Director’s Thoughts, MARCH, 2017
My Old Car
Every inch of you, I know by heart
Every nut and bolt, Every greasy part;
You’ve been with me, Through thick and thin
Sometimes I thought, You’d never start again;
But with a kind word, And a stroke of your dash
A wiggle of the key, And a pump of the gas;
You’d start right up, With a loud roar
Your body would shake, And the smoke would pour;
Just quick trips, I can’t take you far
But I’d never trade you in, I love you, my old car.
Now that it is March, many of us will be uncovering our cars and getting them ready for the upcoming car season. We will be spending a lot of time in the garage from here on in till the first couple of shows happen next month. Besides, what else would you be doing during the month of March with it still being cold with windy weather & still the chances of snow falling?
Your elected Director, Sally Getz
“Free Spirit” Chapter Meeting Minutes, February 7, 2017
Director Sally Getz called the meeting to order @ 7:24 pm. There were 16 members present.
Treasurer’s report – Motion to accept January’s report, Dolores Kennedy, seconded by Don Sterner, so carried.
Motion to accept January’s meeting minutes as printed in the February newsletter, Kathleen Duckett, seconded by Alice Schaffer, so carried.
COMITTEE REPORTS:
A. Historian – no report
B. Kempton – Flyers will be ready for the Hamburg meet in March.
C. Membership – Rodney Wiedinmyer passed away. Keep Connie in your prayers. 3 members forgot to wear their badges to tonight’s meeting, dues paid.
D. Newsletter – 11 of 14 advertisers renewed thus far.
E. Programs –March 7th = Mr. Gregory Cunningham, Director of the Goodwill Keystone, Allentown facility.
April 4th = Mr. Daniel Dillard, executive Director/CEO of the Burn Prevention Network, LV.
May 2nd = speaker from “Through These Hands”.
If you would like to hear from a specific organization or person for 2017 meetings, please let Sally Getz know.
F. Publicity – no report
G. Ways and Means – no report
I. OLD BUSINESS:
2017 Upstate NY Regional: Upstate NY Chapter will be holding a 2017 Northeast Buick Regional, September 29-October 1, 2017 @ Clifton Park, NY. (approx. 3hrs 45 mins from Allentown, Pa, or roughly 235 mi.). Their itinerary was shared by the group. Look further on this in the newsletter. Sally encouraged members to attend. You can book your room now, & delete days before the show if you cannot attend wo a charge!
II. NEW BUSINESS
Since this chapter will be 40 years young this September, there will be a huge celebration held during this year’s picnic on June 4th. This is 1 of those times when many members attend a chapter event! MARK YOUR CALENDARS, JUNE 4th!!
Sally received an email from Mr. Larry Park, Australia, looking for help on a replacement of a 1946 manual gearbox. 3 members offered their information to be given to this fellow Australian gentleman.
Motion to adjourn, Dolores Kennedy, seconded, Stacy Sterner, so carried @ 7:49 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas Duckett, Secretary
BOD Meeting Minutes, February 7, 2017
Director Sally Getz called BOD Meeting to order @ 5:29 pm. 9 of 10 officers/BOD were present.
Tours for 2017:
Musical Memories Museum, Allentown, Pa. March 25th, Stacy Sterner
Kraemer’s Textiles, Nazareth, Pa, April 24th, Stacy Sterner
Hatfield Auto Museum, Hatfield, Pa, May 6th, Sally Getz
Lake Tobias Wildlife Park, Halifax, Pa. May 18th, Donald Sterner
Thomas Edison Museum, NJ. Sept. 23rd, Kathleen Duckett
2018 NE PA ALL Buick Regional, Lehighton, Pa. meeting May 11th.
Motion to adjourn, Dolores Kennedy, seconded, Kathleen Duckett, so carried @ 5:55 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas Duckett, Secretary
RODNEY C. WIEDINMYER
Rodney C. Wiedinmyer, 88, of Exeter, Pa., passed away Monday, February 6th, at his residence surrounded by his loving wife and devoted children. Rodney was born in Reading, Pa., on November 16, 1928, a son of the late Amanda (Strunk) and Charles Wiedinmyer. He was the husband of Constance L. (Markison) Wiedinmyer for 63 years. Rodney lived in Reading until he was 16 and moved to San Francisco, Calif. He was drafted into the Army in 1951 and served in Korea from 1951-1952, receiving a Purple Heart. After leaving the service, he became a barber and moved back to Reading in 1973 where he worked for Anthony’s Barbershop for more than 26 years. Rodney was a member of the Men’s Senior Bowling Team at Bowl-a-Rama and enjoyed it with many of his friends. He also owned a vintage Buick convertible and was a member of AACA and the Buick Club of America. Rodney enjoyed attending the car shows and the many friends he had met. He was also a member of VFW Post #38 and the Second Indian Head division. Rodney is survived by his wife; a daughter, Debra L, wife of Dennis R. Suhrke; and six sons: Timothy C., husband of Kathleen J. (Foley); Daniel R., husband of Carrie F. (Tapian); Eric K.; Christopher G.; Peter P.; and Robert L., husband of Jane (Heck). He is also survived by two sisters, Arline Seibert and Fay Fizz. Rodney is also survived by 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. He is predeceased by a sister, Fern Pappas. Interment will be private at the convenience of the family at Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, Calif.
