BRASS

RAMBLINGS

Official Publication of the

Skagit-Snohomish Regional Group

Horseless Carriage Club of America

July 2019

July 2019

Skagit-Snohomish Regional Group

Horseless Carriage Club of America

The Skagit-Snohomish Regional Group of the Horseless Carriage Club of America is a

non-profit corporation with an active membership dedicated to the preservation of pre-1916 motorized vehicles, literature, accessories, history, and associated items.

Any person/family who is a current member of the Horseless Carriage Club of

America, with interest or ownership in pre-1916 vehicles shall be eligible to apply for membership. Dues are $15.00 per year and include a minimum of 10 issues of the Brass Ramblings newsletter annually.

The Brass Ramblings is mailed and emailed to local members in good standing, and

emailed to other regional groups and the National Board. Permission to reproduce material appearing in this publication is granted, provided credit is given to the original source.

2019 Officers

President Harold Musolf, III Ballard, WA brassman@nwlink.com (206) 601-9229 Vice-President Ray Markley Maple Valley, WA popmarkley@msn.com (206) 949-5000 Secretary Steve Schmidt Snohomish, WA steveschmidt@hotmail.com (989) 277-0933 Treasurer Vicki Markley Maple Valley, WA vrmarkley@gmail.com (425) 432-5391

2019 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Tom Brethauer, Pat Farrell, Dave Ellis (2019)

Robb Johnson, Howard Musolf, and Mike Martin (2020)

EDITOR Tom Brethauer 23611 39th Pl W (425) 402-3960 Brier, WA 98036 pennzip@yahoo.com

Regional Web Site: http:// www.skagit.hcca.org National Web Site: http://www.hcca.org

President’s Ramblings Well, once again, it’s time to make a decision about a meeting. We have before us, a volunteer for our August meeting, the Findley’s, in their home country of Canada. The date is the 17th. So with the show of hands (ha ha), how many of you are going to go up there and tour with your brass car? I will ask this same question of you at our meeting on the 13th in Bellingham. Ken and I have had a discussion about the border wait times and it seems to be most of the time about 1.5 hrs. Both ways. Would you like to do something south of the border, even though we just had a tour in Bellingham? Please think about this and get back to us (ken & myself) ASAP please. Now that the K.I.S.S. tour is over and some of our club members went south to a tour in California, are we still in the tour mode? We have the September tour being put on by the Ellis’s in Bow, coming up real soon, so get your registrations in so we have an accurate head count, we need to know how much food we need. Gayle and I will be attending the Portland group tour over in Hansville this next week, and hope to see all of you there. Yes, we do have lots of touring in our near future, but isn’t it fun? Harold III

2019 Calendar Please submit calendar updates to Tom Brethauer promptly, as future planning depends on this information.

JULY 2019 Jul 12-15 Spokane Swap Meet Jul 13-14 Club meeting and 2 day tour in

Bellingham. RSVP with Mike Yeakel by email at winton222@hotmail.com

Jul 21-24 Portland Regional HCCA group’s 54th Annual Tour on Bainbridge Island is at capacity.

AUGUST 2019 Aug 8-10 Hot August Nights Swap Meet,

Sparks NV Aug 17 Meeting and tour in Canada.

Findlays coordinating. Aug 30 – Sep 6 Bathhurst, NSW, Australia 7th

International HCCA 612 422-219-

911 or russell@oldworldlamps.net

SEPTEMBER 2019 Sep 8-12 Flashback: Shake, Rattle and Roll

Tour. Skagit-Snohomish Regional fall tour. Dave Ellis – See registration and ad later in this issue.

Sep 20-21 Chehalis Harvest Swap Meet OCTOBER 2019 Oct 5-6 AARC Swap Meet, Monroe Oct 9-12 Hershey Swap Meet NOVEMBER 2019 Nov 2-3 Bremerton Swap Meet No meeting DECEMBER 2019 TBD Christmas party

