December 16, 2012
Fall 2012 Air Cooled News
- Mid-West Meander: New Castle, Pennsylvania hosts Franklins
- Res Materiarum: Franklin's Solution to Four-cylinder Imbalances
- 59th Annual Trek: A selection of Andy Wittenborn photographs
December 9, 2012
A New Franklin Forum
The Board of Directors of The H.H. Franklin Club has authorized the creation of an internet forum.
This forum is designed to replace and supplement the current Questions and Answers department of the Club website.
For many years the Club's website Q&A section has served to provide technical, aesthetic, and restoration advice to Club members. However, using the section has been somewhat cumbersome, both to the members asking for information and for the experts answering. Questions had to be mailed or emailed to our experts or to the Club or to the webmasters, and then replies posted back onto the website. Searching for past replies to common questions required patience.
The Board believes that an interactive forum, where questions are posed directly and can be answered not only by Paul and Tom, but also other members who can contribute their expertise, would benefit all members.
To this end, the Board has authorized the expansion and use of the Franklin Forum already in existence on the Antique Automobile Club of America's website.
Membership in the AACA is not required to read or use this forum. If you want to post a question or a reply on the Franklin forum, you will have to register with the AACA. Registration is gratis, provided by the AACA as a benefit to the car collecting community.
The tag for registration is in the upper right hand corner of the forum's main web page.
This new Franklin Forum will be moderated by Club member, Steve Braverman, ensuring that questions and answers remain relevant.
The old Q&A section of our website will remain, but no new additions will be made. For non-internet connected members, the FSS will continue to select interesting or informative forum posts for reprinting.
We hope that Club members find this forum useful. Once registered, members will be able to search for old information threads. The forum can be set up to email registered members when new posts are made. Information on the forum can threaded by date or subject. In addition, Club members are invited to participate in other AACA forums where they can expand their reach when searching for either information or parts.
November 11, 2012
Dear H.H. Franklin Club,
This is to inform you that Bruce Weir died on 7/17/12 and his wife of almost 65 years, Barbara Krall died on 8/8/12. They were the proud owners of a 1909 Franklin which they drove in local parades until their health and strength prevented them from continuing — Bruce was 96 and Barbara was 99. Their 1909 Franklin is housed in the WAAM Museum in Hood River, Oregon (1600 Air Museum Road, Hood River, Oregon 97031). Their wish is for it to remain in the Museum for all to enjoy.
Sincerely,
Jim H. Donnelly, Trustee
8000 Cooper Spur Rd.
Parkdale, Oregon 97041
Obituary from the Daily Inter Lake.
October 16, 2012
10,000 Lakes Concours D'Elegance, A Celebration of Fine Automobiles
Sunday June 2, 2013
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
www.10000lakesconcours.com
Located in Excelsior Commons, on the shores of Lake Minnetonka in the historic city of Excelsior, Minnesota.
In addition to the main event on June 2, there will be a weekend of activities for participants beginning Friday, May 31, through Sunday evening, June 2, 2013.
To Download a Participant Nomination Form, please visit our website or call Marlena at 952-925-4848. The deadline for nominations is December 15th, 2012, on a first-come/first-serve basis.
All hotel reservations for host hotel, Oak Ridge in Chaska, Minnesota must be made by January 20th, 2013 to receive the group discount.
This event will benefit Courage Center, a rehabilitation and resource center.
October 10, 2012
Franklins at Hershey
Here we are at the official Franklin Club space - RNE 12. Stop by and visit!
October 2, 2012
Scout Car for the Southern California Auto Club: A Franklin Model G
Read about how the Southern California Auto Club chose a Franklin Model Gas as its scout car.
September 13, 2012
Question: Amelia Earhart Franklin
Do you have any information regarding the Franklin that was once owned by Amelia Earhart? She drove it to Meeteetse, WY in 1934 (?) where she and her husband, George Putnam, stayed at the ranch of Carl Dunrud. She drove the car from New York and met Putnam there. There is a story about how the carburetor had to be adjusted by a local mechanic due to the altitude.
Carl Dunrud began building her a cabin near his ranch in what is now the Shoshone National Forest when she disappeared in 1937. It was never finished and is now only barely recognizable. Her plan was to do some R&R there after the around the world flight. I was there in July and visited the site with Carl Dunrud's son, Jim but any information regarding the Franklin was unknown by him.
I am currently in las Vegas, should be in Tucson in a few weeks and plan to visit your museum at that time.
Sincerely yours,
Dennis
Answer: Amelia Earhart Franklin
You have produced an interesting item relating to Franklin history involving Amelia Earhart Putnan. A few years ago I spent several days at Purdue University going through the Earhart papers but there was no reference to her trip to the ranch of Carl Dunrud.
