the century, but there were certainly similar kits in use by the mid-20s (Part 2).

    Let's first take a look at some earlier creations for motorized snow travel in Alaska. I believe the very first one here was a 2,000-lb steam sled, brought to Valdez by some Connecticut gold seekers in 1898. It consisted of two heavy bobsleds on runners, one fastened behind the other. The front sled carried a 10-hp boiler and an 8-hp reversible engine. The second one carried gearing and a  spiked cylinder. The idea was that the spikes would dig into the snow or ice as the sled pulled 15 sledges carrying the miners' freight over glaciers to the Copper River. After being dragged to shore, the boiler was fired up but the sled failed to move and was quickly abandoned on the flats. One historian wrote of the steam sled, "It had the record of being the first automobile in Alaska and was never guilty of exceeding the speed limit."

    Boice Motor Sled
    Claus Rodine papers, 1898-1919. ASL-MS-134
    In 1903, Nome miner James Dawson built an automobile sleigh that he claimed would replace dogs and reindeer. The vehicle featured a crude oil burner and revolving paddles made from the baleen of a bowhead whale. The motor sled at right was invented by W.A. Boice in Nome in 1909. I have yet to find a follow-up story on the sled, which must have caused quite a sensation on the streets of Nome. A similar contraption was described in the Tanana Leader in December of 1909--an autosled made by George Tiffany of Detroit and sent to his son G.H. Tiffany in Tanana. The article said that the 10-hp auto engine failed to develop sufficient power, although the sled did manage to run through the town before breaking down.

    From Motor Age, Vol XX No. 2
    Another interesting rig appeared in Alaska in the summer of 1911. The caterpillar motor car consisted of two wooden tracks attached to a 4-cylinder runabout. Each track could be operated separately, and a tracked, "tail-like rudder" in the rear also helped steer the machine. It was built to order for Charles Dankert of Candle, Alaska, by the Emery Machine Company of Seattle. Popular Science magazine claimed it was "probably the first automobile to make an appearance in Alaska," which we know is false. Dankert intended to use it to pull sledges loaded with food and supplies in the Candle Mining District, but I don't know if he succeeded.

    Gibson Papers, UAF Archives, 1978-76-23
    In March of 1912, Fred Lewis of Fairbanks built a motor sled consisting of a single front runner, two runners in the rear, a 20-hp engine, and a large, spiked drive-wheel. It was able to reach a speed of 20 mph and successfully covered 20 miles out the Valdez Trail and back on its trial run. After that, I found mention of a number of air-propelled snow vehicles, including one owned by "Reilly" in February of 1918. Apparently it was stuck in Chitina being repaired and reinforced before attempting a run to Fairbanks. The machine at right is Corbett's Air Sled, photographed in Chitina in 1916. I wonder if Reilly built his own air sled, or acquired Corbett's? I have not found documentation that Reilly reached Fairbanks with his.

    Photo courtesy of Candy Waugaman
    Probably the most famous air-propelled snow vehicle back then was the aero-sled built in 1916 by well-known musher Scotty Allan of Nome. One newspaper described it as "a combination aeroplane, automobile and the Yukon bobsleigh." It was powered by a 6-hp airplane engine and the propeller "had a tendency to lift the sled when wet snow is encountered." Several newspaper claimed Allan drove his aero-sled from Nome to Valdez and back in 12 days, although I am curious how he was able to obtain fuel along the route for his "gasoline-consuming speedball."

    J.H. Miles of Nome also built an air-propelled sled, in 1917. In fact, that were a number of such vehicles built over the next several decades in Alaska, one of which can be seen in a video playing in the museum. These ranged from bobsled-type rigs to ones that resembled airplanes without wings. Here are just two examples:

    Haines' first snowmobile, the Jitterbug,
    built by Felix "Whitey" Hakkinen in 1937.
    The propeller was powered by a 25-hp
    motorcycle engine converted for aircraft use.
    During the summer, Hakkinen drove the
     area's first "airboat" by mounting the Jitterbug's
    engine and prop on a skiff. This photo and
    the Jitterbug's propeller and skis are on
    display at the Sheldon Museum in Haines.
    One of two snowplanes built by Reverend
    Augustus "Gus" Martin, shown in Bethel around 1933.
    Martin built this one in Kwigillingok on the lower
    Kuskokwin coast, using a Ford Model A engine for power.
    Martin found his snowplanes to be much faster, less
    expensive, more protected, and more practical than
    running a dog team between villages for his missionary
    work for the Moravian church.

