Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

by Nancy DeWitt
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

Earlier this year Frances Erickson, daughter of Alaska automotive pioneer Robert Sheldon, loaned me some of her family photos to scan. Among them was this one of a most unusual-looking bus, resembling a stretched-out limousine. Frances recalled that Bobby used it to transport tourists into Mt. McKinley National Park and that it was very upscale and dependable.

Naturally, I was curious as to what kind of bus this was. I found a second photo of it in Snapshots from the Past: A Roadside History of Denali National Park and Preserve, and it clearly showed the name “Fageol” on the radiator. Thus began some internet research, which led me to John Fageol (pronounced “fadgl,” rhymes with “fragile”), a descendent of one of the brothers who founded Fageol Motors Co. in Oakland, CA. John identified it as a ca. 1924+ Fageol “Intercity” Safety Coach with a cast aluminum cowling and Gruss shocks in front. It had a seating capacity of 22 and a wheelbase of 218 inches. Each bench seat had its own door, disappearing wide window, interior light, and adjustable side and ceiling vents. A “parlor” model carried movable wicker chairs, attached to the floor by suction cups. One of these can be seen at the Museum of Bus Transportation in Hershey, PA.

It turns out the Fageol Safety Coach, the first bus built from the ground up, was quite revolutionary. Until its introduction in 1921, most buses were built on stiff-riding truck chassis, and their poor ride quality, high centers of gravity, and low-performance engines made them unsatisfactory for transit use. Fageol coaches had a double-drop frame and underslung axles, which lowered the floor to 21 inches above the ground and an overall height of just 76 inches. Power was initially supplied by a Hall-Scott single overhead cam 4-cylinder engine designed by Fageol. Each one came equipped with all-weather tread cord tires, with duals on the rear. An extra-wide tread of 72 inches between the wheels provided extra stability on turns. Beginning in 1923, Fageols were equipped with air brakes, the first use of such on a motor coach. The interior was heated by hot water from the engine, run through pipes along the floor.

Frances told me that Bobby and his partners were forced by the Park Service to close their transportation concession in 1941, and the bus was sold to the Alaska Railroad. The ARR brought it to Fairbanks, where it sat rotting in a lot on Davis Road. When I mentioned this to Willy, he said, “I remember seeing it there!” In fact, a number of people in Fairbanks remembered seeing it, but no one seemed to know of its history. Willy and I went by the lot Frances described, but it was fenced and we could see no sign of the old coach. Willy left a note on the gate, and several months later he finally heard from the owner.

Not only was the Fageol still there, but owner Diane Dawson said she would donate it to the museum! I had assumed it was black, but red paint is still present on the aluminum panels. The distinctive ventilation louvres on top of the hood—a key Fageol design feature—are intact. The Hall-Scott engine and Brown-Lipe 4-speed gearbox with an overdrive top gear are still under the hood. The high-grade leather seats are long gone, except for some seat frames. Much of the wooden framework has rotted and the side panels have collapsed. The running board, which sits just 16 inches above the ground, is still fairly intact.

Around 2,500 Fageol Safety Coaches were built, and there are only five known survivors in addition to this one. Clearly, ours is in bad shape, but a rare artifact like this deserves to be saved. We moved it to the Fountainhead Development headquarters earlier this month, and will work to stabilize and preserve its remains, rather than try to restore it.

The Fageol buses manufactured for Safety Coach Lines of Muskegon, Michigan, were nicknamed "greyhounds" because of their gray paint and sleek appearance. One legend says this inspired the name of what became America’s most well-known bus line.

Who would have thought an old rusty bus could be so interesting?

Sources:

Calloway, Dick. “Fageol: A Higher Standard.” Wheels of Time (American Truck Historical Society), July/August 2013.

“Fageol Motors Co., Fageol Truck and Coach Co., Fageol Motors Co. of Ohio.“ Retrieved on 5 September 2014 from http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/f/fageol/fageol.htm

Herman, Gene. “ The Fageol Safety Coach: A Breakthrough in Bus Design.” The Old Motor, 15 January 2014. Retrieved on 5 September 2014 from theoldmotor.com /?p=111779

Juneau, Bud. “Safety Coach: Fageol’s Innovative, Trendsetting Coach of 1927.” Special Interest Autos, September/October 2001.

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!

by Willy Vinton

© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

My wife Wilma and I traveled to Washington state recently to help prepare the museum's 1917 Owen Magnetic for the Pacific Northwest Concours at the LeMay - America's Car Museum. When we arrived at Murray Motor Car in Monroe on Friday, September 5, it was obvious there was still some work to be done. A few parts had to be installed and fitted, and we needed to find minor items including leather lace for the hood, some O-rings, and leather straps. With a wave of the Murray crew's magic wand, it all came together, and then we moved on to polishing.

Next we bolted on the running boards and hood. After some minor touch up, I was able to take the car for a test drive, with Paul Murray along just in case we had mechanical problems. The car ran great and ran cool with no major issues. By 10 pm Saturday night we finally had the car loaded and secured for the ride to Tacoma.

On Sunday morning we had to get to the show field before 8 am, as the event opened to the public at 9. There were about 160 cars on the field, and 11 in our class.

