tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83364012414108443042024-03-05T02:05:43.079-08:00Northeast Classic Car MuseumUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8336401241410844304.post-79092853261353903112010-06-16T11:05:00.000-07:002010-06-16T12:09:57.227-07:00Picture This...Father's Day Special<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGKZlHoCvM9lGFQEIMufvYVbAuEpxUlkJLNSgZBPDF343ENdwrvrmOYOExh8Ll-n89wdC2G4HiSxcxoddzc4-VUW1THCLYAMWvSB7Di_GSzzc-EYcjTwOJtlJvr96LzofhPZSlJsvPQU/s1600/Hugh+%26+Family.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGKZlHoCvM9lGFQEIMufvYVbAuEpxUlkJLNSgZBPDF343ENdwrvrmOYOExh8Ll-n89wdC2G4HiSxcxoddzc4-VUW1THCLYAMWvSB7Di_GSzzc-EYcjTwOJtlJvr96LzofhPZSlJsvPQU/s320/Hugh+%26+Family.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483450761346774482" /></a><br />Receive a FREE picture with Dad in a 1926 Ford Model T Roadster.<br /><br />Come to the Museum on Father's Day - Sunday, June 20, 2010, and have your vintage-look photo taken with Dad FREE! Open 9am-5pm - we are now featuring our special exhibit, Built For Speed...Race Cars From Days Gone By. <br /><br />Call 607-334-2886 for more information.NECCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033624709943716619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8336401241410844304.post-70598101823732909092010-06-08T06:42:00.000-07:002010-06-08T07:17:02.897-07:00History of the Automobile, Part VThe mission of the <a href="http://www.classiccarmuseum.org">Northeast Classic Car Museum</a> consists of educating the public on different aspects of the automobile and its history throughout the years. This is the final article in a series of 5, originally published in the Norwich Evening Sun in 2006.<br /><br />A carriage-making firm made a prototype in the 1800s of a classic design: engine in front, supplying power to a gearbox behind it; with the gearbox connected by a chain drive to the rear drive wheels. It had four forward speeds and a reverse. The first popular car was a roadster that sold for around $650 and had two seats and a one-cylinder, three-horsepower engine. <br /><br />Tires, until the 1920s, were of narrow cross-section and ran at relatively high air pressures. As technology improved tires, they were made wider and operated at lower pressures. The tubeless tire was introduced by the Goodrich Company in 1948. Through the 1940s the main components of the car were well designed and efficient, and a variety of accessories were introduced, such as reversing lights, radios, automatic chokes, windshield wipers, and chrome-plated trim. Power brakes were gradually introduced and shock absorbers became hydraulic and telescopic, consisting of a piston inside a sealed cylinder, one attached to the chassis and the other to the axle. Many new models had powerful high compression engines, along with independent front suspension. In styling, they became much longer, lower and more elaborate. Lightweight chassis—less bodies were adopted, and the use of curved glass for the windshields and rear windows improved visibility a great deal.<br /> <br />Power steering, air conditioning, twin headlamps, and wrap-around windshields originated in the states during the early 1950s. Development of transistors led to the introduction of semiconductor ignition systems, which use electronic switching systems to control the ignition coil. Advances in technology allowed the use of higher compression ratios in fuel. Overhead valve and overhead camshaft designs, with improved fuel systems (including fuel injection) along with better ignition system performance contributed to engine power outputs. The results improved the acceleration, speed, road holding and braking of a car. Disc brakes, less prone to failure from overheating than drum brakes, at last became widely accepted. The introduction of new plastic materials for interior trim was a great asset for the stylists, and a wide range of color schemes became available to match the body colors.<br /><br />Car design in the 1960s was greatly influenced by the new interest in safety and pollution control. Cars had to be built to comply with the strict new safety and anti-pollution laws of the United States, which were gradually adopted by many other countries. In addition to improved performance, cars became even more comfortable and easier to drive. Heating and ventilating equipment became standard on even the small cheap cars where it had previously been available, if at all, as an extra. Automatic transmission, power brakes and power steering gained widespread acceptance. The electrical system was improved by the introduction of the alternator to replace the dynamo, and the use of circuit breakers instead of fuses. One important development in engine design was the invention of the “wankel” engine, which had a single three-lobed driving rotor instead of the conventional pistons and crankshaft. This helped to develop prototypes that were light, compact, powerful and smooth running.<br /><br />In the 1970s the US passed the Clean Air Act, with the immediate result of forcing cars to install positive crankcase ventilation. In 1975, the catalytic converter was adopted for most American cars and many imports as a means to fight fuel consumption. Computers began to play an important role in car construction, as in everything else and it was only natural for automobile manufacturers to install on-board computers into their vehicles. It is, after all, the only practical method of monitoring all the engine variables at once. A computer can now control the speed of the car and determine when something is wrong as well as let us know about any unacceptable feedback, from the seat belts being unfastened to the key being left in the lock. <br /><br />From 1860, when the spark plug was invented, to 2006 and cars that can parallel park themselves, automobiles have emerged as a method of transportation that can be as individualized as our own personalities. The automobile has impacted every facet of our life for decades and will continue to do so as move into the future. <br /><br />Article written by Audrey Robinson and Richard Ellinwood of the NECCM Education Committee. Reprinted courtesy of <a href="http://www.evesun.com/">The Evening Sun</a>, Norwich, NY.NECCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033624709943716619noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8336401241410844304.post-12526457274477801862010-05-04T09:22:00.000-07:002010-05-04T09:30:44.876-07:001965 Mustang Raffle Tickets Now for Sale!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.classiccarmuseum.org/Raffle/Mustangphotos.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.classiccarmuseum.org/Raffle/Mustangphotos.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Tickets for this year's raffle car - a beautiful 1965 Mustang Convertible in Raven Black with a Red Interior - are now available. Order your tickets by calling 607-334-2886, use secure <a href="http://classiccarmuseum.org/MustangRaffle2.php">Google Checkout</a>, or use our <a href="http://classiccarmuseum.org/Raffle/2010Weborderform.pdf">printable order form</a>NECCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033624709943716619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8336401241410844304.post-71276138864227389812010-05-02T10:19:00.000-07:002010-05-02T10:20:01.703-07:00Built for Speed...Race Cars from Days Gone ByThe Northeast Classic Car Museum is proud to announce the opening of their new exhibit – Built for Speed...Race Cars from Days Gone By- on Saturday, May 15, 2010. The new exhibit will feature over 20 race cars from various categories, including drag, sprint, midget, NASCAR, ARCA, Indy, and dirt.