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Bakersfield Swap Meet 2014

April 21, 2014, 6:30 am
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by Willy Vinton
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum


Bakersfield 2014 was hot and dry--almost too hot--but the Alaskans survived it. The first day featured the Horseless Carriage Club of America tour, with a lot of interesting early cars. Of course, a lot of dependable Ford Model Ts were there, but there were some more rare cars like a big Marmon touring, and this great looking Cole V8 coupe. We were offered seats in several cars, but took a rain check as my wife Wilma had to return to the hotel and work (darn computer age). I decided to tour the antique shops around the town, and I managed to buy a hard-to-find item at one: a bottle of old metal jacks (remember the little rubber ball with jacks?). Our wood shop needed these, but that's a story for another time.

The first thing that really grabbed my attention at the swap meet was this rare, 1939 Willys pickup. I believe it may have belonged to Richie Clyne (owner of the Auto Collections at the Imperial Palace) or a friend of his. What a great piece of history it is! The body on it is straight and there is no rust to speak of. I would have liked to bring it home, but have no room at the inn. Sigh.


This model T block is a made-up, open valve built by grinding off all of the enclosure that covered the valve area. The job was very well done, and the price was also very "well done" (it was the same price I paid for a complete engine with transmission a short time ago).

Meet regulars Stan and Terry brought this cute little American Bantam Roadster to the meet to sell. It only took a couple test drives before someone purchased it. And no, Terry didn’t run over Stan, and Stan was not trying to block his passage. It's just that little car = little problems. In this case, the horn wire was shorted out and when you turned the wheel, it would sound the horn.




Now this would make a great tow rig for us! The old twin-six Packard was wearing its original paint, somewhat worse for wear, but a great car with a known history from day one.

As with all the swap meets I travel to, I came home with a few parts. With the cars we have, it's rare to find the things on our wish list, but the hunt is half the fun!



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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New Museum Exhibit: Extreme Motoring - Alaska Style!

April 28, 2014, 6:30 am
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by Nancy DeWitt
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

Moving in the 1921 Daniels
before opening day.
The Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum has an exciting milestone approaching. On June 1, 2009, we opened our museum to the public. In those five years we have experienced a lot of growth, gained many new fans, and expanded our collections--especially our historic clothing collection. While part of our museum's focus has always been on Alaska's automotive history, this year we are taking this theme a step further in celebration of our five-year anniversary.


On June 1, we will open a new exhibit titled "Extreme Motoring: Alaska's First Automobiles and Their Dauntless Drivers." Our Alaska Gallery will feature original Alaska cars, including the very first automobile driven in the Territory, as well as examples of the some of the first automobiles in Alaska. Some of these include the 1905 Sheldon, 1906 Pope-Toledo, 1907 White Steamer, 1908 Brush, and 1910 Chalmers-Detroit. New signage about the cars' histories and first owners will accompany each vehicle.

Alaska State Library P228-279
Our historic photograph exhibit is being updated with more photos of Alaska's first cars and the hardships encountered by their drivers. We are also creating new interpretive panels to tell the stories of the most adventurous of our pioneering motorists. You'll be able to learn more details about Bobby Sheldon and the runabout he built in Skagway in 1905, and Martin Itjen's "street cars"--accompanied by actual recordings of these men. We'll have an exhibit on Sheldon's pioneering drive between Fairbanks and Valdez in 1913, with new photographs provided by his daughter, Frances Erickson. Other exhibits will highlight Alaska's first motor stage drivers, Valdez's role in the 1908 New York-to-Paris Race, Charles Percival's transcontinental drive that took him to Skagway and over the White Pass in 1911, the history of the Valdez-Fairbanks Trail (now called the Richardson Highway), the first automobile races in Fairbanks, and the unusual snow vehicles Alaskan pioneers built for winter travel.

Our popular Sourdough Roadhouse exhibit, where visitors can dress up in old-time clothing and climb into a 1910 car for photos, is staying put but we've added more children's clothes to the "outhouse closet." Speaking of children, we're building a new play table where they can construct a roadhouse and drive toy cars between Fairbanks and Valdez.

Sandy Jamieson sketches the 1908 Brush.
On top of all of this there will be new additions to our audio tour and clothing exhibits. Later this summer we'll release a new coloring book about Bobby Sheldon's adventures, featuring whimsical illustrations by Fairbanks artist Sandy Jamieson.

"Extreme Motoring: Alaska's First Automobiles and Their Dauntless Drivers" will run through March 31, 2015 and is free with museum admission. If you are visiting from out of town, we hope you will choose to stay at Wedgewood Resort, our exhibit sponsor and home to Bear Lodge and the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum. Hotel guests receive half-price admission to the museum, VIP access to museum tours, discounts on passes and a free shuttle to the University of Alaska Museum of the North, complimentary WiFi, and access to other resort activities, including our private nature reserve. Plus, you might get to see one or two of the museum cars motoring right past the hotel entrance!



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Prepping for Summer

May 5, 2014, 6:30 am
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by Nancy DeWitt
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

It's been a busy week at the museum. We started moving vehicles into and around the Alaska Gallery to prepare for the opening of our "Extreme Motoring" exhibit. We couldn't find the key for the 1911 Ford Model T depot hack, so it didn't travel far.






Of course, since we had to temporarily move a few vehicles outside while we shuffled cars, it only made sense to fire them up and go for a drive. Willy and the pit crew attracted some curious looks when they drove the IHC auto buggy and Moline-Knight to the Bakery for lunch.







While the guys were playing with cars, Carolyn Mustard continued to install new photographs for the Extreme Motoring exhibit. This has involved shuffling a lot of the existing photographs around the museum--not an easy task.









The pit crew continued to make progress on the Bobby Sheldon replica race car. Looks like the frame is coming along nicely.