I have to say that once again the show staff helping our class was great to work with, and very helpful with any needs that arose. The Owen Magnetic attracted a lot on onlookers and questions about how the car operated. Not surprisingly, we heard a lot of "Did they really have hybrids back then?"

It's always thrilling when you learn your car has won an award. To show off the Owen Magnetic's unique transmission, I drove it down to the awards holding area on gas, then finished the drive to the winner's circle on electricity. I think the folks finally understood then that the car really could run on electricity alone.

Here we are receiving the First in Class award for the Pre-1920 Brass/Antiques Class. Many thanks to the organizers who put on this great event, to the LeMay - America's Car Museum for hosting the concours, and to U.S. Bank for sponsoring it. We are also grateful to everyone who came to see the cars. The event's proceeds will support the Hagerty Education Program at the LeMay.

We are also deeply indebted to Al and Paul Murray for their outstanding skill and effort restoring the Owen to concours quality. This win speaks highly of their abilities, and we are fortunate to have them work on our cars. They are presently working on our Kelsey, so stay tuned for updates on that.

by Nancy DeWitt
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

When researching the Fageol Safety Coach we recovered several weeks ago, I learned some interesting things about the Fageol Motors Company. The Fageol brothers built a variety of vehicles besides the Safety Coach, including tractors, a six-wheeled bus, ore trains, and trucks. Their trucks were very popular in the industry, and when Theodore Peterman purchased the company in 1938, he renamed the trucks as Peterbilts. Ring a bell?

Most interesting of all, though, was discovering that there once was a Fageol automobile. A little history: after moving to San Francisco in 1904, William and Frank Fageol acquired a Rambler dealership in Oakland, California, which eventually became the largest Rambler sales outlet in the world. It’s quite possible that the Jeffrey Quad trucks sent to Alaska came from their dealership. In 1916 the brothers broke ties with Rambler, formed the Fageol Motors Company in Oakland, and began producing trucks. They also decided to develop a luxury automobile called the Fageol 100.

At first glance, their Victoria model looks surprisingly like our 1921 Heine-Velox sporting Victoria car because of its massive size, Victoria top, and radiator shape. Like the Heine-Velox, the Fageol was a west coast production. The Fageol brothers’ factory was in Oakland, while Gustav Heine built his automobiles across the bay in San Francisco.

The Fageol 100 was powered by a Hall-Scott Six overhead-cam aviation engine that developed 125 hp. This 825 cid beast puts it in the same rank with the Pierce-Arrow 66 and Peerless 60-Six as having the largest production engines ever put into American automobiles. The Heine-Velox's overhead valve V-12 Weidely engine was smaller at 390 cid and produced 115 hp. Both engines were guaranteed to power their respective cars to 100 mph; hence, the source of the Fageol 100 name.

A closer look reveals some obvious differences between the Heine-Velox and Fageol, including the latter's “dragon’s teeth” louvers on top of the hood, sloped radiator, wire wheels, and side-mount spare tires. While luxury, speed and power were selling points for both brands, Fageol Motors boasted of their cars' elegant refinements. Each radiator badge, bonnet fastener, control knob, and door handle was made of carved ivory. The mahogany floorboards sported silk and mohair carpeting, and the toolbox was also made from mahogany. Heine, on the other hand, focused more attention on his cars' innovative features, including high-and-low beam headlamps, pivoting side windows, and a cold-weather starting system. The slanted windscreen on his cars was hailed as a new feature, but note that the Fageol had the same several years prior.

Both the Fageol and Heine-Velox laid claim to being the world’s most expensive car, the Fageol selling for $12,500 in 1916 and the Heine-Velox priced at $25,000 in 1921. In today’s dollars that’s about $272,766 and $332,196, respectively. Neither car made it into production, and Gustav Heine refused to sell any of the five cars he built. The Fageol Brothers intended to produce 25 automobiles but only built two (there is debate that a third Fageol was made, but family member William Fageol says it was never assembled). Reportedly, one Fageol was accidentally driven off a pier, while the other was shipped to a doctor in Cuba.

I can't help but wonder if Gustav Heine was inspired by the Fageol 100. He had built a few Heine-Velox cars beginning in 1904, but abandoned production after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake destroyed his factory. Interestingly, these first Heine-Velox cars were the result of Heine's partnership with Elbert J. Hall, who went on to form the Hall-Scott Motor Car Company and later produce the engines for the Fageol 100 and Fageol Safety Coach.

Heine returned to the automobile manufacturing business in 1920. Although he claims that his own factory built the coachwork for his 12-cylinder automobiles, some believe it was actually the work of Larkins and Company located just a mile away. This just happens to be the same outfit that constructed the coachwork for the Fageol automobile five years earlier. An interesting connection, but not proof that the similarities between the two brands was anything more than coincidence. What do you think?

Sources:

Calloway, Dick. “Fageol: A Higher Standard.” Wheels of Time (American Truck Historical Society), July/August 2013.

