service life

[a_crazy]

thanks fellas!! this was helpful

 

[Capt Quahog]

I am struck by the run down appearance of many Model A's in pictures taken when they were only 5-6 years old.

Yes. . . Have many street scene pictures taken throughout the 1930s in Boston and surrounding Massachusetts cities. There are probably 500 or more photos in the collection taken by a man who's principle interest were the trolley cars then operating through those streets in abundance. In studying the pictures, with just a couple years use in the New England climate, it didn't take long for automobiles to deteriorate. By the mid-1930s, Model A Fords as well as other vehicles are seen on the streets covered in grime with bashed-in fenders and lots of body dents.

In looking through automotive classifieds in a 1935 edition of the Boston newspapers, a particular used car dealer offered 1930 and 1931 Ford roadsters. The AD stated that, "Five Ready to Go - Take Your Pick!" All had "good tires" and fresh "paint jobs". Price = $35 to $45 each. Noticed too, that with many used cars offered by dealers in those days, giving the thing a quick schlock shiny paint job seemed to be standard business procedure.

Our presently owned 1931 Ford tudor sedan has on the body, a very old crudely applied dark green enamel paint job sprayed directly over the original black finish. At first, I thought the lousy green re-paint had been applied later by early antique car hobby apes. With the well embedded surface corrosion between the original finish and thick enamel re-spray, it could date to the 1930s or 40s era. (?) The firewall appears to be the original black which is in very good condition. With bumps, scratches and dents, the well finished black fenders might also be original paint.

Summing it up, those automobiles in daily service that lived outdoors aged fast. Within a short time Henry's handsome lacquer Model A Ford body paint faded away to a thin dull residue.