"Doctor of Motors" Allentown, PA., Circa 1930

[t-head]

This is not a Model A, but I thought you would all enjoy it over here anyway. There is a possibility it maybe a Lincoln. The photo was taken in Allentown, PA. Can anyone ID the maker of the neat test equiptment?

[Garage Dog]

What a great photo....looks like a very well run garage.

[Jim Brierley]

Great photo, no idea on the equipment though. I became a Dr. of Motors while attending a class on ignition systems, put on by United Motors back in the 60's.

[Muttley]

That would make a great computer wallpaper if they hadn't plastered their website name right over the middle of it.

[KR500]

Allen Electric of Kalamazoo, Mi. made units of very similar design. Also King electric of Cleveland, Oh. Looking at all the designs of the gages and judging the equipment to have been made and sold in mid 1920's. It is definitely not a Jos.Weidenhoff looking at the layout. Rare to see an attached distributor synchrograph added on the right side. Would make a beautiful garage piece of furniture!

[t-head]

Originally Posted by Muttley

That would make a great computer wallpaper if they hadn't plastered their website name right over the middle of it.

Muttley....Sorry you don't like the name of our website on the photo. We don't like having to do it either but we found out that we had to do it out of self defense. We work very hard and spend a lot of money finding the best photos. People have been stealing our photos and selling them on Ebay. Another person has been selling copies of our photos also.

We are a non-profit and are working on helping the Larz Anderson auto museum and McPherson College. We will be posting all about our first fund raiser this coming week. We sincerely hope you guys here on The Ford Barn will help us. Thanks, David Greenlees

Originally Posted by KR500

Allen Electric of Kalamazoo, Mi. made units of very similar design. Also King electric of Cleveland, Oh. Looking at all the designs of the gages and judging the equipment to have been made and sold in mid 1920's. It is definitely not a Jos.Weidenhoff looking at the layout. Rare to see an attached distributor synchrograph added on the right side. Would make a beautiful garage piece of furniture!

KR500....Thanks for taking the time to give you thoughts as to the maker of the test bench. We would love to have that here in out shop, it would be a useful piece of equipment.

That garage may have been identified on The Old Motor. There is a good chance it was the Smith & Peifley shop in Allentown, which it appears is still in the auto parts business.

[LukeDahlinger]

Originally Posted by t-head

Muttley....Sorry you don't like the name of our website on the photo. We don't like having to do it either but we found out that we had to do it out of self defense. We work very hard and spend a lot of money finding the best photos. People have been stealing our photos -snipped-

I know the feeling. I had to start putting watermarks on my photos to keep other websites from using my photos without credit.

[Peter J]

I've been fixated on those tires in the pic. Talk about agressive tread!

[t-head]

Originally Posted by Peter J

I've been fixated on those tires in the pic. Talk about agressive tread!

They appear to be General Jumbo accessory wheels and tires which were a large section low pressure "balloon tire". The car has been ID'd on The Old Motor as a 1931-32 Chrysler

[Muttley]

Originally Posted by t-head

Muttley....Sorry you don't like the name of our website on the photo. We don't like having to do it either but we found out that we had to do it out of self defense. We work very hard and spend a lot of money finding the best photos. People have been stealing our photos and selling them on Ebay. Another person has been selling copies of our photos also.

That sucks, a few A-holes ruin it for everyone.

[KR500]

Suggest you try and contact the Smith & Peifley parts house and ask if they have kept their old photos somewhere. Past history lies in the strangest places and the older the establishment the greater their history. A questionnaire sent to an establishment might get the owner to open up on the history of the place or a pre-arranged phone call might also get the present owner to splash out their early beginnings. I've always collected old Motor, Motor Service, and Automobile Digest magazines from the 1920's thru 1970's. I found one particular article when Herb Packer was editor of Motor Service and he visited a shop in Campus, Il. I took a ride there and found one of the mechanics still living in the town. He was 95 and sharp as a tack. He filled me in on the history of the Fitzpatrick Garage. It was quite an interesting trip and only about 80 miles from where I live.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by Jim Brierley

Great photo, no idea on the equipment though. I became a Dr. of Motors while attending a class on ignition systems, put on by United Motors back in the 60's.

You became a doctor of motors in one class????? LOL
It takes most people 3 years with 15 hours a week of classes after spending 4 years getting a bachelor's degree.....

[Chris Haynes]

I have this old Weidenhoff Starter, Generator, Magneto testing unit lurking in my garage. I hope to find a manual for it.

[KR500]

Chris, I may be able to help you. I have considerable info on Weidenhoff and may have a manual. Weidenhoff made a Model 24 and a Model 36. There should be a small brass tag on front identifying it. My email si sponge19501924@yahoo.com. Dan