The Ford Barn

Joop · 01-29-2019, 06:18 PM

.
Call Alan the famous key/door handle, popout restorer and writer of many restorer articles died peacefully today. He was 94 years old.
He was the guest of honer at our Christmas Party in December.
I am sure he has the key to heaven.

MARCA, AZ

Gary WA · 01-29-2019, 07:47 PM

Sorry to Hear. Condolences to Family !

loubob · 01-29-2019, 08:17 PM

What a great guy!
Spoke with him several times on the phone.
Bought numerous items from him.
His repair/restoration work was excellent.
May he rest in peace.

Smooth_One · 01-30-2019, 10:26 AM

Sorry to hear.

Gary Karr · 01-30-2019, 12:00 PM

I'm sorry to hear this news. I've known Cal since the seventies when I lived in Phoenix. He was always active in the Model A Restorers Club of Arizona and attended many national meets. His knowledge of keys and lock cylinders was amazing. I remember many times following him down into his basement where he worked on locks. He showed me how to dissemble door handles and popouts. Cal created wonderful displays of keys and locks for Model A's. He was a true leader in our hobby.

31Cabriolet68-C · 01-30-2019, 01:11 PM

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Such a loss!
While I never new him personally, he has been my teacher all week...
By a strange coincidence for the last several days I've been pouring over two reprinted articles by Cal Allen from Volume 6 of the reprint collection: "How to Restore Your Model A Ford" published by the MAFCA.
I was actually preparing to scan his well-written, and well illustrated, articles and take them, along with pgs 6-4,5 from the JSs section on Instruments and Controls (the section with pictures of the correct keys) to my local old-school locksmith in the faint hope that there's
someone who can take the wisdom of Call Allen's writing and help me get the locks on my 68C to work once again... Then, today, comes this post... So sad...
Cal's articles would be essential to anyone dealing with the restoration processes of Model A door and pillar locksets. I urge Barners to get a copy of Reprint Volume 6 from MAFCA, and learn from a true master ..
So, from generations of Model A followers, past and future, many many thanks to Cal Allen!
TallyHo, friend!

Purdy Swoft · 01-30-2019, 01:28 PM

I have never met him but its is a shame to loose another model A er .

Tom Endy · 01-30-2019, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joop

.
Call Alan the famous key/door handle, popout restorer and writer of many restorer articles died peacefully today. He was 94 years old.
He was the guest of honer at our Christmas Party in December.
I am sure he has the key to heaven.

MARCA, AZ

What an appropriate last line. I met Cal a number of times at MAFCA nationals over the years. He was always soft spoken and a gentleman of the first order. He overhauled a number of pop-out cables for me, the work was excellent and his prices more than reasonable.

He truly was "The Key Guy".

My condolences to the family.

Tom Endy

larrys40 · 01-30-2019, 04:05 PM

I met him for the first time at the world meet in Dallas 2008. He was a joy to talk with and I will always remember him. My condolences to the family for their great loss but can know we all were blessed to have him within our Model A community .
Larry Shepard

Ernie Vitucci · 01-30-2019, 06:03 PM

Good afternoon Tom...Great to see you back on the barn after your trip to Hoag Hospital...Ernie in Arizona

QUOTE=Tom Endy;1721718]What an appropriate last line. I met Cal a number of times at MAFCA nationals over the years. He was always soft spoken and a gentleman of the first order. He overhauled a number of pop-out cables for me, the work was excellent and his prices more than reasonable.

He truly was "The Key Guy".

My condolences to the family.

Tom Endy[/QUOTE]

Ernie Vitucci · 01-30-2019, 06:06 PM

I have known Cal Allan for a number of years and I too have been 'down in his basement'. He was quite a guy...As Joop said, he was at our Christmas Party and looked pretty good for a dude of 94! Ernie in Arizona

swo4rd · 01-30-2019, 10:31 PM

he restored door handle/locks and pop out for my first Tudor...he was a very knowledgeable and great man...I have one more pop-out he restored and i plan to use it in a Woodie i am restoring now...
Thanks Cal...you gave us much...

al's28/33 · 01-30-2019, 11:21 PM

He restored my banana style pop-out and was a jewel to talk with. He shared all his wealth of knowledge with everyone. God bless him and consolation to his family!

RandyinUtah · 01-31-2019, 01:37 AM

I met cal at a few national Mets and he was a true gentleman

Brentwood Bob · 01-31-2019, 12:11 PM

Over the years he made plenty of keys to get to heaven.
I have several oem keys he included with the handles he restored for me.
When I see the keys I do remember him.

Doug Linden · 02-01-2019, 11:31 PM

Sorry to hear that news Joop. Cal was the authority on keys and locks. I was looking at one of his displays at the MAFCA headquarters today. He will be missed.

KR500 · 02-04-2019, 01:08 AM

I met Cal and was fortunate enough to talk with him by phone. Having had taken a locksmith course after I completed another apprenticeship, Cal had plenty of excellent advice and knowledge about keys to share. I also purchased his terrific VHS tape in which he explained all the idiosyncrasies of Model A keys and locks. A man like Cal seems to only come around once in a hundred years. Thank you for the experience!

01-29-2019, 06:18 PM	#1
Joop Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 2,950	Famous restorer Call Allan Died . Call Alan the famous key/door handle, popout restorer and writer of many restorer articles died peacefully today. He was 94 years old. He was the guest of honer at our Christmas Party in December. I am sure he has the key to heaven. MARCA, AZ Last edited by Joop; 01-30-2019 at 12:05 AM.

