Mr. Kube,
I suppose we owe the readers of this forum an explanation of sorts, you can take it for what you feel it’s worth.
1) Battery box for 1939 Ford Deluxe.
I’ve already sent the change to our catalog department to omit the word “attached” and substitute the word “included”. You see, the picture of the one in our catalog was assembled completely so the employee that wrote the copy, wrote about what they saw. Admittedly, our mistake, I hope we did not cause too much panic in the early Ford world, no deception was intended, we were just trying to convey what the customer should expect to get. The reason they are not completely assembled has to do with shipping. There would be a “pokey” rod that would certainly puncture any box we put it in and probably even damage the part. Also, the full assembly would take a box about twice the size to contain, increasing the shipping charge substantially and guys like you (the ones that don’t want to pay for shipping) would certainly come on the Ford Barn and complain. You can tell this story in a new thread if you like and we’ll post the correspondence we have.
2) Floorboard seals, ’39 Ford.
Nope, we’re not kidding. We spend hours, sometimes days, sometimes weeks on R & D (research and development). We obtain original Ford samples, we have access to original Ford prints, we test our first articles, we test our production on these original Ford samples, we test our production on Ford cars, most times, we even test our production on mating reproduction parts. Attached are pictures of both sides of an original 1939 driver’s side floorboard with a seal we just randomly pulled off our shelf. Also, there are pictures of both sides of a reproduction passenger’s side floorboard with the opposite seal. Looks like both seals “kind of fit” pretty damn nice with no cutting. Are you kidding me? We don’t know where you got the seals you have or even where you got the floorboards you have, but something doesn’t add up. Like it or not, we put the DRAKE name on just about anything we can for occasions like this. In this particular case, we even put a part number on these seals. The correct part number for 1939 is 91A-7011508 and 91A-7011509. We might suggest you look for these numbers at the inside, bottom of the part(s) you have, because we have a sneaky suspicion, wherever you got them might have sent you 1937/1938 seals. These seals are slightly bigger (about what you said you had to cut), but a self proclaimed “expert” such as yourself probably already knew that.
We’ve been doing this Ford parts business for 40+ years. We’re not some fly-by-night outfit trying to steal away your money. But, we’re not perfect yet either and if you’ve got some trouble with one of our parts, we’re just a phone call away. Also, don’t expect the lady or gentleman that takes your problem call to know everything about every Ford that was ever made or even every part that we make, but to take your information and get it to the people that can research it and get you a good answer.
‘nuff said…
Bob
Hi Bob,
To clarify and correct a couple of things:
You can (and may have) looked up my purchase history with your company. It dates back 35+ years and is surely to have passed many, many thousands of dollars. That in itself speaks to the fact that I had (and
do in many instances) believe you supply many quality pieces. There was a time in the past I actually defended your company. There were and are times I am actually thankful for some of your offerings.
Of course there was also a time when a large portion of your parts were made in the USA and
were of top quality.
Sometime in the past, the way your company was being run had changed. This is not simply my observation, but many others as well. As is nearly always the case, some stand publicly for what they believe in while many choose to stay quiet. Still, many others express their opinions in private. To date, four others have written me about their floor board seals having poor fitment. Many more still, in regard to how they “were the first time your company has heard of (insert problem here)…”
Your personal snipe at me of being a “self proclaimed expert” is laughable but not surprising. I’ve been told when a person has little in the way of a proper defense; the next best posture is a strong offense.
Well, the truth be told, I have NEVER proclaimed myself to be an expert at
anything. Not publicly, not privately… I have never even thought that. Simply, I do not have the ego necessary to do such a thing. That may be what keeps me striving always to do better and not accepting “good enough”.
On the other hand, I have restored numerous extremely high point ‘39 & ‘40 Fords. Those examples may lead some to believe I am an expert but once again, I have never claimed such and in fact generally shy away from my displayed vehicles.
My cars may speak for themselves and perhaps that is where you felt the need to portray me as a “self proclaimed expert”. How many cars have you personally and accurately restored?
Regardless of your reasoning, I would be more than happy to compare my base of (accurate) knowledge on ’39 – ’40 Fords compared to yours. The records, drawings and blue prints you speak of having access to are the very same ones all interested parties have access to.
Perhaps you and I can sit down and appraise each of your “authentic”cataloged parts (’39 – ’40) for accuracy?
Your R&D: Mating reproduction parts to other reproduction parts is laughable. Perhaps that is why your bumperettes only fit
your bumpers. On the concourse anyone with a decent eye can spot your bumperettes and bumpers 30’ away.
I speak from experience. Not only did I have a lengthy career in quality control, but as a tool & die maker, was also in charge of the Tooling Inspection. That made me responsible for being certain that all tooling was produced correctly as well as the parts those tools manufactured were accurate.
Now, back to your “random selection” of floor board seals. The pair of seals I’d referenced have been trimmed, glued and installed on a certain to be very high point restoration project. I am not about to remove the mat, floor boards, etc. to determine whether or not they were in fact 1939 seals. The sealed Drake box said that was what the box contained. In the future, I (and hopefully others) will take
your advice and be certain the box (claimed contents) and the contained parts are in fact one and the same.
I do happen to have one more set of your 1939 floor board seals. Like the last box, this is a Drake box, factory sealed. I did check the seal numbers to be certain these were actually ’39 seals. Again, thanks for the advice to double check your packers.
Turns out they are 91A parts. The picture attached will show quite well how your “randomly selected” parts fit compared to mine. Perhaps it is sheer coincidence that I had two boxes (out of two) that don’t fit correctly? Um, okay. While this part is better than the last, they still require extensive trimming and gluing.
By the way, you may note I am fitting your seals to a beautiful pair of OEM boards.
To those that feel I may have been too crass in my initial post, I apologize. Please take the time to reread that post carefully. To reiterate it in part, my complaint is not so much the quality (or lack thereof) but the receipt of something other than what I’d been promised. It is sad that in this “modern age” too many have come to accept too little. Mostly gone are the days of paying a dollar and getting a dollar’s worth.
. Instead of jumping on the band wagon, whining and castigating Bob Drake, why don't you invest your time and money to compete with Bob Drake in the Ford parts reproduction business...? Think of it, you could make all the same parts to the exacting specifications of the original Ford parts and sell them at competitive prices.
You'd have nothing but completely satisfied customers
, never having to return an item that you produced. However, you may find that (even with the quantity and quality of myriad parts you produce) someone somewhere might not be happy with a part they got from you, or your level of customer service, 
. I can only judge by my own experience and from that, I have only one critique of Bob Drake and that is having to wait for some items because they were on “back order”. 