March 7, 2017
Be sure to wear your BADGE! When you became a “Free Spirit” Chapter member, you received a badge with your name on it. Be sure to find it to wear to each & every meeting. If you are a recent new member & you did not receive your badge yet, please ask Dolores Kennedy for one. If you are a member & your spouse does not have a badge, please see Dolores Kennedy.
Dolores Kennedy will be collecting a dollar from anyone who attends the meeting NOT wearing their badge.
Musical Memories Museum Tour, March 25, 2017
Ray Scheffy knows a thing or two about player pianos. “I can’t play it, but I can turn it on,” he said. When Ray wasn’t catching on quick enough as a young boy, his piano teacher asked him to quit. He did, but his love of the instrument stayed & he found another way to make beautiful music. If you have an appointment, Ray will take you on a tour of his Lehigh Valley home, which also acts as the third largest museum of its kind in Pennsylvania.
Ray built his home, known as the Musical Memories Museum, around his private collection. The ceiling upstairs was designed to be flat until a pipe organ came along. He switched the design to cathedral ceilings to accommodate it. He gives tours, because, as Scheffy said, “Just to have people around & see what mostly people haven’t even heard of this stuff to begin with & here they can actually see it & hear it.” There’s more than 3,000 square feet of musical machines, & to add to the charm, there are quirky odds & ends from the same eras scattered in between.
If you ask Ray who the folks are in the photos that adorn the tops of the pianos, he’ll tell you there’s no relation, but they do go with the decor. He’s been collecting since he was 10. An antique wooden kitchen clock was his first piece. Ray is an electrician by trade, & he couldn’t play piano, but he could figure out how to fix most anything. “Almost all my life I was in business for myself & I got into a lot of houses & that’s, you know, people had stuff they wanted to get rid of & I didn’t know what to do with it,” he said. Ray would take pieces home &, more often than not, restore them to their original glory. Pianos, organs, Victrola’s, jukeboxes, music boxes, radios, and old TVs. There’s a lot of joy as you follow Ray around. They are treasured pieces from an era gone by when listening to a little music was enough.
Time: Meet @ the Starlight Diner at 9:30 am, leave @ 9:45, & arrive @ 10:00 am to our destination.
Member Cost (any age): $3.00 per person. Non-member Cost (any age): $5.00 per person.
Lunch (pay your own) following the tour.
Send check, made payable to “Free Spirit” Chapter, BCA, to Stacy Sterner, 121 Pheasant Drive, Kutztown, Pa 19530. Please R.S.V.P. by March 22, 2017.
Kraemer Textile Mill Tour, April 24, 2017
Kraemer Textiles has been custom spinning yarn for many types of industries for over 100 years, including apparel, carpet, home furnishings, industrial and craft. Our hand knitting line, Kraemer Yarns, began in 2005 and look forward to keeping up with the rapidly growing demand for quality yarns for many years to come.
Kraemer Textile Mill Tour, Monday, April 24 @10:00 am.
Meet at the Starlight Diner & Lounge at – 9:00 am, leaving at 9:15 am.
Lunch after the tour. Location to be determined closer to the actual tour date.
Members (any age) = $4.00 per member. Non-members (any age) = $8.00 pp R.S.V.P. to Stacy Sterner, 121 Pheasant Drive, Kutztown, Pa. 19530, by April 20, 2017.