“Fageol Motors Co., Fageol Truck and Coach Co., Fageol Motors Co. of Ohio.“ Retrieved on 5 September 2014 from http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/f/fageol/fageol.htm

Greenfield, David. "The Fageol Car: A Pre-WW1 130 Horsepower Supercar." Retrieved on 5 September 2014 from http://theoldmotor.com/?p=61623

Sales literature from fageol.com

Theobald, Mark. "Heine-Velox." Retrieved on 22 September 2014 from http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/h/heine/heine.htm

Usher, Frederick A. "Fageol's Folly: An Automobile Superlative." Automobile Quarterly 22(1), 1984.

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!

by Derik Price
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

One of our museum's goals is to educate and inform visitors about early American automotive history and development. Some of the truly fascinating aspects of this early period are the stories behind the famous (and infamous) people who made it all happen. We have several exhibits inside the museum showcasing a few of these individuals, but unfortunately, we don’t have nearly enough space to give visitors an in-depth understanding of these early pioneers. However, during our research we have read dozens of books on the subject, and so I thought I would provide a list of some of our favorites. An Amazon link to each is included.

Pioneers, Engineers, and Scoundrels: The Dawn of the Automobile in America (paperback). This book is an exhaustive study, and yet, one of the most entertaining and thorough books about the people behind America's early automotive history. This should come as no surprise, as the author was one of the foremost researchers of early American automotive history, Beverly R. Kimes. She and Henry Austin Clark, Jr. coauthored THE encyclopedia on the subject - Standard Catalog of American Cars (paperback).

Next up is a terrific background book about the history of early electric vehicles. I found it quite interesting, and a pretty fast read. Surprisingly, it isn’t overly technical and as a bonus, it is available cheap on Kindle: The Electric Vehicle and the Burden of History (kindle). I enjoyed this one as it details early issues surrounding the (chicken-and-egg) problems of charging stations, range anxiety, battery swapping, and all the other modern day discussions we are having surrounding electric vehicles, except 100 years ago!

We also enjoy entertaining books about fun and interesting people. One of our favorites in this category is Bud & Me: The True Adventures of the Abernathy Boys (kindle), a wonderful story of two brothers (5 and 9 years old) who, in 1910, drove their Brush runabout from New York to Oklahoma, by themselves! The book details many rich and colorful family stories of the boys' travels, from near-harrowing breakdowns to meeting the President of the United States. The book is just plain entertaining and heartfelt from beginning to end, and is available in our museum's gift shop.

Another favorite is Alice’s Drive (paperback), a book about the first woman to drive across the country, in 1909. In addition, there is a wonderful children's version of this story: Alice Ramsey’s Grand Adventure (kindle). This is a great little story to read to a child, or give them as a gift.

Speaking of kids books, I have a 7-year-old, and I’ve read my daughter a couple hundred books by now--many of them, over and over and over. One book in particular I always read to her when we visit the car museum is Tin Lizzie(paperback) by Peter Spier. It’s a wonderful story that you will simply never get tired of reading to your child, and they will be interested in the story from 3 years old (due to the wonderful artwork) all the way up to early adulthood.

And I just can’t help but give honorable mention to another terrific kids' book, Rattletrap Car Big Book(paperback). This is a physically BIG BOOK as the title suggests, so it is especially fun to read to a group of (younger) kids. They can all see the pictures, and it has reoccurring parts that kids can join in saying out loud. It’s a little expensive, but the entertainment value is just plain huge and worthy of your (child’s) collection.

I hope this list helps you out with some Christmas gift ideas and a few worthwhile books to add to your winter reading list. But more importantly, reading (and giving) books like Tin Lizzie, Alice Ramsey's Grand Adventure, and Bud & Me to children will give them a glimpse into America's early automotive pioneers and adventurers. And, just maybe, you'll inspire some to look into this huge part of American history, which isn't taught in schools. However, the lessons of overcoming adversity, pioneering spirit, imagination, engineering curiosity, and so on, are valuable and simply timeless.

by Derik Price
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

Last week I attended the 2014 Museums Alaska / Alaska Historical Society Joint Annual Conference, held this year in Seward, Alaska. I can’t believe it’s been four years since I attended the 2010 Conference when it was last held in Fairbanks. There were about 3 dozen presentations (some concurrent) over the four day event, spread out around the historic downtown Seward area. All the speakers and events I attended were first rate, and I really can’t say enough about the quality of the presenters both Associations lined up for the event. We were all treated to some really great speakers and, surprisingly, really great weather as well.

The events were held in at least four separate buildings in downtown Seward. All close together and an easy walk. It turned out to be nice to visit numerous places. Some, any visitor might have on their list, like the Alaska Sea Life Center - A seriously great experience right here in Alaska. To the Qutekcak Native Tribe office for some background and information about the traditions of numerous regional Alaska Native Peoples and tribes. The Seward Community Library and Museum hosted a number of seminars as well, and when you catch their building in the sun it’s nothing short of ‘illuminating’. It’s covered in iridescent shingles which change color in the sun - reminiscent of Beetle Elytra.

The very first presentation I attended was a pre-conference Workshop entitled Gallery Exhibits for Community Spaces – co-hosted by Jeanne Brako, Curator, Center of Southwest Studies, Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO, and Jack Townes, Exhibition Designer, Skycraft Designs, Estacada, OR. The duo showed numerous low cost and high quality techniques for designing exhibits, as well as construction techniques for more elaborate, yet still affordable, displays. As part of a hands on demonstration the attendees separated into teams to fabricate differing kinds of displays. Our little team built a Mannequin out of Either Foam, batting, a pillow case and some 'Flexible Form' to display a Haori.