SKAGIT-SNOHOMISH REGIONAL HCCA June 15th, 2019 MEETING MINUTES

The Club met at the home of Dave and Elaine Ellis in Arlington, WA at 9:00AM. Elaine served refreshments and Dave gave a tour of his garage full of cars and collectibles. Members then traveled together to Granite Falls for a tour of the Granite Falls Historical Museum led by Fred and “Duffy” Cruger followed by lunch at The Buzz Inn in downtown Granite Falls. After lunch the meeting was called to order at 12:14 PM by President Harold Musolf III. We wish to thank Dave and Elaine Ellis for arranging this month’s meeting location. Two guests were present: Penny and Laura Summers (granddaughters of Mike Yeakel) Fourteen members were present. Members in attendance included: Joe and Colleen Davies, Dave and Elaine Ellis, Pat and Merrily Farrell, Les Gitts, Steve and Phyllis Hammatt, Harold III and Gayle Musolf, Steve and Linda Schmidt, and Mike Yeakel. MINUTES A motion was made by Dave Ellis to approve the May minutes as printed in the June minutes

in the last newsletter. Elaine seconded the motion and it was passed. TREASURER’S REPORT Due to the absence of Vicki Markley, there was no Treasurer’s Report. SUNSHINE REPORT It was reported that Mike Martin was feeling better, and Aurore Fickeisen had surgery. OLD BUSINESS Skagit Snohomish HCCA Fall Tour: Dave and Elaine Ellis reported on the upcoming 22nd Annual Skagit/Snohomish Regional Tour at Bow, Washington. There are 20 registrations to date. Applications are still being accepted. Harold Musolf, Jr. will drive the trouble truck and is looking for the banner for the back of the truck that announces slow moving antique cars ahead. There is also an 8’ banner used at the hotel for tours. Martins may have it from the Coos Bay Tour. Anyone having either of the banners is asked to bring it to the next meeting. NEW BUSINESS President Harold announced that the position of Newsletter Editor, current and skillfully held by Tom Brethauer, is going to be open. Tom is no long able to continue in the position. Harold asked for volunteers. Following the meeting Linda Schmidt offered to assume the Editor’s responsibilities. She will need to know if there is a special computer program used for the publication and get a template of the newsletter from Tom. Steve Hammatt talked about the HCCA International-National Invitational Tour at Bathurst, NSW, Australia to be held August 30 to September 6. Steve said that he and Phyllis, Mike and Marsha Yeakel, and Keene and Christine Brewer will be representing our club at the tour. JULY MEETING Mike Yeakel, host of the July 13 and 14 meeting/tour in Bellingham suggested bringing chairs to the picnic. This Whatcom County tour beginning at Mike’s shop: 1650 Jill’s Court, Bellingham, WA 98226. Meet at Mike’s shop Saturday and Sunday morning at 9:00am.

Mike suggested the Best Western hotel at the airport would be the best place to overnight, as they have a large parking lot for trailers. The hotel address is 151 McLeod Road, Bellingham, 98226, and the phone number is 360-647-1912. Call ASAP to make reservations. Mike would appreciate knowing how many will be there Saturday for lunch. Members should RSVP to Mike’s email: winton222@hotmail.com AUGUST MEETING The August meeting will be hosted by Findlays in Canada. Meeting place, date, and time to be announced. SEPTEMBER MEETING There will be no September meeting because of our 22nd Annual Skagit/Snohomish Regional Tour at Bow, Washington. OCTOBER MEETING To be determined. If you have a suggestion or would like to host this meeting, please contact President Harold. AND FINALLY It was announced that Colleen Davies purchased eight place mats at the garage sale across from the Museum while Pat Farrell bought a book on airplanes. ADJOURNMENT President Harold declared the meeting adjourned at 1:27PM. Respectfully submitted, Steve Schmidt, Secretary

Next Meeting: Saturday/Sunday, July 13-14th Tour

Mike Yeakel, host of our upcoming meeting and tour says: As you are aware, Marcia and I are putting on a tour of Whatcom County, July 13 & 14. If you are planning to spend the weekend, a good hotel would be the Best Western by the Bellingham

airport, as there is trailer parking available. We are planning to open up the car collection Friday evening for any of you that are interested but we need to know who you are. Saturday we would like everyone at MYCO at 9am, ready to tour as we have a fairly long tour planned. We will be seeing the Studebaker museum (coffee and donuts) and then head towards Blaine where we will have lunch at a Mexican restaurant. Heading south we will have our ice cream stop at Birch Bay then on to our beach house for a burger BBQ. Afterwards you can return to the hotel or home. Sunday we will be touring on the east side of I-5, with a lunch stop and then head back to Bellingham to end the weekend. Please let us know if you intend to join us, as we need to let the restaurant and Marcia (in prep for Saturdays bbq) know. Our email is winton2@comcast.net. Thanks, Mike _____________________________________

Attendees of the June tour coordinated by

the Ellis’s.