Willy got the 1929 Ford Model A coupe moved out of storage and into the garage at the Fountainhead Development corporate office, where it serves as a company car for staff during the summer. He also pulled the 1923 Mercury-bodied Model T speedsteer out of the barn and moved it back over to the museum for the summer.



Finally, the winter covers came off the Duplex truck and Advance steam traction engine outside. We saw our first motor home in the Wedgewood Resort parking, so you know that the summer season is about to hit!



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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Classic Cars to Shine at the 2014 Alaska Midnight Sun Cruise-In

May 12, 2014, 6:30 am
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by Nancy DeWitt

Fairbanks puts on a fantastic Solstice celebration every summer, but Alaska's hottest car show only rolls around every two years. Don't miss it this June!

Corvettes, Cobras, Thunderbirds and hot rods will be heating up the streets during the 2014 Midnight Sun Cruise-In on June 20 & 21. Those out enjoying Fairbanks’ longest days can expect to see an eclectic mix of classic cars rumbling throughout the city. They'll be cruising through downtown Fairbanks on Friday evening and then gathering at Pioneer Park for dinner at the Salmon Bake. Saturday afternoon is the Tour de Fairbanks, where the cars will cruise out the Steese Highway and through the Goldstream Valley, University of Alaska campus, and downtown Fairbanks.

The highlight of the Cruise-In is the Midnight Sun Car Show, organized by the Vernon Nash Antique Auto Club of Fairbanks. Held on the expansive grounds of Wedgewood Resort, the June 21 show is expected to attract close to 200 pre-1985 cars ranging from Model Ts and Studebakers to Mustangs and El Caminos.

Admission to view the cars is free, and the crowd will choose the winners among several classes:
  • Hot Rods/Modified (2014 featured class)
  • Pre-war Fords (2014 featured class)
  • Muscle Cars (owner definition)
  • Vintage (1949 and older)
  • Baby Boomer Classic (1950-1972)
  • Millennial Classic (1973-1989)
  • Miscellaneous (tractors, military vehicles, motorcycles, etc.)

Show-goers can also enjoy free hayrides, watch an antique steam car demonstration, see a 100-year-old electric car in action, and peruse the eye-popping collection of historic automobiles and fashions inside the museum. The awards banquet for the show takes place in the Fountainhead Auto Museum Saturday evening and is open to the public (advanced tickets required).

One fun new event will take place during the car show: Valve Cover Car Races! It's similar to pinewood derby racing, but you make a racer from a valve cover from an internal combustion car engine. Anyone, no matter how young or old, can play and there is no fee to enter unless you'd like to rent a car. For more information about valve cover cars and the race rules, see pages 6-7 of the car club's newsletter here. You can also check out Fairbanks's inaugural valve cover races at the club's annual show at the Carlson Center May 31 - June 1.

The Cruise-In will stage at Wedgewood Resort, the host hotel for the event. They are offering a smokin' hot room rate at Bear Lodge for the weekend at just $99/night. Call 1-800-528-4916 and use code CRUIS14 to make your reservation. Rooms fill fast for Solstice weekend, so don't delay!

A registration form for the Cruise-In, car show, and awards banquet can be downloaded here.

Special thanks to Seekins Ford-Lincoln for sponsoring our People's Choice awards this year, and to Ronn Murray Photography for the use of his fantastic photos!
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On the Road: Juneau Dipsticks Car Show

May 19, 2014, 6:30 am
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by Nancy DeWitt
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

I traveled to Juneau, Alaska, a few weekends ago for a meeting and some sight seeing. I can't really say I was "on the road" since Juneau can only be reached by air or boat. Our capitol city, however, does have about 191 miles of roads (if you count all the side streets), with the longest stretch covering 41 miles "out the road" to Echo Cove. Not surprisingly, there is an active car club in Juneau, and I just happened to be there during the Dipsticks' annual auto and cycle show.

The club welcomes members with both old and new cars (or no car at all). There was a nice variety of cars at the show, but alas, no teens or 20s vehicles. The oldest automobile I saw was a 1939 Packard Super Eight, shown to the right of the blue 1946 Packard limo in this photo. Both are gorgeous cars.


There were lots of Chevrolets to be admired, including a '57 Belair, '53 pickup, and an orange '49 in the parking lot...




...along with a few Cameros, a Chevelle, and at least one Corvette.

















Of course, there were some Fords and hot rods too.


















I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the two MGAs, the Indian motorcycle, and "F-Rod," a modified 1950 Ford F-1 pickup.




It was great to see such enthusiasm for collectible cars in this southeast Alaska city. The show was well done and my only complaint is that no one I talked to had ever heard of the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum. Too bad I didn't have some brochures with me, and that I couldn't convince the few owners I spoke with to load their cars onto the ferry and then drive several hundred miles to Fairbanks for the Midnight Sun Cruise-In next month.




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Our Fashionating Museum

May 26, 2014, 6:30 am
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by Nancy DeWitt
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum


If our name wasn't already so long, I'd suggest we change it to the Fountainhead Antique Auto and Historic Fashion Museum. For some time we've had more fashions than cars on the floor; in fact, we presently have over 100 outfits on exhibit! I'm told that we are now have the largest fashion collection on permanent display in the western United States. If you love fashion history and haven't visited us, you are really missing out!

Originally begun as a complement to the automobiles with about ten garments on display, the collection now encompasses an extensive array of costume history. Ranging from the 18th century to the mid 20th, the collection now includes everyday wear and formal dress from 200 years of American style.



The gem is our early 20th century collection featuring Edwardian elegance, Empire Revival chic (including "Titanic dresses"), and Flapper shimmer. We presently have a number of 1920s evening dresses on display, including richly beaded and sequined shifts. We are also fortunate to host pieces from designers like Fortuny, Callot Soeurs, Edward Molyneaux, and Maria Gallenga.



