World's Fair in Dallas

ajohn

ajohn

Senior Member
My father,long ago,told me he went to the Word's Fair in Dallas in 1936,I think he said.He also said Ford had a display with two mechanics in white coveralls with the blue Ford oval were onstage with a new flathead V8 engine running.They shut off the engine,drained the liquids,and disassembled it and laid the parts out on a blanket.Then they reassembled the engine and ran it again.Another pair of mechanics would come on stage when it was their shift and do the same thing.Has anyone else heard of this? James:)
 
I didn't even know there was a WF in '36. Was there any Ford literature or trinkets produced like in '33/34?
 
Carpenter is reproducing the gearshift knobs they handed out for the Eastern National Meet. They commemorate the 100th anniversary of Texas's independence from Mexico.
 
your father was correct, this was one of the Ford demos.
There were many souveniors from the anniversary expo, including gear shift knobs with the lone star in the center. This was not the only expo that Ford attended in 36, Cleveland was another
 
The 1936 show was called the Texas Centennial Celebration and was not a so called Worlds Fair. It celebrated Texas 1836 - 1936. The Cleveland event was called the Great Lakes Exhibition, and also not a Worlds Fair.
 
San Diego Cal also has a Worlds Fair although they called it an Exposition. The California Pacific Exposition ran 1935 thru 1936. They had a Ford building there where they show cased the modern factory processes of the day. One could purchase shift knobs, peddles, tire gauges that commerorated the event, additionally the Firestone Co.vendors were in the bldg producing a vulcanized rubber humpback car for the kids.

Bob
 
The Ford building for the 1935 exposition in San Diego still stands. It is in Balboa Park and now houses an aviation museum.
 
I believe it is the last of the the Ford buildings from the fairs still standing. The next time you folks visit San Diego, be sure to stop by the Automotive Museum in Balboa Park. This is where we meet for the Early Ford V8 Club too.

Bob
 
I'm a Texas Centennial (1936) collector & husband is a hard core Ford guy. I'm going to be selling 2 original Ford items from the Texas Centennial, since our goal is to pay off credit card debt. I love my collection, but some pieces have to go.....

One is the rubber Ford/Firestone car in blue with its original box. The other I believe is original to the Centennial- it's a Ford gear shift knob in brown, with the center in red containing a star with "Ford" & "Dallas" and the years 1836- 1936. I have no idea if this has been repainted, but it's VERY unusual. In the many years I've collected Centennial items, I've only seen 3 gear shift knobs.

Karen in Texas

PS- Husband is working on a 1956 F100 currently- I love the style!
 
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Barnsmith said:
I believe it is the last of the the Ford buildings from the fairs still standing. The next time you folks visit San Diego, be sure to stop by the Automotive Museum in Balboa Park. This is where we meet for the Early Ford V8 Club too.

Bob
Click to expand...

The San Diego Air & Space Museum has a great write up on the building as well as a very nice book about the building. I have one and recommend it to anyone who has an interest in this sort of history.

Here's the link for anyone interested...
http://vintagefordfacts.blogspot.com/2010/11/ford-building-1935-california-pacific.html
 
i googled it ther is some cool stuf about it
 

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Well, attend one of the 2 National Meets that are scheduled for 2011 (Eastern July 11-14 Sarasota Springs NY, Central Aug 24-29 Auburn IN).
The reproduction knobs will be for sale there.
OR--- if there are any left -- they should be for sale after the meets in the V-8 Club's magazine -- The V-8 TIMES.

Find further information at www.earlyfordv8.org
 
Just called Carpenter's to ask about the Texas Centennial gear shift knob. No such animal. Said they had one for 1934 but that would not be centennial. If anyone can shed more light on if these are being offered and where, would like to know. Thanks, Lou
 
As Bruce stated, The replica gear shift knobs will be available at the Early Ford V-8 Club's National Meets this year. Left over knobs will probably be available through the V-8 Times and the Early Ford V-8 Foundation Museum in Auburn. I have the ad from Dennis Carpenter in my hands at this time. Dennis has graciously donated these knobs for the meets. These are handsome looking knobs as illustrated in the ad. More information should be forthcoming after the knobs are available. I might be able to post a picture of the ad, but only after I have been granted permission from the "powers that be!" Stay tuned! Pat
 
You guys are talking about 2 different gear shift knobs, those sold by The Early V-8 Club and ones given away at the Ford exhibit(by Ford) at the 1936 Texas Centenial Dallas State Fair. Karen apparently has one and I've seen a couple in my time.
 
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