Kalamazoo, Michigan - Fall Meet 2008

Hosted by - Ralph and Karen Gack

Pictures by: Richard Gaskill and Frank Hantak
Your web master, Frank Hantak, wishes to thank
Michael Spezia of the Gilmore Museum for all his time
Great turnout of members and Franklins

The Midwest Region Fall Meet started with a meeting of members in the motel lobby

The Midwest Region Fall Meet started with a meeting of members in the motel lobby

The Midwest Region Fall Meet started with a meeting of members in the motel lobby

First tour is about to start, first a meeting of the drivers

First tour is about to start, first a meeting of the drivers

First tour is about to start, first a meeting of the drivers

First tour is about to start, first a meeting of the drivers

Thursday, on our way to the "Air-Zoo" at Kalamazoo Airport

Thursday, on our way to the "Air-Zoo" at Kalamazoo Airport, the rear of a 1928

"Air-Zoo" at Kalamazoo Airport 192812A

"Air-Zoo" at Kalamazoo Airport 1928 12A

"Air-Zoo" at Kalamazoo Airport 1928 12B

"Air-Zoo" at Kalamazoo Airport 1928 12B with Al Pringle standing next to it

"Air-Zoo" parking lot 1930 sedan

"Air-Zoo" parking lot

"Air-Zoo" parking lot

"Air-Zoo" Ralph Gack's 1931 Sedan

"Air-Zoo" leader trying to get the Franklin group together

"Air-Zoo" parking lot with owners standing by their Franklin

"Air-Zoo" parking lot with owners standing by their Franklin

"Air-Zoo" parking lot with owners standing by their Franklin

"Air-Zoo" parking lot with owners standing by their Franklin

"Air-Zoo" parking lot with owners standing by their Franklin

"Air-Zoo" looking down on all the displays

"Air-Zoo" looking down on all the display, everything was so perfect

"Air-Zoo" looking down on all the display, everything was so perfect

"Air-Zoo" looking down on all the display, everything was so perfect (this is NOT a model but the real plane)

"Air-Zoo" looking down on all the display, everything was so perfect

"Air-Zoo" looking down on all the display, everything was so perfect

"Air-Zoo" looking down on all the display, everything was so perfect

"Air-Zoo" what Franklin members do best, eat!

"Air-Zoo" what Franklin members do best, eat!

"Air-Zoo" what Franklin members do best, eat!

"Air-Zoo" what Franklin members do best, eat! Yes, even the Gages are enjoying lunch

"Air-Zoo" This plane was blue but the sun turns it to the color you see here, it was however flown by a woman

"Air-Zoo" This plane was blue but the sun turns it to the color you see here, it was however flown by a woman

"Air-Zoo" Look close at the front of this plane, the lips, and the eyes

"Air-Zoo" Franklin club members ready for the tour

"Air-Zoo" docent with many stories and history about most of the planes

"Air-Zoo" A copy of the Wright Flyer given to Upjohn many years ago

"Air-Zoo" One of a kind

"Air-Zoo" Betty and Sandy Bennett ready for takeoff.....

"Air-Zoo" Randy and Loretta Fusco ready for takeoff.....

"Air-Zoo" Coming back to earth

"Air-Zoo"Painting on the wall, tail of a plane just to show the size of the painting

"Air-Zoo" Painting on the wall, the truck to the left is a FWD 4x4

"Air-Zoo" Club member flying a computer plane, soon he will enter a closed cockpit to fly on his own.

"Air-Zoo" Greg flying a computer plane, soon he will enter a closed cockpit to fly on his own.

"Air-Zoo" Everyone of these that I have seen only have room for one, here it looks like there are two seats

"Air-Zoo" On the wall is a painting of our space station

"Air-Zoo" On the wall is a painting of the earth with the Great Lakes in view and a large part of Canada

"Air-Zoo" On the wall is a painting of the complete space station

"Air-Zoo" WoW what a plane and you can get close up!!!!!

"Air-Zoo" Another plane and you can get close up!!!!!