We also house a notable assortment of 19th century bustled silhouettes, includible some formidable leg-of-mutton sleeved dresses from the 1890s. Our 1930s garments include bias-cut, curve hugging gowns, daywear, and tailored outfits, including pieces from designers Ceil Chapman and Hattie Carnegie.


The fashion collection does not stop at clothing. We also have a wide range of accessories on exhibit, including shoes, purses, gloves and jewelry dating back to the 18th century. Of course, no exhibit would be complete without hats. You can see some of our most interesting examples in our current exhibit, "Beauty and the Bird: A Tale of Feathers, Fashion and Our Fowl Obsession." This exhibit, originally scheduled to close last March, has been extended through the summer of 2014 by popular demand.

"We weren't expecting it, but this was a 'gold-star' attraction. The cars were superb, but the antique clothing collection was out of this world!" TripAdvisor Reviews

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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A Busy Anniversary Week

June 2, 2014, 1:11 pm
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by Nancy DeWitt
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

June 1 was the 5-year anniversary for our museum's official opening. It seems like only yesterday when we opened our doors for the first time! We had a very busy week leading up to this milestone. Visitor traffic has really picked up now that the cruise tour groups are hitting Fairbanks, although we are seeing a lot of independent travelers, too. No matter where they're from, they can't resist putting on some old-timey clothes and getting in our 1911 Everitt for a photo.

Last week Willy stayed busy leading tours in the museum while helping me put some finishing touches on our newest exhibit: Extreme Motoring: Alaska's First Automobiles and Their Dauntless Drivers. We have organized an impressive collection of original Alaska cars and several others identical to the first ones to arrive in Fairbanks. Exhibit panels tell the stories of our early motorists and their adventures and inventions. These are also vividly displayed in our large collection of historic photographs, including many newly discovered ones, displayed throughout the museum.

Another fun feature in our Alaska exhibit are four videos compiled from the film archives at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. You can see modified snow vehicles in action, watch cars traveling down the old Richardson Highway and crossing the Tanana River on the old cable ferry, and see a variety of early cars motoring around several Alaska towns and Mt. McKinley National Park. We really hope you will come to the museum and see the Extreme Motoring exhibit this summer.

Last week we sent another book off to the designer, this time a coloring book that will appeal to children and adults alike. It's a "Ride Along with Bobby Sheldon" coloring book that highlights his inventions and adventures, and it is whimsically illustrated by Fairbanks artist Sandy Jamieson. Hopefully we will have the books ready to sell by late July.


As if this wasn't enough to fill our week, we had a booth at the annual Vernon L. Nash Antique Auto Club car show at the Carlson Center over the weekend. Many thanks to volunteer Ron Dane for driving our 1911 Ford Model T depot hack to the show, and to volunteer Rod Benson for helping man the booth. It was a fun event and there were a lot of great-looking cars at the show. We'll post photos over on our Facebook page later this week (you don't need a Facebook account to view our page).

Many thank to all of you who made our first five years such a success. Now on to the next five!

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Built Like a Mack AB Flatbed Truck

June 9, 2014, 6:30 am
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by Nancy DeWitt
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

Back in 2009 we purchased three vehicles at auction from the LeMay Collection in Washington state. The 1905 Advance steam traction engine and a 1918 Duplex flatbed truck have been on display outside the museum for some time, but the 1915 Mack AB flatbed truck was put into storage.

Recently, we moved the Mack into our carpentry shop to get it ready for display. It won't be a driver, but will make a nice addition to our outdoor exhibits. The AB, introduced in 1914 as a replacement for the Mack Junior, was Mack's first standardized, high-volume model series. It was offered in 1-, 1 1/2- and 2-ton forms. Over 51,600 ABs were produced between 1914 and 1936.


The AB was powered by a 30-HP, 4-cylinder engine with pair-cast cylinders. It originally came with a three-speed transmission and had a worm-driven rear axle; in 1915 chain drive was offered as an alternative. Top speed was around 15 MPH.

John William Frame Photograph Collection P228-64;
Alaska State Library
Unbeknownst to us when we purchased this truck, Mack ABs played an important role in developing Alaska's Richardson Highway. As you can see in the photo at right, though, it wasn't easy! In 1905, the Alaska Road Commission (ARC) was created to oversee improvements to pack trails, mainly the Valdez-Eagle wagon trail (and soon after a spur trail to Fairbanks). Although the ARC declared in 1914 that it made "no pretense of having built roads adapted for automobile travel," motorized traffic began taking over the Valdez-Fairbanks Trail in the late teens. During that time the ARC expended great effort into widening the Trail, bridging small streams with culverts and larger ones with wooden structures, and laying down corduroy over permafrost sections. Their workhorse was the Mack AB truck, and the John William Frame Collection in the archives of the Alaska State Library has a great series of photos of the ARC's Mack ABs taken in 1919.

Except for their soft tops and dump beds, the ARC trucks look identical to ours. Once again, we have a great old vehicle to help us tell the story of Alaska's automotive history! Watch for the Mack to be put on display later this summer.

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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In the Shop: 1907 White Steam Car

June 16, 2014, 11:32 am
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by Willy Vinton
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

We recently had another interesting work session with our big White Steamer.  In 2012, we attempted to fire it up for the first time. We'd been told by numerous steam car enthusiasts that Ryan Thurber was the guy we needed, so we flew him up from California to educate us on the fine points of our car. Ryan has a long history of White steam car experience, and a great working knowledge of its systems.  On his first trip here we hand fired our car, built up the pressure and temperature, and ran the engine. But, the "newly rebuilt" flow motor would not operate. We spent a full day working with it, but discovered that the cylinder was machined out of round--even 125 lbs of air pressure would not move it!