<br /><br />Of special interest are Richard Petty’s NASCAR truck and Mario Andretti’s first race car ever – a midget. Local racing enthusiasts will recognize area race cars from members of the Midstate Antique Stock Car Club. The exhibit will remain in place through April 2011. <br /><br />Additionally, the Museum will refresh their Post-War Collection exhibit. This exhibit, opened in May 2009, currently features cars of the late 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s. 13 incoming models - including a ’68 Shelby GT 500, ’70 Chevelle, and ’71 Challenger - will join 23 old favorites on display. <br /><br />The Northeast Classic Car Museum displays a total of nearly 150 vehicles in 5 buildings. The Museum is located at 24 Rexford Street, Norwich, NY, and is open 7 days per week from 9am-5pm. For more information, call 607-334-2886.NECCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033624709943716619noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8336401241410844304.post-58587896265442841742010-04-06T09:25:00.001-07:002010-04-06T09:32:48.882-07:00History of the Automobile, Part IV<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWnWJDiIohU1_XJXbcBxeqnKIY_CEsBq-ibhRtPrLaFhbAsYj_Wi6va7SQRPZKXJ-SIwqjO4bmf_7BLmQpmbvYDNAxDY9P5nRIR78VI-vP1_APuSZ0F2yqkkJoz-mdN46Bios26ApJRug/s1600/0092.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWnWJDiIohU1_XJXbcBxeqnKIY_CEsBq-ibhRtPrLaFhbAsYj_Wi6va7SQRPZKXJ-SIwqjO4bmf_7BLmQpmbvYDNAxDY9P5nRIR78VI-vP1_APuSZ0F2yqkkJoz-mdN46Bios26ApJRug/s320/0092.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457061987992400450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">*1924 Stanley Steamer currently on display at the Northeast Classic Car Museum.
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Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="">The mission of the Northeast Classic Car Museum consists of educating the public on different aspects of the automobile and its history throughout the years. This is the 4th in a series of 5, originally published in the Norwich Evening Sun in 2006.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="">As early as 1600, the Dutch, no strangers to wind power, had built a wind-powered, sail mounted carriage. These carriages were reported to hold several passengers and move at speeds as high as twenty miles per hour. While the Dutch dreamed in terms of the wind, others were thinking of other means of propulsion. In the 1700s, a vehicle was built that was powered by an engine based on the workings of a clock. What the inventors neglected to calculate, however, was that any clock that was capable of moving a vehicle with passengers would have to outweigh the load it was carrying.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="">Inventors in <st1:country-region st="on">England</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region st="on">France</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Germany</st1:place></st1:country-region> and other countries worked on the idea of a compressed-air engine, but they were unable to find the solution to self-propulsion by this means. However, in their efforts, they contributed significant individual elements to the picture; elements like valves, pistons, cylinders, and connecting rods, and an emerging idea of how each of these elements related to each other. The first invention that can truly and logically be called an “automobile” was a heavy, three-wheeled, steam-driven, clumsy vehicle built in 1769. This mechanism was slow, ponderous, and only moved by fits and starts. In tests, it carried four passengers at a slow pace – a little over two miles per hour – and had to stop every twenty minutes to build a fresh head of steam. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="">The first electric-powered road vehicle was built around 1839 and was, along with others built within the next several years, generally unsuccessful. The steam-powered engine had to wait for a boiler to build up pressure and was very noisy. The concept of an electrical engine that could start immediately and run quietly was very attractive, but there were disadvantages. In 1880, there was a general improvement in the development of longer-lasting batteries. There still existed, however, excessive weight and bulk of the batteries and the need for frequent charging. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="">In the American car world at the turn of the century, “steamers” and electric cars gained their most sustained measure of success. There were approximately 1,681 steam-powered automobiles and 1,575 electrically-powered ones. Only 936 of the cars relied on a gasoline-powered internal combustion engine. But, as the number of car drivers grew, they noticed that steam cars took 20 to 45 minutes to heat up and raise enough pressure to start, while the internal combustion engine started almost immediately. The electric cars started promptly, too, but they were expensive, slow and could only go about one-third as far as an internal combustion car before the battery ran down.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="">Eventually twenty different companies would produce electric cars and in the peak of their popularity, nearly 35,000 were operating on American roads. “Steamers” were actually more popular with more than 100 American plants producing them. The most famous was manufactured by the <st1:city st="on">Stanley</st1:city> brothers in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Newton</st1:city>, <st1:state st="on">Massachusetts</st1:state></st1:place>. In 1906, a Stanley Steamer was clocked at 127.6 miles per hour. In spite of this, these cars, along with the electrics, were only living on borrowed time. Steam, electricity, and gasoline-powered autos competed for decades, with gasoline internal combustion engines achieving dominance in the 1910s. In the early 1900s a system was developed that specified front-engine, rear-wheel drive internal combustion cars with a sliding gear transmission. Development of automotive technology was rapid, due in part to a huge number of small manufacturers all competing to gain the world’s attention. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="">After World War II, integrated fenders and fully-closed bodies began to dominate sales, with the new sedan body style even incorporating a trunk at the rear for storage. Most of the technology used in automobiles had been invented, although it was often re-invented again at a later date. Throughout the 1950s, engine power and vehicle speeds rose, designs became more integrated and artful, and cars spread across the world. In <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>, performance was the hot sell of the 1960s, with the gas turbine and the turbocharger being a hot sell. Some particularly notable advances in modern times were the wide spread of front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, the addition of the V6 engine configuration, and the presence of fuel injection. The 1970s saw rapidly rising fuel efficiency and engine output. Once the automobile emissions concerns of the 1970s were conquered with computerized engine management systems, power began to rise rapidly. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="">New technologies and fuels are following in the wake of those early experiments, and some – like hydrogen – may prove more fantastic that we had ever dreamed. