| Author |
Message |
Chuck Conrad
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 03, 2005 - 1:32 pm: | |
Now for something completely different:
I recently acquired a 1949 Flxible Clipper. It's my third bus in about 25 years. The difference is I converted the others into motorhomes. This one I plan to restore to the way it was when new.
It was purchased new by Allen B. DuMont Labs for use as a TV remote unit. They in turn, outfitted it and delivered it to Channel 8 in Dallas. For those of you who don't know, DuMont was an early TV network, which among other things was responsible for The Jackie Gleason Show. They also built equipment and supplied it to early TV stations.
Channel 8 used the bus until the early 1970's. There is quite a bit of interesting history attached to it, so I believe it is worth saving. Unfortunately, it's been sitting outside since it was retired.
I plan to restore it to the way it was originally, TV cameras and all. In fact, I got some of the equipment with the deal. But a lot is missing.
The coach seems to be in remarkably decent shape, with very little rust or dents. It still has the original Buick Straight Eight engine in place. Some external hardware, clearence light lenses, and the right front passenger door window are missing.
Does anyone know of good sources for Flxible Clipper parts? Maybe there is one sitting in a junk yard in the Texas, Arkansas or Louisiana area?
While the coach is more or less intact, it is going to require just about everything. It is going to be a huge job.
If you'd like to see what kind of project I've bitten off, visit: www.chalkhillmedia.org/museum
Any help or suggestions woould be appreciated.
Thanks,
Chuck |
TWODOGS (Twodogs)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 03, 2005 - 3:30 pm: | |
NEAT...I know you are thinking about "original"....but...wouldn't it be nice to get some air dams off big truck roofs & enclose the A/C... |
RJ Long (Rjlong)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 03, 2005 - 3:53 pm: | |
Actually, 2D, Chuck could pull that massive A/C unit and replace it with a modern RV model that would be more efficient and less of a power hog. Remember, that big unit was there to keep a whole bunch of tube-powered equipment cool, not to mention the folk working inside. |
jimmci9 #2
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 03, 2005 - 6:53 pm: | |
email me offline at jimcat2@webtv.net i know where there are 2 flex's.... both have titles... one supposedly was gene autry's bus....located now in south texas |
Chuck Conrad
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 04, 2005 - 11:11 am: | |
Originally, the bus had no air conditioning at all. It was added later. Can you imagine what it must have been like in Texas during the summer time? And don't forget that it was filled with a massive amounts of tube type electronics. It must have been like sitting inside a pizza oven.
Although the air conditioning is incredibly ugly, it has some historical significance. This mobile unit was "on the air" feeding ABC-TV when Lee Harvey Oswald was shot. It was also used extensively during coverage of the entire Kennedy Assassination coverage in Dallas. It was also used at Love Field to feed the network when Air Force one left Dallas after the incident. You can find its picture in old newspapers of the era, complete with the AC unit.
Of course, it would look a lot better without the thing, but I hesitate to modify history. But it is tempting. The worst part is I'm probably going to need to remove it to repair the camera platform that is on the roof.
As an update, I connected power up to it yeaterday, and the AC unit works very well! Amazing.
At least it is making the interior cleaning process a lot more pleasant. It was 95 here yesterday, and it is parked outside in the sun. It was quite comfortable inside. |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 04, 2005 - 9:20 pm: | |
If you want to preserve the value, leave it all as-is, but restore
it all to functioning ability, if possible.
If pictures depict it in the form it is, it should be left in that form. |
Bob Vandawalker (Rav221)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 05, 2005 - 12:46 pm: | |
Looking forward to seeing you on Good Morning America and others when it's done. It will certainly be of interest to the networks.. you have my attention. When you can please posts more pics... |
Jraymond
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 05, 2005 - 2:01 pm: | |
This is an incredibly bad idea. Instead, you should finish the bus per the original plan and see it to me cheap. |
|