Superstitions

kpreed

kpreed

Member
Last weekend at the county fair, I was asked why I had a Cow Bell under my Model "A" Pick-up. I told them the "road gremlin" tale that I was told years ago (40-50) and how the sound kept them from ridding on it, as they hate the sound. THEY NEVER HEARD THAT! Am I the only one to hear that one? What other antique auto tales are out there? I would really love to know.
Thank You All!
Ken
 
I looked in the bed and under the seat, no B.S., sorry.
I was told this in the mid 60's, by a man whose ranch I worked on. He had a "AA" truck that we used to haul Hay bales, it had a bell on the front bumper, so I asked why? I did not think at the time that he my be "full of it", so on all of my vintage auto's I hung a bell somewhere, just to keep the tale alive.
If people laughed at me and it was a true tale, I do not care, if not, I still don't care.
Ken
 
Harley guys are all over this. Trick is, you have to receive the bell as a gift for it to work repelling road (electric) gremlins.

10 of 10 HOG's I've talked to are bell enhanced.
 
Thank You, I am glad it is not something he made-up and alive in the Motorcycle crowd, now I wonder, who had it first, auto or bike?
Ken
 
I've never before heard of the bell idea, or "road gremlins," but I love old stories like that.
 
Never heard of the cow bell story, but when I bought my Tudor in April, it came with a "bull horn."

Is that just as good for keeping gremlins away?
 
I have one of those small bells on my Harley, and just for the fun of it, I stuck one on the bumper arm of my '34. So far, it has worked !
MIKE :)
 
KGBnut said:
I've never before heard of the bell idea, or "road gremlins," but I love old stories like that.
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KGBnut,
Chief, my crazy dad, said he used to tie 2 long strips from an old sheet to the spokes of his front wheels.:confused: When coming up behind another car, most of the time, they would pull over to let him pass!:p
Near his folk's home on a dirt road, a dumb old dog always chased his car. Chief tied a toe sack to his spokes, dog took the BAIT!:eek: 'Bout beat him to a pulp!!:eek: After that when the newly educated dog heard a car, he would SPRINT to the porch!:D Bill W. (Too bad Chief's gone, he had some great car stories, can't remember them all, he could make you cry from laughin' God! I miss that man!)
 
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I have one on my Harley and haven't broken down since I installed it. I will put them on both the Model A's now.
 
Your Chief sounds like my Pop. He's still around, God bless 'im. He still tells stories that will make it hard for you to breath.
 
I really hope this is the kind of tradition "Old Wive's Tale" we as "A" owners can keep alive, no matter what the history. I find it very sad that the old tales like this, can get lost forever, in the modern fast paced world.
PLEASE pass on here, any auto related type tales you may know.
Thanks!
Ken
 
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kpreed said:
I told them the "road gremlin" tale that I was told years ago (40-50) and how the sound kept them from ridding on it, as they hate the sound.
Click to expand...
The same is true of bells on motorcycles, I'm fairly young but only heard of it once I was involved in the culture. The biggest trick is that the bell must be a pure gift - not bought or suggested by the owner.

There's one story where the bell is such a simple thing that the gremlins can't help but mess with it (rather than other systems). Others say the bell drives them crazy and they avoid you - still yet is the idea that they get caught up in the bell and fall out back on the road.

Some other trivial automotive things that I grew up with - less superstitious and more just silly:
  • Lifting your feet off the floorboards when going over a rickety-bridge - to make the car lighter, naturally
  • Touching headliner (some say kissing fingers first) when going through a close-yellow (almost red) light (for luck/safety)
  • Making wish when seeing a car with one headlight will make it come true
  • If on a date and you happen to see 3 other cars with only one headlight it means you'll have good luck that evening
  • You must always keep a tool in any vehicle - doesn't matter if it's a spare hammer or screwdriver - otherwise it will break down. Even if the person driving won't use the tool (say, someone with AAA or whatever-else), just the presence of it endears better mechanical luck to the vehicle.
I'd like to hear more superstitions about good/bad luck with autos as well.
 
I just got a P.M. saying I sounded like I thought EVERY Model "A" should do a Cow Bell. NO, I never said that! I just feel we as owners can pass these old tales on if we want. How, is totally up to you.
Ken​
 
I have heard about the same thing only if you buy and put the bell on you should be some what protected but the best is if someone just gives you one.
 
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