Volume 62, Issue 8 Celebrating the Model A for More Than ...sfmodelaclub.org/the-choke-rod/2018/Aug/Choke-Rod-Aug-2018.pdfbrought a Zenith Carburetor to our meeting and we had a few

San Francisco Bay Area Chapter Model A Ford Club of America

preserving and restoring the Model A Ford since 1956

Volume 62, Issue 8 Celebrating the Model A for More Than Sixty Years August 2018

Upcoming Tours

Radio DaysSee page 5

The Choke Rod

Thursday August 30 - Sunday September 2 - Portland Tour - Portland, ORFriday-Sunday September 21-23 - Ironstone Concours d'Elegance - Murphys, CA

Sunday October 7 - Columbus Day Celebration - San Francisco

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The San Francisco Model “A” Ford Club encourages membership in MAFCA, the National Model “A” Ford Club. Benefi ts include an excellent bimonthly publication, The Restorer, providing technical information and free liability insurance when participating in Club Events.

MAFCAModel A Ford Club of America, Inc.250 South Cypress StreetLa Habra CA 90631 www.mafca.com 562-697-2712

MAFCA dues are $40 per year. Dues for new members may be paid at any time. Dues paid between November 1 and December 31 are valid for the remainder of the year paid plus the following year. Along with your check send in your name, spouse’s name and complete address. An optional $10 initiation fee includes a club pin, decal, badge, windshield card and a back issue of “The Restorer” magazine. If you use Mastercard or Visa, include the expiration date and your signature. Membership includes a subscription to The Restorer.

President’s MessageWe are going into what is turning out to be a very busy summer. We have plans for Radio Days in Alameda, the Oregon Tour, the Ironstone Concours at Murphys, and Bocce Ball at Orange Park in South San Francisco. However, if you have something in mind and you would like to involve the Club please contact me. We always have room on the schedule for something new.

Our last meeting was brief but interesting. James Morgan brought a Zenith Carburetor to our meeting and we had a few short moments to look at and talk carburetors. It occurred to me following the meeting that we should have spent a little more time talking carburetors. We have all had our share of problems with them and we don’t always understand them. So, beginning in August, we will add a little show and tell segment to the meeting agenda.

See you at the meeting.

TOUR CHAIR: Gary BarrangoEDITORS: Walter Caplan Scott WilliamsMEMBERSHIP: Walter Caplan

The Choke Rod is published once each month by the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the Model A Ford Club of America. It is mailed free to each member in good standing and mailed to other antique car clubs in exchange for their publications. The Choke Rod takes no responsibility for the accuracy of materials, dates, places, prices, etc of its contents. Permission to reproduce is hereby granted provided credit is given to The Choke Rod. The Choke Rodwelcomes articles, art work, ideas, suggestions, etc.

Please submit any and all material to the editor by the last Monday of each month. Articles and photos may be submitted to: [email protected] or mailed to Walter Caplan at 157 Warren Drive, San Francisco, CA 94131.

Barry Kinney

Offi cial Publication of theSan Francisco Bay Area Chapter

MAFCA

OFFICERS

PRESIDENT

Barry KinneyVICE PRESIDENTS

Tom EscherGunard MahlGreg Martinez

SECRETARY

Joan PetersonTREASURER

Jeanine MahlPAST PRESIDENT

Gary Barrango

The Choke Rod page 2Volume 62, Issue 8 www.sfmodelaclub.org August 2018

© 2017 San Francisco Model A Ford Club

Birthdays & Anniversaries


Refreshments at the June meeting were provided byNo one

Mike Cunneenwill provide refreshmentsat the August meeting

Gunard Mahl August 2Gary Barrango August 4Nick Craig August 7Bob Craig, Jr. August 8Susan Bettencourt August 8Darryl Coe August 14Maria Asuncion Young August 15Bev Kling August 16Colleen Rosenblat August 16Zack Rosenblat August 24Tom Machado August 27Jack Green August 31Barry Kinney & Coragine Savio August 9Scott Williams & Tom Mullins August 22Gary & Cheryl Barrango August 26Dan & Tracy Bowermaster August 27