With respect to the Franklin car owned by Amelia, I can contribute this information. In interviewing Bill Leininger prior to his death, he mentioned traveling with Amelia on a trip from Toledo to Lansing, Michigan sometime in 1933. On this trip Amelia was driving a Franklin V-12. This probably would have been the last Franklin owned by her. I also should mention that some of the Franklins she drove were loaned to her by the company for publicity purposes.
To obtain possible information on any Franklin owned by Amelia in 1934, it might be possible to contact the New York State Motor Vehicle License Bureau to see if they have any information on a car driven by Amelia that was registered in New York. This is a very long shot.
Cordially,
Sinclair Powell
Answer cont.: Amelia Earhart Franklin
To add to the Amelia Earhart Franklin topic...
As Sinclair points out, Franklin used her in their advertising. One ad mentions that she also had a 1931 6 wire wheel, 153 Deluxe Convertible Coupe.
Over the years, there have been rumors about different Convertible coupes that have been thought to be Amelia's. Including one in Connecticut that turned out to be an Olympic, not a 153.
A few years ago, a 6 wire wheel 153 Conv Coupe changed hands. Going by the chassis number, it was built close to the same time as a factory ad mentions hers. The new owner wondered if it possibility could be hers.
I contacted New York State Motor Vehicle Department in Albany, NY to see if they had any registration numbers listed. I was told that any records that old are not in their computers, but might still exist. They are stored in their archive in the basement, and whoever is looking to check those records would have to first make an appointment and then go there to do a physical search of the records.
Going back and taking a closer look at that Franklin ad that shows a picture of Amelia with her 153, it can be seen in the photo that her car was all one color. However, at that time, the 153 in question still had its original two-toned paint scheme. With the car in question, even in a black and white photo, there would be enough contrast in the two colors that the difference would be seen. Oh, well...so close.
When time permits, I still hope to make an appointment to go through those NYS DMV records and see if they have anything about her Franklins so it can be added to the Club's history.
Paul Fitz
September 11, 2012
Check out a very interesting four page article about the Franklin Automobile and John Wilkinson in Skinned Knuckles magazine, September 2012 issue #434, Vol. 37 No. 2, which acknowledges Lloyd Davis for his contribution to the article.
September 5, 2012
Board Meeting Notes
Read the notes from the latest Franklin Club Board Meetings:
August 27, 2012
It was August 16, 2012...
...and it was a significant birthday for Wes Mattie. There was an outing to Aylmer, in the province of Québec with Wes, Joan, Lois and André and two Franklins. Well at some point we lost the air in one of the tires of André and Lois' car... We had to call CAA for a towing home. It was not in the plan but, as for all Franklin rides, it was not boring.
Now I have to practice "split-rim" tire repair...
André
August 26, 2012
More photos -- September 8, 2012
The 1911 Ralph Hamlin Race Car
A very special Franklin arrives at the 18th fairway of the hallowed Pebble Beach grounds — Ted and Carol Davis and the 1911 Ralph Hamlin Race car. The race car was a huge hit and took home an astounding 4 trophies.
August 13, 2012
Read about the Annual Trek in Cazenovia, NY
- The Cazenovia Republican -- Franklins to make annual trek to Caz
- WYNN -- Franklin Trek rolls through Cazenovia
June 11, 2012
Wonder if you can help. This looks like a 1932 Franklin Airman — is this correct? What rough value would it have as a runner, unrestored?
Cheers,
jonathan
Please email the webmaster if you can identify this car.
May 15, 2012
From Australia: a this photo from Estelle and John Bosich of their 1922 10B after an eight year restoration project.
May 5, 2012
Check out the two new Club parts projects: Front Wheel Bearing Retaining Washers used
on S11 to S16 and Connecting Rod Clamp Washer used on S145 to S16.
March 29, 2012
I am the director of the Ward County historical society in Minot, ND, we have [gone] through the flood of 2011. We have a wonderful 1931 Franklin that has received a horrible amount of damage. We are looking for someone who would like to adopt a car and restore it for our society. I have pictures of the condition of the car if you would be interested in looking at it. Also if you have a rough estimate of what it would cost to restore such a car.
Thank you,
Sue Bergan
berganwa@minot.com
701-720-1953
From the Webmaster: Please contact Sue directly if you have an interest in this project.
March 28, 2012
Read the notes from the latest club board meeting on February 4, 2012.
