Early 1920s Studebaker ?

4 minute(s) of a 173 minute read

Further to the reference to the rear view mirror, this one should just about fill the bill. It still has to be painted black but it should fit in very nicely

Slowly little pieces of information comes out. It now has been confirmed that it had been rescued from a "Chook" chicken house prior to going to the farm at Merrigum where it remained from "sometime" in the Seventies until 2012. Perhaps one day the full story will be known, while unimportant to many people I do like to, be able to piece together the history of the cars that pass through my hands. I generally like them to be in better condition than how I find them too.

10-23-2017

At last after something of a struggle, after all as my dear wife reminded me I will turn 81 in less than two weeks and I DID have spinal surgery 12 years ago, I finally managed to remove the dash board after disconnecting all the rat eaten wires and other fittings.  The original dash has had a number of extra holes made in it so before I do anything else I will have to make a new one. 

We now come to the difficult bit. I know what "Stude Light" will think and he will quite possibly never talk to me again BUT having worked in the furniture industry for a fair portion of my life, I have a real and on going love of natural timber.  This mornings task is to drive across town to the local Cabinet  Timber Importer and buy a suitable piece of American Walnut, the timber represented by the faux timber finish no the metal facing of the original dash-board. There is something about the thought of a painted tin dash that offends my sensibilities.

Below along with the photo of the original metal dash is another photograph of the dash I made from a now almost unattainable Australian "Black Bean" timber, made in 1979 when I was restoring the Lagonda.

I know that comparisons are said to be odious but I know which I prefer.   

Perhaps it is fitting that at the time Australian Black Bean was the timber of choice for senior management "office furniture".

For the benifit of those with enquiring minds, the four little enamel badges are, at the top from left to right The FIVA International Rally to celebrate the first 100 years of the Britiah Motor Industry, The Rapier's 75th Anniversary, and the Australian Mille. (1,000 miles in Four Days)

The round blue badge at the bottom is a "St Christopher Medallion" (Go your way in safety) issued by the Lagonda Club to celebrate 100 years of Lagonda in 1999.

Everything else on the dash has a purpose and is in working order. Hidden behind the rim of the steering wheel is a dual gauge for oil pressure and radiator temperature.

For the Studebaker I will use the original instruments but reverse the order moving the Ignition/light switch to the right hand (drivers) side and the fuse "box" to the left. The useless "Extra air" control (the five holes on extreme right) will be left out. I do have a small round badge celebrating the Silver Jubilee of the AACA and will think about finding a space for it.

On second thoughts, before buying anything I may look at some of the other beautiful Australian "cabinet" timbers, we will have to wait and see.