Made in Connecticut The following excerpted article, written by Dirk Langeveld,

was published on February 19, 2018 in “The Day” a New

London, CT based newspaper with an online presence.

The entire article can be found here:

https://www.theday.com/article/20180219/BIZ09/1802193

23

…Connecticut not only took part in the early automobile revolution, but once produced the bulk of the vehicles available in the nation. Paul Pellerin, author of the 2010 book "Connecticut Created Cars," says almost 200 different vehicle models were made in the state. The first one, built in 1798 by a man named Apollo Kinsley, was a steam-powered contraption.

…One concern, the Connecticut Automobile Works, proved to be a scam; ironically it ran advertisements for its nonexistent affordable cars with the warning, "Beware of the Robbers."

Other vehicles built in Connecticut proved to be exceptionally popular…

Columbia

Albert Augustus Pope found his first success in making bicycles. He started using empty space in a Hartford sewing machine company for this purpose, but by the end of the 1880s he was producing 5,000 bicycles a year and bought the building outright.

In 1895, the Pope Manufacturing Company began working on automobiles. Believing that battery electric vehicles offered the best type of propulsion, Pope focused on this type of power source. However, his company would also make some gas-powered cars.

The Columbia Motor Carriage, debuting in 1897, consisted of four sets of batteries providing a whopping two horsepower. The vehicle had a top speed of 15 miles per hour, could go 30 miles before it needed to be recharged, and had pneumatic tires rated for 3,500 miles. The coach itself used plenty of luxurious materials, including an oak wood frame, a satin roof, and

goatskin upholstery. The horseless carriage could be had for $5,000.

The Columbia Electric Phaeton was introduced in the same year, selling for $3,000. A reporter for the Hartford Times praised the simplicity of the Phaeton's controls, saying he had "never found anyone so stupid that they could not run the carriage but there are many who can't handle a horse."

Columbia underwent several name changes in the late 19th century. The Columbia Automobile Company was established as an independent company in 1899, turning out 2,092 vehicles – nearly half of all automobiles produced in the United States. But by the end of the year it had merged with the Electric Vehicle Company, a manufacturer of electric taxis. That business had been bought a year earlier by Isaac L. Rice, who in 1899 would also found Electric Boat to produce submarines.

The Electric Vehicle Company had shelled out $10,000 to acquire a patent from George B. Selden, who in 1895 acquired the broadly worded rights for vehicles powered by a "liquid-hydrocarbon engine of the compression type." In essence, Selden was claiming that he was owed royalties from any and all automakers who were producing vehicles with gas-powered engines.

Soon after buying the Selden patent, the Electric Vehicle Company claimed that the Winton Motor Carriage Company — then the largest manufacturer of gas-powered autos in the United States — was infringing on the patent. Winton settled, and later joined with the Electric Vehicle Company and several other companies to form the Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers.

Pope was never involved in these various machinations. He returned to bicycle manufacturing after auto manufacturing was spun off from his company, but in 1901 he decided to reenter the trade. In 1903, the Pope Manufacturing Company began producing cars in Hartford as well as Hagerstown, Indianapolis, and Toledo.

The newly revived company went into receivership in 1907, two years before Pope's death. The Pope Manufacturing Company was dissolved in 1914.

Locomobile

A Locomobile touring car on display. Photo courtesy of Michael E. Scheidel, New England Auto Museum

Locomobile got its start in Watertown, Mass., after the owner of the magazine Cosmopolitan became fascinated with automobiles. After seeing a performance by a steam-powered car built by twin brothers Freelan and Francis Stanley, John Brisben Walker offered to buy a majority share in their company.

The brothers refused, but Walker persisted. Finally, they set what they thought was an exorbitant price of $250,000 in order to make Walker go away. To their surprise, he accepted. However, he needed some help from his next door neighbor, the asphalt entrepreneur and millionaire Amzi Lorenzo Barber, to provide the necessary funds.

The newly established Locomobile Company of America was established in 1899 to produce steam cars. The name of the company, a portmanteau of "automobile" and "locomotive," referred to the vehicles' similarity to rail locomotives, namely in their pistons and connecting rods. When William McKinley became the first U.S. President to ride in an automobile, he was in a Locomobile.