Portland TourAugust 30 - September 2

The plans for the Tour to Portland in August are complete. Hotel and travel reservations have been made. In summary, we will arrive in Portland on Thursday August 30, 2018 and depart on September 2, 2018. During our stay in Portland we will visit the Western Airplane and Auto Museum, The Columbia River Gorge, and the Evergreen Air and Space Museum. Those club members who will be attending include: Walter Caplan, John Zuffi , John Bettencourt, Earl Hibler, Mike Cunneen, Kathy and Joe Higgins, Cynthia Torres, Charlie Kascal and Victoria Acosta, Barry Kinney, and Don Barnes, for a total of 12 people.We have reserved two cars with Enterprise Car Rental. We will arrange to pick up those people arriving by train on Thursday afternoon and anyone who will be arriving at the airport. Those club members who are driving will come directly to the Kennedy School House Hotel at 5736 NE 33 Avenue in Portland, Oregon.

Overnighter to Murphys Ironstone Concours d’Elegance

Friday - Sunday, September 21 - 23By popular demand, for a twelfth year the Club is planning another fabulous weekend tour to the gold country with stops along the way, group dinners, and a fantastic car show on the beautifully landscaped grounds of the Ironstone Winery in Murphys.A limited number of hotel rooms have been reserved byBarry Kinney for club members on a “first come, first served” basis. If you reserve one of theClub rooms, you will be obligated for two nights No exceptions.Call Barry at 415-282-2789 to reserve a room.

Columbus Day Celebration2018 Italian Heritage Parade

Sunday October 7San Francisco’s 150th Annual Italian Heritage Parade on Sunday, October 8, as the City’s oldest civic event and the nation’s oldest Italian-American parade and community celebration, will wind its way from Fisherman’s Wharf to North Beach. A San Francisco institution since it was established in 1868Highlights include dozens of handcrafted parade fl oats featuring Bay Area businesses, community groups, and Italian organizations; local high school Italian clubs and marching bands; special appearances by “Christopher Columbus” and Queen Isabella and Her Court; festive open-air dining and Italian wine and food specials at North Beach restaurants lining the Parade route; performances by a variety of traditional Italian musicians and performance artists; and special appearances by Bay Area and Italian-American celebrities. The Columbus Day celebration is local, lots of fun, and puts a few dollars in our treasury. If you are interested in being part of our contingent, contact Gary Barrango at 650-572-1142 or 415-821-2628.

Bocce BallFriday August 3 - 11 am

Orange Park, South San FranciscoWe have arranged for instructor Eduardo Mordales (Taco) to explain the game and to demonstrate how to play Bocce. So, come and join John Bettencourt, Barry Kinney, and Walter Caplan for a picnic and a relaxed game of Bocce.

Tour Leader: Barry 415-282-2789


America's First FreewayArroyo Seco Parkway, AKA The 110

The fi rst freeway in the United States is the 110 in Southern California, which began life as the Arroyo Seco Parkway. Caveat: there is a certain dependence on how the term

"freeway" is defi ned, but more on that in a moment. In the meantime, let's go with the accepted wisdom that "the 110" was the fi rst and see where it takes us.

If we started at the northern end, we'd be in Pasadena, home of the Rose Bowl, those geeks - from The Big Bang Theory, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, CaiTech, and the Art Center College of Design that has given us several infl uential automotive stylists like Chris Bangle (BMW), J Mays (current Ford F-150, among many others), Larry Shinoda (Corvette Stingray), Freeman Thomas (Audi TT), and Frank Stephenson (Ferrari, Mclaren). However, with the exception of the Rose Bowl Stadium (completed in 1922), none of those things or people were around when the Arroyo Seco Parkway was conceived and built; the fi rst survey was carried out in 1895.

"Arroyo seco" means dry riverbed. Pasadena's seasonal gulch was, in fact nature's own freeway back in the days of wagon trains. During the warmer and drier months, it would provide a shortcut for wagons between Pasadena and Los Angeles to the southwest. The road was created to run parallel with it.

After a raised wooden bicycle path came and went, a thoroughfare for the newfangled horseless carriage began to take shape in 1924. Construction began on March 22, 1938, under the direction of Spencer V. Cortelyou and A.D. Griffi n (district chief engineer and design engineer, respectively). Although the fi rst part was open to traffi c later that year, the fullS-mile stretch had its offi cial grand opening on December 30, 1940, complete with a Rose Parade queen to cut the ribbon.

