Volume 37, #3 March, 2005

President's Message

As I sit down to write this message I can’t help but think about the coming year. The time seems to be passing faster every day. I noticed that I have some daffodils sprouting up. The days are getting longer, the geese are flying north, and spring is only about two weeks away. All of these things only points to one thing, it’s almost time to think about getting Henry’s lady ready for the great coming out. Before we know it, there will be tours, parades, and other outings that we will once again be ushered about by the trustworthy Model A.

We have some upcoming activities and events in the next few months that will help the new driver as well as all the seasoned Model A’ers. Watch your newsletter for more details of times and places to help you tackle the yearly task. There was a good turn out for the Bellevue Little Theater a couple of weeks ago. I think everyone that attended had a good time and would enjoy this type of activity later on in the year again. Watch the newsletter and sign up sheets at the meetings for more activities coming up in the near future. Keep thinking spring and how much fun it will be to be driving your “’A” once again. Will be seeing you at the meeting on the 12th.

Lee

The 2005 Meadowlark Officers and Board

From Left to Right: President Lee Hendrix, VP/President-elect Bob McKinney, Secretary Karen Noodell, Treasurer Janet Graves, Board members: Howard Denker, Dave Beckman, Harley Heckman, Leonard Johnson, and Mike Kauss.

2

March 2005

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1

Blecha’s Anniversary Shizuko Chase’s Birthday

2

3 4 5

6 7 Hooker’s Anniversary

8 Esther Miller’s Birthday

9 10 11 Fred Mann’s Birthday

12 Regular Meeting 7:30PM

13 14 15 Bill Keitges’ Birthday Norma Johnson’s Birthday Vern Bock’s Birthday

16 17 Leonard Johnson’s Birthday

18 Lee & Carol Hendrix’s Anniversary Bob & Trish Rand’s Anniversary

19 Bowling Party & Eat-Out* Dot Gertner’s Birthday

20 21 22 Board Meeting at Beckman’s 7PM

23

24 25 Marge Frost’s Birthday

26 Evelyn Lueder’s Birthday

27 Dale Freyer’s Birthday

28 29 30 Bunch’s 50th Anniversary Dave Miller’s Birthday

31 Treat volunteers for the March meeting are: Norma Mann & Mary McKinney

Additional Meadowlark Events: April 16 Spring Trash Pick-up on HWY 36 April Fools’ Party – sometime in April after the April meeting Pancake Breakfast/Safety Check – early May May 30 (Memorial Day) Ford Show in Old Market

Other events: May 21 – Florence Parade --starts at PM, lineup time, place, and number not available yet. March 12 Lincoln Swap Meet –if you signed up to work, don’t forget to be there!

For Sale by club treasurer: Raffle Tickets from the 2005 MARC Membership Meet in St. Louis 1st Prize is a multi-day/night riverboat cruise on the Deluxe Delta Queen from St. Louis to Memphis 2nd Prize is a completely restored Model A Ford Tool Kit in wood display case Drawing is April 17th, so the March meeting will be the last chance to buy $1.00 per ticket Note for the geographically challenged: This would be a cruise on the Mississippi River. Memphis is about straight south of St. Louis, according to http://www.deltaqueen.com/ports/steamboatin_map.htm

For Sale: 1928 AR Front Fender Left 1928-9 Tudor Door Right 1930-1 Door Right 1930 Rad. Shell 1930 Rear Fender Left 1931 Running Boards Want: 19” Tire 31 Rad Lower Panel or Shell Monte Frost 339-5907

WILL TRADE: 29 AA Truck for Model A Car or Pickup. Mark Tighe, 402-238-2183

Ready to break a tradition? Several members have gone to Sortino’s for pizza after our regular meetings for quite a long time. Last month a few members decided that the Millard Roadhouse would be closer and offer more variety. They tried it out and found that they received good food and fast service. We don’t all have to go to the same place, but we wanted to let everyone know that some are ready to break the tradition. We will talk about it at the meeting.

3

at Mockingbird Lanes

4870 So. 96th St. March 19 3:00-5:00PM

We are going to visit the Mockingbird Lanes again – under better circumstances this time. You might remember that last time we were there it was because we needed an emergency meeting room after we were locked out of our usual room at Commercial. This time we are going there for fun. We have reserved lanes for a good sized group. There will be plenty of room for cheerleaders, too, for those who aren’t really bowlers and want to cheer for (laugh at?) the rest of us. Prizes for the highest men’s and ladies’ scores, plus booby prized for the “gutter ballers”. Cost for bowling is $3.00 per line. Shoe rental is $2.75

And then . . . Our March eat out will be right after the bowling party at Romeo’s just across 96th street from the bowling alley. Even if you won’t be bowling, join us for supper about 5:00PM on March 19. Romeo’s serves Mexican food and pizza. A gift for our club library. We have received the 2000-2002 issues of The Restorer magazine from Roger Olsen, who is the President of the Wisconsin Chapter of MAFCA. We have enjoyed his club’s newsletter, Wheeling the “A,” for several years. Mr. Olsen saw our request for past issues in our newsletter and sent them to Mary McKinney, our librarian. We are very thankful for this boost. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have ideas for events and tours or where you would like to go for an “eat-out,” please let your tour committee know. Call Don Graves 453-7166 Or Dave Beckman 388-0008

The lucky winner of the kitty at the February meeting was Fred Mann.