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Article written by Audrey Robinson and Richard Ellinwood of the NECCM Education Committee. Reprinted courtesy of The Evening Sun, Norwich, NY.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<br />NECCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033624709943716619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8336401241410844304.post-58942629446697533392010-04-06T06:45:00.000-07:002010-04-06T06:48:51.543-07:001929 Rolls Royce 20/25 for Sale<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifzkRSARvZiJst5SvyikRKhBXBIRWW6jO-17zZBVJHopB2L_i7EAVV4hyEn-eZSHt1xuoW8DlbxvxkKsakGxgO7sV2i16QKbcLc7k2_E-ptcRYOKT7Z4yNNn-kjLLGFsX1BMHRD65Hvw/s1600/right.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifzkRSARvZiJst5SvyikRKhBXBIRWW6jO-17zZBVJHopB2L_i7EAVV4hyEn-eZSHt1xuoW8DlbxvxkKsakGxgO7sV2i16QKbcLc7k2_E-ptcRYOKT7Z4yNNn-kjLLGFsX1BMHRD65Hvw/s320/right.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457020850876566226" border="0" /></a><br />Take a look at this 1929 Rolls Royce, being offered for sale by the Museum on E-Bay!<br /></div>NECCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033624709943716619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8336401241410844304.post-84404108713009911982010-02-02T05:40:00.000-08:002010-02-02T05:51:49.016-08:001975 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight For Sale<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLWhdCdbiyG7ChwdNH0wRVMPZAb7sb-QvwArbhT3cevnunLeCZZKj-DpkbhczyZ0x9RZd9vycXGY-FSWPI2vKF4VDVlJfu7-tmZRT6W-HmJPWAhvs0H58-RhHfNev4cIIUbNtRHHBAuQ/s1600-h/DSC00896.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLWhdCdbiyG7ChwdNH0wRVMPZAb7sb-QvwArbhT3cevnunLeCZZKj-DpkbhczyZ0x9RZd9vycXGY-FSWPI2vKF4VDVlJfu7-tmZRT6W-HmJPWAhvs0H58-RhHfNev4cIIUbNtRHHBAuQ/s320/DSC00896.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433643415977740386" /></a><br />The Northeast Classic Car Museum is offering a 1975 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight for sale on E-Bay now. Check it out <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Oldsmobile-Ninety-Eight-Sedan-1975-Oldsmobile-Ninety-Eight-4-Door-Hardtop_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem4ced6f29e1QQitemZ330400999905QQptZUSQ5fCarsQ5fTrucks">here</a>.NECCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033624709943716619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8336401241410844304.post-63686053679144810762010-01-12T06:53:00.000-08:002010-01-12T07:00:30.430-08:00History of the Automobile, Part IIIThe mission of the Northeast Classic Car Museum consists of educating the public on different aspects of the automobile and its history throughout the years. This is the 3rd in a series of 5, originally published in the Norwich Evening Sun in 2006.<br /><br />Automobiles have ended the isolation of rural communities and set an example of industrial efficiency for the world to copy. They have also spoiled the cities and small towns as neighborhoods are obliterated by highways smashing through; They have polluted the environment, and have caused shortages in natural resources. Yet the car itself is still the object of endless fascination. Some economists state that one worker in every five (others say six or seven) workers in the U.S. labor force is employed by some activity related to automobiles. <br /><br />One of the first social changes brought about was in mating habits. Motorized courtship had been established even before the Model T offered a love nest within everyone’s price range. And it wasn’t just in America. The automobile manufacturers had no qualms about using sex appeal to sell their product and some car companies turned out models with seats that folded down to become a double bed. <br /><br />Automobiles opened up the possibility of farm children going to town schools, where they were provided with better facilities and greater educational choices. They also gave farm communities the ability to shop at will, rather than once or twice a year. Town was the shopping range and there were also clubs, theaters, and numerous other activities that the average farm family had previously been denied access to.<br /><br />The feminist movement, which had been dragging its feet ever since the 1820’s, had a rapid growth from the automobile. In 1898, Genevra Delphine Mudge drove a Waverley Electric in New York to become the nation’s first known female motorist. It was also in 1898 that Chicago began requiring licenses in order to drive, and one of the first licensed was a woman. Women were not a real part of the automotive scene, however, until Henry Leland produced a self-starter in a 1912 Cadillac. <br /><br />The automobile gave America a new look and something new to look at as well. Escaping railroad schedules and the fixed routes of public transportation, Americans could go wherever and whenever they wanted. Overcrowded hotels and stage stops developed into road-side cabins and then courts and finally, into motels for the convenience of the motorist. Historically, most people never traveled more than a few dozen kilometers from their birthplace in their entire lives; the advent of the automobile began the transformation of society in such a way that those who had never traveled that distance were only a tiny minority.<br /><br />Business looked around and saw the multitude of cars on the road and followed after them. Every junction of the road had a gas station. The speed of the vehicles picked up sharply and station owners were soon watching them fly to the next stop, so they started building eye-catching structures, and then came diners, cabins and other assorted roadside businesses, which now provide everything from swimming pools and paper, to disposable swim suits and breath sprays! <br /><br />The car did alter the pattern of movement. People began to leave the beaten path, which had previously been unknown. The car introduced a country to its people, enabling travelers to discover and to understand regional differences and common values. The creation of good roads and dependable cars changed recreation and vacations. Resorts appeared in scenic places, far away from the hectic life of the cities. In the United States, national parks became popular tourist attractions and developed designs with auto travelers in mind. <br /><br />Huge industries devoted only to the automobile were created. Others were expanded from once trivial insignificance to eminent importance. Before the internal-combustion engine was developed, gasoline was a waste product, often discarded. Once the automobile became commonplace, the production of gasoline blossomed into a matter of such importance that the governments took action to secure a steady flow of oil. The steel industry was already established, but the auto created huge amounts of business for it. The chemical, rubber, and petroleum industries were remade to suit the needs of the automobile and industries sprang up that were completely reliant upon the auto for their livelihood.<br /><br />Article written by Audrey Robinson and Richard Ellinwood of the NECCM Education Committee. Reprinted courtesy of The Evening Sun, Norwich, NY.NECCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033624709943716619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8336401241410844304.post-20565702525315916382009-09-17T12:56:00.000-07:002009-09-17T12:57:13.521-07:00NECCM Announces Annual Classic Casino NightFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br /><br />The Northeast Classic Car Museum is holding its Classic Casino Night 2009 on Friday, October 9, 2009 from 6-10pm. <br /><br />With $30,000 in "classic cash", attendees can play blackjack, Texas Hold 'Em, roulette, craps and other games of chance. Any "classic cash" won can be used for the exciting auction of local products and gifts which rounds out this evening of casual fun. Tickets for this annual fundraiser are now available for purchase at $60 per person and also include hors d'oerves, dinner, and drinks. Reservations are required by October 2, 2009 and can be made by contacting the Museum at 607-334-2886.