Attention All Members
You can donate money towards MTM’s cause without spending a dime by simply receiving your quarterly issues by Email. This way MTM can save mailing costs and use the savings towards operating expenses. Please Email us at motortransportmuseum@gmail.com and subscribe.
Updated:04/2010| Julian Stage Restoration Project |
|---|
| 0 |
Work on the restoration of the 1924 Julian Stage for the Julian Historical Society is progressing at the MTM main facility in Campo, California. The Julian Stage project began in 2003. Now in 2010 it will finally be completed. The Stage was built from a 1924 Cadillac Sedan of which Its frame was stretched to fit a Graham Brothers built body.
The wooden stage body which has been completely restored from the original Graham Brothers body, was fitted to its 1924 Cadillac chassis and the interior wiring has been installed. Custom running boards have been made and attached to the body. The doors, door latches and restored door handles have been attached and adjusted. The body since has been removed and the painting of primer has begun. The interior will sport all leather upholstery and vinyl will clad the top of its exterior. This ambitious project is nearing completion.   The radiator cowling has been plated to it's original nickel coating and awaits final installation.   A work crew from the Julian Historical Society helps with final detailing of the wood frame by filling cracks and irregularities with bondo and sanding it back to smoothness.   Carl Calvert is shown here applying the first coat of heavy body/heavy fill primmer. Smooth sanding will be performed between each of several coats. |
| The 1942 Sperry Carbon Arc Searchlight | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | |||||
|
Ten thousand of these searchlights were built in 1942 and 1943 for use in Europe during World War II. Originally built by Sperry Gyroscope for the U.S. military as Anti-Aircraft Searchlight Units, their purpose was to spot enemy aircraft during night-time air attacks. These units have not been built since 1944. With the invention of Radar, they became obsolete. The light and generator unit was used with a remote distance electronic unit (ears) that sensed the noise of approaching aircraft, and aimed the light toward the noise for illumination. This unit is believed to have been in commercial use after the War with the Gerow Searchlight Service in San Diego, which was located on El Cajon Boulevard near Texas Street. These units were used for promoting events such as business grand openings by lighting the sky from the event location. |
||||
When Mr. Gerow retired, most of his equipment was sold to Stumph Search lights in San Bernardino for his promotional business. After Stumph’s company ceased doing business about 1996, this light and generator unit was purchased by MTM Member Ed Dilginis. It was subsequently acquired, brought to the Museum, and its restoration was started by Carl Calvert and Sherman George in 2008. The body of the searchlight had acquired a fair amount of deterioration from the weather and Carl Calvert replaced rusted-out holes with new metal. As well, the Titanium plated reflector had sustained some pitting and oxidation which was repaired by using a fine cleaning compound, buffed and then polished. Then Carl applied a quality enamel paint to the exterior. The self feeding carbon arc mechanism used a to create its light also was in need of repair. Sherman George carried out intense research concerning the operations and mechanism's of the light as well as obtaining diagrams of its wiring and construction. Missing parts were located and replaced, some rebuilt or restored. Wiring had to be replaced and reconnected. Education was acquired by Sherman pertaining to the adjustments and operation procedures necessary to operate the light. |
| 0 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
The Sperry Generator used to power the light was also in need of minor repair. Carl Calvert gave it a new fuel tank, fuses, plugs, carburetor, some wire replacement and various miscellaneous adjustments. |
||||
| Recent Acquisitions | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
MTM Hours of Operation
The museum facility at 31949 Highway 94 in Campo, CA is open to the public every Saturday from 9AM to 5 PM. Special arrangements may be made for tours during the week by calling the Museum at: (619) 478 2492
MTM needs people like you to greet and educate our visitors. Being a Docent is fun and rewarding. Anyone interested in helping on any of the Saturdays during 2010 please call MTM at (619) 478-2492 to volunteer.
We also need volunteer workers to help us prep vehicles for restoration or paint, and with construction and maintenance of the grounds. Anyone interested in volunteering for any of the Wednesday and Fridays during 2010 please call Carl Calvert at (619) 478-2492
