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December 1940. "The son of Mr. John Rambone, Italian market gardener getting ready for a trip into town. Johnston, Rhode Island." Let the automotive discussion begin! 35mm nitrate negative by Jack Delano. View full size.
...on snow is an interesting theory but the reality is that there's usually a layer of ice on the pavement - and boy, do narrow tires not work on ice! Go wide, with studs.
According to the 1940 Census. This particular son looks to be one of his older sons, so it must either be Joseph (age 32) or Antonio (age 29).
He's just rummaging around for some baling wire to fix whatever is wrong under the hood. He'll be on his way shortly.
My Father-inlaw was a rural mail carrier near Sioux City, IA and had a five window '29 coup with rumble seat kit and exhaust manifold heat exchanger that was really a hole through the firewall. When there was a deep snowfall, he would leave his modern 1990 4 wheel drive pickup at home and take the A on his route because the narrow tires would cut through the snow to the pavement instead of sliding around like my wide tired luxury car. Funny how old technology can be an improvement!
I noticed the engine hood is open on the drivers side -- what do you think is up with that? Possible snow packing? Appears he may have cleeared snow from the passenger side engine hood.
If his Model A Ford is anything like my 1928 Ford Phaeton the cars' wooden floors transmit some of their engine heat up into the passenger compartment, likely making his drive in the snow more comfortable.
and you two are exactly right. Looked like a Cabriolet to me but then I went to my friend Google.
I have a 1931 Coupe myself but it’s a street rod. Built it in the '70s and it has been sitting in my garage since my oldest starting racing karts in the '90s. He races cars now.
They look like a pair of lineman's boots, Radio Free Babylon. Wesco makes some great ones.
It is a 1929 business coupe with 30-31 wheels. That was the only year for the oval side windows. An unusual and desirable model today.
The 28-29 wheels were 21", with a small hubcab. 30-31 wheels were 19", with a larger, flatter hubcap.
(I own a 1928 Fordor, and used to own a 1931 Coupe. My father was a Model A guy and I've been around them my entire life.)
28/29 Model A Ford Cabriolet. Roadsters did not have roll up windows and Coupes had metal "tops" with a fabric covering in the center of the top you wouldn't be able to see in this pic and I am pretty sure the wheels were the same for all Models A’s 28 thru 31.
Must have been an interesting ride into town.
How about the cool boots discussion? Or the hexagonal siding on the house discussion?
Looks like a 20's Model A Roadster, but I have only seen the Porthole tops on the trucks. I thought maybe an American, but the vents went horizontal not vertical on the American Roadster. That is a good one. Either they switched tops from the Factory top, or it is a model I do not know.
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