Despite this historic achievement, Locomobile had a bit of a rocky start. After a falling out between Walker and Barber, the company was split in half. Walker opened an automobile

factory in Tarrytown, N.Y., which folded within a few years. Barber moved Locomobile's operations to a 40-acre plot in Bridgeport, becoming the nation's largest automaker in 1902 when he sold 5,200 cars. But as steam cars became less popular, the business found itself on the verge of bankruptcy.

Barber's brother-in-law, J.J. Albright, helped buoy up the company's finances. Andrew Riker, who had sold his electric car business to the Electric Vehicle Company, accepted a designer position at Locomobile as it repositioned itself to make gas-powered vehicles.

The company debuted its first gasoline vehicle, the four-cylinder 12-horsepower Model C, in 1902 with a price tag of $4,000. Locomobile ceased its steam car production the next year. In 1908, Riker designed a car dubbed "Old 16" to compete in the Vanderbilt Cup race on Long Island; driven by George Robertson, it became the first American vehicle to win the prestigious

race…

Indian Motorcycles

A classic line of motorcycles was based in Massachusetts for much of the 20th century, but had its birthplace in Middletown CT.

In 1897, George M. Hendee began a bicycle production company in Springfield. The "American Indian" brand became its best seller, and its name was later shortened to simply "Indian."

The first purpose of the Indian motorcycle was a pacing bike for non-motorized cycling races. After meeting engineer Oscar Hedstrom and seeing some of his motorized bicycles, Hendee asked him to build some prototypes for him.

Hedstrom got to work in the Worcester Cycle Manufacturing Company in Middletown, renting factory space for a dollar a day. He finished his first motorized Indian bike in May 1901, and would send it and two additional examples to Hendee in Springfield.

The motorized Indian proved to be an unexpected success. The motorcycles first

became available to the public in 1902, and the Indian Motorcycle Manufacturing Company would become the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world. The company was active in Springfield until 1953…

Cameron

The Cameron Car Company existed in fits and starts. During its 18 years in existence, automobile manufacturing took place intermittently in eight different cities, including New London…

Corbin

New Britain holds the nickname "Hardware City" for its history of prominent hardware manufacturers, with some companies still headquartered there. In the early 20th century, some of these businesses dabbled in making cars as well.

A 1908 Corbin with an air-cooled engine on display at the Klingberg Motorcar Festival. Photo courtesy of the Klingberg Family Centers

The Corbin Motor Vehicle Company was named for Philip Corbin, who founded a hardware company that later became part of the American Hardware Corporation. The automaker was established in 1903 when the corporation and Russell & Erwin Company purchased the Bristol Motor Car Company.

The company's first two cars had air-cooled four-cylinder engines and were priced at $2,000 apiece. Corbin would create a wide range of models, including a seven-seat limousine and a truck with a 2,000-pound carrying capacity….

Trumbull

A company in Bridgeport that entered the scene in the latter half of the Brass Era may have had a promising future, but for the intervention of World War I.

A 1914 Trumbull coupe. Photo courtesy of Michael E. Scheidel, New England Auto Museum

A Detroit-based engineer, Harry J. Stoops, designed his first vehicle in 1912. He came to Connecticut after his American Cyclecar Company was acquired by brothers Alexander H. and Isaac B. Trumbull. The business would later be renamed the Trumbull Motor Car Company, with the names of its models changing from Americans to Trumbulls.

The company was only officially in business from 1914 to 1915, but it proved highly successful…

Classifieds: For Sale: 1911 Maxwell AB Roadster, 1929 Plymouth Roadster, 1930 Plymouth Roadster, 1932 Plymouth Roadster, 1932 Plymouth Conv. Sedan Jim Beuzenberg 360-733-1655

For Sale: 1914 Cadillac Roadster. Recently updated with new Lederer cylinder heads and copper cooling

jackets. 2-speed rear-end provided, but not installed. Green/black with leather interior. $78k. AND 1916 Overland 83B Touring. Needs new leather clutch installed (new clutch leather will be included in sale) and brake linkage sorted. Improved mono-block design with electric starter and generator. $18k. Steve Hammatt Mount Vernon WA Email: gsteve@hammatt.com or phone 360-661-6060.