Ryan returned home and I searched for a replacement flow motor. Two weeks ago Ryan and his son Christian again spent a few days with us working on the car, fitting the new rebuilt flow motor secured from Evan Price. We hand fired the car, but had trouble getting the pilot light to burn clean. When we fired the boiler with the flow motor, it backfired (I guess we don't need arm hair anyway). This caused us some concern so we built a set up that allowed us to fire up the pilot light remote from the car. This revealed the problem--the pilot housing had been rebuilt in a way that it would not burn properly, and would not direct the fuel flow to heat like it should.

Ryan took the pilot light back home with him, and with the help of a couple of great steam car guys he will get one rebuilt and tested, and then return this fall to see if we can bring this great car back to life. It's been a long process, but we will win!

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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Midnight Sun Cruise-In Was a Wet One

June 25, 2014, 1:10 pm
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by Nancy DeWitt
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

Fairbanks is experiencing one of the rainiest Junes on record, but we managed to pull off most of the Midnight Sun Cruise-In events in between showers. Friday actually started out hot and sunny, which gave Willy and the crew a window to try to get the Stanley steamer running (to no avail).




Fred and Judy Keller from Wasilla showed up in their Radio Flyer wagon car that afternoon, and Fred graciously gave me a ride around downtown Fairbanks. That car definitely turns heads and makes people smile!



We officially kicked off the weekend on Friday evening with a cruise to the Salmon Bake. Despite a hard rain that afternoon, the clouds were clearing as the cars gathered. In fact, the weather looked so promising that Wilma Vinton put the top down on her '68 Mercury Parklane convertible before departing. A good decision, as the sun stayed out the rest of the evening.






Alas, we awoke to a cloudy sky Saturday morning and only had two hours of show time before the rain arrived. Just over 90 cars were entered in the show, with a good contingent from points south including Anchorage, Homer, Glenallen, Eagle River, Willow, Seldovia, Cantwell and Wasilla. Oh, and North Pole. I often forget that North Pole is south of Fairbanks!
The morning was certainly made more lively by Bruce Campbell's 1914 Model T calliope car, Kelley Rivers' juggling show from his 1973 VW "clown car," Kayla Rivers' unicycling and juggling skills, and Bub Larson's hay wagon. You can see more photos from the show here.

We had a good turnout of spectators, although many did their spectating from their cars once the rain started. We had to cancel the steam and electric car demonstrations, but the Fairbanks-Morse engine demo and the valve cover car distance contest went on as planned. Congratulations to Jim Brand, who "Red Ram" car (right) smoked the competition with a run of 124'.

To our surprise, the rain quit just as the hardiest drivers headed out for the Tour de Fairbanks. The evening ended with a banquet inside the museum that included the awards presentation and a slide show by Al Murray on forty years of car restoration.

Congratulations to the following People's Choice Award winners:

Pre-War Ford: Dale & Ingrid Dryden, 1931 Model A taxi
Hot Rod/Modified: Chuck Ice, 1923 T-bucket roadster
Muscle: Travis Lunney, 1973 Chevy Camaro
Vintage: K.B. Bettisworth, 1949 Buick Super
Baby Boomer Classic: Rod & Birgit Benson, 1958 Chevy Corvette
Millennial Classic: Paul Carlson, 1976 Toyota Landcruiser
Miscellaneous: Fred & Judy Keller, Radio Flyer wagon car

Many thanks to all who came to the show (especially our out-of-town guests!), the Vernon L. Nash Antique Auto Club, everyone who volunteered, and Seekins Ford for sponsoring the People's Choice Awards.











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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Owen Magnetic Update

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

In the fall of 2012 we sent our 1917 Owen Magnetic Model M-25 touring car south to Murray Motor Car in Monroe, Washington, for some work. The Owen Magnetic was one of the most unusual and technologically advanced cars of its time, and was essentially an ancestor to today’s hybrid cars. It was most notable for its attempt to defeat the problem of shifting gears by means of an electromagnetic transmission designed by Justus B. Entz.


The Owen Magnetic’s drive mechanism had no direct connection between the internal-combustion engine (A) and the rear wheels. Instead, the engine powered a generator attached to the rear of the engine's crankshaft and caused a horseshoe-shaped magnet (B) to spin. This imparted energy to a steel armature (C) fitted into the air space inside the whirling magnet, causing it to spin via magnetic imbalance. This in turn induced current in the armature (E) of a conventional electric motor (D), which provided the energy to turn the drive shaft and propel the engine's rear wheels.

This continuously variable transmission produced an unlimited number of forward speeds, leading to the Owen Magnetic being marketed as “The Car of a Thousand Speeds.” The transmission, which also served as an electric starter, regenerative brake, and battery charger, was controlled by a small lever on the steering wheel. Speed was regulated by a separate lever.

The Owen Magnetic was one of the most expensive U.S. automobiles produced at a time when the average car cost about $1,000 and a Ford Model T cost less than $400. Its exceptionally smooth, quiet ride and beautiful coachwork by Baker, Rauch & Lang appealed to wealthy clientele, especially those who had trouble shifting. Celebrities, including Italian opera star Enrico Caruso, were drawn to the elegance and smooth operation of this “aristocrat of motor cars."
What color should we paint the wheels?

The top of the block on our Owen Magnetic was cracked into the water jacket, so we sent the car back in the truck that delivered our Biddle and McFarlan. We figured while it was in Al and Paul Murray's hands we'd have them repair some body cracks and repaint the car a dark gray. By the time they are finished it will be in show condition, and we plan to display it at the Pacific Northwest Concours at the LeMay Museum before sending it back north.