<br /><br />This evening is made possible by generous sponsorships and donations from local businesses. To become a sponsor, please contact Executive Director Doreen Bates.NECCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033624709943716619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8336401241410844304.post-43194345838452636982009-08-31T12:25:00.000-07:002009-08-31T12:43:12.947-07:00History of the Automobile, Part II<span style="font-family:verdana;">The mission of the Northeast Classic Car Museum consists of educating the public on different aspects of the automobile and its history throughout the years. This is the 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">nd</span> in a series of 5, originally published in the Norwich Evening Sun in 2006.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">In 1919, Sinclair Lewis wrote whimsically of his adventures in a Model T. One of the most famous books, which is now a standard text in high school and university courses on American literature in countries around the world, was F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, ‘The Great Gatsby,” which portrayed the cynicism of post-World War I by the use of Gatsby’s cream-colored Rolls-Royce. In 1962, William Faulkner wrote about human frailties against the backdrop of an early <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Winton</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Flyer</span> automobile in his classic, “The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Reivers</span>.” Other books such as “Christine,” by Stephen King, were also centered on automobiles. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />Even more than writers, composers of popular music were attracted to cars. Between 1905 and 1908, more than 120 songs were written in which the automobile was the subject. The automotive themes of these songs reflected the general culture of the automotive industry: sexual adventure, liberation from social control, and masculine power. Titles include “In My Merry Oldsmobile,” “Tumble in a Rumble Seat,” “On the Back Seat of A Henry Ford,” up to the contemporary songs such as “Mustang Sally,” “Little Deuce Coupe,” “Little Red Corvette,” and “Pink Cadillac.” Trucking songs, such as “King of the Road,” “On the Road Again,” and others too numerous to name are immensely popular. In 1929, American Paul Galvin, the head of Galvin Manufacturing Corporation, invented the first car radio. The first car radios were not available from car makers. Consumers had to purchase the radios separately. Galvin coined the name “Motorola” for the company’s new products, combining the idea of motion and radio.<br /><br />The Los Angeles Music Center and Museum of Contemporary Art commissioned several playwrights to create original ten-minute scripts to be acted out in automobiles and the film industry has relied heavily on the automobile, ranging from “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad World,” “Bonnie and Clyde,” the “Dukes of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Hazzard</span>,” “<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Starsky</span> and Hutch” and hundreds of other movies with chase scenes. Television made the automobile the star of the show in “My Mother the Car,” and “Knight Rider,” in which KITT was smarter than any of the rest of the cast. The Northeast Classic Car Museum has a 1981 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">DeLorean</span> that visitors remember as “the Back to the Future Car.”<br /><br />Artists followed Toulouse-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Lautrec</span>’s lead from his 1896 lithograph, “The Motorist,” to take up brushes and portray the essence of the automobile. Some used their brushes in cartoon fashion to show it as a toy for the idle rich. Andy Warhol saw art in a Campbell soup can and also painted a series devoted to gruesome car wrecks. Other artists see the automobile as a graceful, flowing form of man-made beauty, an art in itself.<br /><br />Cars have been named after animals, stars, heroes and mythology and ownership came to be associated with independence, freedom, and increased status. The culture in the 1950s and 1960s often catered to the automobile with motels and drive-in restaurants. Americans tend to view obtaining a driver’s license as a rite of passage and most Americans of all ages and genders expect to own and drive cars. </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Article written by Audrey Robinson and Richard <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Ellinwood</span> of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">NECCM</span> Education Committee. Reprinted courtesy of The Evening Sun, Norwich,</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">NY.</span>NECCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033624709943716619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8336401241410844304.post-40478779144674334152009-07-24T12:50:00.000-07:002009-07-24T13:15:10.973-07:00History of the Automobile, Part I<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The mission of the Northeast Classic Car Museum consists of educating the public on different aspects of the automobile and its history throughout the years. Much of what the Museum offers intertwines with the criteria that can be assimilated with the New York State Learning Standards. This is the first article in a series of 5 that was published in The Evening Sun in November 2006to celebrate National Education Week.<br /><br />The automobile flashed onto the scene like a meteor, changing the entire economy and the national way-of-life. No one was prepared for it. Generations of horse-drawn road transportation had created a complex system of industries on which the automobile had a damaging effect. The continuing changes and reasons for them were not so obvious to automotive pioneers. It was, after all, a learn-as-you-go process with no precedents.<br /><br />Automotive history is generally divided into a number of eras based on the major design and technology shifts. Although the exact boundaries of each era can be hazy, they can be defined as follows: Veteran era (1800-1900), Brass era (1903-1920), Vintage (1919-1929), Pre-War (1930-1948), Post-War (1949-1970) and Modern (1970-on). Corresponding historical periods were: The Development of Modern America (1865-1920); Modern American and the World Wars (1914-1945) and Contemporary America (1945 to the present).<br /><br />By 1900 mass production of automobiles had begun in France and the United States. Throughout the veteran car era automobiles were seen as more of a novelty than a genuinely useful device. Breakdowns were frequent, fuel was difficult to obtain, and rapid innovation meant that a year-old car was nearly worthless. New York became the first state in the US to require automobile license plates in April of 1901. Automobile owners were charged a fee of $1.<br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXfV2m4jfbKKca-_j51JJ4q4H-a-yqepP7ZB7G33NcfCIdfgQ3UCJcxpy4fP8X-y8Y5TMmkdQEJFOspBDbEyvCRSjoNTBj4LOtAnPDSpYrzL24LHdfakafWbr8TOQONrnp-BT6FsHQf8g/s1600-h/History+photo+1.