Hatfield Auto Museum Tour, May 6, 2017
The Hatfield Auto Museum offers a truly unique automotive experience. Conveniently located in Hatfield (Montgomery County) PA, they specialize in Antique, Classic & Special-Interest cars. They cater to both auto enthusiasts & local auto clubs, & their #1 objective is to have fun when dealing with their cars & automotive passion. The museum is the kind of place where you can come to look at unique vehicles, or simply seek advice on your automotive problems, questions, or concerns. Whether you are buying, selling, or trading cars…whether you are seeking advice on repairs, painting, or parts…or anything else automotive…the Hatfield Auto Museum can probably help. The Hatfield Auto Museum is not a stuffy museum. Rather it is a 100-year old former automotive showroom that has been completely restored & decorated in a vintage & antique motif. On the 1st floor is the Vehicle Showroom & Storage Area. You can enjoy the many rarities that are in the building. On the 2nd floor is the Museum’s Event Center and “Old Car Bar”. Here you can preview additional Antique & Classic Cars, see the Automotive Collectibles Display, or just shoot a game of pool on their 19th century pool table. It is handicapped accessible.
Meet @ Starlite Diner & Lounge by 9:30, leaving promptly @ 9:45 am.
Lunch following the tour.
Member (any age) = $6.00 per member. Non-member (any age) = $12.00 per person. R.S.V.P. to Sally Getz, 1060 Main Road, Lehighton, Pa 18235 by May 2, 2017.
Upstate NY NE Buick Regional, September29-October 1, 2017
Clifton Park, New York
Meet Itinerary- Friday: self-driving tour to the Saratoga Auto Museum.
Saturday: car show 9AM – 3 PM & banquet
Sunday: An after tour of historic sites is being developed.
HOTEL INFORMATION Homewood Suites & the Hilton Garden Inn located at Exit 9, Rt 87 (the Northway) with easy off/on availability. The hotels are adjacent to the Clifton Park Center Mall, with vibrant shopping, & are close to many regional historical sites, plus multiple dinner & entertainment venues. There are other major chain hotels in the immediate area. This will be prime leaf peeping season! We recommend making room reservations as soon as possible. NOTE: Both hotels will honor the special rates from Thursday night, September 28, 2017 through Sunday night, October 1, 2017.
HOST HOTEL: Homewood Suites, Clifton Park Center, 42 Clifton Country Rd, Clifton Park, NY 12065. Rates 135+ tax per nite includes breakfast. Call 518-371-2000 or 1-800-HILTONS. Mention room code BCA.
Hilton Garden Inn, Clifton Park Center, 30 Clifton Country Rd, Clifton Park, NY 12065. Rates $125 + tax, dbl Queen, King. No breakfast included but available on premises. 1-800-HILTONS. Mention room code BCA.
Northeast PA All Buick Regional, September, 2018, Lehighton, Pa
A Northeast PA All Buick Regional will be held @ Lehighton, Pa @ Pfeiffers Ice Dams. This is a community park with pavilions, ball field, grass, macadam, playground, & plenty of space for a nice show! There are 2 local hotels, 1 within 0.5 miles & 1 just 1 mile away. There are fine dining restaurants as well as fast food restaurants. The PA turnpike is only 1 mile away for those who travel! Please keep abreast of the future newsletters to be kept in the loop about this exciting event!
History of Roads
The first indications of constructed roads date from about 4000 BC and consist of stone paved streets at Ur in modern-day Iraq and timber roads preserved in a swamp in Glastonbury, England.
Late 1800s Road Builders The road builders of the late 1800s depended solely on stone, gravel and sand for construction. Water would be used as a binder to give some unity to the road surface. John Metcalfe, a Scot born in 1717, built about 180 miles of roads in Yorkshire, England (even though he was blind). His well-drained roads were built with three layers: large stones; excavated road material; and a layer of gravel. Modern tarred roads were the result of the work of two Scottish engineers, Thomas Telford and John Loudon McAdam. Telford designed the system of raising the foundation of the road in the center to act as a drain for water.
Thomas Telford (born 1757) improved the method of building roads with broken stones by analyzing stone thickness, road traffic, road alignment and gradient slopes. Eventually his design became the norm for all roads everywhere. John Loudon McAdam (born 1756) designed roads using broken stones laid in symmetrical, tight patterns and covered with small stones to create a hard surface. McAdam’s design, called “macadam roads,” provided the greatest advancement in road construction.
Asphalt Roads Today, 96% of all paved roads and streets in the U.S. – almost two million miles – are surfaced with asphalt. Almost all paving asphalt used today is obtained by processing crude oils. After everything of value is removed, the leftovers are made into asphalt cement for pavement. Man-made asphalt consists of compounds of hydrogen and carbon with minor proportions of nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen. Natural forming asphalt, or brea, also contains mineral deposits. The first road use of asphalt occurred in 1824, when asphalt blocks were placed on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. Modern road asphalt was the work of Belgian immigrant Edward de Smedt at Columbia University in New York City. By 1872, De Smedt had engineered a modern, “well-graded,” maximum-density asphalt. The first uses of this road asphalt were in Battery Park and on Fifth Avenue in New York City in 1872 and on Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington D.C., in 1877.