On its way south, it goes past what is now Dodger Stadium, and Arroyo Seco Parkway originally ended in downtown Los Angeles. This city has a terrible reputation for demolishing nice old things and replacing them with horrible modern things-paving paradise and putting up parking lots, so to speak. Luckily, that hasn't happened with California State Route 110.

For example, on the northbound side are the four Figueroa Street tunnels that date back to the time of the Parkway's inception and have impressive Art Deco facades. If you ever see the movie Duel-one of Steven Spielberg's earlier efforts featuring Dennis Weaver as a regular car driver terrorized by a monstrous Peterbilt tanker truck the tunnels show up at the very beginning.

The road has since received accolades that should ensure its preservation, such as State Scenic Highway, National Scenic Byway (one of only three in California), and National Civil Engineering Landmark. It's also been included in the Register of Historic Places. What makes this road so special is that it set the template for freeway construction. Much of it is six lanes and was originally designed to take 27,000 vehicles each day, but now has to cope with more than four times that amount.

A freeway is defi ned as a multiple-lane divided highway, with access and exits provided by on- and off-ramps – no intersections like those found on surface streets, with traffi c lights or stop signs. And it won't have tolls, hence the "free" component. Now if we were taking about the fi rst interstate freeway, that would be a different matter (Pennsylvania, Missouri, and Kansas are all in the running there). But as a state freeway, Arroyo Seco Parkway/Pasadena Freeway has a legitimate claim to be the fi rst. It merged into the famed Route 66 for a time and has since been extended to become part of the larger freeway system that crisscrosses greater Los Angeles and includes I-5 and I-10.

These days, the 110 doesn't just connect parts of the geographical area, it also links various episodes in the city's history, stretching past the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (where the summer Olympics were held in 1932 and 1984) and Watts Towers, until it reaches the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, which explains why it is sometimes called the Harbor Freeway. Those fi rst 8 miles, though (well, 8.162 to be exact), are being referred to as the Arroyo Seco Parkway once again, a reminder of how long America-and Los Angeles, in particular-has been in love with the automobile.

Reprinted from "America's First Freeway: The Arroyo Seco Parkway, aka, the 110", Colin Ryan, Truck Trend, 9 April 2010


Radio DaysOn Saturday July 21 Model A Club members attended the California Historical Radio Society's 2018 celebration Radio Day by the Bay. The highlight of the day long event is a vintage radio play performed live on stage. The performance is complete with sound effects and a live orchestra performance by the Golden Gate Radio Sextet. During the morning there are tours of Radio Central, the main offi ce and museum located at 2152 Central Avenue in Alameda. For anyone interested in a vintage radio, this is the place to fi nd one. The Radio Society hosted a Vintage Radio Clearance Sale and an auction of over 180 radio, audio, and amateur radio gear. The Historical Radio Society works to increase awareness of the history of early radio and the restoration and preservation those early radios that still exist today. The Society has an excellent website and a quarterly publication that is fi lled with articles on radio history, repair, and entertainment. The Radio Museum is fi lled with examples of early radio models, including some very early television equipment. The Radio Society publication chronicles many early radio, movie, and television shows. One example of the early fascination with television includes the 1938 fi lm Trapped by Television featuring an independent inventor hiding out from the bad guys who are trying to steal his electronic television system. The fi lm stars Mary Astor, Nat Pendleton, and Lyle Talbot. Magazine publications on development of radio and television were commonplace by the early thirties and forties. Some of the names include Television News in 1931, Radio Craft in 1938, and Radio News in 1937. Much of the history of radio is chronicled here at Radio Central in Alameda. Certainly anyone having an interest in the history of radio or a question about old radios, and/or their repair or restoration should contact the California Historical Radio Society. If you are a collector, or your hobby is old radios, consider joining the Society. At the very least, visit their website https://www.californiahistoricalradio.com for an overview of the educational and social activities they offer their members and the public at large. In spite of the changes we have seen in communication technology radio is still alive and well in 2018.

Barry Kinney

Service Stations of Yesteryear

5¢ per gallon – prices have certainly gotten out of control. Victory Women.


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Technical Q &A - Part 4Excerpts of question to and answers by MAFCA's Technical Director Chuck Christensen

Reprinted from The Restorer, May-June 2002


Q: I'm restoring a '31 Deluxe Coupe, and fi nd R (or possibly B) 14835 stamped on the cross member just behind the fl oor board. Could you tell me the signifi cance of this number? I've been told it refers to the body style and place of manufacture of the vehicle, but can fi nd no reference to this.