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362121121557258738" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 358px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXfV2m4jfbKKca-_j51JJ4q4H-a-yqepP7ZB7G33NcfCIdfgQ3UCJcxpy4fP8X-y8Y5TMmkdQEJFOspBDbEyvCRSjoNTBj4LOtAnPDSpYrzL24LHdfakafWbr8TOQONrnp-BT6FsHQf8g/s320/History+photo+1.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Named for the widespread use of brass in the United States, the Brass or Edwardian era lasted from roughly 1905 through the beginning of World War I in 1914. 1905 was a signal year in the development of the automobile, marking the point when the majority of sales shifted from the hobbyist and enthusiast to the average user. Cars of the period include the Ford Model T, the most widely produced and available car of the era. There were, however, scores of other small, start-up manufacturers (often businesses that made buggies and carriages) that started making automobiles.<br /><br /><br />The vintage era lasted from the end of World War I (1919) through the stock market crash at the end of 1929. During this period, the front-engine car came to dominate, with closed bodies and standardized controls.<br /><br />The pre-war part of the classic era began with the Great Depression in 1930 and ended with the recovery after World War II, commonly placed at 1948. By the 1930’s, most of the technology used in automobiles had been invented. After 1930, the number of auto manufacturers declined sharply as the industry consolidated and matured.<br /><br />Throughout the 1950’s post-war era, engine power and vehicle speeds rose, designs became more integrated and artful, and cars spread across the world. The market changed somewhat in the 1960’s, as Detroit began to experience foreign competition, the European makers adopted ever-higher technology, and Japan appeared as a serious car-producing nation. In America, performance was the hot sell of the 1960’s, with pony cars and muscle cars propping up the domestic industry. Everything changed in the 1970’s as the oil crisis, automobile emissions control rules, Japanese and European imports, and stagnant innovation wreaked havoc on the American industry. Throughout the decade, small imported cars gained in customer favor and the sale of the larger, American-made automobiles began to decline.<br /><br />The modern era is normally defined as the 25 years preceding the current year. However, there are some technical and design aspects that differentiate modern cars from antiques. Without considering the future of the car, the modern era has been one of increasing standardization, platform sharing, and computer-aided design. Three types of body styles have changed in the modern era. The hatchback, minivan, and sport utility vehicle, dominate today’s market yet are relatively recent concepts. Modern cars include the Ford Taurus, which dominated the American market in the late 1980s and the SUVs and Vans so popular today.<br /><br />Change is in the air, and once again we’re faced with choices. We’ve become a nation dependent on a method of individual transportation, yet we’ve discovered the choices of the past haven’t always led to the clear, bright future we imagined. The early car makers were powered by a need to develop a safe, economical and drivable automobile. Early inventors could not have imagined the population – of people and cars – in the world today. Still, as uncomfortable as it can be, change is often good. New ideas are generated and explored. New technologies and fuels may prove more fantastic than we had ever dreamed. But, by being willing to imagine and change, we can drive into the future in style.<br /><br />Article written by Audrey Robinson and Richard Ellinwood of the NECCM Education Committee. Reprinted courtesy of The Evening Sun, Norwich, NY.<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span>NECCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033624709943716619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8336401241410844304.post-43773134656874224842009-06-02T14:55:00.000-07:002009-06-02T14:58:53.106-07:00NECCM unveils new building, exhibits!<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CMarty_2%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Arial; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">On May 15, 2009, over 300 members, exhibitors, and invited guests attended the Grand Opening of the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Northeast</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Classic</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Car</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Museum</st1:placetype></st1:place>'s (NECCM) new building.<span style=""> </span>Local vendors graciously provided samples of their food specialties in the Museum's newly expanded event space.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The new exhibit space currently boasts a limited-time display of "Antique Tractors" – 16 restored workhorses dating from the turn of the century through 1967.<span style=""> </span>The Museum's collection of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Franklins</st1:place></st1:city>, the largest in the world, found a new home in the building as well.<span style=""> </span>Joining the air-cooled beauties already on exhibit are a 1909 Touring model, and a 1934 Airman Sedan – one of the last known <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Franklins</st1:city></st1:place> ever built.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The new building, which adjoins the previous Museum buildings, was donated to NECCM by Harold Ray.<span style=""> </span>Formerly the site of the Bennett-Ireland company, the building was renovated thanks to generous contributions from local corporate, foundation, and individual donors.<span style=""> </span>In collaboration with the Chenango County Historical Society (CCHS), a section of the restored building has been dedicated to "A Tribute to Bennett-Ireland", which features the products and history of one of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Norwich</st1:place></st1:city>'s largest manufacturers.<span style=""> </span>Also provided by the CCHS is an exhibit of vintage clothing, beautifully displayed throughout the Museum.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">NECCM unveiled a new "Post-War Era" exhibit, which features over 30 examples of vehicles from 1946-1967.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>The Museum's other exhibits also got a fresh look, thanks to the additional 30,000 square feet of exhibit space.<span style=""> </span>In all, nearly 150 vehicles are displayed at the Museum, along with vintage airplane engines, informative videos, and much more!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Located in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Norwich</st1:city>, <st1:state st="on">NY</st1:state></st1:place>, the Museum is open 9am-5pm daily, with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.<span style=""> </span>Contact NECCM at 607-334-AUTO (2886) or at <a href="mailto:info@classiccarmuseum.org">info@classiccarmuseum.org</a> for more information.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Have you seen the new building and exhibits? Let others know what you think!