History of the License Plate
A vehicle registration plate (or license plate) is a metal or plastic plate attached to a motor vehicle or trailer for official identification purposes. The registration identifier is a numeric or alphanumeric code that uniquely identifies the vehicle within the issuing region’s database. In some countries, the identifier is unique within the entire country, while in others it is unique within a state or province. Whether the identifier is associated with a vehicle or a person also varies by issuing agency. Depending on the country, the vehicle registration plate may be called a license plate or tag (United States), license plate (Canada), or number plate (United Kingdom), or rego plate (Australia).
License plates have been around for longer than there have been automobiles. France was the first country to introduce the license plate with the passage of the Paris Police Ordinance on August 14, 1893, followed by Germany in 1896. The Netherlands was the first country to introduce a national license plate, called a “driving permit”, in 1898. The first licenses were plates with a number, starting at 1. By August 8, 1899 the counter was at 168. When the Netherlands chose a different way to number the plates on January 15, 1906 the last issued plate was 2001. In the U.S., where each state issues plates, New York State has required plates since 1901. At first, plates were not government issued in most jurisdictions and motorists were obliged to make their own. In 1903, Massachusetts was the first state to issue plates.
The first license plates in North America appeared in 1903 in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Soon after, other states followed suit, with virtually every state having adopted a form of license plates by 1918. The first license plates in the United States were made out of leather, rubber, iron and porcelain, painted on the front in usually two different colors—one for the background and one for the lettering. This scheme held true for most states until about 1920. The front of the plate would usually contain the registration number in large digits, and in smaller lettering on one side of the plate, the two- or four-digit year number, and an abbreviated state name. Each year, citizens were usually required to obtain a new license plate from the state government, which would have a different color scheme than the previous year, making it easier for police to identify whether citizens were current with their vehicle registration. Even before 1920, some states had adopted the technique of embossing the metal plates with raised lettering and numbering, without porcelain, and applying paint all over the plate, directly onto the metal. Minnesota introduced some license plates during this period with three different years embossed into the plate, so that the plates were valid for three consecutive years (e.g., 1918, 1919, and 1920).
In the United States, license plates are issued by each state. The federal government issues plates only for its own vehicle fleet and for vehicles owned by foreign diplomats. In the United States, many Native American tribal governments issue plates for their members, while some states provide special issues for tribal members. Within each jurisdiction, there may also be special plates for groups such as firefighters or military veterans, and for state, municipality, or province-owned vehicles.
The appearance of plates is frequently chosen to contain symbols or slogans associated with the issuing jurisdiction. Some of these are intended to promote the region. A few make political statements; for example, most plates issued in Washington, D.C. include the phrase “Taxation Without Representation” to highlight D.C.’s lack of a voting representative in the United States Congress. More recently, some states have also started to put a web address pertaining to the state (such as Pennsylvania, which posts the address of its tourism site). In some states (Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee and some versions in Florida), the issuing county is listed at the bottom, while Kansas does so with a letter-coded registration sticker; Utah did so until 2003. Indiana county stickers are at the top. Alabama, Idaho, Montana, Ohio, South Dakota, Wyoming, some Nebraska and Oklahoma plates designate the county by number code (the latter with a letter) either in the plate number or registration sticker.
Most states use plates onto which the letters and numbers are embossed so that they are slightly raised above its surface. Several—Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia—have moved to entirely digitally produced flat license plates. Several other U.S. states now use a color thermal transfer production process that produces a flat license plate for only short-run plates such as personalized license plates and special interest plates. The territory of Nunavut has recently introduced the first flat license plate in Canada.
The numbering system of license plates also varies among the jurisdictions. Some states issue a motorist a serial that stays with that person as long as they live in that state, while other states periodically issue new serials and completely rotate out any old ones. Several states do not regularly use certain letters — most commonly the letters I, O, and/or Q — in their plates, except on vanity plates, so as not to confuse observers with the numbers one and zero.
When a person moves from one state or province to another, they are normally required to obtain new license plates issued by the new place of residence. Some U.S. states will even require a person to obtain new plates if they accept employment in that state, unless they can show that they return to another state to live on a regular basis. The most prominent exceptions to this policy are active duty military service members, who legally do not change residence when they move to a new posting. Federal law specifically allows them to choose to either retain the state vehicle registration of their original residence or change registration to their state of assignment.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
MARCH 2017 HAPPY ST. PATRICK’s DAY!