You might be the lucky winner this month! Be sure to come to the meeting and put your quarter in.

4

The event listed as “potential event” listed in last month’s newsletter turned out to be a play at the Bellevue Little Theatre. Several Meadowlarks enjoyed the play Driving Miss Daisy.

Items missed last month: Evelyn Lueders and Harley Heckman were hospitalized with heart problems. We hope they are both feeling better now. Frank Cooper has also been hospitalized with heart problems. Get well wishes to you, Frank. We heard that Ralph Witte, a corresponding member who lives in Wichita, was hurt in an automobile accident. Ralph, we are hoping and praying for your full recovery. We learned from the Colorado newsletter that Jeanne Cowan, a former Meadowlark who moved to Wyoming, has died. Jeanne traveled back to see us several times and was a regular attendee at regional meets. She was a corresponding member for several years, but we lost track of her a few years ago when the newsletters we sent to her started being returned to us. On the good news side: Delmar and Barbara Bunch will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this month. Congratulations to the Bunches!

Our club has a web site at http://meadowlarks.omahaneb.org. It is not always totally up to date, but the newsletters are posted there each month. If you would like to be on the e-mail list to be notified when the newsletter is posted, please send your e-mail address to janet@omahaneb.org. Better yet, if you would like to save the Club the postage used sending out a paper copy, let us know that you would like to be on the “e-mail only” list. When you send something to the club (dues, etc.), please send it to our Post Office address: Meadowlark Model A Ford Club, PO Box 6011, Omaha, NE, 68106 -- Be sure to include the club name in the address. It turns out that the post office doesn’t accept mail for the post office box when it is addressed to an individual. Omissions last month Due to editor error, Larry and Elaine Blecha were omitted from the list of members who had met membership milestones. They have been members of our club for 25 years. Monte and Marge Frost have been members 40 years. This was corrected in some newsletters, but not all.

5

Is your spark up to speed? If not, we have a deal for you! Bring your distributor(s) to the March meeting to find out what parts you will need to rebuilt it (them). The actual Tech Talk will be at Molden’s garage where we will be discussing the functions of the distributor and rebuilding them. You can rebuild yours stock or use the new style modern points and condenser along with the wireless lower plate. Once you have your unit rebuilt, you will install it on a Model A (provided), set the timing, and then start the car with your newly rebuilt unit. If you don’t have a spare housing, one of these members should be able to help you out: John Mabry (333-3568), Don Graves (453-7166), or Tony Hartenhoff (322-8265). If you are unable to attend the March meeting, but would like to attend the clinic, please call John Mabry. The Distributor Clinic will be at Molden’s Shop in Bellevue on Saturday, March 26, 10:00AM. Lunch will be served (attendees will be asked to contribute to the lunch kitty). Please sign up at the meeting so we know how many will be attending.

Original Part # Description 1 A-12130 Base Assembly 2 A-12132 Bushing 3 A-12135 Oiler 4 A-12331 Fiber Washer ½ (1/32 x 11/16 ) 5 A-12195 Shaft Sleeve 6 A-23670 Sleeve Pin 1/8 x 25/32 Plain Pin 7 A-1214 Base Clamp 8 A-22902 Clamp Rivet 1/8 x 15/16 Oval Head Split Rivet

(Plain Steel, Cadmium, Nickel, or Brass) 9 A-12300 Condensor

10 A-20106-S7 Condensor Roundhead Machine Screw 8/32 x ¼ Cad plated 11 A-22056 Condensor Lock Washer #8 Plain Finish 12 A-20223-S5 Condensor Roundhead COPPER Plated 10/32 x7/32 Screw

Cad for 1928-1929, Copper for 1930-1931 12a A-22094 Condensor Bus Bar Insulating Fabric Washer 13 A-12148 Lower Plate 14 A-20106-S7 Lower Plate Roundhead Machine Screw 8/32 x ¼ Cad (2) 15 A-22056 Lower Plate Lock Washer #8 Plain Finish (2) 16 A-12137 Spring 17 A-12151 Upper Plate & Insulator Assembly 18 A-12162 Point Breaker Arm Assembly 19 A-12160 Contact Screw Bracket 20 A-22072-S6 Steel Spacer 21 Fiber Washer 22 Pigtail 23 A-22056 #8 Lock Washer 24 A-21547-S7 8/32 Hex Nut, Cadmium 25 A-20116-S8 Roundhead Screw 8/32 x 5/16 Zinc plated (2) 26 A-22071-S7 Flat Washer (pivot side of point block) 27 A-22056 Lock Washer #8 Plain Finish (2) 28 A-20067-S7 Fillister Head Screw 6/32 x 7/16 cadmium