"Air-Zoo" Another plane and you can get close up!!!!! (the point of the front is for air speed)

"Air-Zoo" Tells the whole story

"Air-Zoo" Navy Missile the "Talos"

"Air-Zoo" a real lighter than air flier

"Air-Zoo" Docent explaining the fighter in front of the club members

"Air-Zoo" A glider hanger from the roof up side down

"Air-Zoo" sold this plane to a private person

"Air-Zoo" here is a wing from a very early plane, they have been restoring it for over a year

"Air-Zoo" Early biplane undergoing restoration, the wing on the other page (picture) is for this plane

"Air-Zoo" Early biplane undergoing restoration, the wing on the other page (picture) is for this plane

"Air-Zoo"



"Air-Zoo"

"Air-Zoo"

"Air-Zoo" Very small engine, the red item is a mag, looks as large as the cylinders

"Air-Zoo" One of the many planes flown by Upjohn's wife

"Air-Zoo" One of the many engine on display

"Air-Zoo" Docent telling stores as we wait for the next room to open

"Air-Zoo" Plane outside the door

"Air-Zoo" Plane outside the door

"Air-Zoo" The arm on the left side of this plane is for refueling in the a

"Air-Zoo" The arm on the left side of this plane is for refueling in the air, the long nose is for air speed

"Air-Zoo"

"Air-Zoo"

"Air-Zoo"

"Air-Zoo"

"Air-Zoo"

"Air-Zoo"

"Air-Zoo" Here is a wonderful kid that will hold 2 people

"Air-Zoo" Here is a wonderful kid that will hold 2 people

"Air-Zoo"

"Air-Zoo"

"Air-Zoo"

"Air-Zoo" entrance to the Space Museum

"Air-Zoo" Space Museum

"Air-Zoo" Space Museum

"Air-Zoo" Space Museum - John Hufnagel enjoyed every part of the museum

"Air-Zoo"

"Air-Zoo"

"Air-Zoo" Franklin powered



"Air-Zoo" 6 cylinder Franklin powered

"Air-Zoo" 6 cylinder Franklin powered first one top right

"Air-Zoo" the girls inside what looks to be an old DC3

"Air-Zoo" the girls inside what looks to be an old DC3

Sandy Bennett looking for a gas station

One of many buildings on the Gilmore grounds

Sandy Bennett found the gas station

Tom also found the gas station

Beautiful setting for the 1931 Series 153 Sedan

Beautiful setting for the 1931 Series 153 Sedan

Franklins lined up on the Gilmore campus

Franklins lined up on the Gilmore campus

Franklins lined up on the Gilmore campus

One of the many buildings on the Gilmore campus

Inside the Pierce-Arrow Museum building



Inside the Pierce-Arrow Museum building

1948 Tucker




1948 Tucker, look close at the top of the engine you'll see Franklin

1948 Tucker engine





At Gilmore cars are being moved all the time

At Gilmore Franklins line uo

At Gilmore, inside one of the beautiful buildings

At Gilmore, inside one of the beautiful buildings

At Gilmore, inside one of the beautiful buildings

At Gilmore, the Diner where we had lunch

At Gilmore campus looking west at the Franklins

At Gilmore, one of 2 Franklins now on display at the museum

At Gilmore, one of 2 Franklins now on display at the museum

The back ground is panited but the car is real

Inside one of the museum buildings

Inside one of the museum buildings

Inside one of the museum buildings

Inside one of the museum buildings

Inside one of the museum buildings

Inside one of the many museum buildings

Inside one of the many museum buildings

Inside one of the many museum buildings

Inside one of the many museum buildings a wonderful display

Inside one of the many museum buildings a wonderful display

Inside one of the many museum buildings

Inside one of the many museum buildings

Inside one of the many museum buildings

A real 1950s Diner where the Midwest Region had lunch

Don Franklin and Al Pringle waiting to fill someones gas tank?