I also attended a number of sessions on incorporating Social Media into your Museum or exhibit. Typically you think of doing a blog or having a Facebook page principally to promote your business and get people interested in visiting your location. But Social Media can also be used as an important research tool. In the session ‘Social Media 3.0’ the two presenters Maite Agopian and Theresa Bakker, both from the UA Museum of the North, detailed the development of the Blog used to in association with their Exhibit - Denali Legacy: 100 Years On The Mountain. Without spoiling your reading of the story, you come to find out is that the Blog itself helped develop a significant portion of the history (and locate artifacts) behind the historic event.

The Joint Conference was well attended, with a wonderful variety of subjects and venues, all supported by well organized speakers and study materials. I can't say enough about the terrific effort these two organizations, along with countless volunteers and local businesses, put into the activities. And last, but certainly not least, the Resurrection Bay Historical Society as the Host. I'd like to thank them all for putting together such a great event!

Photo:

Denali Legacy: 100 Years on the Mountain - used with permission of the University of Alaska Museum of the North.

by Nancy DeWitt
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

As the historian for our museum, it doesn't get much better when a piece of history is found for one of our automobiles. Or, in this case, some vintage photographs.

Awhile back, Albert Nippert sent us the negatives of some photos of our 1906 Compound Model 7 1/2 light touring car. The photos were taken in 1940, and show the car "as purchased" by Nippert's friend Walter Levino, owner of the Levino Auto Shop in Peerskill, New York. It was complete and in good, unrestored condition.

Levino was this Compound's third owner. Its original owner was John Unser, the chief engineer and supervisor of the EHV Co. (manufacturer of the Compound). Unser quit driving it in 1912, and in 1934 sold it at auction for $17 to Howard S. Hall. Hall displayed the Compound in the the showroom of his father's Nash and Dodge dealership in Carthage, New York. It was there where Levino, a Pine Camp soldier, discovered it. He was able to buy it from Hall's widow in 1940.

Courtesy of David Bishop

Levino held onto the Compound until 1951, and then sold it to Henry Austin Clark, owner of the Long Island Auto Museum in New York. Clark described it as "one of the cleanest original cars" he had ever seen and claimed that he "ran it as is." The registration states the car was green in color, as shown at right.

In 1964 William Harrah purchased the Compound at an auction of Clark's autos. While in the Harrah's Automobile Collection in Nevada, the car received one of their no-expense-spared, Gold Star restorations beginning in late 1964. It was painted gray and upholstered with burgundy seats. Bill Harrah is shown at right (seated next to the driver) after its restoration. My notes show that General William Lyons of California was the Compound's next owner, but I have been unable to confirm this.

Photo at Magee Museum in 1993
courtesy of David Bishop

The Compound traveled back to the eastern U.S. after being acquired by Bill and Doug Magee. The Magees had a collection of pre-1915, Connecticut-made automobiles and a small museum at their Meadowview Farm in Middlefield, CT. They installed a new top and side curtains, painted the wheels, added gray Michelin tires, and totally rebuilt the Compound's motor. They took it on a VMMCA 1 & 2-cylinder tour in the mid-90s in Barstow, KY, but it broke down.

Carl Schmitt of Walla Walla, Washington bought the Compound at an auction of Magee automobiles in 1998. We purchased the car from Carl Schmitt's estate in 2008, and are very happy to have this unique car in our collection. We are also delighted to have such a detailed history of its ownership, and thank Albert Nippert and David Bishop for sharing their photos with us.

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!

by Nancy DeWitt
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

Our first three-wheeled car, a 1911 Kelsey Motorette, arrived last week after a freshening and new paint job by Murray Motor Car in Monroe, WA. This tricar has two wheels in front and a single driving wheel in the rear. “One more than a motorcycle, one less than an automobile," boasted its inventor, "with the low cost and light weight advantages of the former, the comfort and reliability of the latter.”

After a brief association with the Eisenhuth Vehicle Company selling Compound automobiles, Cadwaller “Carl” Washburn Kelsey became the sales manager for Maxwell-Briscoe autos and soon built up the most powerful sales organization in the industry. A master of publicity stunts, it was Kelsey who convinced Alice Ramsey to drive across the continent in a Maxwell in 1909. After a falling out with Ben Briscoe later that year, he formed the C.W. Kelsey Manufacturing Company.

The first Motorettes were introduced in September of 1910. The prototypes had a tendency to roll while cornering, so an anti-sway bar was added to counteract this problem. This stabilizer rod was mounted crossways in the front and connected to the ends of the axle. This forced both front springs to work up and down together and kept the car frame parallel to the road surface. The single rear wheel connected to the chassis by a pair of flat leaf springs, which further improved stability. Kelsey claimed that because the Motorette was always on a three-point suspension, a bumpy road could never twist or throw out of alignment any part of the car.

