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Ladies of the Museum By Rosemary Bostwick and Joanne Blain

Quilt for raffle

Thunder Road plays at Salem’s only drive-in theater, thanks to some creative work by Museum member Mike Bade. The quilt donated by Joanne Blain.

A few of the ladies of the museum got together and put together a display of clothing for the Steam-Up to help to represent them to all our visitors. We also had a quilt donated to us to raffle off for a fundraiser and to become what we hope to make an annual event at the museum. This year Joanne Blain donated the quilt.
The quilt raffle and craft sale which, we are proud to say, earned a total of $876 for the Museum. We had several people who contributed items for sale with 30% of the sales going to the Museum. The winner of the quilt was Roger Leek, who was very pleased.
We are also planning to start a quilting group at the museum to make our own quilt to be raffled off at next year’s Steam-Up. If you would like to join us in this project please call Rosemary Bostwick (503-245-5444). We meet on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM.
A special thank you goes out to everyone who volunteered their time and talents so that we could be a part of making our Museum bigger and better.

A joint venture between the Museum and the Studebaker Drivers’ Club was held on our show field in June. The 20+ cars were a preview to the great potential for the dozens of brands included in the “Orphans.”
The definition of an “Orphan” is a car or motorcycle no longer manufactured, even though the parent company may or may not be still in existence. An example could be Oldsmobile. General Motors has quit producing the Olds, but still makes other cars.
Next year’s Orphan Car Show will be held in June, 2012.

Rose City Model T Club logo

Rose City “T” Club Makes Long-Term Loan to Museum

By Bob Rankin, Editor, Rose City Model T Club

The year was 1971, and the Portland Swap Meet and Car Show, to be held March 13 & 14, had requested clubs to provide a display about each of their clubs. Rose City Model T Club, at their March 4 business meeting, was scrambling to come up with an unique idea.
John Watts, a club member since 1965, farmer and inventor, with a very unique shop, offered to pursue, with help, a very "unique" idea: a Model T Engine cut away to show and depict the internal workings.
The following members showed up to assist and do the hard work: John Watts, Clyde Keller, John Angstrom, Chuck Kroll, Ralph Mannthey, Bonner Robinson, Don Petersen, Irv Peterson, Rusty Medearis, Gordon Luce, Wes Gates and Harold Johnson.
Work on the first day was to cut away the head and other openings to see the internal operation, and someone came up with the idea of lights and color scheme. It was be operated by a small electric motor. An engine stand was needed as well. (Roller wheels did not last the whole 40 years). They did all the hack sawing the first day, each guy taking turns and surprisingly made a very straight cut through the head (even John was amazed, he kind of stood back and offered moral support).
The next day they reassembled all the parts, having waited for the paint to dry overnight. Model T cut-away engine
The engine came from Gordon Luce’s ‘19 Model T Touring, seems the middle main web had cracked and he needed a new engine. I don't know, nor did John, if the engine was from a ‘21 or not. It wouldn't be unusual for such a thing to have happened over the years.
Each club's display was to be “judged” that year, 1971, to reward the best effort. The judges declined from giving First Place to Rose City Model T Club because in their judgment, this cut-away was done by some professional and not by the members, so we were awarded Second Place. Some of the other clubs expressed their feelings later that an injustice had been done.
Editor's note: Never discount what a Model T enthusiast can do or know how to do, we do love our hobby and Henry's gift to the automotive World.
The cut-away engine is now on display in the Museum.