The Ford Barn

nkaminar · 07-31-2025, 04:08 PM

Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in Jitterbugs. Interesting Model A roadster but part of the plot uses a rear gas tank. Probably because the prop gasoline is really water. 16-inch wheels. Nice use of steam out of the radiator.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mP3QnwFc0UU

Marshall V. Daut · 07-31-2025, 05:17 PM

They normally drove Model T Tourings in their films, pre-1926 versions from the "Black Era". Most of the time the cars ended up being destroyed one way or another, sometimes being cut in half or twisted like a pretzel. OUCH! The Model A in the "Jitterbugs" is the only film I can think of in which they drove a Model A.
Marshall
Collector of L & H and silent films from Blackhawk (Eastin-Phelan Corp.) since 1963

Synchro909 · 07-31-2025, 07:30 PM

Strange looking front mudguards (fenders) on that Model A

mcgarrett · 07-31-2025, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synchro909

Strange looking front mudguards (fenders) on that Model A

Synchro,
Good catch! I don't know what's going on there either. I've seen photos of those "skirted" front fenders on '33-'34 cars but never on a Model A. I think the skirted front fenders were only used for a short time in '33-'34 , but I'm not certain about them. I have the Early Ford V8 Club restoration book for '33-'34 and I think I saw them there.

IDSpud · 07-31-2025, 09:05 PM

Fun to watch.

JoeCB · 07-31-2025, 10:20 PM

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There were a lot of "un Model a" features on that car... wheels, location of the gas filler and if I recall correctly steering wheel. I did enjoy the film, thanks for posting it .
As a side note on Laurel & Hardy films. Back in the day ... long ago, the Henery Ford Museum used to regularly feature L&H films on Saturday mornings in a small theater in the museum. I don't recall if there was a charge, my father would take the young me often.
Joe B

nkaminar · 08-01-2025, 04:27 AM

The real gas filler cap is at the cowl. The one at the rear was a prop because of the gallon of water used to add to the "gas tank".

07-31-2025, 04:08 PM	#1
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 5,860	Laurel and Hardy driving a Model A Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in Jitterbugs. Interesting Model A roadster but part of the plot uses a rear gas tank. Probably because the prop gasoline is really water. 16-inch wheels. Nice use of steam out of the radiator. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mP3QnwFc0UU __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

07-31-2025, 05:17 PM	#2
Marshall V. Daut Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Davenport, Iowa Posts: 2,627	Re: Laurel and Hardy driving a Model A They normally drove Model T Tourings in their films, pre-1926 versions from the "Black Era". Most of the time the cars ended up being destroyed one way or another, sometimes being cut in half or twisted like a pretzel. OUCH! The Model A in the "Jitterbugs" is the only film I can think of in which they drove a Model A. Marshall Collector of L & H and silent films from Blackhawk (Eastin-Phelan Corp.) since 1963

07-31-2025, 07:30 PM	#3
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 8,043	Re: Laurel and Hardy driving a Model A Strange looking front mudguards (fenders) on that Model A __________________ I sometimes wonder what happened to the people who asked me for directions. Even at my age, I still like to look at a young, attractive woman but I can't really remember why.

07-31-2025, 09:05 PM	#5
IDSpud Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2024 Location: Worley, Idaho Posts: 9	Re: Laurel and Hardy driving a Model A Fun to watch. __________________ Jim 1929 Fordor Leatherback

07-31-2025, 10:20 PM	#6
JoeCB Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Farmington MI Posts: 366	Re: Laurel and Hardy driving a Model A Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) There were a lot of "un Model a" features on that car... wheels, location of the gas filler and if I recall correctly steering wheel. I did enjoy the film, thanks for posting it . As a side note on Laurel & Hardy films. Back in the day ... long ago, the Henery Ford Museum used to regularly feature L&H films on Saturday mornings in a small theater in the museum. I don't recall if there was a charge, my father would take the young me often. Joe B

08-01-2025, 04:27 AM	#7
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 5,860	Re: Laurel and Hardy driving a Model A The real gas filler cap is at the cowl. The one at the rear was a prop because of the gallon of water used to add to the "gas tank". __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.