Kelsey Motorettes were initially powered by a 7 HP 2-stroke, 2-cylinder opposed engine that was air-cooled. In 1911, Kelsey switched to water-cooled engines and boosted the horsepower to 10. The first models carried a gas tank behind the seat, while later ones, like ours, carried a radiator there. Top speed was around 25 mph, and fuel efficiency was 30 mpg.

Kelsey’s intent with the Motorette was to offer a high-quality pleasure vehicle at a price within reach of the average man. At $385, it was well below the price of the Model T, which cost $900 in 1910 and $680 in 1911. In addition to reducing costs by having one less wheel to buy tires for, the tricar design eliminated the need for a rear axle and differential. Advertisements proclaimed the car’s simplicity (“a healthy girl of ten can crank it”) as well as the quality of materials used in its construction. In yet another publicity stunt, Kelsey had two men drive a Motorette from New York to San Francisco in the winter of 1911. The feat proved that the Motorette’s reliability, strength, and durability were the equal of big, expensive cars.

Just over 200 Kelsey Motorettes were produced from 1910 to 1912, including several that were adapted as motorized rickshaws, with the driver sitting behind the passengers. In 1913 C.W. Kelsey announced plans to build 300 electric Motorette rickshaws for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, but this never came to fruition. Only a handful are Kelsey Motorettes are known to survive. We hope you will come see ours!

by Willy Vinton
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

When I arrived in Hershey, PA this year for the annual swap meet I was greeted by rather decent weather. It didn't rain until Saturday morning, and then not too much, so it was much better than 2013 when we almost got washed away. It appeared that visitor numbers were down, but they were spending money and the vendors seemed busy.

This early original, single-cylinder Cadillac was a great looking survivor, and I would have brought it home if owner was selling. It was one of those cars that reached out and called my name, saying, "I would fit into Fairbanks just fine!" The owners were driving the car/pickup around the meet and it appeared to run smoothly like a Cadillac should.

This was a first for me, as I had never seen a Model T converted to a 4x4 like this. It was a very crude but clever job, and looks like it would have worked fine. It really makes you appreciate how these old cars got modified and used.

If you have never made it to the Hershey fall swap meet, you should go just to see what all is there. It always amazes me to see some of the things that show up at a swap meet for old CAR parts. I never thought I would see a pronghorn mount or a bear rug for sale there, but there they both were. I didn't bother to stop and ask what he wanted for them.

It is rather hard to imagine a scene like this--a nice warm day, and not having to elbow your way thru the aisles between the rows of vendors. Granted, this photo was taken early in the morning, but it is normally much busier than what I encountered. I think the rain last year must have scared some folks away.

I didn't find a lot of the parts we needed, as most are rather rare items. I did, however, find this and thought, "Wow, this would be perfect for the wife!" Then either common sense or fear made me rethink that idea.

There are always treasure collections that you can't walk by, just in case the part you need is nestled in one of the piles. And no, I did not buy the full antelope mount standing near the trailer.

So, another Hershey meet has passed, and I'm already planning to go to the 2015 meet. I know our parts will be there!

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!

We're pleased to announce that Brad Dietrich has joined our museum staff. He comes to us after 40 years of work as an automobile mechanic. While his career has had him fixing everything from Rolls-Royces to Subarus, he says that nothing has had him as excited as the opportunity to work on the amazing collections of classics that the museum has collected.

Working on the Model T engine for our replica race car

When not working on cars, you'll find Brad working on his small produce farm here in Fairbanks (Bender Mountain Farm--they have the most amazing potatoes!), or cruising local rivers and trails via boat and snowmachine. There's a good chance, though, that working at the museum will bring an addictive new hobby to his life...an antique car!

by Nancy DeWitt

Lap robe and foot warmer. A "carbon coal brick" was
ignited and placed in the foot warmer's tray for heat.

© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

We don't have a lot of artifacts beyond cars and fashions in our museum, but visitors may have noticed a traffic light, gas pump, spark plug collection, and some displays in the video kiosks. Careful observers may have also noticed a few blankets hanging behind the front seats of several of the cars. These lap robes are carryovers from the carriage and sleigh days, and served the same purpose after the advent of the automobile; that is, something to snuggle under while riding in an open, unheated vehicle.

Lap robes were typically made from wool, mohair, horsehair, curly silk, or alpaca. Some were made from leather or had a rubber outer layer for use in wet weather. Robes came with many different designs, ranging from solid colors and geometric patterns to flower and animal motifs. The 1912 Chase catalog alone offered more than 150 lap robe designs. In Alaska, fur-covered hides from caribou or bear were probably the warmest choice.

A garment rack or robe rail gave passengers a place to drape their robes and coats when not in use. Robe rails were typically made of brass, nickel, or braided cord.

As the automobile grew in popularity, so did the diversity of lap robe options. Some had special pockets for feet, while others had fur handmuffs sewn inside.

Some lap robes were precursors to today's "Snuggies," where the user fastened him- or herself into a custom-fitted bag. The one at right, featured in the February 1915 issue of Popular Mechanics, offered a chest protector." I'm unclear what this entailed. A built-in bra? A leather shield to protect from flying rocks? Or simply a layer of blanket worn over the chest?

When upscale car manufacturers started giving wealthy buyers their choice of coachwork, some blanket companies began offering the option of ordering a lap robe to match or complement a car's interior.