Of the 974 Owen Magnetics built from 1915 to 1921, only about a dozen are known to survive. We acquired this one from J. Parker Wickham, who had purchased it from Harrah's 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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New Acquisitions: Franklin and Kelsey

July 7, 2014, 6:30 am
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by Nancy DeWitt
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

We recently added two interesting automobiles to our Brass Era collection: a 1905 Franklin (right) and a ca. 1911 Kelsey. We now have 88 vehicles in the collection, not counting our antique bicycles.
The Franklin is outfitted with a rear-entry tonneau and is known as a cross-engine Franklin (as compared to our 1907 barrel hood Franklin and the later Renault hood, shovel-nose hood, horse-collar hood, and other styles of Franklin). It carries a 12 HP, 4-cylinder engine that is air-cooled. This Franklin has been parked in storage in Washington state since 1990 and will need some work to get it running again. It will arrive in Fairbanks this week.

This Kelsey Motorette is the first three-wheeled car in our collection. It was sold to us as a 1908 model, but  Kelseys weren't introduced until late 1910 so we'll have to do some research to determine its production year. Only about 200 Kelsey Motorettes were produced, but it's more than just a rare and unusual car. The story of Cadwallader Washburn Kelsey and his automobiles is a colorful one (culminating with the "Skycar" helicopter in the '60s), and I look forward to researching it and condensing it onto a sign for the museum.

This Kelsey was powered by a 2-stroke, 2-cylinder water-cooled engine (the first models were air cooled). The engine drove the single rear wheel, with steering controlled by a tiller. Despite their tendency to tip over on corners, we look forward to getting the Kelsey running again. It needs a lot of mechanical work and freshening, so we have sent it to Murray Motor Car in Monroe, Washington to be evaluated.



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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Australian Builds Reproduction of Alaska's First Car

July 14, 2014, 6:30 am
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by Nancy DeWitt
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

Don Langley of New South Wales, Australia, recently finished building a replica of Robert Sheldon's 1905 runabout. The Sheldon car was the first automobile built and driven in Alaska, and is on display in our museum,courtesy of the University of Alaska Museum of the North. Don's story is a fun one, and we appreciate that he allowed us to share it.

In 2012, Don had just finished building a Daimlan motorbike and wanted to build a four-wheeled vehicle. He found the story about Bobby Sheldon's car on the internet, which piqued his interest. "He was my kind of guy," said Don. "And to make that car, without ever having see a car--only pictures--far less driven one, was a marvelous achievement. I figured I could do that also. I would make a replica of his car using only a picture.

"Being an old chippy (woodworker), the chassis and engine compartment presented no problems and I made those components as close to possible to the dimensions given to me by Willy (Vinton). The engine is a Tecumseh 13 HP from a ride-on-mower and the differential, with the built in gear box, likewise. The axle assembly incorporated a four forward and reverse gears, a disc brake component and a main drive pulley for a V belt. To the engine (it had a vertical shaft) I fitted a centrifugal clutch, with V belt drive pulley.

"In the engine compartment I fitted a vertical steering column in a steel frame, a fuel tank, and battery compartment. The steering tiller works well and it is light to steer when moving. As for carbide lamps for headlights, I found such items impossible to acquire with having to mortgage my home, so I found some gas headlights which looked similar.

"The seating was a bit of a problem. Bar stools of satisfactory shape were not available. So I made a frame and upholstered it myself. It does not conform exactly to the original one but it was the best I could manage.

"The wooden wheels I designed and made myself, although I have no lathe, so a friend turned the spokes for me on his. I fitted steel rims to the perimeter, shrinking them on, and then glued solid rubber to the steel rim. The wheels look a bit chunkier than on the original car but I did that on purpose."

The project took Don over eight months to complete, and he drove it just prior to his 80th birthday. He named the car Isabella in honor of his wife Isabel, who graciously agreed to all the time and costs involved. We have never been able to determine the name of "the girl" for whom Sheldon built the car to impress. But, there was a girl in Skagway back then named Belle Everest and Sheldon did mention his girl was "the belle of the town," so maybe Don is on to something here!

Don admits the car isn't an exact replica and refers to it as a "Mark II Sheldon." A lack of information on details like the original transmission, locating items such as the same barstools and buggy wheels Sheldon salvaged, and limitations of time and money make building an exact replica impossible. Plus, Don enjoyed doing what Bobby Sheldon did--scrounging for local and readily available materials and adapting them to suit or making them himself.

Still, Don has built a great reproduction of the Sheldon car--AND it runs! Don sent us a video of it being driven and we will post it on our YouTube Channelsoon. Many thanks to Don for letting us share what we think is a "marvelous achievement."








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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A Dose of Hendersons

July 21, 2014, 6:30 am
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by Nancy DeWitt
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

Among the rare cars in our collection is a 1913-1914 Henderson Model 66, made by the Henderson Motor Company of Indianapolis. It has been in storage since the day it arrived in Fairbanks back in May of 2009. The car needs a lot of work to make it presentable, but we haven't decided just what that work will entail. Our challenge focuses on the body (from the doors on back) and rear deck of the car, neither of which are correct. With some sleuthing we found out why.

The car originally had a touring body that apparently was destroyed when the owner's son lit the back seat on fire. The damaged Henderson was then acquired by a farrier who cut off the back end and made the car into a pickup. Fewer customers had been bringing horses to him for shoeing, but now he could travel to his clients and maintain his business.

David Robert Kniskern later found the Henderson, complete with the farrier's equipment, in an area called Fish House near Johnston, NY. According to Kniskern's daughter-in-law, it was sold by a dealer named Bob Smith who handled used and obsolete autos. Kniskern, whose initials are on the car's doors, later sold the Henderson to Walt Myers, owner of the Bridgewater Automobile Museum in NY.

Myers converted the Henderson to the "speedster" shown here and then parked it behind chicken wire in a dusty stall inside his museum. Years later it was purchased by J. Parker Wickham, who sold it to us in 2008.




