McPherson College Summer sessions Model A?

[ctvpa]

I know you all know of McPherson College and their great work in their 4 year auto restoration program.

I did not know that they have courses for us part timers? Do you guys know they have weekend, 1 week and 2 week programs in all sorts of things. Check out their site www.mcpherson.edu/autorestoration/institute.php

They have courses in babbiting, paint, sheet metal work, transmissions and drive train. And many others.

Unfortunately I have to have prime time off scheduled in advance, so this year is out.

I would like to ask them if would they be interested in a 1 week course based just on the Model A. They could add some metal work, paint, but have all the course based on the general repair, operations and maintainence of the Model A. Their courses are average $650 / 5 days with optional $350 to include room and board.

Before I approach them, I would like to say that when posted I got input from people that would be interested. I don't know how many they require, but I am starting here, and I will try to get it posted in the national magazines.

[spdway1]

Sounds like a great idea!

[clocey]

I lived in KC for a few years and always enjoy a reason to go back. I would be interested.

[ctvpa]

Wow, 190 people viewed, 2 are interested. I thought there would be more interest?

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by ctvpa

Wow, 190 people viewed, 2 are interested. I thought there would be more interest?

Let me start out by saying that I am happy there is a McPherson college program. Over the past, I have even hired two graduates from there.

With that said, I do think the summer programs would be a much greater value to a hobbyists because the curriculum would NOT be geared towards someone trying to make a career. Theory is a great thing ....to an extent but hands-on with someone who has a vested interest is much better IMO. Vested interest means the student is working on the item that he needs for his own vehicle.

It is my opinion that whichever Model-A club that figures out how to offer hands-on workshops (two-day or three-day) at various times around the country is the one that will fill a much needed void. I think what McPherson is offering is great but overkill for what a typical hobbyist needs to learn. If you disagree, point out which program would be best to take.

[ctvpa]

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Brent,
I agree with you, but they don't offer any hands on in my area.
My thought was to ask the college if they could make an additional course, based just for the Model A person, as a hobby oriented, not meant for the pro. I would be interested in a 3 day to week long course.
You are a professional, Is this something you would consider? I would be more than willing to keep my money in the club.
If one of the national clubs could offer it, that would be great also. ( I hope they read Ford Barn)
The California Club www.Diabloas.com have a great set of videos, that helped me a lot.
I have done a ground up, and it came out well. But I am at the time in my life where I want to learn more and enjoy life.
You have some very good thoughts, thanks for the input.

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C

It is my opinion that whichever Model-A club that figures out how to offer hands-on workshops (two-day or three-day) at various times around the country is the one that will fill a much needed void.

But how many clubs have members with the skills and tools to not only do the work but also have the ability to teach? I wish our club had those skilled people.

As for McPherson's one week summer workshops, it appears that they are just that, workshops, not classes designed towards a degree. As an example;

"FULL Sheet Metal Restoration by Ed Barr: Includes – TIG, MIG, and Oxy-acetylene welding, use of the English wheel, patch panel fabrication, the application of lead body solder, dent repair, and metal finishing. "

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Thanks but please understand your concept has been done by us before so it is doable again. Several years ago I held two or three 'Fordbarn Workshops' at my own shop where hobbyists came from all over to learn hands-on and were able to bring their own projects to work on. Later a Model-A club in Minnesota took it upon themselves and held a workshop at a college in Rochester. Will Cronkrite and I drove up to participate which was 1,000 miles each way. I think they charged like $75 or $100 a piece to attend for a 3-day workshop. If there were only 30 people that attended, that would give a budget of $2,500 - $3,000 to cover costs.

My suggestion is get with MARC and propose to host a workshop in your area. I will help you and I know others will too. Again, there is not any reason why there couldn't be several of these around the country each year. The reason I quit having it at my shop was the size it was getting. We had over 100 people at the last one held at my place and honestly, the logistics was getting to be more than I could handle. I did not charge anything for attending (people just donated $$ or their time to cover expenses/needs) but it generally took nearly a week to get ready and clear out the shops, then another few days to get things moved back into place. It is feasible to have 150-200 participants if multiple topics were covered and a Model-A only swap meet was held simultaneously.

My point is it appears you'all are expecting the national club to do it for you. McPherson is going to charge you $600 for a week long class on one topic because they are doing it for you. You can host one yourself for much less $$ and cater it to whatever your desires are. I think there is a need, --and a strong desire for folks to attend. I would participate in them.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by Mike V. Florida

But how many clubs have members with the skills and tools to not only do the work but also have the ability to teach? I wish our club had those skilled people.

Mike let me share a little story with you. The exact dates/details are a little fuzzy due to the length of time that has transpired but that is OK.