March 3, 2012
March 1, 2012 Gary L. Rink, 80, of Jordan, passed away Thursday. A
lifetime resident of the Syracuse area, he was a graduate of Solvay High
School and Morrisville State College and a Marine Corps veteran. Gary
retired after 25 years with Welch Allyn and previously worked at
Crouse-Hinds for 15 years. A member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church
in Westvale, he was also president of the Oneida Lake Antique Car Club,
and a member of the H.H. Franklin Club and the Model T Ford Club of
America. Surviving are his wife of 53 years, the former Mary Ann Copley;
daughters, Carolyn of Union Springs, Linda of Skaneateles and Sherri of
Manlius; sons, Stephen of Auburn, George of Manlius and Kenneth of
Sennett; brothers, David of Chicago and Alan of North Carolina; 12
grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends may
call Monday from 4 to 6 p.m. at Buranich Funeral Home, 5431 W. Genesee
St., Camillus. Graveside services will be Tuesday at 1 p.m. in Greenlawn
Cemetery, Warners. Please share condolences at
www.BuranichFuneralHome.com
February 15, 2012
Robert Warren Wittren, born December 28, 1923 in Fairchild, Wisconsin,
passed away on January 25, 2012 in Hayward, California, after a brief
illness. Bob was born on a farm in Wisconsin and moved to Iowa in his
childhood, graduating from high school in Cedar Falls, Iowa in June of
1942. Bob worked for John Deere until he was drafted in to the US Army
in March of 1943. He was honorably discharged from the Army for his
polio-related disabilities and after his discharge moved to Spokane,
Washington where he worked as an Engine Test Inspector working on B17s
and B29s until World War II ended. He returned to Iowa and started a
business dealing with surplus war vehicles, also working for Harry
Peterson Auto Service in Waterloo as a mechanic. Bob could fix
anything! He moved to California in the fall of 1948, attended Aero
Tech Institute where he received a government issued Aircraft &
Power Plant Certificate.
He met his first wife, Gloria Anderson in San Francisco and they were married in April of 1949; their son Robert Chester was born in 1950. After their divorce in 1954, he met and married Marjorie Dawn Smith in 1956, raising 6 wonderful & loving children. He married Marguerite E. Mink in 1975, a loving and adored second mother to his children until his death in 2001. Bob and Marge were proud owners of "Old Bess," their 1924 Franklin, and they covered countless miles touring the country with the Franklin Club. Bob was preceded in death by his daughter Sue (Joe) Moscon and is survived by his son Chester Wittren, stepson Fred Smith, children Melinda (Freeman) Barton, Kevin Wittren, Patty Siegman, Richard (Barbara) Wittren, his brother Richard Wittren and his sister Betty Mendes, his beloved grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Private family services are pending.
February 9, 2012
Check out this student project featuring a 1934 Franklin motor. The
motor was donated from a guy that was restoring Franklins and didn't
need it so he donated it. He bought it from a saw mill that used it to
run an old saw blade... From OL'SKOOL RODZ #51 May 2012
January 16, 2012
I am trying to find a 1930 Franklin four-door convertible which was restored in Southern California by Tony Giaimo in the late 1950s.The car was dark green. The story was that it had at one time belonged to film star Marion Davies. The car won concours events in the early 1960s.
Any idea what happened to the car? I am doing research on Marion Davies.
Thank you,
Louis W. Thompson
January 8, 2012
Gilmore Car Museum opens year round. The Gilmore is the home of the Franklin Collection at Hickory Corners.
January 1, 2012
Betty M. Boyer
Betty M. Boyer, 90, of Sarasota, FL, formerly of Allentown, passed away
Wednesday, December 28, 2011 in Sarasota Memorial Hospital. She was the
wife of the late Dr. George S. Boyer. Born in Allentown she was the
daughter of the late William F. and Iva Florence (Kuhns) Deibert. She
was a graduate of Temple University and served her internship for
Dental Hygienist at Allentown General Hospital. Survivors: Daughters,
Susan E. Kretz of Sarasota FL, Wendy B., wife of Louis Seier of
Londonderry VT, and Nanette G. wife of Henry Nevins of Santa Barbara,
CA; grandchildren, Samantha, Andrew and Kasey; brother, William and
wife Alma; sisters, Marjorie, wife of Jack Rader and Jean Harries.
Services: 1 p.m. Tuesday January 3, 2012 at the Trexler Funeral Home 1625 Highland St. Allentown PA 18102. Calling 12:30 to 1 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home. Burial to follow at Greenwood Cemetery Allentown. www.trexlerfuneralhome.com. Contributions: Humane Society of the Lehigh Valley 640 Dixon St. Allentown, PA, 18103.
Published in Morning Call on December 30, 2011