Detailing in the early days of motoring? | FerrariChat
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Detailing in the early days of motoring?

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by ferrarilover, Sep 7, 2006.

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  1. ferrarilover

    ferrarilover F1 Rookie

    Nov 5, 2003
    2,558
    Barrie, ON, Canada
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    Christopher Bailey
    #1 ferrarilover, Sep 7, 2006
    One of the guys asked me at work today "how do you think people cleaned their cars in the early 1900's?"

    I was like, "I DUH KNOW"

    "Well for one there were no dash electronics to worry about"

    Any ideas? Or facts?

    Chris
     
  2. Irishman

    Irishman F1 Rookie

    Oct 13, 2005
    3,526
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    Kevin
    #2 Irishman, Sep 7, 2006
    My idea would be that it was a job for the staff.

    Seamus
     
  3. ferrarilover

    ferrarilover F1 Rookie

    Nov 5, 2003
    2,558
    Barrie, ON, Canada
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    Christopher Bailey
    #3 ferrarilover, Sep 7, 2006
    How would the staff go about doing the task?

    Chris
     
  4. don_xvi

    don_xvi F1 Rookie

    Nov 1, 2003
    2,934
    Outside Detroit
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    Don the 16th
    #4 don_xvi, Sep 7, 2006
    Murphy's Oil Soap !!!! :)

    The same way they cleaned the carriages. Go to a horse & buggy site and ask there !
     
  5. Paul_308

    Paul_308 Formula 3

    Mar 12, 2004
    2,345
    #5 Paul_308, Sep 7, 2006
    I don't know about the 1900's but in the late 40's my dad had a woody station wagon and I spend many months sanding and varnishing. Flat head Pontiac running gear was indestructable but that wood weathered yearly.

    Quit that when I got my 50 Merc (in the last century, a merc was a Mercury) leaded, shaved, 3/4 cam etc etc. Spent more time under it than in it. Kinda like now.
     
  6. rbf41000

    rbf41000 Formula Junior

    Nov 21, 2005
    698
    Delray Beach FL
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    Russell
    #6 rbf41000, Sep 7, 2006
    Hey Paul
    are you sure the "woody" wasn't caused by all the sanding and polishing?
     
  7. Paul_308

    Paul_308 Formula 3

    Mar 12, 2004
    2,345
    #7 Paul_308, Sep 7, 2006
    Don't believe that expression came about yet...still a bone issue then.

    My brother got a 1916 or so Ford Model T. No battery but it did have a magneto to produce some juice for lights and for the 4 wooden boxes known as Ford Coils, mounted to the wooden firewall. They had adjustable reeds which vibrated like a buzzer to produce spark, a separate spark apparatus for each cylinder. I've heard there were more go-fast bolt-on gadgets for that series of cars than anything made since.

    Think one foot pedal was for reverse, one was the brake and one was high/low gear. Throttle and advance on the wheel. Clutch...musta been a hand lever. Remember hearing that old man Ford specified the size and material of the shipping crates for the transmissions and used the crates for the car's floorboards. A new Ford was little over $200 when average worker made $0.15/hr. Not taxed but still a half years wages. Nothing really changes.
     

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