As you probably know, my father was one of the charter members of the Houston Model-A club from the beginning, and during the late 60's thru the late 70's it was going great. Sometime in the 80's the membership was starting to decline as was car participation. Dad and some guys were all discussing this and it was decided many people did not trust the reliability of their Model-A's so they were no longer driving them.

An idea was struck where someone offered the use of their mechanic shop, some offered the use of their truck & trailers, and on one Saturday a month a Houston Model-A club workshop was held where members worked on other member's cars, -or they worked on their own car under the supervision of other experienced members. Slowly but surely, members cars were coming out of garages and being worked on. Even those lurking in the background were subliminally learning, becoming enthused, and becoming confident about working on their car. As the news of this spread, people who owned Model-As joined the club and it began to flourish again.

IMHO, there is a great lesson to be learned from this. This concept of a workshop does not need to be complicated or huge. It does not need to be held by professional teachers or professional restorers. Just make it exciting and a value to all attendees ....and you will find yourself in the same situation I was in where you outgrow your facilities/recourses.

.

[Ross/Kzoo]

Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C

IMHO, there is a great lesson to be learned from this. This concept of a workshop does not need to be complicated or huge. It does not need to be held by professional teachers or professional restorers. Just make it exciting and a value to all attendees ....and you will find yourself in the same situation I was in where you outgrow your facilities/recourses.

.

There's a lot of banter about the club size dwindling and lack of younger blood in the hobby. This sure sounds like a way revitalize memberships.

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C

. Dad and some guys were all discussing this and it was decided many people did not trust the reliability of their Model-A's so they were no longer driving them.

An idea was struck where someone offered the use of their mechanic shop, some offered the use of their truck & trailers, and on one Saturday a month a Houston Model-A club workshop was held where members worked on other member's cars, -or they worked on their own car under the supervision of other experienced members. Slowly but surely, members cars were coming out of garages and being worked on. Even those lurking in the background were subliminally learning, becoming enthused, and becoming confident about working on their car. As the news of this spread, people who owned Model-As joined the club and it began to flourish again.

IMHO, there is a great lesson to be learned from this. This concept of a workshop does not need to be complicated or huge. It does not need to be held by professional teachers or professional restorers. Just make it exciting and a value to all attendees ....and you will find yourself in the same situation I was in where you outgrow your facilities/recourses.

.

To me, based on the reference to the college, that we were speaking about more technical aspects of restoration, babbitt, sheet metal work, and the like. As for "general" maintenance such as brakes, and such things having to do with "the reliability of their Model-A's" we have a couple of these a year with our club.

As I write this ideas are going off in my head and I plan to write the clubs board with some of them for the coming touring season. (We are hiatus for the summer, rainy season).

Brent, thanks for getting me started of this. I'll CC you on the email.

[ctvpa]

Gentlemen,
As I said in the first post of the thread, please understand I was going to aproach the college to develop a 'Model A' class for next year. The whole course based on the Model A, but to include some of the other general things. Not just the ones they have now.
If Mr Terry would be willing to do it, Maybe I should try to arrange something with him. But where could you have it with equiptment, tools, etc. I would like to do more with some painting, learn to use an english wheel, learn to better maintain and repair the car, and become a better torubleshooter.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Well lets consider some basics thoughts here.

Knowing how to do Babbitt probably would be much of a benefit unless you are going to go into that business. To pay for R&B, Tuition, and travel expenses could cost close to $1,500.00. In my view, that is a pretty hefty price to pay just to see how to do that craft.

As for sheetmetal, for some one-on-one or small classroom instruction in the Northeast, I would recommend taking one of Wray Schelin classes. Another options would be to attend a metalmeet or allmetalshaping events.

To learn how to be a better troubleshooter or learn how to better maintain a car would likely come from small local club workshops like I mentioned the Houston club doing. That just comes from repetition and doing. The experience you would obtain at 5 or 6 monthly workshops would probably be better than trying to absorb everything in a one-week atmosphere.

For more specific items relating to a Model-A, make a list of specific topics and then do a poll to see what the interest would be. We'll try to make it happen somehow.

[Brad in Germany]

I took one of their month long courses many years ago and it was a great experience. It was an overview with day long hands-on demonstrations of everything from body work (welding, sand blasting, dent removal, lead filling, etc), mechanical work (breaks, chassis, steering, etc), upholstery (sewing, pattern making, material selection, cushion filling/stuffing, etc), paint (types, techniques, the booth, small parts, body panels, etc), engine rebuilding (babbit pouring/machining, valves, pistons, etc), etc. The car we restored in the one month was a Kansas-field-fresh 1922 Model T, but the basics could be applied to most any car it seems.

What I really got out of the course was exposure to most all areas of a frame off restoration. I got a very good appreciation of what I can do myself as a hobbyist and what is better left to the professionals.

It was a very positive experience....all except for the weather in Kansas in January (Bbrrrrr!)

Fordially,
Brad in Maryland