Thinking we might want to replicate a correct touring body, I set out several years ago to find other Hendersons and their owners. The bright red 1913 opera coupe at right is part of the Bill Evans Collection in San Diego.

I located a second car in California--a beautiful blue 1913 Henderson Model 56 5-passenger touring car owned by Walker Woolever in Santa Cruz. The owner kindly sent some pictures and said we were welcome to come take photos and measurements of his car.



The third Henderson owner I found--the appropriately named Bill Henderson--lives in Ontario, Canada. Bill had seen our Henderson in the Bridgewater Museum and recounted what Myers had told him about its history. Bill also sent photos of his 1913 Henderson roadster, along with a copy of a hard-to-find operating manual.

Last week, Bill and Sharon Henderson visited Fairbanks during the start of their Alaska cruise tour. I picked them up at their hotel and took them to the warehouse where our Henderson is stored. Looks like I should have dusted it first! Regardless, we had a great visit and I enjoyed seeing photos of Bill's restored Henderson and the other cars in his and Sharon's collection.

I'm told that there is only one other known Henderson besides ours and the three others shown here. Does anyone know where it is located?



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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The Distinguished Daniels 8 Automobile

July 28, 2014, 6:30 am
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by Nancy DeWitt
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

Last week we tucked the 1922 Wills Sainte Claire into storage while it awaits a part, and moved our 1921 Daniels Model D six-passenger touring car into the shop. It's easy to overlook our unrestored Daniels because of its understated paint color, but it really is a fabulous car.

The Daniels was a low production, high-quality luxury car built from 1916-1924 in Reading, Pennsylvania. Company president George Daniels took great pride in his cars and personally examined each one, sparing no expense if any detail needed to be redone. No two were alike, as each was built to suit a buyer’s individual tastes.

The Daniels was a big and formidable automobile, with some models weighing three tons. Its “cathedral type” radiator shell and core were made from a single pewter casting. The Daniels was also powerful, carrying one of the first production V-8 engines when it debuted in 1916. Supplied by Herschel-Spillman, its cylinders were cast in blocks of four, bolted to an eight-quart crankcase. This engine was said to burn an average of one quart of oil every 200 miles.

Daniels production peaked in 1921 with the Model D, the company’s last and finest model. Now powered by Daniels’ own 404-cubic-inch L-head V-8, producing 90 hp at 2,000 rpm, it proved to be fast and very roadworthy.  Company brochures promoted the Model D as “The Distinguished Car, with just a little more power than you’ll ever need.”

The Model D six-passenger touring car cost $5,350 at a time when one could buy a Ford Model T for $440. By then the Daniels Motor Car Company built most of the Model D bodies in their Reading, Pennsylvania factory, but the museum's unrestored car features custom coachwork by Fleetwood. Of the 1,960 Daniels produced, less than two dozen are known to survive.

You can see a video of the engine and car running here. 

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A Break in the Weather

August 4, 2014, 6:30 am
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by Nancy DeWitt
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

The weather in Fairbanks this summer has been much rainier than usual, which means our opportunities to get cars out on the road have been severely limited. We finally had a two-day stretch of sunshine last week, so Willy and the Pit Crew prepped and drove three cars. I had to get in on the action!

First out was the 1905 Franklin. Until we purchased it this summer, the Franklin had been sitting in storage since 1991. The car is in great shape but needed a bit of work to get it running. Once cranked and on the road, it zipped right along as it motored around Wedgewood Resort. I love air-cooled Franklins and it was a treat to go for a ride in this newest addition to the museum collection.

Next up was a faster and louder ride in the 1927 Stutz Black Hawk boattail speedster. It was lunchtime, so I had Willy take me to the Tanana Valley Farmer's Market for a little "guerilla marketing" and some of Lane's Quickie Tacos. We can't go anywhere in this car without people honking, waving, and flashing us thumbs-ups! Willy thought it needed more exercise, so he took it on the local car club's run-around that same evening. Hardship duty.

Then it was on to one of my favorite automobiles in the museum: the 1918 Biddle Town Car. Women love this Biddle, which looks like a motorized version of Cinderella's coach. If you haven't already, be sure to look inside the Biddle when you visit the museum, because the interior is exquisite. The only thing missing is a speaker tube for me to order the chauffeur where to take me next (and no, I didn't ask anyone if they had any Grey Poupon).

We enjoy driving the museum cars, and not just because it's fun to do so. We love seeing the surprise and excitement on people's faces when one of these classics rumbles past, and giving them a chance to hear their old engines in action. We hope you time your stay at Wedgewood Resort and a visit to the museum when we have one of these beauties out for some exercise!


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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The First Automobiles in Alaska

August 11, 2014, 6:30 am
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by Nancy DeWitt
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

I've started to compile a book about Alaska's automobile history, based on research I've done for signs in the museum and for this blog. While digging through my notes recently I started reviewing what I've learned about the first automobiles to arrive in different Alaska communities. Here's a summary:

Skagway - the first automobiles to pass through Skagway--and Alaska--were likely the Leon Bollé Voiturette (right) and another car brought north in 1900 by Count Emile Janne de Lamare of Paris. As best I can tell, neither vehicle was driven in Skagway. Instead, they were transported from a ship directly to the train for shipment to Whitehorse, where de Lamare planned to drive them to Dawson City. You can read about his (mis)adventure here.

The first automobile actually driven in Alaska was also the first one built here: Bobby Sheldon's runabout, built in 1905 in Skagway. Thankfully, the car still exists. Sheldon donated it the University of Alaska's museum in 1935 and it is on loan to us from the University of Alaska Museum of the North.