<br /><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> NECCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033624709943716619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8336401241410844304.post-10279297114922822092009-03-25T12:53:00.000-07:002009-03-25T13:14:24.245-07:00NECCM Announces Grand Opening<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3hqwNQ97QecbDgb9xFGiHbBKc2j3rZqPT8INK59v2fdO_8PXerBjbUGa2xyvhIt6tP7v5zTjEPUUV_oxmxizun85f57Mqu7NL-InLOKzjmmB6PjKwPlCn1wucX8ycGnTkv0Ju4ga8os/s1600-h/Bldg+5.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317220346266266146" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3hqwNQ97QecbDgb9xFGiHbBKc2j3rZqPT8INK59v2fdO_8PXerBjbUGa2xyvhIt6tP7v5zTjEPUUV_oxmxizun85f57Mqu7NL-InLOKzjmmB6PjKwPlCn1wucX8ycGnTkv0Ju4ga8os/s320/Bldg+5.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">The Northeast Classic Car Museum announces the Grand Opening of its new building on Friday, May 15, 2009. This special invitation-only celebration will begin at 4pm, and will feature refreshments and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.<br /><br />The Grand Opening celebrates the addition of 30,000 additional square feet of exhibit space. This expansion was made possible when, approximately two years ago, the Museum acquired a facility that adjoins the existing Museum. The renovations to the building were funded by generous donations from the community, members, and volunteers.<br /><br />The building is at least 70 years old. It once housed Bennett-Ireland, a manufacturer of fire place equipment and other metal products. The building's clerestory windows and elevated center space have been restored to replicate their original beauty. The new building will be home to the Museum’s extensive Franklin collection, as well as a special limited-time exhibit of vintage tractors. Appropriately, the Museum will feature a small exhibit of Bennett-Ireland memorabilia and historical information in the new building. Other new exhibits include a collection of post-WWII vehicles. Of course, the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg, Made In New York State and other exhibits will still have a prominent place in the Museum.<br /><br />The new building and exhibits will open to the public on Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 9am. The Museum is open 9am-5pm daily, with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Admission will remain $9 for adults; $4 for students ages 6-18; under 6 are free. Please contact the Museum for more information at 607-334-2886 or </span><a href="mailto:info@classiccarmuseum.org"><span style="font-family:arial;">info@classiccarmuseum.org</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">.<br /></span>NECCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033624709943716619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8336401241410844304.post-77106935907412502242009-03-03T12:05:00.001-08:002009-03-03T12:12:13.851-08:00Great Feedback!A professional group recently visited the Northeast Classic Car Museum for a tour and luncheon. The group had the following feedback:<br /><br />"I just wanted to reiterate to you how enjoyable our time was at the museum last week. Our boss said, “It was absolutely superb. I had never been at the museum before and enjoyed it immensely. The food and entertainment were right on the money as well.”<br /><br />Now that it’s on my mind, I came back in on Friday and purchased a couple of tickets for a birthday gift for my brother-in-law who is into cars. He has actually been there before, but I was able to inform him of your new room you plan to open in the Spring, so he’ll have something new to look forward to. He also has a gorgeous MG he has been restoring; maybe he’d share his little treasure at your place when he’s completed his project.<br /><br />Thanks so much for you efforts in making it a fun and relaxing time for all of us; including the committee, since all we had to do is tell you what we wanted, and you delivered. Thanks!"<br /><br />-C. W., Organizing Committee ChairNECCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033624709943716619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8336401241410844304.post-81514159999090956052009-02-23T12:19:00.000-08:002009-02-26T08:13:05.839-08:00Waverley Electric Car at Northeast Classic Car MuseumIn 1910, many things were happening. Haley’s Comet was visible, the Boy Scouts were created, King Edward II passed away, and Ford sold almost 10,000 gasoline-powered motor vehicles. In comparison to the gasoline standard, electric cars were gaining attention, due to their lack of a hand crank and gear shifter. The design of the electric car made things much easier for the average woman of the time, making them an ideal target for advertisement.<br /><br />One model of electric car that was popular in 1910 was the Waverley Coupe. The 1910 Waverley Coupe was a luxury car that combined quality, value, efficiency, and convenience, making it one of the premier electric cars of the early 1900’s. It seated 4, and was quite easy to customize, allowing for different colors, tops, batteries, and even tires. On top of this, it was relatively affordable, selling at $2,250 - almost $300 less than the popular Detroit Electric.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLNbnqKKsYmBttdiOxDKQqrWsDg9Q-PzA0-uVpY1J9-qtVNyPzfHOJ44Njny00Kp60VzJMjaLEwilnlDsbeFzXb87PMOEEg7Iy9Zp4Cj9IPtwAGRnukflXjHhleSm5hSn5rqFJb6s6qM/s1600-h/%236+Waverley+Electric.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306090829109818594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLNbnqKKsYmBttdiOxDKQqrWsDg9Q-PzA0-uVpY1J9-qtVNyPzfHOJ44Njny00Kp60VzJMjaLEwilnlDsbeFzXb87PMOEEg7Iy9Zp4Cj9IPtwAGRnukflXjHhleSm5hSn5rqFJb6s6qM/s320/%236+Waverley+Electric.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The Waverley Company, formed from a merger of the American Electric and Indiana Bicycle Companies, boasted quality and convenience in comparison to its price. For example, the silence of the Coupe was one of the company’s main points for advertisement, along with its appearance. The Waverley Company prided itself on using premium materials and brilliant designs to make a ride that rode as smooth as it looked.<br /><br />The manufacturers of the Coupe showed a great attention to detail, not only by employing multiple inspectors, but by taking each vehicle through a twelve week, twenty-eight step operation for the paint job which used sixteen coats of paint. That’s detail!<br /><br />In addition to its look, the Waverley Coupe was known for the quality of the ride. The ride of the vehicle was lower,and added drop sills enabled easier access to the vehicle. The vehicle’s body was made primarily from aluminum, providing a weight that would put less wear on the tires than conventional bodies. Dust-proof casings were used to ensure the longevity of parts, while broad windows allowed for complete visibility while driving. On top of this, the Waverley had a patented controller, for the purpose of driver safety. Thanks to this, the vehicle could only be started if it was not moving. For convenience, the reverse speed lever was placed behind the forward lever, and prohibited from being used until the forward speed lever was off.<br /><br />Despite sales to wealthy individuals such as Thomas Edison, Emile Berliner (inventor of the disk gramophone), and William E. Horlick (creator of malted milk), the company soon went out of business, competing with newer, greater technologies, and the lack of facilities to charge batteries. The Waverley Company closed in 1916.