Other entrepreneurs developed accessories for lap robes and rails, including locks that secured a blanket or coat to the rail (photo at left). One invention rolled a robe out of and back into a spring-loaded case, so one could pull it out like a window shade (see ad at right). Another inventor developed a child seat that attached to the robe rail. In 1929, a patent was issued for a robe rail with a removable cap on one end, allowing for an umbrella, cane, or fishing rod to be inserted for storage.

Robe rails were added to automobiles for many decades, and one can be found in one the youngest production cars we have on display, a 1934 Packard. Automobile robe rails and straps were not uncommon through the 1950s, as car heaters were wither absent or insufficient for warming the back passenger area. Although modern cars don't carry robe rails, I can tell you from experience that some Alaskans still resort to using lap blankets when riding in a car here at -40!

by Nancy DeWitt
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

Be sure to look closely under our video players when you visit the museum. You'll find some interesting artifacts, including these steam whistles and Locomobile steam engine.

Steam whistles were commonly used on locomotives and steam ships as warning devices, and in factories to signal shift changes. When the lever was pulled, a valve opened and let live steam escape through an aperture. The steam alternately compressed and expanded inside the bell, creating the sound. The whistle’s tone depended on the bell’s length and how far the operator opened the valve.

The 2-cylinder Locomobile double-acting steam engine was designed by the Stanley Brothers and is nearly identical to the one in the museum’s 1901 Rochester (not presently on display). In addition to powering automobiles, Locomobile engines were used for industrial purposes like driving conveyors and hoists, and feeding sawmill carriages.

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!

by Nancy DeWitt
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

Pierce Great Arrow in Fairbanks, Alaska
Photo courtesy of Candy Waugman. May not be used without permission.

The 1906 Great Arrow shown above was the first known Pierce-Arrow in Alaska and the fifth automobile in Fairbanks, arriving on the steamer Tananaon September 6, 1909. Dave Coutemanche, owner of the Comet Barber Shop, used it for a passenger stage between Fairbanks and Ester until one fateful day in November of 1910.

“Courtemanche Auto Wrecked By A Fire” proclaimed the headline in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. “Because of a leaking gasoline tube, one of the few autos in the camp, the Pierce Arrow car of Dave Courtemanche is now a burned and twisted wreck, the auto having caught fire…and burned so fiercely that it was almost impossible to extinguish the flames." The leaking gasoline spread the fire onto the roadway for several meters around the burning car. "An attempt was made to pull the auto out of the burning pool but that proved useless as a new pool of fire was quickly formed.”

Fortunately, the Great Arrow was not a complete loss, and someone performed some major repairs on it after the fire. By the time Charles W. Joynt purchased it in March of 1914, it only needed some minor work to make it operational. Joynt, who was manager of the Tanana Valley Railroad, intended to use the automobile to transport passengers between Gilmore (located several miles north of Fox on what is now the Steese Highway) and Summit Roadhouse. Passengers could ride the train or electric rail car between Fairbanks and Gilmore, but from Gilmore the railroad turned west and north to Olnes, passing through the site of today’s Hilltop Café on the Elliot Highway. The Great Arrow provided quick access to and from the Summit Roadhouse, which was located to the east on Cleary Summit.

Joynt's venture must not have done well, for he sold the Great Arrow to Hosea Ross (likely the driver pictured above) the following year. While carrying passengers between Fairbanks and Big Delta, the car became hopelessly stranded near Shaw Creek during the big October blizzard of 1915. Then on August 14, 1916, with five passengers and driver R.T. Blakely aboard, it plunged through the bridge spanning Chena Slough and into the water. “Six Men Narrowly Escape Death When Bridge Collapses” noted the Fairbanks Daily Times. The big car was almost completely submerged, upside down, and one passenger nearly drowned. Apparently the nine- year-old bridge had been considered unsafe for some time. The car was salvaged and was still in Fairbanks in 1922, but its fate after that is unknown.

1907 Pierce Great Arrow at the Nethercutt Museum

by Willy Vinton

Photo courtesy of Candy Waugaman

I just returned from a quick trip to Skagway, where Bobby Sheldon built Alaska's first automobile and Martin Itjen operated his historic street car tour business.

Skagway is a quaint little town that sits on the water at the head of Taiya Inlet. Getting there from Fairbanks isn't easy. One either drives 1.5 days, passing through Canada en route, or flies to Juneau and then hops onto a ferry or small plane for a ride north up Lynn Canal. I opted for the latter.

I have to say that upon arriving in Skagway via Seaplanes Alaska, I have not been that cold in a good many years. It was 27 F with a 35 mph wind blowing from the northeast, right down the streets like a wind tunnel. It felt like I was in Prudhoe Bay!

Photo courtesy of Klondike Gold Rush
National Park, Rapuzzi Collection

To warm up, I went and examined the Martin Itjen "Street Car #1" for the National Park Service. The bus has a lot of history and character about it, and is in need of some work to preserve it for the long-term.

The street car is an interesting blend of parts. It sits on a 1908 Packard chassis, and the rear part of the body is from a horse-drawn omnibus. The current engine is a 1919 Dodge 4-cylinder with a 3-speed transmission coupled to the Packard differential. A lot of additions were made to this unique vehicle, which I will write about in a future post.

