The PT Cruiser

Posted 8-15-2002

We absolutely love our new PT Cruiser --- as do thousands of members of the PT Cruiser Club. Click Here for a whole website full of customized PT Cruiser photos!.

Everyone loves the Retro look and we often are asked about the historical antecedents of the design. When I look at it, I see the 1937 Chrysler Airflow:

However, Natalie, my neighbor says that it looks like a 1936 Opel:

Others look at it and see the Skoda 1101:

We have heard from others about the 1939 Plymouth:

However, my memory of the PT Cruiser comes from California in the late 1950s when hot rodders customized panel trucks into Hot Rods. Here are two of my favorites.

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Posted 09-20-05

I have a personal interest in the famous Serro "Scotty" trailer -- not because I own one, but because their plant was in Irwin, Pa. Right next to the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the company had an enormous parking lot with a large numebr of trailers stored ready for shipment. When I saw that parking lot and the big "Scotty" sign, I knew that my home in Pittsburgh wasn't far away.

There is a Serro Scotty Website that has a whole lot of detail on these wonderful creations. My interest was recently piqued by this photo of a PT Cruiser towing a Model 10 (or "Tear Drop") This trailer is 10-feet long and the back opened to access kitchen. You can sleep two people inside. They only made 225 of them.

PT Cruiser Towing a "Tear Drop"

One of my readers sent me this photo of a very lovely Serro Silverside (The "Sportsman 13" in the ad). The 13-foot Scotty weighs 975 lbs. dry weight. The 15-footer is 1300 lbs.

Serro Sportsman Model 13 (The "Silverside")

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Posted 12-29-2004

I haven't done anything with my collection of stuff for most of the year. I did manage to build three low-slung streamlined shelves this year to get the remainder of my "stuff" off the floor. I have an entire 1040s kitchen (Youngstown) in my garage and I was going to re-finish all the cabinets and install it this year .... but that didn't get done. Maybe next year. I did manage to get my 56 Studebaker finished (except the interior) and running this year (see attachments) so I did get somethingaccomplished this year.

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Posted 8-15-2002

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Posted 6-15-2001

O.K. They are not "wheeled", but they are the kind of "wheels" that every kid wanted to see during the Winter Holidays

These two sleds belonged to Karen's brothers Howard and Mike and they were passed down to her sons Kevin and Justin. They had fallen into extreme disrepair when I got hold of them. I just adore them because of their "Rocket Plane" name. Howard and Mike are my age and I know that this is JUST the kind of thing that got my blood racing on cold winter days. The name "Rocket Plane" suggested Commander Cody and Chuck Yeager and Captain Video and everything else that little boys dreamed about in the very early 1950s. Alas, at that time we lived in the city and it didn't make a whole lot of sense to have a sled... especially when we didn't have groceries half the time. I had to content myself with taking the streetcar to a park and then bumming rides off the rich kids that had sleds. (AWWW...)

At any rate it was with great enthusiasm that I undertook the complete restoration of both sleds. It was good that I was so eager, because just about everything was wrong with them. Two generations of boys had wreaked a lot of damage. To add to the misery, these things were NOT meant to be taken apart --- everything is either welded or held together with rivets. I had to repair or create wood parts, have metal welded, and mask everything off six ways from Sunday to repaint the thing. Once again, my friends at the Monarch Paint Store on Connecticut Avenue were very helpful in preparing lacquer that exactly matched the original color

Even with the repairs, I really don't think that the sleds are in condition for extensive use by young boys. Because the varnish wore off, the exposed wood parts deteriorated significantly and do not have the strength and flexibility to function as they were intended. Alas, they can only suggest the rip roaring fun of coasting down a steep hill. I can almost smell my soaking wet Hopalong Cassidy jacquard-knit wool sweater when I look at them --- you always got soaking wet when you went out sledding.

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I am just totally thrilled by this! This is a real live Columbia "Five Star Superb" bicycle that came out of an attic in a moving sale. I was helping some neighbors lug things around and they said "You like old things... would you like this?" I managed to remain nonchalant, but my heart was racing. This bike was the Holy Grail of my youth --- the rich kids had bikes like this, but the only way a poor kid (like me) could get close was to work really hard. I sold Cloverine Brand Salve. I sold LOTS of Cloverine Brand Salve. When I had sold enough to claim the Columbia Five Star as my prize, the company was a bit embarassed --- nobody had ever sold enough salve to claim the prize. They offered me the job of District Manager, but I took the bike instead. I rode the one I earned until the fat fenders and tank were out of style. So, I "customized" it. Then it fell apart through total neglect and abuse on my part. I am so thrilled to get a second chance at one of these totally beautiful objects.

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This is a Sears Craftsman model 121-81762 reel-type manual lawnmower. I got this about fifteen years ago at a garage sale and it always worked just fine. (I have a VERY small yard...) This winter, I decided to restore it. After stripping away years of rust and grime, I was stunned to find that the original colors were a very lively green and yellow. The somber patina of age gave an unusual dignity to the old mower; I was somewhat surprised, much as the folks who restored Mount Vernon or the Sistine Chapel. "New" is not necessarily "Dignified". Kudos to Sears of the 1940s --- the mower was completely intact, and everything is in fine condition. Even though the thing is nearly sixty years old, there is hardly any wear at all.

I took the mower to Piney Branch Hardware, the last place in the city that sharpens these things. The staff was delighted to see it. So am I...

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