Forensics for Fun

SuperDave

Sometimes I enjoy trying to uncover the history of an old car and even parts of old cars. I'm sure I'm not the only one that wonders where  "it" came from and where it's been. 

 In the process of gathering parts to resurrect my 49 Tudor from a junkyard dog, I came across a clock in my parts stash. I have no recollection of where it came from. (I have documented 14 states involved in accumulating the parts SO FAR!)  Its an electric (Commodore) and 48-50? Has an ink date stamp on the back "1950". Someone has etched the name "Dr. Schirrman" on the back. I am thinking that it may have been taken to a watch shop to be repaired and the owners name engraved at that time. or maybe a hidden means of identification in the event the car was stolen?   A quick Google search turned up a scholar in Germany and a very young female Veterinary in the U.S. No Shirrman shows in the roster.

A set of hub caps that I found on a rotted and rusty 49 that had been destroyed by a back hoe in Indian River County Fl., had "1951 Hornet, 7Wxxx" etched inside them. That was determined to be an Orange County Florida  tag number. Most likely the owner etched in case his were stolen.  How did they get on to a 49 in Indian River  County? That might be an interesting story.

Anyone else have fun with this subject? 

 

keithfullmeryahoocom

Several tell-tale clues have pointed to the possibility that an ex owner/operator of a Ford project that I had for years, may have had a bit of a "drinking issue".
I have wondered if a couple of worn-out bottle openers and a can opener under the front seat along with many of aluminum pop-tops from the 60's era under the floor mat may have anything to do with the fact that there was not one fender on this thing that hadn't met up with, what appeared to be a brick wall.

Cigarette-burned holes in the front and rear seats and lids from what appeared to be cheap whiskey bottles also pointed to what may have been an "interesting" life style.
Keith

SuperDave

I recall reading about a 35 Ford that a fellow bought. Gas gauge was not reliable. could only put a few gallons of gas in at a time and seemed to run out of gas frequently. After removing the tank (which weighed a ton!) he found it was nearly full of coins. Seems the owner always dumped his change in the tank every time he filled up! I have never been that lucky.. only found a pound or two of rust and sludge.

Browniepetersen

I found a number of silver dollars taped inside the front passenger door panel on a 30's car I once bought. I guess the owner wanted to have a bit of cash on hand if they needed it? My favorite is the last car I purchased, I posted the story on this forum and got a note from the second owner of the car who owned it in the 70's. He was able to tell me the whole story of the car. That was a lot of fun. With my English Hudson it was easy to track back the history to the original owner. The fun thing about this is that it has been in the hands of HET folks after the original owner sold it. It has also traveled from England to, Hong Kong, then to Canada, next the East Coast then the West Coast. It sold at auction in Reno Nevada to a fellow in Utah. It has spent it's last twenty or so years here in Utah. Fun Stuff......

drivergo2

Mine was a barn car then a shed car then a lein to car finaly afield car before i got it. Came to the dairy  in 1966I got in 2008, All i found in it was a ball point pen And a nickel, a used can of trans. fluid and a can of stp whitch i passed on to another member on here.  Also the biggest rat pile i have ever had the plesure to shovel out of the trunk. John