5 – Hamburg Swap Meet, Hamburg, PA. Sponsored: Ontelaunee Region AACA.
7 – Chapter meeting, Starlite Diner & Lounge, Rts. 78/100, Allentown, Pa. Supper @ 6 pm, business meeting @7:30 pm. Remember, wear your BADGE! Guest speaker is Mr. Gregory Cunningham, Director of Goodwill Keystone area, Allentown, Pa facility.
10-12 – Atlantic City Convention Center show, Atlantic City, NJ
25 – Musical Memories Museum Tour w/ Stacy Sterner.
APRIL 2017 APRIL FOOL’s DAY
4 – Monthly chapter meeting, Starlite Diner & Lounge, Allentown, Pa. Dinner @ 6 pm, business meeting @ 7:30 pm. REMEMBER TO WEAR YOUR BADGE! Guest speaker is Mr. Daniel Dillard, Executive Director/CEO of Burn Prevention Network, Allentown, Pa.
19-23 – Carlisle Spring Meet, Carlisle, Pa
22 – 10th Annual Community Classic Car Show, Douglassville, Pa. 610-404-4922
24 – Kraemer’s Textiles Tour, Nazareth, PA. Stacy Sterner
28-30 – Spring Englishtown Swap Meet, Raceway Park, Englishtown, NJ.
29 – Model A/AA Show & Sap Meet, Grist Mill Park, Hellertown, Pa.
30 – 43rd Auto Parts Swap Meet, Leesport, Pa. 610-926-3061
MAY 2017 HAPPY SPRING!!
2 – Monthly chapter meeting, Starlite Diner & Lounge, Allentown, Pa. Dinner @ 6 pm, business meeting @ 7:30 pm. REMEMBER TO WEAR YOUR BADGE!
Guest speaker, “Through These Hands”, Allentown, Pa.
6 – Tour to Hatfield Auto Museum, Hatfield, Pa. Tour master = Sally Getz
7 – 39th Annual GM on Display Show, Macungie Park, Macungie, Pa
28 – Annual “Spring Into Summer” Show, Bristol, Pa. 215-752-0484
CARS/PARTS “FOR SALE”
1939 Buick Special (41) 4-DR Trunk back Sedan, unrestored original car, Straight 8, manual transmission. Runs well! Rebuilt engine & components, brake system, drive train, transmission. Upgraded carb, electronic ignition, oil filter, NEW exhaust system. WW tires. Pics available. $16,500/negotiable. Ken Davis, 610-489-1649. kwmcdavis@verizon.net.
1962 Buick Skylark Conv. Overall GOOD condition. Various NOS chrome installed. Runs/drives nice! Transmission, rear, top & rear window good. Dave’s Int. restorations, 525 Chestnut St., Emmaus, Pa 18049
1966 Buick Skylark GS 2 dr HDT, red/white top. $16,500.00. 610-582-3758
1979 Buick Riviera 32,000 miles call Michael Spitzer at 215-255-5768
1981 Buick Regal 4 DR dark green, garage kept. 75K mi. 717-576-7588
1987 Buick GN, T-Top blk w/ grey/blk int., orig parts, EXCELLENT condition, 3200 ORIGINAL miles. Stored in heat controlled garage. $28,500 (OBO), gbrentano@verizon.net
1996 Buick Riviera Diamond White w/ excellent burgundy leather interior. 106K miles. Supercharged, chrome wheels, Astor roof. Garaged kept. New tires 9,000 miles ago. Super clean; not driven in winters; used for BDE Tours. Cold AC. Well maintained Buick. $7000. Ed Lenny BCA # 7534 Allentown, PA. lugnuts36@icloud.com, 610-751-7700
1951-52 Buick Mustache Bar to be rechromed, very hard to find! $400.00. William, 610-970-7183, 484-948-6213.
1958 Super/Limited Chrome & stainless trim, rear Ltd. Bumper end. 610-509-2061.
1964 Buick 300 V-8 w/ factory aluminum heads, complete w/ fan, carb, air cleaner, etc. TH 400 auto trans #BU-64-23582. Eng. #4K5029219, $700.00. 610-509-2061.
In Search Of
OPEL Manual, 717-201-1660.
1948 Buick Special 2 door back chrome. Doug @ 570-573-0948.
1951-52 Buick Roadmaster RH grille bar extension. C. Wenger, 433-710-6624, crewzn@broadstripe.net
1967 Buick Electra Conv. 610-730-4599, dwebster80@gmail.com