Photo courtesy of Klondike Gold Rush
National Park, Rapuzzi Collection

It would be nice to know the history of the Packard that Itjen used in this street car. We would also love to know the history of the Veerac truck (at right) that he used in an earlier rendition of Street Car #1, which also carried the omnibus body.

Skagway is a neat place to visit if you have not been there, but I would recommend that you go during the summer and avoid that nasty wind.

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!

Be sure to stop by the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum this month and check out the interesting selection of gifts in our shop. There is no admission fee just to shop, although you might want to see our newest displays in the museum and climb into the 1910 Everett for a fun Christmas photo. We're open on Sundays from noon to 6 PM, and will also be open two evenings this month: December 9 and 16 from 5-9 PM.

On December 9 from 5-7 pm we'll be hosting a book-signing with Sandy Jamieson and Nancy DeWitt, illustrator and author of our new Alaska's Automobile Pioneer: Ride Along With Bobby Sheldon Coloring Book. We're very excited about its release, which features 18 whimsical illustrations and text highlighting Bobby's inventions and adventures in the Last Frontier. Even adults will want to color some pages! The book is a bargain at $5.95.

Nancy will also be signing copies of our museum book, Alaska's Fountainhead Collection: Vintage Treads and Threads on December 9. Beautifully illustrated with over 280 photographs, this book highlights 46 of the museum's rarest cars, plus several historic fashion pieces and entertaining snapshots from Alaska's early motoring days. The book sells for $19.95.

We have a nice selection of other books, including ones featuring period fashions, cars to color, and old-fashioned paper dolls.

You'll find plenty of stocking stuffers in our gift shop, including the ever-popular finger magnet tool from Busted Knuckle Garage ($9.95), day passes to the museum ($10), key rings, bookmarks, magnets, mint boxes, coasters, lapel pins, and antique car earrings (all under $20). We also offer season passes, which are $40 for an individual and $60 for a family (up to 2 adults and 4 children).

We have several shirts to choose from, including standard t-shirts and ladies tops sparkling with Swarovski crystals. Hurry in for one of our popular "Too Bad..." shirts shown at right, or one featuring our 1920 Argonne, 1932 Chysler, or 1906 Pope-Toledo and 1907 White Steamer together. We also have shirts, ball caps, and knit hats with our Auburn logo embroidered on them.

Fashionistas will love our selection of scarves, beaded clutches, retro hats, and vintage-inspired jewelry. Our cloche hats have been especially popular with museum visitors this year.

We carry such a wide variety of necklaces, pins, bracelets, and earrings that ladies may want to come in and make a wish list for their secret shopper. Our newest additions feature Art Deco-inspired necklaces and earrings, all reasonably priced.

Finally, don't miss our die-cast cars, infant onesies, and custom-made copper ornaments. There is something for everyone here! Our books, shirts, hats and several other items can be purchased by phone--just call 907-450-2100 to inquire.

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!

by Willy Vinton
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

The replica we've been building of Bobby Sheldon's first race car is almost finished, and the crew that has been working on it took it out yesterday for a spin.

Most of the parts that we used to build this replica were ones I gathered from around the state, so all the parts are of Alaska origin. A good portion came from the Nome area. Nome had a Ford dealer in the early days, and had lots of unsold new parts as well as a large assortment of used items.

Long-time Fairbanks resident George Clayton flew for Wein Airlines, and he would collect and haul all kinds of items back to town from various villages. George always kept a good inventory of what and where the items originated. He would love to talk about them but would never sell any! Prior to his passing, though, he held an auction and a good amount of his Ford parts were sold to Bruce Campbell in Anchorage. Bruce passed all his collection of Model T parts on to me, and this is where most of the pieces came from for this project. We are grateful that George Clayton collected and saved these parts, and also thank Bruce for allowing me to be able to keep them in circulation to help others with their projects. If you need any T parts, let me know.

Photo of Bobby Sheldon before winning the first
automobile race in Fairbanks.
Photo courtesy of Frances Erickson

We still need a hood from a Model T to complete the replica, so if you have an old “rough” one, please get in touch with me.

Many thanks to the gang of docents that have been involved in the building of the replica from old and sometimes rusty pieces that I hauled in to the museum. Watch for this fun car driving around Wedgewood Resort 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!

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!

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."

by Nancy DeWitt
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

This photo was taken in Chitina, Alaska, on September 11, 1914. Robert Sheldon is standing on the far right. Next to him is Charles E. Bunnell, who had recently been appointed U.S. District Judge of the 4th Division by President Woodrow Wilson. Bunnell had hired Sheldon to drive him north from Valdez to Fairbanks so he could campaign for Alaska's Territorial delegate seat in Congress.

Photo courtesy of Frances Erickson

Notice that the car 's body has been removed, and that two wooden chairs have taken the place of the regular seat. Sheldon was concerned that they wouldn’t be able to make it to Fairbanks because of deep mud, so to lighten the load he removed the car’s body and seats, and then strapped two barroom chairs to the chassis.

“I’ve never sat in a barroom chair before,” growled the judge, “but I suppose there’s always a first time.”