Tim Correll

A: Pages 14, 15 and 16 of the May/June 2001 issue of The Restorer has a great article on Body Assembly Plant Numbers and you can also fi nd it on the MAFCA web page. Go to the site index and click on assembly plants and body numbers. I have sent a copy of your code to the author, David Sturges, to be added to his research. By the way, your car was assembled in Detroit (Rouge), Michigan. The number codes are still being studied.

Q: I need to download MAFCA MIA 91 35 WIRING CONVERTING 12 VOLTS how can I do it or do you have a wiring diagram?

John Schneider

A: The Restorer is not on the web site, only the index for fi nding an article in your own collection of The Restorer. Send me your mailing address and I will mail you a hard copy of the article if you do not have access to the issue.

Q: I just bought a 1930 Coupe. I got it running and when I tried to run it in my driveway, it chatters when I let out the clutch. Could you please advise me what the problem could be? Is there an adjustment that I could make, or do I need a new clutch? Thank you, I am a new member. Please help.

Howard Lindley

A: I have a list of 10 reasons a clutch will chatter. We will start with # 10 because it is the easiest by far. Let us assume you have some oil on the clutch facing. Remove the fl oor mat and the sheet metal plate around the gear shift and emergency brake levers. Next remove the clutch inspection plate from the top of the bell housing by loosening the two bolts just enough to slide the cover up and off. Leave the bolts in place to prevent dropping into the bell housing. Purchase four or fi ve cans of Brake Clean at your local auto parts house. Now put the car in neutral, set the emergency brake and start the engine in the normal manner. With a helper operating the clutch pedal begin spraying the cleaning chemical into the center of the clutch pressure plate. The centrifugal force will throw the cleaner to the outside hopefully taking the oil with it. Do this outside and place a drain pan under the fl ywheel housing to catch the mess. It may take several cans to clean it. If this is not the problem let me know and I will give you the other nine options.

Q: I have found a 1928 closed cab pickup with the Ford script stamped in the rear cab panel above the window. Can you tell me why this is there, and if it has any special meaning, as I have not seen one like it before?

Dean M. Lyons

A: The Ford script is an AR feature and was discontinued in early 1928 . You will also fi nd the window about 3" higher than the standard 28/29 cab back panel. The reinforcement ribs could also vary on your cab.

2018 SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA MAFCA TOURSIT’S THE JOURNEY – NOT THE DESTINATION

2018 Schedule of Events

MONTH DAY TOUR LEADER TOUR

JANUARY 14 BARRY KINNEY PRESIDENT’S BRUNCH - HALF MOON BAYFEBRUARY 3 SATURDAY SF MODEL A FORD CLUB CRAB FEED - MONTE CRISTO CLUB, SFMARCH 17 SATURDAY BARRY KINNEY ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE & FESTIVAL - SFAPRIL 1 RALPH HOFFSCHILDT EASTER PARADE - UNION STREET, SFAPRIL 28 KINNEY F. A. S. T. SPRING HILLCLIMB - AUBURN, CAAPRIL 29 SF MODEL A FORD CLUB DREAM MACHINES - HALF MOON BAYMAY 20 MPOT FORD CLUB FRIENDSHIP DAY - REDWOOD SHORESMAY 28 MONDAY CAPLAN MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCE - PRESIDIOJUNE 16 SATURDAY CAPLAN / KINNEY ST. ANNE’S HOME - FATHER’S DAY WEEKENDJUNE 24 CAPLAN PRIDE PARADE - SAN FRANCISCOJULY 21 SATURDAY KINNEY RADIO DAY BY THE BAY - ALAMEDAAUGUST 3 FRIDAY KINNEY BOCCE BALL - ORANGE PARK, SSFSEPTEMBER 15 SATURDAY KINNEY ANTIQUE AUTOS HISTORY PARK - SAN JOSESEPTEMBER 21-23 CAPLAN / MACHADO OVERNIGHTER MURPHYS-IRONSTONE CONCOURSSEPTEMBER 22 SATURDAY MAHL 43RD ANNUAL 28TH AVENUE BLOCK PARTYOCTOBER 7 BARRANGO COLUMBUS DAY PARADE - NORTH BEACH, SFOCTOBER 20 SATURDAY CAPLAN SF OLD CAR PICNIC - GOLDEN GATE PARKNovember 11 SUNDAY CAPLAN / KINNEY VETERANS DAY PARADE - FISHERMAN'S WHARFDECEMBER 1 SATURDAY CAPLAN / KINNEY SFPD BRAVE THE BAY - AQUATIC PARKDECEMBER 8 SATURDAY SF MODEL A CLUB CHRISTMAS BANQUET - VAL’S - DALY CITY

If you would like to lead a tour, please call Gary Barrango at 415-821-2628We encourage Club Members to plan additional driving tours throughout the year.