Nome - The next automobile to be driven in Alaska appears to be this Thomas Flyer. It was shipped to Nome in the spring of 1904 by the Alaska Automobile Transportation Company of Olympia, Washington. It was later purchased by A.E. Boyd of the Alaska Telephone and Telegraph Company.



Valdez - There is a bit of debate about the first automobile in Valdez. Pioneer Ken Rudolph wrote in his memoir that James Fish brought the first horseless carriage there "along about 1904." He then goes on to describe what sounds just like Fish's IHC high-wheeled Auto Buggy, which didn't actually arrive in Valdez until June 9, 1912 (IHC introduced their Auto Buggy in late 1906). I believe that the Thomas Flyer driven by the American team in the 1908 around-the-world race was the first automobile seen in Valdez, arriving April 9, 1908 on the steamship Bertha. In driver George Schuster's written account of the trip he quoted Valdez freighter Dan Kennedy as saying, "It's the first automobile I have ever seen."

Unfortunately the Flyer never made it off the wharf. Likely the first automobile to cruise the streets of Valdez was the 1909 White Model M steamer owned by the Valdez-Fairbanks Auto Transfer Company, shown at right. I have no record of when this car arrived in Valdez.



Ketchikan - The photo of the highwheeler at right is labeled "First automobile in Ketchikan, Governor Wildred B. Hoggatt driving, ca. 1908." I have my doubts about the date and "first auto" claim, as the car pictured is a 1911 IHC Auto Buggy. A Ketchikan Daily article dated June 13, 1908, noted: "Well, well, well! With the advent of a yellow-backed two seated touring car, Ketchikan has again cinched her title as the first city in Alaska. The car is speedy one, though run with only one horse power." I only wish I knew what kind of car they were describing. Perhaps a REO?

Fairbanks -  The first automobile in Fairbanks was this Type XV Pope-Toledo that arrived on August 6, 1908, on the sternwheeler Cudahy. It was shipped in for David Laiti, owner of the Fairbanks Flume Hose Factory. Laiti had also ordered a Franklin and White Steamer that would arrive on a later boat. The photo at right of the Pope-Toledo was taken in 1910, after the car had been sold to Dave Courtemanche.


Cordova - The first automobile in Cordova was a White Model M steam car, purchased by Captain Austin Lathrop to ferry passengers between the docks, railroad, and hotels. It arrived on March 21, 1910 and is shown here with a load of school children on Flag Day that year.

Sitka - The May 21, 1910 issue of Automobile Topics magazine reported that an Ahnut "Six" had been ordered by someone in Sitka. I would love to find a record of it arriving there, and to determine if it was the town's first automobile.

Juneau - Reportedly the first automobile seen by the residents of Juneau in their coastal town was the Abbott-Detroit Bull Dog (right), driven by Charles Percival during his cross-continental durability run in 1911. Percival originally planned to offload the Bull Dog in Juneau for a spin around the town while traveling south from Skagway, but the steamship schedule didn't allow time for that. Instead, the townspeople could only admire the boat on its perch on the City of Seattle's forward deck. A few sources state the first automobile to be driven in Juneau was a second-hand Pope-Toledo brought in by William Burridge, a mechanic working at Martin Lynch's Machine Shop. It appears to have arrived in 1911. I would think that automobiles would have arrived in Juneau earlier than that. I need to follow up on reports of some homemade motor cars and a note that a man named Charlie Rudy had the first automobile in the area.

Ruby - The first auto in Ruby was purchased by a group of citizens to carry freight and passengers between the town and mining camps on the winter roads. Newspaper articles I have do not mention the make of the car, but give a colorful description of its first outing on November 16, 1914 with Morton Adams at the wheel. "With seven men in the car she swung around the corner at the N.C. bridge and was off on the government road up the hill. She flew like a duck; she sang like a bird; she stopped like a mother's cradle and ran like a scared wolf." 

Seward - This photo is labeled "April 24, 1915 arrival of the first automobile in Seward." One source says that Robert Ashland's Model T truck was the first auto in Seward (likely the truck in the photo), while another claims the Pete Ogle's black Ford four-door touring car came there first. 


Circle - In the spring of 2015, a Ford Model T (right) owned by John Palm arrived in Circle, I assume by riverboat on the Yukon River. He used it to transport people and freight between Circle and Miller House at mile 114 of what would later be called the Steese Highway. Palm was driving it in August of 1915 "when suddenly, for some unknown reason, it swerved and jumped into the river," nearly killing him. The car apparently suffered little damage.

Nenana - William Coghill brought the first automobile, a Ford truck, to Nenana on the steamer Tanana on October 14, 1916. That following January, Bob Scanlon drove a Bob Sheldon car with skis under the front wheels from Fairbanks to Nenana--the first automobile to make the overland journey.

Anchorage - Joe Spenard is credited with bringing the first automobile to Anchorage in 1916, a REO truck. Spenard also brought in a 1915 Ford Model T (shown at right), which became the city's first taxi.

If you have information about and/or photos of the first automobiles in any Alaska communities, or corrections to the above, please let us know!

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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Gift Shop Update

August 18, 2014, 6:30 am
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by Nancy DeWitt
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

During the planning stage and first years for our museum, I had the good fortune to visit a number of other car museums in the United States. One of my tasks was to check out their gift shops and find out which items were popular sellers. Alas, many of these were too area- or brand-specific for our shop, such as Route 66 signs, Duesenberg coffee-table books, die-cast models of 50s and 60s cars, Bugatti trading cards, and fuzzy dice.

So, we set out to find items that were more closely related to our museum's artifacts, and to create products that you wouldn't find in other stores. Our most popular items are our book, Alaska's Fountainhead Collection: Vintage Treads and Threads, and postcards featuring our cars. The success of our book has encouraged us to produce others. We'll soon have for sale a guide to the museum's photograph collection, and a coloring book about Bobby Sheldon illustrated by Fairbanks artist Sandy Jamieson. This winter we also hope to produce books on Alaska automobile history and our historic fashion collection.