By the time they reached Paxson, Sheldon and Bunnell had endured two days and nights of steady rain. Five inches of snow greeted them in Isabel Pass. In places the mud was so deep that they had to be pulled through by a team of horses. They didn't arrive in Fairbanks until the evening of September 17. Bunnell lost the election to Judge James Wickersham, but later served as the first president of the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines (now the University of Alaska). While there he played a pivotal role in bringing Sheldon's homemade runabout to the University's museum.

Imagine riding on a wooden chair in an open car--for seven days in crummy weather! The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner wrote this about Sheldon's and Bunnell's drive:

Big Trail Has No Terrors for The Auto Driver and His Little Ford. It's Stripped for Action.

The weather may storm and threaten, rain and snow, all of which it did this trip. Mud may get axle deep, bridges may break down, creeks may overflow their banks, all of which was true this time. But Sheldon seems to beat the game any way it is played. He dismantled his machine before leaving Chitina, saving several hundred pounds of weight, and all roads have to give way to him.

Wishing you all the best as we head into the year!

We will be open on Sunday, December 28, from noon to 6 pm.

by Nancy DeWitt
© Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

This was another exciting and rewarding year for the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum. We received some prestigious awards, celebrated our 5th anniversary, and retained our rating as the #1 Fairbanks visitor attraction on TripAdvisor. In February we were awarded the AACA Plaque for Outstanding Achievement in the Preservation of Automotive History by the Antique Automobile Association of America. We are honored that the AACA recognized not just our commitment to preserve and exhibit antique vehicles, but also the effort we have dedicated to researching, archiving, and sharing automotive history--including through this blog.

Other notable highlights from 2014 include:

We updated our display of large-format photographs featuring scenes from Alaska's early motoring days and produced a printed guide to the museum's photo exhibit.

We opened a new exhibit titled Extreme Motoring: Alaska's First Automobiles and Their Daring Drivers. This display about the first autos in the Territory and the hardships faced by their drivers was featured in Alaska Air Magazine, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Museums Alaska newsletter, ClassicCars.com, PrincessLodges.com, and several television and radio channels.

Due to high interest and positive feedback, we continued our "Beauty and the Bird" feathered hat exhibit. We also added several new fashion displays to the galleries.

In June we hosted the 3rd biennial Alaska Midnight Sun Cruise-In at Wedgewood Resort. Despite rainy weather, we had excellent participation from car owners from around the state, a dry cruise to the Salmon Bake, and a good audience turnout for the car show before the skies opened that afternoon.

Several new acquisitions were added to our collection, including a 1905 Franklin and 1910 Kelsey. We stabilized our 1915 Mack truck and put it on display outside the museum. Our docents constructed a replica of the first car to win an organized race in Alaska, a Ford Model T racer.

Record rainfall in Fairbanks prevented us from exercising many of the museum cars, but we did manage to get several out on the road, even during December. We showed our 1911 Ford Model T depot hack and 1932 Chrysler at the annual Vernon L. Nash Antique Car Club of Alaska show and drove our 1919 Pierce-Arrow in the annual Golden Days Parade.

We entered our 1917 Owen-Magnetic in the Pacific Northwest Concours d'Elegance in Tacoma in September. We were pleased to take home the Best in Class trophy in the Antiques class. Congratulations to Al and Paul Murray for their fine work on this unique car.

We produced a new coloring book about Alaska automobile pioneer Bobby Sheldon. The book was illustrated by Fairbanks artist Sandy Jamieson and authored by our historian, Nancy DeWitt.

Brad Dietrich joined our team as a mechanic, providing much-needed assistance to manager Willy Vinton. As always, we had fantastic help from our dedicated group of docents.

We rescued the remains of the original Fageol safety coach that was used by the Mt. McKinley Transportation Company in what is now Denali National Park.

Staff represented the museum as several events, including the National Association of Automobile Museums annual conference in Los Angeles, Scottsdale Auction Week, Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, Bakersfield and Hershey swap meets, and Museums Alaska Conference in Seward.

We expanded the selection of items in the museum gift shop, including vintage-inspired jewelry, retro hats, and new t-shirt designs.

Our book, Alaska's Fountainhead Collection: Vintage Treads and Threads, was updated for a second printing and will go on sale in 2015.

Thank you for another great year!

A Fageol Safety Coach is Rescued

On the Road: Pacific Northwest Concours d'Elegance

The Fageol Automobile: Muse for the Heine-Velox?

Automobile History: Recommended Reading

2014 Museums Alaska / Alaska Historical Society Joint Annual Conference

Archival Photos and Provenance of Our Compound Automobile

Our Kelsey Motorette Has Arrived!

Hershey Annual Swap Meet 2014

Meet Our New Mechanic

Vintage Threads: Automobile Lap Robes

Steam Whistles & a Locomobile Engine

Alaska's First Pierce-Arrow

On the Road: Skagway

Holiday Gift Guide 2014

Replica of Alaska's First Winning Race Car

New Acquisitions: Franklin and Kelsey

Australian Builds Reproduction of Alaska's First Car

Charles Bunnell's Excellent Adventure

A Very Argonne Christmas

Our Year in Review: 2014