For Sale:

Overland, 1913 model 69T. Older restoration, great condition, drives and starts easily. Tour proven. 30 hp, 4 cylinder. All brass in great condition. Script headlights and hubcaps. Original diamond tuft upholstery, newer top and boot. More photos and/or info available. Located in Seattle, WA area. Asking $30,000.00 Harold Musolf, Jr. email: musolf.jr@frontier.com or phone 425 488 6983

Wanted: Clock face or visible gas pumps, old original porcelain signs, and oil cans call Tom 425-236-2747

HCCA Skagit/Snohomish Regional Group

"Flashback: Shake, Rattle, & Roll” pre-16 Tour

Sun Sept 8th – Thurs Sept 12th, 2019

Name of Driver_______________________________________________________________

Street__________________________City_________________State______Zip____________

Telephone__________________________________email:_____________________________

Names of Passenger(s)__________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Insurance Carrier____________________________________ Policy#____________________

Make of Car_________________Year__________Model______________________________

Car& Driver $ 155 Tour will be headquartered at: Skagit Ridge Hotel

Qty ____Passengers @ $135 ea. $______ 18444 Bow Ridge Dr.

Total US Funds $______ Bow, WA 98232

(888) 724-1640 or (360) 724-0640

Less Deposit ($40 min.) $______ When booking, mention the Horseless

Carriage Club tour special $119 rate

Balance Due (by Aug 1st) $______ plus tax. Breakfast is included.

(no tour refunds made after Aug 1st) www.theskagitridge.com

Please make checks payable to: Elaine Ellis

T-shirts available upon request (S/M/L/XL/2XL).

If you need any special arrangements, please contact tour organizers:

Dave Ellis or Elaine Ellis (360) 403-3298 email: efedbe@comcast.net

For RV parking, contact:

The KOA Holiday, Burlington KOA, 6397 North Green Rd., Burlington, WA 98233

(800) 562-9154 or (360) 724-5511 https://koa.com/campgrounds/burlington/

- or-

Thousand Trails RV Campground, 5405 N. Darrk Lane, Bow, WA 98232

1-877-570-2267 https://www.thousandtrails.com/washington/mount-vernon-rv-campground/

Details subject to change to maximize fun, tire kicking, and conversation!

Send Registration Form to: Elaine Ellis, 21611 88th Dr NE, Arlington, WA 98223

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

YEAR 2019

SKAGIT/SNOHOMISH REGIONAL GROUP

HORSELESS CARRIAGE CLUB OF AMERICA

Regional Group Membership – Any person/family who is a current member of the national HCCA with

ownership and/or interest in pre-1916 automobiles shall be eligible to apply for membership. Members

are entitled to all Regional Group privileges, including receiving notices of club functions and newsletters,

a roster of members, the right to hold office, and the right to vote (ownership of a pre-1916 automobile is

a requirement for voting rights). Members agree to abide by all rules and regulations as designated by

the bylaws of this Regional Group and the National HCCA. Dues in the SKAGIT/SNOHOMISH REGIONAL

GROUP are $15.00 per calendar year and membership in the NATIONAL HCCA is a prerequisite.

National dues are currently $45.00 per year.

NAME: __________________________________________________________________________

Last name Applicant Co-Applicant

PHONE: (______)__________________________NATIONAL HCCA#________________________

ARE NATIONAL DUES CURRENT? Yes _______ No _______ *National dues must be current to process

CELL PHONES: Applicant: (_____)____________________ Co-Applicant:(___)________________

ADDRESS: Street:_________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

City State Zip

EMAIL ADDRESS:____________________________@____________________________________

_____Yes, correspondence by email is fine. _____No, I need correspondence by mail

YEAR MAKE OF AUTO MODEL BODY TYPE

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

In compliance with the laws of the state of Washington, I certify that I have Automobile Liability Insurance

(P.D. & P.L.) on my antique cars used for club functions. I also agree to make sure that the policy is in

force for the entire year no matter when the expiration date is.

NAME OF COMPANY____________________________NAME OF AGENT____________________

POLICY #_________________________________ EXPIRATION DATE_______________________

SIGNATURE____________________________CHARTER/LIFETIME MEMBER: Yes____ No_____

Mail completed form to:

Vicki Markley, 21832 S.E. 245th St, Maple Valley, WA 98038