    To see some other air-propelled snow rigs made outside of Alaska, check out this blog.

    References:
    • "Aero Sled Proves Wonder in Alaska." Dawson Daily News, 12 February 1917.
    • "Air-Propelled Auto Coming." Fairbanks Daily News, 27 February 1918.
    • Allan, Chris. "Auto Sleighs and Iron Malamutes: The History of Alaska's Earliest Snow-Machines."In Alaska History, Vol. 26, No. 2. Fall 2011.
    • "An Auto For Frozen Alaska." Popular Science, 1912.
    • "Automobile Arctic Sled." The Yukon Sun, 21 October 1903.
    • Colby, Merle. 1939. Alaska: A Guide to Alaska, Last American Frontier. MacMillan, New York.
    • Lenz, Mary and James H. Barker. 1985. Bethel: The First 100 Years. A City of Bethel Centennial Project.
    • "Makes Trial Run With Motor-Sled." Fairbanks Daily Times, 5 March 1912.
    • Margeson, Charles A. 1899. Experiences of Gold Hunters in Alaska. Published by author.
    • "Overland Record in Frozen North By Airsled." Moderator Topics, Vol. 37, No. 17. 14 January 1917.
    • Powell, Addison M. 1910. Trailing and Camping in Alaska. Wessels & Bissell, New York.
    • "The Caterpillar Motor Car." Motor Age, Vol. 20 No. 2. 13 July 1911.
    • "Tiffany's AutoSled." Tanana Leader, 23 December 1909.
    • "To Copper River for Gold." New York Times, 23 January 1898.
    • Vitt, Kurt and Jim Henkelman. 1985. Harmonious to Dwell: The History of the Alaska Moravian Church, 1885-1985. Moravian Seminary & Archives, Bethel, AK.









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    Early Snow Vehicles in Alaska: Part 2

    March 10, 2014, 6:30 am
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    by Nancy DeWitt
    © Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

    Last week I wrote about several of Alaska's first "snowmobiles," including some air-propelled contraptions (see Part 1). Like a lot of inventions designed to conquer the north's winter terrain, the first two featured here never actually made it to Alaska. The Burch Auto Sleigh at right sat upon skis and two revolving augers, similar to what would be used on the Fordson Snow Motors covered below. Brothers Charles and Frederick Burch made successful runs with it in the Atlin, B.C. district in 1909 and intended to use it to haul passengers between Cordova, Fairbanks and Nome. As far as I know, it never made it across the border.

    Frank Horner of Ruby, Alaska (and the namesake for Horner Hot Springs), patented the unusual vehicle above in 1916, which he was sure would replace the dogsled. The Horner Motor-Sled did borrow a few traits from dogsleds. It was long and narrow like a toboggan and had a hickory frame, mounted on runners and reinforced by flexible rawhide. The similarity ended there. Two driving wheels were mounted at the rear and two "idler" wheels near the front, all pneumatics. Two cleated belts connected the font and rear wheels, so it ran somewhat like a caterpillar tractor. The front steering wheel could be raised and lowed depending on the snow's depth and consistency. Horner tested two prototypes of his machine in Ohio, Washington, and Canada, but never brought one to Alaska.

    Meanwhile, Alaska automotive pioneer Robert Sheldon's auto stage business was booming and he began modifying his Model Ts to run on snow. In 1914, he cut down the width of the axles so the wheels would fit in sleigh tracks on the trail to Valdez. He also planned to patent an invention he called the "snowshoe wheel." I don't know if it resembled the snowshoe wheels at right, made by an Idaho inventor in 1912. I have doubts he found much success with his creation, as by 1915 he was simply wrapping chains around his rear tires and strapping skis under the front ones for driving on snow. Still, he was always looking for a better way to get from point A to B. In early 1918 he built a caterpillar tractor automobile that was patented by a Mr. Chambers of Salcha. Nicknamed "Sheldon's Tank," I could find no mention of it after its first few runs.