This year we expanded our selection of reproduction vintage hats, which quickly became hot sellers--especially the stylish cloches. Even ladies in the Red Hat Society can find something here!




T-shirts and ballcaps remain popular with our visitors. This year we added three new silk-screened designs, plus some women's shirts featuring our White Steamer and a Packard in Swarovski crystals.









We've had copper ornaments of our Stanley Steamer, Model T (with Santa!), and Argo electric car custom made. You can also find custom bookmarks, lapel pins, mints, mugs, onesies, keychains, and magnets featuring our cars, and earrings made of jewel beetle wing cases like the decorations on one of our vintage coats.

For fun, we have a very popular book about the little Abernathy boys, who drove a Brush automobile cross country in 1910, and a selection of coloring books, paper dolls, model cars, and books on fashion.

Our most recent arrival is a shipment of vintage-inspired Grandmother's Buttons jewelry, made with 100-year-old buttons (below). GB jewelry has been sold in places like Anthropologie, Lord & Taylor, the Palace of Versailles, and The Smithsonian. We carry other jewelry too, including crystal car brooches by Lauren Spencer, Model T earrings, and pieces by Harlow.













We don't have an on-line store, but if there is a book, shirt, cap or other item you'd like, just call us at 907-450-2100 with a credit card and we can ship the item(s) to you. Better yet, stop in the museum soon for some shopping. In mid-September we will switch to winter hours and will only be open on Sundays.

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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Owen Magnetic Restoration Update

August 27, 2014, 11:00 am
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by Nancy DeWitt
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

Certainly one of the more interesting cars in our collection is our 1917 Owen Magnetic, one of about a dozen known extant. I have seen only a handful of other Owen Magnetics, including ones at Jay Leno's, the Nethercutt Museum (2), and the Tupelo Automobile Museum. Ours came to us from the J. Parker Wickham Collection, in fair shape with a burgundy paint job. We've had it out on the road several times. It drives great, but a crack in the top of the block was a concern.


Clockwise from top left: 1917 Model M-25 touring (formerly at Nethercutt); 1921 Model 60 phaeton (Nethercutt);  1916 M-25 touring 1916 (Leno); 1916 M-25 touring (Tupelo).







1916 Owen Magnetic Model O-36 7-passenger touring car
Photo courtesy of the Western Reserve Historical Society


Other Owen Magnetics can be found in the Crawford Auto Aviation Collection(right) and at the Louwman Museum.



In October of 2012, we sent our Owen south for a frame-off restoration and block repair at Murray Motor Car in Monroe, WA. It's been in the talented hands of Al and Paul Murray ever since, and boy, have their hands been full! They completely rebuilt the engine and had the block repaired by "Cast Iron Mike," the northwest's preeminent cast-iron welder. The water pump, carburetor, and magneto were rebuilt, a new muffler was installed, and the rear springs, real wheel bearings, and front hub seals were replaced. The car now has all new nickel plating, new windshield glass, new front floorboards, a new top, and new carpet in the rear.








The Murrays also completely stripped and repainted the car and powder coated the wheels. It still needs some finishing touches, but we'll have it ready for the Pacific Northwest Concours d'Elegance at the LeMay - America's Car Museum on September 7. We can't wait to see and drive the newly restored car, and hope to see you at the show! If you miss it, the Owen Magnetic should be back in Alaska in October.
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Trivia Time!

September 3, 2014, 6:30 am
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by Derik Price
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

Two of the most common questions we are asked by museum guests are, “Where did you buy all these vehicles?" and “Who did you buy them from?” The short answer is, we’ve traveled all over the United States and bought them from individual collectors, auctions, and museums alike. One vehicle was even purchased in the U.K. and flown to Alaska. Do you know which one?  If not, here’s a refresher… 

But being interested in the history of these vehicles, I’ve often wondered where they were all produced. It was a rainy summer, and I had some extra time on my hands so I decided to map it out. I made an iPhoto album containing one photo of each vehicle in the collection and assigned each one its original place of manufacture.  You might notice a few things about this map.  First off, it’s not weighted, meaning, there is only one pin drop in Detroit, Michigan, even though a full 27 of our vehicles were produced there. These include the manufacturers Ford, Cadillac, Cartercar, Hudson, Chalmers-Detroit, Everitt, Dodge, Chrysler, Fordson, Hupmobile, and Packard. And in case you’re curious, the runner up is Indianapolis, Indiana, with eight vehicles produced there, including the nameplates American (Underslung), Premier, Henderson, and Stutz. Rounding out the top three is Cleveland, Ohio, with five vehicles in the collection made by Peerless, Rauch & Lang, White, Cleveland (motorcycle) and Owen Magnetic.



Not coincidently, you may also notice the outlined pin drops almost precisely define the area traditionally known as “The Rust Belt" (from the Dictionary of American History, Encyclopedia.com) 
----  The 1984 Democratic presidential candidate, Walter Mondale, is generally credited with coining the term. During the campaign, Mondale, the former vice-president from Minnesota, attacked the economic policies of incumbent Republican president, Ronald Reagan, stating that the president was "turning our great industrial Midwest and the industrial base of our Country into a rust bowl." The media, however, repeated and reported the notion as "Rust Belt," and the phrase stuck as a good description of the declining industrial heartland, especially the steel and automobile producing regions in the Northeast and Midwest ---  

And finally, for your quiz, there are two vehicles in the Fountainhead Collection whose birthplaces are not shown on the map, as they were produced outside the boundaries of this area. Can you name them? I’ll give you a hint, the two States they were produced in are each known for their rich ‘Gold Rush’ history.  

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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