01-29-2019, 07:47 PM	#2
Gary WA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Clinton,WA/Whidbey Island Posts: 4,104	Re: Call Alan Died Sorry to Hear. Condolences to Family ! __________________ www.whidbeymodelaclub.com

01-29-2019, 08:17 PM	#3
loubob Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Syracuse,NY Posts: 264	Re: Call Alan Died What a great guy! Spoke with him several times on the phone. Bought numerous items from him. His repair/restoration work was excellent. May he rest in peace.

01-30-2019, 10:26 AM	#4
Smooth_One Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: St Clair, Michigan Posts: 395	Re: Famous restorer Call Allan Died Sorry to hear. __________________ Isaiah B. 1928 all metal Tudor

01-30-2019, 12:00 PM	#5
Gary Karr Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,486	Re: Famous restorer Call Allan Died I'm sorry to hear this news. I've known Cal since the seventies when I lived in Phoenix. He was always active in the Model A Restorers Club of Arizona and attended many national meets. His knowledge of keys and lock cylinders was amazing. I remember many times following him down into his basement where he worked on locks. He showed me how to dissemble door handles and popouts. Cal created wonderful displays of keys and locks for Model A's. He was a true leader in our hobby.

01-30-2019, 01:11 PM	#6
31Cabriolet68-C Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Greenwich, CT Posts: 140	Re: Famous restorer Call Allan Died Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Such a loss! While I never new him personally, he has been my teacher all week... By a strange coincidence for the last several days I've been pouring over two reprinted articles by Cal Allen from Volume 6 of the reprint collection: "How to Restore Your Model A Ford" published by the MAFCA. I was actually preparing to scan his well-written, and well illustrated, articles and take them, along with pgs 6-4,5 from the JSs section on Instruments and Controls (the section with pictures of the correct keys) to my local old-school locksmith in the faint hope that there's someone who can take the wisdom of Call Allen's writing and help me get the locks on my 68C to work once again... Then, today, comes this post... So sad... Cal's articles would be essential to anyone dealing with the restoration processes of Model A door and pillar locksets. I urge Barners to get a copy of Reprint Volume 6 from MAFCA, and learn from a true master .. So, from generations of Model A followers, past and future, many many thanks to Cal Allen! TallyHo, friend!

01-30-2019, 01:28 PM	#7
Purdy Swoft Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 8,099	Re: Famous restorer Call Allan Died I have never met him but its is a shame to loose another model A er .

01-30-2019, 04:05 PM	#9
larrys40 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: St Charles , Missouri Posts: 1,998	Re: Famous restorer Call Allan Died I met him for the first time at the world meet in Dallas 2008. He was a joy to talk with and I will always remember him. My condolences to the family for their great loss but can know we all were blessed to have him within our Model A community . Larry Shepard

01-30-2019, 06:03 PM	#10
Ernie Vitucci Senior Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 612	Re: Famous restorer Call Allan Died Good afternoon Tom...Great to see you back on the barn after your trip to Hoag Hospital...Ernie in Arizona QUOTE=Tom Endy;1721718]What an appropriate last line. I met Cal a number of times at MAFCA nationals over the years. He was always soft spoken and a gentleman of the first order. He overhauled a number of pop-out cables for me, the work was excellent and his prices more than reasonable. He truly was "The Key Guy". My condolences to the family. Tom Endy[/QUOTE]

01-30-2019, 06:06 PM	#11
Ernie Vitucci Senior Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 612	Re: Famous restorer Call Allan Died I have known Cal Allan for a number of years and I too have been 'down in his basement'. He was quite a guy...As Joop said, he was at our Christmas Party and looked pretty good for a dude of 94! Ernie in Arizona

01-30-2019, 10:31 PM	#12
swo4rd Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Charlottesville, Virginia Posts: 364	Re: Famous restorer Call Allan Died he restored door handle/locks and pop out for my first Tudor...he was a very knowledgeable and great man...I have one more pop-out he restored and i plan to use it in a Woodie i am restoring now... Thanks Cal...you gave us much...

01-30-2019, 11:21 PM	#13
al's28/33 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Redwood City, CA Posts: 1,591	Re: Famous restorer Call Allan Died He restored my banana style pop-out and was a jewel to talk with. He shared all his wealth of knowledge with everyone. God bless him and consolation to his family! __________________ 1928 "A" Phaeton (mid year with many early features) 1933 "V8" Closed-Cab Pickup Truck (originally a Model B, 4 Cylinder dating to May, 1933)

01-31-2019, 01:37 AM	#14
RandyinUtah Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ogden Utah Posts: 242	Re: Famous restorer Call Allan Died I met cal at a few national Mets and he was a true gentleman

01-31-2019, 12:11 PM	#15
Brentwood Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: brentwood, ca Posts: 4,240	Re: Famous restorer Call Allan Died Over the years he made plenty of keys to get to heaven. I have several oem keys he included with the handles he restored for me. When I see the keys I do remember him.

02-01-2019, 11:31 PM	#16
Doug Linden Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 259	Re: Famous restorer Call Allan Died Sorry to hear that news Joop. Cal was the authority on keys and locks. I was looking at one of his displays at the MAFCA headquarters today. He will be missed.

02-04-2019, 01:08 AM	#17
KR500 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Addison,ll. Posts: 454	Re: Famous restorer Call Allan Died I met Cal and was fortunate enough to talk with him by phone. Having had taken a locksmith course after I completed another apprenticeship, Cal had plenty of excellent advice and knowledge about keys to share. I also purchased his terrific VHS tape in which he explained all the idiosyncrasies of Model A keys and locks. A man like Cal seems to only come around once in a hundred years. Thank you for the experience!