J.C. Whitney

[Fibber Mcgee]

I didn't know that J.C.Whitney sold flatheads. I found this ad in a 1947 Popular Mechanics and thought it was cool.

[Vic Piano]

I don't remember ever seeing Flatheads in the JC Whitney catalogs. In the '60's I had two cars that had Sears rebuilt Flatheads. In '67 or '68 Sears stopped selling rebuilt Flatheads.

[Russ/40]

In the 60's, I got everything for my '50 from Sears. Engine parts were very inexpensive from them in those days.

[Walt Dupont--Me.]

Originally Posted by Vic Piano

I don't remember ever seeing Flatheads in the JC Whitney catalogs. In the '60's I had two cars that had Sears rebuilt Flatheads. In '67 or '68 Sears stopped selling rebuilt Flatheads.

Back around 55-56 I worked for a small garage that installed Sear's engines for Sear's and Robuck, I put in many many of them. Walt

[Kube]

J.C' s sold just about everything. Their warehouse was incredible! FULL of tons upon tons of NOS parts as well as a bunch of, well, junk...

[68HILLBILLY]

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my 1959 jc whitney catalog shows flatheads for sale.

[ford38v8]

Back in the day, JC was the source for everything from Model T parts to porta walls and everything in between. Get on their mailing list and you''d get catalogs monthly for years. The''re still there, huge place, just west of Chicago.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by ford38v8

Back in the day, JC was the source for everything from Model T parts to porta walls and everything in between. Get on their mailing list and you''d get catalogs monthly for years. The''re still there, huge place, just west of Chicago.

I bet you recall getting the Whitney catalog as well as the Warchesky (sp?) catalog?

[joe plumber]

Anyone ever deal Warscheski?Hope I spelled it right ,probably not .I'm thinking they were out of Chicago .

[V8 Bob]

Originally Posted by joe plumber

Anyone ever deal Warscheski?Hope I spelled it right ,probably not .I'm thinking they were out of Chicago .

The company started out around 1915 as Warshawsky, named after the founder. That's what it was known locally in Chicago, until many years later when they got much larger and opened up mail order sales as J C Whitney. One end of the huge warehouse said Warshawsky, the other said J C Whitney, and the catalogs were virtually the same.
They had on hand, or could get just about ANYTHING for any car, including used parts like transmissions, engines, etc. I know, 'cause I helped support them for many many years.

[Bruce Lancaster]

Yes...they cataloged used takeout engines and transmissions as well as rebuilt. I've got a 1956 catalog right here...Gold Band rebuilds, Ford 239's (all years '39-48) $155 exchange, $167 outright. '49-53 239 and 255 only pocket change more...
on another page, they were flogging OHV takeouts, carefully pointing out that adaptors were available for them...this was the golden age of the engine swap.

[Fordors]

Like V8 Bob said the catalogs were virtually the same, except for one small detail. Pricing was a bit cheaper, like maybe 10% on average. Living on the south side of Chicago we would go there with the Whitney catalog and place an order with the counterman. On occasion they would balk and say they couldn't honor those prices, to which we would say for him to call Sol who was a manager. Sol always honored the lower price without fail. Those were the days.

[sturgis 39]

We had a Montgomery Wards Store. I use to go there with my dad. They had rebuilt engines setting on the floor. They had flathead v/8 and inline sixes. My dad bought a lot of tires from Montgomery Wards. The car stuff was in the basement and it had a good smell like new tires.

The building is now a gambling casino. They had a sheriff's sale about a week ago. The only bidder was First Interstate Bank. They held most of the debt. The price was 4 million plus.

Deadwood has been hurting in this economy. They are now trying to raise the bet limits to $1000. The limit is now $100 ( I hate having to break 1000 dollar bill LOL).

Deadwood will not allow parking on Main Street and you have to walk several blocks to gamble. I use to go to the bars on main street but I will not walk two blocks for a beer.
Main street looks like a ghost town with no parking on the street.

[Dick Webber]

I bought a lot from Warshawsky's in the 50s up into the 70s. Great source for Model A parts. As I remember JC Whitney was the "retail" side and Warshawsky's was "wholesale" side (of the same business). You had to sound like a business to get the better wholesale prices. While still in high school I was Dick's Custom Shop. Got catalogs for years. I think there was a third name--something like Enfield. Each company had a separate address for the building which must have taken up a whole block. Does anyone remember that?

[barryfromvictoria]

In 1972 me and two buddies drove from Victoria to Detroit for the Street Rod Nationals in my 30 Ford phaeton. Enroute we stopped in Chicago and went to J.C.Whitney. We were awe struck at the size of the place. The parts aisles were so long that a lot of partsmen were wearing rollerskates. It was so busy that you had to pick a number to be served. They were super efficient. They had every part we asked for in stock. The partsmen knew exactly where everything was. We had never experienced anything of this magnitude before. That made a lasting impression on us.--- Barry

[oldbugger]

One day some friends and I where at J.C. to pick up some parts. waiting with our numbers looking at all the parts that were displayed in the showroom. All of a sudden 2 big guys came running from the back room and grabbed a guy that was not to far from us. They dragged him kicking and screaming to the back room I dont know if he was stealing somthing or what but I surely did not want to be him. That left a lasting impression on me. Always very interesting to visit there.

[fordy_nine]

I remember J C Whitney catalog back in the early Sixties having NOS Twin H-power Hudson engines in the crate advertised.........Bob L

[David J]

Never bought a motor from them but I do remember that the stuff described as "Duplicate of original" was less terrible than the regular stuff .

[Andy]

I bought something minor from them like some small gaskets. The shipping was high but a buckled and paid. This was way before internet. I got a big box in the mail, about a 15" cube. The only thing in it was advertizing and a catalog. No gaskets. The gaskets were shipped seperately and much later. I was somewhat displeased! I did have to go thru the ordeal of waiting on hold for 30 minutes so I could explain that the one thing I ordered did not get shipped.

[37 Coupe]

Originally Posted by V8 Bob

The company started out around 1915 as Warshawsky, named after the founder. That's what it was known locally in Chicago, until many years later when they got much larger and opened up mail order sales as J C Whitney. One end of the huge warehouse said Warshawsky, the other said J C Whitney, and the catalogs were virtually the same.
They had on hand, or could get just about ANYTHING for any car, including used parts like transmissions, engines, etc. I know, 'cause I helped support them for many many years.

I don't think anybody has mentioned how the J.C.Whitney moniker came about.Supposedly was given to a young Warshawsky in college from a fellow clasmate or fraternity brother who had a friendly adversion to his Polish or Jewish name. He would routinely use the phrase,"Jesus Christ Whitney". to question him or try to get under his skin. Many years later it was the name he chose for the catalog part of his business.He must have had a good sense of humor.