<br /><br />The Coupe contained a battery that held a charge that could last 50 miles. Today, car companies are researching ways to extend that range, and increase the speed of the electric car. Currently, the Tesla Roadster boasts a range of 220 miles per charge and a top speed of 125 miles per hour. Chevrolet plans to introduce the Volt in 2010, designed for drivers who travel fewer than 40 miles per day. Numerous other automakers are using new technology to jump on the electric car bandwagon. They owe it all to one of the first – the Waverley Electric Coupe.<br /><br />The 1910 Waverley Electric Coupe shown above can currently be seen at the Northeast Classic Car Museum, Norwich, NY. <a href="http://www.classiccarmuseum.org/">www.classiccarmuseum.org</a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Article by Adam Munio</span>NECCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033624709943716619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8336401241410844304.post-59975168664987014882009-02-09T06:51:00.000-08:002009-02-09T06:52:34.290-08:00Valentine's Day Special at the Northeast Classic Car MuseumOn February 14 & 15, 2009, bring your Valentine to the Museum and receive a carnation. <br /><br />Experience the romance of a bygone era for the first time or relive special memories with your special someone. <br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Carnation offer limited to one per adult admission.</span></em>NECCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033624709943716619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8336401241410844304.post-73814641114549770142009-02-06T15:16:00.000-08:002009-02-09T06:28:03.153-08:00Flat Stanley Visits the Northeast Classic Car MuseumFlat Stanley, a character in a book by Jeff Brown, was recently sent to visit the Northeast Classic Car Museum by Ms. Bushey's second grade class at Van Corlaer Elementary School in Schenectady, NY.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiabhdygr1LQVVr0ULe2WS42dhgEKG_qJ3PFMtIK5KdiWeQryxYmUNXJ5AweIgeW9B9R5qgLY0q9qLuAfyiJeMWH4ZvX8ucso9rJmEcB3MlDADVqPpcBPJ525PID6pBTaEdsBBE4UrDhKM/s1600-h/Stanley+%26+the+Steamer.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299829494454659666" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 169px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 132px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiabhdygr1LQVVr0ULe2WS42dhgEKG_qJ3PFMtIK5KdiWeQryxYmUNXJ5AweIgeW9B9R5qgLY0q9qLuAfyiJeMWH4ZvX8ucso9rJmEcB3MlDADVqPpcBPJ525PID6pBTaEdsBBE4UrDhKM/s320/Stanley+%26+the+Steamer.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Flat Stanley enjoyed looking at the large collection of classic automobiles on display, and was very excited to see a 1924 Stanley Steamer in the exhibit!<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299829869848575938" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 154px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 141px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuq8t8FIegpObBriDHlz5dJV6li4CAwLy3AJI4-XXXrsdRAjidUXsflKe7zVusjUbUnnnaX76SDXfd82FrNLwKaOyY7MiRpEp9f_jXcmW8deJft92KQom_wFSioVqBchOsrhcxVaB4nHs/s320/Stanley+with+a+Volunteer.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Stanley also sat in our 1965 Mustang Convertible Raffle Car, and met one of our terrific volunteers.<br /><br /><br />Flat Stanley is now on his way to other exciting locations. We are so glad he came to see us, and thank Ms. Bushey's class for letting him visit the Northeast Classic Car Museum.NECCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033624709943716619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8336401241410844304.post-58781357155294699362009-02-06T10:01:00.001-08:002009-02-06T10:31:09.411-08:00Northeast Classic Car Museum featured in Norwich Evening SunThe Northeast Classic Car Museum was featured in the Norwich Evening Sun's annual <u>Progress Chenango 2009</u>. Written by staff writer Tyler Murphy, this article takes a concise look at the Museum's past, present, and future:<br /><br />"One of the country's premier exhibition spaces for antique automobiles is parked in the heart of Chenango County, on Rexford Street in Norwich. For the past 11 years, the Northeast Classic Car Museum has continued to grow year after year and now boasts one of the largest collections along the east coast..."<br /><br />Read the <a href="http://www.evesun.com/pdfs/progress09/progress_3.pdf">full article </a>on The Evening Sun's website, <a href="http://www.evesun.com/">http://www.evesun.com/</a>.NECCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033624709943716619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8336401241410844304.post-37264605569703968972009-01-19T14:30:00.000-08:002009-01-19T14:32:38.394-08:00SuperBowl Sunday Special at the Northeast Classic Car Museum!<span style="color:#990000;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Superbowl Sunday Celebration!</span></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span><br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;">Sunday, February 1, 2009</span><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Adult Admission - <span style="color:#990000;">BUY 1, GET 1 FREE!</span></span><br /><br />Purchase one adult admission, a second adult will be admitted for FREE.<br /><em><br /></em><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Offer applies to same day, regular adult admission only. Cannot be combined with other offers.</em> </span>NECCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033624709943716619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8336401241410844304.post-7814352666222552892009-01-14T06:35:00.000-08:002009-01-14T06:37:41.370-08:00Norwich's Northeast Classic Car Museum to ExpandThe Northeast Classic Car Museum announced its plans to grow by nearly 50% by Spring 2009. Expansion was made possible when, approximately two years ago, the Museum acquired a facility of nearly 30,000 square feet that adjoins the existing Museum. According to Sewain Conklin, President of the Board of Trustees, "The Museum has put a new roof on the facility and has made some improvements to common areas since acquiring the property." Over the past year, Museum Trustees evaluated Museum expansion and have recently concluded that expansion was feasible and would further elevate NECCM as a significant automotive museum and tourist attraction.<br /><br />This is the second major expansion in the Museum's 11 years of existence. The Museum is currently conducting a Capital and Endowment Campaign effort to fund the expansion/renovation and provide for the Museum's future. More than half of the $1.1 million has been committed by Mr. George Staley and by a donation from NBT Bank. Martin A. Dietrich, CEO of NBT Bank, stated that “The Northeast Classic Car Museum is one of the area's great success stories and NBT is pleased to be an early contributor as the Museum takes another step forward in its phenomenal growth.” <br /><br />Currently, renovations are underway at the facility. The building being renovated is at least 70 years old. It once housed Bennett-Ireland, a manufacturer of fire place equipment. The Museum plans to take advantage of the building's clerestory windows and elevated center space to complement exhibits. No decisions have been made about exhibits that will occupy the space but the Exhibit Committee will begin to evaluate possibilities in the near future.<br /><br />At the conclusion of the project, the building will be completely renovated to include new exterior wall covering to be consistent with the rest of the Museum's buildings, new windows, insulation, electrical, and HVAC. <br /><br />Currently the Museum has on exhibit approximately 120 automobiles and is open 9a.m.