1929/30 Ford AA 1 1/2 Ton

[Dave Buczkowski]

All;
    I got to thinking that there hasn't been anything posted on the "Rhine" truck recently. In fact I couldn't even find the link it's been so long. With parade season almost upon us I was wondering if the truck has been lettered or otherwise prepared for use in promoting the Museum. My family usually attends the Olde Bristol Days parade and I've shown up twice with my old Pontiac (soon to be an orphan) and been in the parade. I even drove the Grand Marshal one year so I know participation is easy and welcome. Is there a program for getting checked out on it as I could handle OBD if qualified? I suspect the answer is that the truck sat in the garage at Les Fossil's all winter with nothing being done. Are their any plans afoot?
Dave

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Dave,  The AA truck is in Gordon Davis barn in Sheepscot village.  I think Leon was going to check it out for operation this year.  I know Gordon has kept the battery charged.  The truck can be driven out once the ground has firmed up.    No lettering has been applied but Allan checked into a place in Wiscasset that would do it in vinyl.  I think the lettering should be hand painted but that takes time and patience.  I have a design that would look good, it's based on the lettering that was on the side of WW&F engine 4 back in the teens.  As to operation, I think the Board (or Safety Committee) has a member or two who can train and clear museum members to operate the Model AA truck as well as the Model T railcar.   The main thing with both the AA and T is learning how to start and run the engine.  The key is knowing how to set the carburetor fuel mixture and controlling the spark advance.   

Our insurance requires that the truck be kept under cover.  There was discussion on parking the truck in the south end of bay 3 once the construction projects have cleared that part of the bay.  The truck is only 15 feet long so it won't take much room.

As to taking the truck to parades, if it's farther than Wiscasset, the truck could be trailered.       Stewart

[Jock Ellis]

I know the museum likes to maintain authenticity, but vinyl lettering will last 5-7 years while hand-painted lettering will not look good after two. I know. When I worked for a sign company, I re-painted our sandblasted sign with imitation gold and it didn't hold up anytime at all. Vinyl is so thin that it will look like paint to anyone over, say, two feet away. On the other hand, our company's owner told me that if it were up to him, he'd do nothing but hand paint signs all day. He loved it.
Jock Ellis

[Mike Fox]

The truck was returned to Museum grounds Saturday.