    Three Fordson Snow Motors were shipped to Alaska in 1926 for the Wilkins transpolar flight attempt. Two were brought in to haul trains of sledges loaded with supplies and fuel from Nenana to Barrow. The first day was a disaster. After sitting through the night at -25 F, both motors were damaged while trying to start them. Once going, they covered less than three miles the first day due to the machines and sleds bogging down in snow drifts, while several members of the crew suffered frostbite. Two days later, after covering only 65 miles and burning through their fuel supply, the Fordsons were declared failures and dog teams were organized to move the supplies north. You can see one of these Snow Motors on display outside our museum.

    In the 1920s and 30s a series of production vehicles adapted for snow began appearing in Alaska. These included two Eskimobiles shipped to Nome. These were typically built on Fords, but the company would modify any car with the tracks.



    I found this photo, labeled "Gawne Motor Sled in Nome," on eBay, but know nothing about it. Perhaps one of our readers has some information? It appears to be a Model T mounted on a dogsled-like toboggan, driven by two ridged wheels in the rear and stabilized by side runners.





    The vehicle below is equipped with a kit similar to our Snow Flyer, as was the rig I discovered in Valdez several years ago (below right). There were probably a number of these ski-and-track kits sold after the mid-1920s, and I imagine there are more than a few of them slowly deteriorating around Alaska. There was even a Super Snow Bird in Dillingham!



    Finally, there was Roaring Boring Alice (a play on Aurora Borealis), a modified Ford Model A that was built by Stanley Morgan of the U.S. Army Signal Corps in Point Barrow in the early 1930s. You can see a video of Alice in our museum. Alice initially carried skis under her front wheels, chains around the rear ones, a second set of skis attached to the rear axle, and a canvas box for a cab. Morgan later replaced the rear assembly with a track from a Ford Snowmobile kit. At one point Morgan became stranded in Alice on an ice floe drifting near Barrow for two months. In 1937, he used Alice to rescue pilot Harold Gillam, who had been forced to land on the tundra during a "Santa Claus" flight to Barrow. I'm told that Alice is still in Barrow. Can anyone out there confirm that?


    References:
    • "At Army's Most Isolated Outpost in Arctic A Lone Soldier Wins Renown." The Weekly Kansas City Star, 9 October 1935.
    • Allan, Chris. "Auto Sleighs and Iron Malamutes: The History of Alaska's Earliest Snow-Machines." In Alaska History, Vol. 26, No. 2. Fall 2011.
    • "Auto Sleigh To Make It In 2 Days." Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, 19 May 1909.
    • Cole, Terrence M. "Klondike Contraptions: Inventions in Transportation." Northern Review, No. 3/4. Summer/Winter 1989.
    • Gaulois, George. "The Motor Sled Versus the Dog Sled." Scientific American, Vol. 124. 29 January, 1921.
    • "In 1924, Ford Plus Tracks Plus Snpw Equaled 'Eskimobile.'" Best of Old Cars Weekly
    • Prosser, W.T. "New Auto for Snow Travel." Technical World Magazine, Vol. 11, No. 1. March 1909.
    • "Tough Going for Snow Motors on Pt. Barrow Trek.: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, 16 February 1926.
    • "Utah Sergeant Goes to Aid of Arctic Pilot." Salt Lake Tribune, 14 December 1937.
    • "Wilkins Motor Expedition Stranded First Day Out." Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, 13 February 1926.
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    On the Road: 2014 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance

    March 17, 2014, 6:30 am
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    by Willy Vinton

    Recently I went on another adventure to check out a few cars at some auctions and take in a couple of car shows.This time I headed to Amelia Island, FL. There I met up with Allan Schmidt from Escondido, CA, who does a lot of our restoration work. We decided to first take in the Festival of Speed display.