-5p.m. daily, with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.<br /><br /><br />Contact Person: Doreen Bates, Executive Director (607)334-2886NECCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14033624709943716619noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8336401241410844304.post-9803375658453522632009-01-07T14:01:00.000-08:002009-01-07T14:27:31.578-08:00Classic Cars Honor the Nifty FiftiesThe 1950s, a decade of history that took place 50 years before the present decade, is usually thought of as a discrete, homogeneous period. The music of the ‘50s? Why, rock-n-roll, of course. The attire? Peg pants and poodle skirts, naturally. And the cars? Well, everyone knows they all had fins and bright colors, right? Actually, all of those trends were representative of the latter part of the decade only. The reality is that, for many cultural parameters, including the automobile, the early years of the decade of the 1950s were quite different from the later years.<p>Anyone who graduated from high school in 1955 knows that the records played at those dances after the basketball games did not include rock-n-roll, but were ballads such as You Belong to Me by JoStafford, Too Young by Nat King Cole, If by Perry Como, Please Mr. Sun by Johnnie Ray, Wish You Were Here by Eddie Fisher, Wheel of Fortune by Kay Starr, and Why Don’t You Believe Me? by Joni James. The saccharine lamentations of the crooners were relieved only by some novelty songs such as Come On-a My House by Rosemary Clooney and Doggie in the Window by Patti Page.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://67.199.108.150/img/50scars.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 542px; height: 144px;" src="http://67.199.108.150/img/50scars.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><p>Bill Haley and the Comets introduced the rock-n-roll era in 1956 with Rock Around the Clock, in a movie by the same name. Also in 1956, Elvis Presley captured the ratings with four huge hits: Heartbreak Hotel, Don’t Be Cruel, Hound Dog, and Love Me Tender. Examples of other hits that followed were Great Balls of Fire by Jerry Lee Lewis in 1958 and Stagger Lee by Lloyd Price in1959. The latter years of the 1950s thus became the beginning of the rock-n-roll era. (The Beatles didn’t appear on the Ed Sullivan Show until 1964.) This is the music that is commonly associated with the 1950s, even though in reality it represents only the latter half of the decade.</p><p>The same is true of other elements of 50s culture, including the automobile. Cars of the early part of the decade were quite different from those of the later years.To understand the changes that occurred throughout the automobile industry, it is necessary to go back to 1946, when the post-war production took up where pre-war styles had left off in 1941. Generally speaking, fenders were separately defined, transmissions were standard shift, batteries were 6 volt, and colors were dull. These styles continued until 1949, when the first “shoebox”Fords led the way to a more streamlined appearance. All the car companies, and there were several more American brands than there are today, changed the side view of their cars to a straight line that extended from the headlights to the taillights, making “fender” a term that merely identifiedthe four corners of the car. Automatic transmissions became more common, but the colors remained on the dull side, with a preponderance of black, gray, dark blue and dark green. These changes, considered radical when they were introduced in 1949, continued through the early 1950s, with minor style changes making each year easily identifiable.</p><p>The next major change in style occurred in 1955, proving the point that the decade saw two distinct types of cars. In addition to a further streamlining that was influenced by the jet airplane and the rocket, the cars of the late 50s appeared in bright colors, sometimes two or three in combination, and began to grow…..fins! As everyone knows, the fins grew in size and prominence, reaching their spectacular peak in 1959. The changes in appearance from year to year became more pronounced, and the interest in each September’s introduction of the new styles was intense for most young men. The new models were closely shielded from the public’s eye until the announced date, when searchlights lit up the sky to publicize the grand event.</p><p>The difference between the cars of the early 50s and those of the late 50s is evident in almost every aspect of the automobile. In addition to the colors and styles of the exterior, engines became more powerful, interiors were prettier in both color and material, and cars became bigger.</p><p>Station wagons represented a greater proportion of cars sold.</p><p>The Nifty Fifties exhibit contrasts cars from both ends of the decade, as well as shows some of the automobiles from companies which are no longer with us.</p><p>Jim Dunne, Chairman Exhibits Committee</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8336401241410844304.post-63022279162131020742009-01-07T13:26:00.000-08:002009-01-22T06:56:01.453-08:00“Doctor’s Coupe” – Precursor to the Ambulance<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://67.199.108.150/img/doctor.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 379px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 323px" alt="" src="http://67.199.108.150/img/doctor.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />You can’t always find a doctor at the Museum, but you can always find a doctor’s coupe. Presently on exhibit there are two—a 1924 Ford owned by Museum board member Bill Ballard and his wife Sandy, and George Staley’s 1926 Franklin.<br /><br />The term “doctor’s coupe” is really a misnomer. Most major car manufacturers made a model called a business coupe. These cars had two doors, one seat for two or three people, and no rumble seat in the back.<br /><br />The “no frills” interior was perfect for traveling salesmen who used the space behind the front seat to store paperwork, samples, and items for sale. Rural mail carriers found it the perfect car to carry the sorted mail to be delivered, the mail they would pick up from their customers, and for the stamps, postcards, and other supplies that they had to have on hand for the convenience of their customers.<br /><br />n a time before ambulance service, the doctor was, in many cases, the person who transported his patient to the hospital. For a doctor, the interior of the business coupe was more specialized. As shown in the inset, besides the driver’s seat and a bench seat in the back, there is a folding “jump-seat.” Folded, this seat allowed more leg room for the patient, but for a more seriously-ill patient, it allowed for someone to care for the patient while being transported.<br /><br />In the back seat, directly behind the driver’s seat, there is a platform to hold the doctor’s bag. Black finish was the only color available from the factory. The tan/brown upholstery is the authentic color for the period, changing to gray/black in 1926. Base price for this car was $525.<br /><br />Museum board member Warren Nash owns a Franklin doctor’s coupe identical to the one in the Museum’s Franklin Exhibit. If you’re in Norwich on a summer night, don’t be too surprised if you see him “putting around the City streets.”<br /><br />The car was passed down to Warren from his father.This car was purchased in 1960 and carefully restored to its original condition. The wheels have painted wooden spokes.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0