DISAPPOINTMENT at Elliott Museum

Cape Codder

Cape Codder

Well-known member
Two days ago I visited the Elliott Museum in Stuart, Fl. I must say that I was DISAPPOINTED! This museum has a fine, fine example of Model AA Commercial vehicles although not accessible to the General Public. I was hoping to be able to walk around each vehicle and take clear pictures. The vehicles are stored three high on a storage system which is enclosed in glass and gives off a lot of reflections when taking pictures. This storage system cost the museum a million dollars, as told by one of the volunteers, because of space issues. Each vehicle is brought down individually at the request of individuals visiting the museum to a viewing spot and then rotated so all parts of the car/truck can be seen, all behind glass.

My favorite vehicle, and never before been seen by me, was the '31 AA 300 Deluxe Panel Delivery truck. I had never even heard of a "300" Deluxe. Another one that I had never seen was an unrestored '31 AA Funeral Coach with wire wheels. Lastly, of the never before seen, was a Milk Truck. This one was on the floor and able to take pictures but not able to get close enough to see if it was the type that the driver would stand up and drive. They also had a very nice '31 Police Patrol Wagon that was restored.

Again, I am sure I would have enjoyed this GREAT display of Model AA Commercial vehicles more had they been more accessible to us that enjoy them so very much.

Joe Grobleski
 
So If I understand correctly, not only were they on the racks behind glass and so thus harder to take good pictures of, but when the desired vehicle was "called down" to view it was behind glass also? Maybe if enough customers/patrons complained about the glass in the view area they would take that glass down for photo opportunities....JMO
I am planning on going at some point in the future.
 
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I wondered how it was going to work when it was explained !

How long does it take for one to come down off the rack to the ground so you can see it properly?
I suppose if you had a list of what they have beforehand ; maybe you could call them the day before your visit and they would display them for you!!!

Some of those rare body styles you mention are pictured in the Book
"The Model A Ford as Henry built it" Well worth having for Originality Information .

John Cochran
 
I live just 20 minutes away but haven't had the time to visit the new museum as yet. I understand the turn around time between vehicles is around 5 minutes. That would make it very hard to see many of the A's if your visit time was short. I'm not sure that I would want to wait that long either. I plan to go visit soon. When I was a kid they had some great cars that you could get up close to. But then progress brings change..................................................
 
ctlikon0712: When they were "called down" yes they still where behind the glass.

juke joint johnny: I didn't time them but I would say at least 5 min. to bring one from the upper level. I would not think that it would be possible to call the day before for a display. First, there is no room the way it is set up and each car was on jack stands and tied down to the panel under it.
 
i was a volunteer worker there in January prior to the opening, and actually I worked on cleaning up the Delivery Panel Truck as well as the Hearse.
The cars were delivered down right in front of you and away from the glass. I agree I would prefer to walk up to them then have this Hoolie Goolie arrangement with the robut bringing down the cars.
 

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Is this the same collection that was around in the 1950's were the original wood bodied from Pre 1910 cars were removed and burned, and the chassis saved? Question number two, why spend all that money on a raxck system, is land that costly? Bob
 
Bruce Adams might be the guy to address the questions of Roadster62 but I was told by one of the volunteers that they were land locked at the location of the museum. Not wanting to step on histories toes but I thought the DaVinci collection could have been condensed a little better to make room for more cars on the floor. JMO
 
I went a week ago and was totally disappointed for the same reasons Cape Codder mentioned. I was told they moved out several cars to make way for the DaVinci collection, which was mildly interesting, but thought the ample supply of A's would make up for it. Not so!! We were told you could get a better look at the triple stacked cars from the 2nd floor but that was a waste of stair climbing. Glair and reflections were terrible.
The option of selecting the vehicle of your choice wasn't working so the cars were presented at random. It's a clever idea to save space but with everything behind glass it was more like paying your neighbor to peek through their sliding glass door to see a Model A parked on a turn table in their dinning room... if you can picture that. I feel with the technology and engineering (and expense ) that was used they could have placed the turntable forward another 20 feet or so into a roped off viewing area so the visitor could get a more close up experience.
After 45 minutes we were outta there. The old museum, though smaller, was much more personal and enjoyable.
Sorry Elliott, the $24 (for 2) and the several years long wait wasn't worth it.
JMO
 
We are going next month so I too will report of how well it is received.
It is a museum with a car display and not a car museum with other displays.

Seems like we should be glad our club had a chance to see the cars while it was still the Donnelly collection.
 
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Given that this museum houses other items of interest and
also given that all kinds of folks visit (not just older Model A guys)
and further given that some of those other folks might tend to be
disrespectful and damage vehicles on display ..... :cool:


Understandable


Museum website @ http://elliottmuseumfl.org/







Jim
 
Mike V. Florida said:
We are going next month so I too will report of how well it is received.
It is a museum with a car display and not a car museum with other displays.

Seems like we should be glad our club had a chance to see the cars while it was still the Donnelly collection.
Click to expand...

Mike,


100% in agreement


We should be glad there is a place to see old iron




JIm
 
I totally disagree with trulyvintage !
Museums should allow the visitor to get an up close look. Most museums allow this and I have never even read about museum goers damaging vehicles. They have a system that obviously is flawed and must be fixed if they want to compete. Henry Ford museum is far nore user friendly. Kinda like the old saying be competitive or get out of the way for the competition to pass you by and leave you in their dust !
I am sure that many Fordbarn readers have already taken this museum off their to see list !
Al
 
As an engineer, I just wonder what happens when the system breaks down, and they don't have the funds to repair it. Or, what happens when they deem the system too costly to maintain, or the energy consumption of it hits home.

On the other hand, it is great that they have so many Model As in the collection. Most museums wouldn't keep that many of the same type of car around and "deacquisition" them to raise funds.
 
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