    Now if you're a purist, this may not be the show for you, but it is amazing the talent shown in the creation of some of these vehicles. I am not sure what the first pictured vehicle is supposed to be, maybe something from a scifi movie? Either way, it was interesting to look at.

    The motorcycle with three, yes THREE, drive tires was an interesting concept bike for sure. Training wheels, perhaps? Straight ahead of that bike is one with a young lad on it, and next to him was "Bat Man" in full dress. The kids were enjoying having their picture taken on his bike.

    After two days of cold, rain, and wind, Saturday turned out nicer. On Sunday, it reached a very pleasant 70 degrees for the concours. One of my favorite cars there was the one at right. This is one of the very first Duesenburg Model As built, and I have to say it is by far the most striking of the Model As I have seen. The custom body and lines of this Bender Coupe were amazing to look at, and being a 1921 it was a step ahead of its day. I would love to have this car in the museum.

    The real reason for my trip, though, was to see the great collection of American Underslungs on display. Only 11 of the planned 14 made it to the show, but they were all great to see. At right is the American's famous Teetor-Hartley 4-cylinder engine. Apparently these are very rare, as we have been searching for a few years for one, with no luck. This engine is almost a mirror image of the 4-cylinder Continental engine of the same period, but has a few major differences.

    Like most of the Brass Era cars of the day, there was plenty of brass to see under the hood. It is always a joy to see this brass contrasting with the aluminum crankcases and cast blocks. When you look at the progress that was made in the first 10 to 12 years of automobile engine development, it is amazing how fast they progressed and improved.





    This 1910 American Underslung Traveler from the Seal Cove Museum once belonged to Austie Clark. Allan and I spent a lot of time among the Underslungs, scrutinizing details and talking to folks there. What a great bunch of cars we saw--too much to put in here at this time!



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    A Pedigreed Rambler

    March 24, 2014, 6:30 am
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    by Nancy DeWitt
    Our 1904 Stevens-Duryea, when it was
    at the Museum of Science and Industry
     (its 2nd owner) in Chicago.
    © Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

    One of my jobs as the museum's historian is to document the history of the automobiles in the collection. For a handful, such as our 1928 Oakland, we have very little information beyond the name of the prior owner. For others, like our 1904 Stevens-Duryea and 1918 Biddle, we can trace their provenance (history of ownership) back to the person who bought it new.

    In addition to a car's provenance, we are interested in its restoration history (if any), if it has won any awards, and whether or not the car completed any tours of note. Although to our knowledge it never won more than a 3rd place concours award, our 1904 Rambler Model L is a great example of a car that carries some interesting history.

    So far we have traced this Rambler's ownership back to B. Paul Moser of Santa Barbara, CA, in the late 1950s. Its next owner was William Schamberger of Cedar Rapids, OH, who performed some restoration work on it in the early 1960s. He sold the car to the Rothman's Pall Mall/Craven Foundation of Toronto in 1972. They had Walter Heater of Detroit restore it; while touring with the car in Great Britain in 1987 they sold it to Coys of London. The Rambler then passed through three other owners in Great Britain over the course of 13 years. It required a full mechanical renovation, which was performed by Cliff Long. Peter Inston drove the Rambler in the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain's Diamond Jubilee Rally in 1990.

    Ben Cawthra/London News Pictures/Zuma Press
    More notably, our Rambler participated in the London-to-Brighton Veteran Car Run (LTBVCR) several times. The LTBVCR is the world's longest-running motoring event and the world's largest gathering of veteran cars (those built before 1905). The first run was held in 1896, and it has some fascinating history. It is not a race, but a 60-mile test of endurance for these old cars, a test of stamina for the driver and passengers (it is usually quite cold and often rainy), and a social gathering for veteran-car aficionados. A lot of the cars break down, and many do not finish.
    A 1904 Rambler (not ours) in the
    1910 London-to-Brighton Run.