As you enter the museum, this is one of the very first displays you will see



plate shows last time it was on the road
As you enter the museum, this is one of the very first displays you will see

As you enter the museum, this is one of the very first displays you will see

As you enter the museum to the left, this is one of the displays you will see, the real car

As you enter the museum to the left, this is one of the displays you will see,
used in a movie this is a giant size display

As you enter the museum to the left, this is one of the displays you will see,
used in a movie this is a giant size display

As you enter the museum to the left, this is one of the displays you will see,
used in a movie this is a giant size display

As you enter the museum to the right, this is one of the displays you will see,
used in a movie this is a giant size display

As you enter the museum to the right, this is one of the displays you will see,
used in a movie this is a giant size display

Franklins lined up at Gilmore Museum

Franklins lined up at Gilmore Museum, you could not ask for a nicer setting

Franklins lined up at Gilmore Museum, you could not ask for a nicer setting

From the Lincoln plant and will be part of the new Lincoln Museum at Gilmore









A very large collection of hood ornaments

A very large collection of hood ornaments

A very large collection of hood ornaments- with 3 of the Franklins



A very large collection of hood ornaments and this little electic car is in the same building

A very large collection of hood ornaments and large collection is also in the same building

Franklin lined up

Franklins lined up

The Pierce-Arrow Museum at Gilmore

The Kelloggs home

The Kelloggs home

Inside the Kelloggs home

Inside the Kelloggs home

Kelloggs home and a beautiful garden just outside a window

Kelloggs home

Kelloggs home and a beautiful garden just outside a window

Kelloggs home and one of the items, how they lost weight years ago!

Kelloggs home and one of the items, how they lost weight years ago!

Rand Patterson's gift from his wife...... OK girls we are looking for ours!

We visited the "OFF" collection, Off stands for "Only For Fun"
Two guys, who are partners in business, have put together a wonderful collection of cars and other items.
I think we all wish we had a building (s) like the ones we visited.

We visited the "OFF" collection, Off stands for "Only For Fun"

We visited the "OFF" collection, Off stands for "Only For Fun"
Some awesome cars

We visited the "OFF" collection, Off stands for "Only For Fun"
Some awesome cars

We visited the "OFF" collection, Off stands for "Only For Fun"
Some awesome cars

We visited the "OFF" collection, Off stands for "Only For Fun"
Some awesome cars

We visited the "OFF" collection, Off stands for "Only For Fun"
Some awesome cars

We visited the "OFF" collection, Off stands for "Only For Fun"
Some awesome cars

We visited the "OFF" collection, Off stands for "Only For Fun"
Some awesome cars

Known as a "Baby Peuqeot - look below to see why!

We visited the "OFF" collection, Off stands for "Only For Fun"
Some awesome cars

Below is the engine in the above car

We visited the "OFF" collection, Off stands for "Only For Fun"
Some awesome cars

We visited the "OFF" collection, Off stands for "Only For Fun"
Also some fun cars!!!!
Some awesome cars

We visited the "OFF" collection, Off stands for "Only For Fun"
Some awesome cars



We visited the "OFF" collection, Off stands for "Only For Fun" (Do you know what the car started life as?) (See below)
Some awesome cars





We visited the "OFF" collection, Off stands for "Only For Fun"
Some awesome cars

We visited the "OFF" collection, Off stands for "Only For Fun"
Some awesome cars

We visited the "OFF" collection, Off stands for "Only For Fun"
Some awesome cars

We visited the "OFF" collection, Off stands for "Only For Fun"
Some awesome cars

We visited the "OFF" collection, Off stands for "Only For Fun"
Some awesome cars

We visited the "OFF" collection, Off stands for "Only For Fun"
Some awesome cars



This is a very tall car, look at Bob on the right, he can't place his hand on the top

Big engine, I think I was told it was 800 cu in



We visited the "OFF" collection, Off stands for "Only For Fun"
Some awesome cars



We visited the "OFF" collection, Off stands for "Only For Fun"
Some awesome cars

All hand carved, 63 figures and they all move together We visited the "OFF" collection, Off stands for "Only For Fun"
Some awesome cars

We visited the "OFF" collection, Off stands for "Only For Fun"
Some awesome cars

We visited the "OFF" collection, Off stands for "Only For Fun"
Some awesome cars

We visited the "OFF" collection, Off stands for "Only For Fun"
Some awesome cars

Back to Pictures