28a A-22047 Lock washer #6 Plain finish 29 A-12178 Shaft

29a A-22331 Cam Shaft Thrust Washer 30 A-12210 Cam 31 A-20744-S7 Cam Screw 32 A-22236 Cam lock washer 5/16 (1/32 x 35/64) 33 A-22222-S7 Cam Flat washer 5/16 (1/32 x 35/64) 34 A-12105 Distributor Body 35 A-12200 Distributor Rotor

36 A-12115 Distributor Cap

20

28

18 19

29a

17 16

22

7

2 8

1

3

2 4 5

6

9

11 10

12 12a

13

14 15

36 35

34 31 32 33 30

29

24/23 21 25 27/26

7

Prices for Brand New Model A’s

Body Style

Original Price 1928

Corrected for

inflation 2004

Original Price 1929

Corrected for

inflation 2004

Original Price 1930

Corrected for

inflation 2004

Original Price 1931

Corrected for

inflation 2004

Phaeton $395 $4,363 $440 $4,861 $440 $4,977 $435 $5,406 Deluxe Phaeton $625 $7,070 $580 $7,208 Roadster 385 $4,253 $435 $4,805 $450 $5,090 $430 $5,344 Deluxe Roadster $520 $5,882 $475 $5,903 Standard Coupe $495 $5,468 $500 $5,523 $495 $5,599 $490 $6,090 Deluxe Coupe $545 $6,165 $525 $6,525 Business Coupe $495 $5,468 $490 $5,413 Special Coupe $500 $5,523 $510 $5,634 Sport Coupe $550 $5,523 $530 $5,855 $525 $5,938 $500 $6,214 Tudor $495 $5,468 $500 $5,523 $495 $5,599 $490 $6,090 Deluxe Tudor $525 $6,525 Fordor $570 $6,297 $600 $6,628 $600 $6,787 $590 $7,332 Deluxe Fordor $640 $7,239 $630 $7,829 Town Sedan $670 $7,401 $640 $7,239 $630 $7,829 Cabriolet $645 $7,125 $625 $7,070 $630 $7,829 Victoria $580 $6,561 $580 $7,208 Conv. Sedan $640 $7,954 Taxi $800 $8,837 Town Car $1,200 $13,256 $1,200 $13,574 Station Wagon $640 $7,239 $625 $7,767

The original prices are from http://www.mafca.com who adapted them from Henry's Fabulous Model "A" by Floyd Clymer.

The corrected for inflation prices were calculated using the inflation calculator at http://www.bls.gov/home.htm .

Although the 2004 prices are more than 10 times the 1928-1931 prices, they don’t seem so bad, do they? Many of us would jump at the chance to buy a brand new, fresh off the line Model A at those prices. However, when you consider the average annual income in the 1920s and 1930s was between $750 and $1250 (and maybe as low as $275 for farmers), you see that it took most of the average person’s annual income to buy a Model A.

This is the official publication of the Meadowlark Chapter of the Model A Restorers Club (MARC) and the Model A Ford Club of America (MAFCA).This monthly newsletter is mailed to members, prospective members, and editors of similar publications. Its purpose is to keep you informed about what has taken place and to remind you of future activities. Members may publish at no cost, ads for items wanted, for sale, or trade. They are also invited to submit technical Model A information and other interesting tidbits. Material should reach the editor by the last Saturday of the month. MONTLHY MEETINGS: Second Saturday of each month (except January) at 7:30PM at the Faith Westwood Church –enter on west side & go down hall to the right.

2005 Officers President Lee Hendrix 895-2432 VP/ Pres. Elect Bob McKinney 332-3993 Secretary Karen Noodell (402) 234-6110 Treasurer Janet Graves 453-7166

2005 Board Members

Dave Beckman 388-0008 Howard Denker 333-1393 Harley Heckman 733-0475 Leonard Johnson 493-3830 Mike Kauss 332-4331

Membership dues for the Meadowlark Club are $24.00 per year prorated monthly for new members. Membership in one of the national clubs is required. You may join both national clubs if you wish. MAFCA dues are $30.00 per year and MARC dues are $35.00 per year. Prospective Members: Please call Membership Chairman, Don Graves, (402-453-7166) for more information.

Monthly meetings are now at Faith Westwood Church. See map and directions below.