    Our Rambler completed its first LTBVCR in 1974 (although the run was "somewhat traumatic" due to engine problems), but failed to complete the 1987 run after throwing a connecting rod. That's why the Craven Foundation sold it Coys. It later completed runs in 1988 and 1989.



    John William Middendorf

    In 2000, the Rambler passed back to an American owner--Ambassador William Middendorf II of Rhode Island. Middendorf had served as treasurer for Barry Goldwater's 1964 presidential campaign, as Secretary of Defense Secretary of the Navy (1974-77), and as a U.S. Ambassador (1969-1973, 1981-1987). He also owned our 1898 Hay Motor Vehicle. Don Meyer drove the entire 2000 LTBVCR in the Rambler in before shipping it back to North America. 





    Peter Pitcher did some mechanical work on the Rambler after it was brought back to the U.S., and I believe Middendorf toured with the car before selling it to our museum in 2007. It is one of only four 1904 Rambler Model Ls known to survive. Some day we'd love to take it or one of our other Veteran cars across the pond and participate in the historic London-to-Brighton run. I can just see Willy & Tim looking like these two chaps at right!




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    On the Road: Los Angeles Museums

    April 1, 2014, 12:07 am
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    Hanging out with the Hannibal from "The
    Great Race," at the Petersen Museum
    by Nancy DeWitt
    © Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

    Last week I traveled to Los Angeles to attend the 2014 National Association for Automobile Museums annual conference. This year’s meeting took place at the Petersen Automotive Museum and was held in conjunction with the World Forum for Motor Museums. It was a great opportunity to meet with museum professionals from the U.K., Greece, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and around North America. 


    Liberace's 1962 Rolls-Royce Phantom V Landau
    Limousine at the Petersen Museum. He had it
    custom built to match one of his pianos.
    The Petersen Museum was a fabulous host and allowed us to tour their Vault and numerous exhibits. It was nice to see their museum and displays before they begin their ambitious renovation later this year. It was hard to choose a favorite car among their displays, but those related to the movies and celebrities ranked high on my list. Their town car display was also fantastic.

    1936 Toyota Classic Model AA
    (replica) at the Toyota Museum

    In addition to a series of presentations (including an excellent one by the National Corvette Museum about their recent sinkhole incident), we were able to tour several other museums and collections. First up was the Toyota Museum, which hosted our Tuesday reception.

     So-Cal Speed Shop belly tank lakester and motorcycles
    in the Bruce Meyer Collection.

    On Wednesday our first stop was at the Bruce Meyer Collection, located behind a nondescript door in an alley by Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Mr. Meyer has a fascinating collection, including Le Mans racers, hot rods, a wall of motorcycles, and lofty marques like Bentley, Porsche, Jaguar, Duesenberg and Ferrari.


    From there we traveled to Pasadena to visit the Transportation Department at the Art Center College of Design. A significant percent of the world's automotive designers graduate from this program, and it was interesting to see the students in action.
    Student work at the Art Center College of Design


    Next up was the Nethercutt Collection in Sylmar, where we started our tour in their Lower and Grand Salons. Founder J.B. Nethercutt, who made his fortune with Merle Norman Cosmetics, and his son Jack Nethercutt have amassed a superb collection, housed in the salons and across the street in the Nethercutt Museum. This was my third visit to the Nethercutt, and every trip there I discover something new. I especially enjoyed perusing their collection of Cadillacs this time.


    1930 Ruxton at the Nethercutt Collection
    On Friday, we cruised up the Pacific Coast Highway to Oxnard, where we toured the Mullin Automotive Museum. I have been here once before and was really looking forward to seeing it again. Our visit was marred, however, by an employee who did a great job at making us feel very unwelcome. She even gave Edsel Ford II a hard time about his tour reservation. It was a reminder about how your museum's front-line employees set the tone for each visitor’s experience, which turned out to be quite negative for me and many others at this stop.

    Despite the sour tone, the cars (and Rembrandt Bugatti’s sculptures) were stunning and we had an excellent docent guide. Unfortunately, most of the cars lacked signs, so I don't remember what they were besides Bugattis.

    1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic at the Mullin Museum, 
    reportedly purchased for over $30 million.

