February 1959 Centennial Beard Contest
February 1959 Faculty of Roosevelt Centennial Beards
Gladys Naomi Dickson wrote many articles about St Johns and was Chairman of the St Johns Heritage Association until her death in 1980.
Billy Murray - The Little Ford Rambled Right Along
Q: What goes on pages 4-5 of the Ford's user's manual?
A: The train & bus schedule.
Back in the twenties a lunatic escaped from the asylum and stole the first car he found - a Ford touring car. His first stop was the laundry nearby, where he somehow persuaded two employees to take a break and go for a high speed ride. Unfortunately, the Ford, the lunatic, and the laundrymen reached the grade crossing at the same time as the train.
When the police arrived, all they found was a nut and two washers.
The Model T, introduced in 1908, became the butt of jokes by comedians and competitors. Henry encouraged the practice. It is alleged he coined the statement "you can have any color as long as it is black." Before 1914 Model T's came in various colors, but black was not one of them. Then beginning around 1926 you could again purchase Model T's in a color other than black.
In spite of, or possibly because of, the torrent of jokes about the Model T and its peculiar design, Ford did not purchase any advertising between 1917 and 1925. Its peculiarities were numerous. The fuel tank was under the driver’s seat and employed gravity flow to the updraft carburetor. Depending on the steepness of a hill and fuel level, it was sometimes necessary to climb the hill in reverse. The driver’s seat had to be removed to add fuel or measure the fuel level with a wooden calibrated stick. Gas stations often gave these out for free.
For many years the Model T came equipped with only the barest necessities. There was no speedometer, starter, temperature gauge, or bumpers.
In 1914, the Ford Motor Company opened an assembly and distribution plant in Portland – in a three-story brick building at 11th and S.E. Division. Finished cars could be stored on the roof. For the next twenty years the Ford Building provided employment for some 250 workers, where they assembled Model T and Model A's.
Ike, "Mike, how'd you ever manage to get rid of that danged old Ford?"
Mike, "Well, it weren't easy, Ike. First, we advertised it for sale and nobody'd buy it. Then, we advertised it for free and nobody'd take it. Finally we parked it around behind the house and moved away."
"Hey, I hear your friend bought a new car"
"Yup."
"What kind is it?"
"I don't remember, but it starts with 'P'".
"Aye, must be a Ford, the others start with gasoline!"
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