There is room for more than one activity or tour per month.

Jan 14 SF Model A Club President's Brunch – Half Moon BayJan 27-28 Turlock Swap MeetJun 24-29 2018 MAFCA National Convention – Sparks, NV Hosted by the Northern California Regional Group - NCRG www.ncrgmafca.com


San Francisco Bay Area ChapterModel A Ford Club of America

July 12, 2018


Walter Caplanfor Secretary Joan Peterson

The meeting was called to order by President Barry Kinney at 7:30 pm. We were honored to have a guest, Carmella Smith, attend our meeting. Carmella’s father was for some time a docent at the car museum in Hood River, Oregon. We will see his car and many others when we visit the museum on our Oregon Tour at the end of August. The Minutes from the previous meeting were approved.Reports of Offi cersPresident: The upcoming Portland trip in late August and early September. Those fl ying back to San Francisco from Portland should check their fl ight number. Alaska Airlines has changed the return fl ight number. It should be Flight 400 leaving Portland in the early afternoon. ♦ The club will host a Bocce Ball game and picnic at Orange Park in South San Francisco on FRIDAY August 3. The time is 11 am to 2 pm. ♦ Radio Days is Saturday July 21 – 8 am to 3 pm in Alameda. We will meet at 8 am at the Monte Cristo Club. We will car pool to Alameda. The event itself is at 2203 Central Alameda in Alameda. ♦ The September overnighter to the Ironstone Concours in Murphys is Friday September 21 to Sunday September 23. Rooms have been reserved for Charlie Kascal and Victoria Acosta, Walter Caplan, Tom and Terry Machado, Barry Kinney, and Cynthia Torres. If you are planning to attend and need a room contact Barry or Walter. ♦ Columbus Day will be celebrated on Sunday October 7. Reserve the date on your calendar. Vice President: No reportSecretary: No reportTreasurer: The Treasurer reported that we are good fi nancial shape, we are solvent, and have no outstanding obligations.Editor: No reportFood and Beverage Chair: No reportTour Chair: No reportFor The Good Of The Order: Barry mentioned again that he and John Bettencourt are continuing to work on planning the picnic and Bocce Ball event at Orange Park on Friday August 3. This should be great fun.No one brought refreshments to the June meeting. Mike Cunneen will provide refreshments for the August meeting. There was no further business and the meeting was adjourned at 8 pm.Respectfully submitted by

SF Model A Club Monthly Meetings:The meetings continue to be held monthly, the second Thursday of each month at 7:30 pm.

The location is the Monte Cristo Club at 136 Missouri Street in San Francisco. The meeting place is located in a safe neighborhood and parking is convenient. If you have questions or need directions, call Gary at (415) 821-2628 (daytime)

The next scheduled meeting will be on Thursday, August 9, 2018A number of club members gather together for dinner before the monthly meeting at 6 pm.

Please feel free to join us – dinner location will be at the Goat Hill Pizza at 18th & Connecticut.

in this

Choke RodPresident’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 2Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 3America's First Freeway. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 4Service Stations of Yesteryear . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 5Radio Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 5Fashion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 6Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 7Schedule of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 8Meeting Minutes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 9

The Choke Rodis available online in color at

www.sfmodelaclub.org

San Francisco Bay Area ChapterModel A Ford Club of AmericaPO Box 31387San Francisco, CA 94131-0387415-621-0500

AUGUST MEETINGThursday August 9, 2018

7:30 pm - Monte Cristo Club136 Missouri Street (Potrero Hill)

San Francisco

Documents

Volume 62, Issue 8 Celebrating the Model A for More Than ...sfmodelaclub.org/the-choke-rod/2018/Aug/Choke-Rod-Aug-2018.pdfbrought a Zenith Carburetor to our meeting and we had a few