    Our final destination was Mike and Barbara Malamut’s private collection, which included a delightful mix of vintage Porches, Volkswagons, Messerschmitts, BMW Isettas, many other cars, and a lot of memorabilia. Alas, they asked that we not post photos on line. Although this collection is not open to the public, hopefully some day you will get to see it as part of a group tour, especially since the Malamuts are very delightful hosts.


    Round Door Rolls-Royce in the Petersen
    Museum Vault. More info here.
    I will post more photos from my trip on our Facebook page later this week. Kudos to Leslie Kendall and the Petersen Museum for putting on such a great conference!


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    In the Shop: Building a Replica Race Car

    April 8, 2014, 12:38 pm
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    by Willy Vinton
    © Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

    Our latest project in the museum shop is to build a replica of the car that Bobby Sheldon drove in the first organized car race in Fairbanks, held on July 5, 1917. The rules required that the cars be stripped down and carry both a driver and mechanic. Sheldon won that race and the $500 prize in a Model T Ford. That was a lot of money at the time--more than the factory price of a new Model T.

    Our replica of Sheldon's race car will use parts collected in Alaska from 1916-1925 Model Ts. It will be a nice example of an early race car--and it will run! We've gathered parts from all over for this project, and owe special thanks to Bruce Campbell of Anchorage for helping gather several, including the frame.

    The frame we're using is from a 1925 Model T. The major difference between it and the frame from a late-teens model is that it has a wider rear cross member. We aren't going to restore the parts for the replica, but rather, put them into safe operating condition. In fact, they'll probably be in better condition than the parts were in Sheldon's car when he raced!




    This project is being performed by our "pit crew" volunteers that come in every Tuesday for a day of fun and work in the museum. I can't say enough great things about these guys. Their enthusiasm and dedication is greatly appreciated.







    Here are the front and rear axles we're using for the replica. We'll rebuild them to make them operable and safe for speeds under 50 mph (although we probably won't exceed 20 mph). We haven't decided what wheels to use yet, but will probably go with 30-inch wood.

    We are building the engine from several we gathered for usable hard parts. By the time we finish the project the pit crew will have a full understanding of how a Model T operates. Then, we'll move on to a full round of driving lessons so they will all be able to drive a "pedal car" (Model Ts have several pedals to master). When you come to the Midnight Sun Cruise-In in June you should see the Sheldon racer being driven by one of the volunteers and a "mechanic" riding in the passenger seat. If you visit the museum on Sunday, be sure to look through the shop windows to follow our progress.











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    Our Nemesis Car: Duesenberg Model J

    April 14, 2014, 6:30 am
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    1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Convertible Coupe at
    the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automotive Museum
    by Nancy DeWitt
    © Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum


    I'm biased, but our TripAdvisor reviews back me up: we have a very, very nice assemblage of automobiles in our museum. There is one hole in the collection, however, and our attempts to fill it have been repeatedly thwarted. That spot is reserved for a Duesenberg Model J.

    1929 Duesenberg Model J Dual Cowl Phaeton
    at the Gilmore Museum
    Introduced in December of 1928, the Duesenberg Model J was a luxury car designed to compete with European royalty like Hispano-Suiza, Rolls Royce, and Isotta-Fraschini. A technical marvel, it had the most powerful engine of its day and often carried the most elegant coachwork available. Its combination of visual beauty and mechanical superiority make the Model J a perfect fit for our museum's mission; that is, to showcase some of the most important and interesting technological and design advances in American automobile development prior to World War II.

    Despite years of searching, we haven't yet found the right Duesenberg Model J for our museum. If you know of someone who is ready to part with theirs and would like to see it displayed in a museum (and driven!), please put them in touch with us.

    In the meantime, we will continue to enjoy the Duesenbergs on display in other museums around the country.

    Duesenberg Model J in the Bruce Meyer Collection
    1931 Model J Convertible Victoria
    at the Henry Ford

    1931 Model J Murphy Convertible
    Sedan at the Auburn Cord
    Duesenberg Automotive Museum
    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!
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