MTFCA Forum

I just got off the phone with Glen. He is retiring and his son will be taking over the business. So Chaffin's will still be operational.

Best news I’ve heard all year !!

Sounds WONDERFUL!!!!!!!

Mark,

Probably not what you wanted to do but
You are a Good Son ...


FJ

I'm very glad to read about this! Chaffin's is a very good company, and I have been very satisfied with their products. Although I do not need T parts very often, they have usually had what I have looked for. Especially happy that they will still be a source of Ruckstell parts. I understand why Glen wants to retire, because I am about the same age and it would be very hard to keep a business like that going as I get older. Thank you to his son for doing this. For all us west coast T'r's lets keep Chaffin's first choice when we order parts for our cars.
Norm

All I can say is...

YAAYYYY!!!!

Well that is good news for the hobby for sure. It may be that some good help needs to be hired,perhaps at least 1 person that can be taught enough to allow for a couple weeks off once in a while. He Needs to be able to spend time with his dad. My dad is going on 86 now and I understand the time is not getting longer for any of us.

Freighter Jim said
"Mark,

Probably not what you wanted to do but
You are a Good Son ... "

Very true. But I would like to go a bit further.
You are also a great person and a great hobbyist for all the model T and antique automobile hobby!

I do hope you want to do this, and never regret it.

I have never been a great customer to any of the parts dealers (too broke to spend that much). But since Chaffin's opened (back in the '70s?), they have gotten most, and since the '80s nearly all my new replacement T parts business (I think there was one item they did not have when I needed it I bought elsewhere?). I have done this with them because they were on my end of the country, and I had met Glen through Ed Archer way back then. Glen and Mark are wonderful people, and I wish them the best, always.

Thank you all for the wonderful comments. I recently submitted my retirement paperwork after serving 29 years in law enforcement. During those 29 years, I experienced quite a bit. Some good and a whole lot of bad. At the end of the day though, I could always rely on my family for support and the Model T for a much needed distraction. I am proud of my father and everything he has accomplished. He has been an outstanding father figure. He has worked hard over the years and deserves to take a much needed break. Our difficulty finding a equitable solution regarding the continuance of the business did not center around money. It was more oriented around the importance of time and spending valuable time with the one's we love. Life is short. Enjoy the time you have. Try to minimize those instances of regret. I'm sure I will enjoy the challenges associated with continuing on with the business; however, family will always come first.

Great news. Chaffins closing and Chickasha ending in the same year was a very dark time for the model T world. But now it appears both may still be around for awhile longer. Thank you Mark, and also the younger Ersland family members for continuing Chickasha. Both have made for a brighter future for the hobby. Mark, you are correct about family coming first. Enjoy all of it you can. And any time or effort you give to the model T world will be appreciated.

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!! Dave

Haven't gotten my first Model T yet, but glad to know that we're not losing a good source of parts out here on the west coast.

It doesnt make much difference to us overseas buyers.

Considering that Glen has been the one driving force behind manufacturing a considerable percentage of the new replacement parts available, regardless of where they are purchased? Keeping the business going is a big deal for ALL of us wanting to keep our model Ts on the road. Yes there are a lot of parts made by Bob B, rubber products made by several sources, Larry Smith, and some engine parts by regular engine part suppliers, and a dozen other small garage shops. But if Chaffin's did have to shut down? It would leave a huge hole in our parts supplies.

Glen! Please enjoy many more years getting YOUR cars done! And time driving them, and with your family!

Thanks mark
I’ve been buying some bits and pieces from you lately and thankful for everyone’s resources on this forum. I am building my first t from parts without prior t experience. Thank all you guys for the knowledge and parts. For us new guys who don’t know what your dad offered and made, can we still get a catalog?

...can we still get a catalog?

You can get it in PDF here: http://chaffinsgarage.com/

Good deal! Now are there cam bearings available yet? Rudy R.

Mark Chaffin wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 07, 2020 9:03 pm

Thank you all for the wonderful comments. I recently submitted my retirement paperwork after serving 29 years in law enforcement. During those 29 years, I experienced quite a bit. Some good and a whole lot of bad.

Mark,

Think of it this way, bad guys sometimes shoot back, old guys with Model T's not so much!

Well the cat seems to be out of the bag. I hadn't intended to post this until April 1st. But continue to enjoy our sale until then. As for the foreign customer who posted, we sell all over the world, no problem. All you need is a credit card



Great news, Chaffin’s Garage Inc. will not be closing. As of April 1, 2020 my son , Mark Chaffin, will merge his company, Rajo Reproductions with Chaffin’s Garage Inc. and continue supplying the hobby with quality service and reproduction parts for the Model T Ford. This is great news as we are the only source for Model T Ford parts in the Western United States.

I want to thank all of my loyal customers all over the world and hope that they will continue to be loyal customers as my son takes over. Our success depends on you.

Ironically, that is why we were unable to find a buyer for the business. Our growth had made purchase of the company, even at cost, impossible for most likely buyers. But perhaps this is a better solution as the company lives on in the family that started it. Thank you to all who have made it a success. We love you all. Glen

Congratulation's ? I hope the deal is sealed and Mark has it in writing.

Here is the man.

Glen with George Clipner at Bakersfield.

Chaffins wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 08, 2020 1:47 pm

As for the foreign customer who posted, we sell all over the world, no problem. All you need is a credit card

I want to thank all of my loyal customers all over the world and hope that they will continue to be loyal customers as my son takes over. Our success depends on you.

Thank you to all who have made it a success. We love you all. Glen

Glen, you most likely wont remember my first visit to your Corona home in 1990/91. I was on my first Model T Parts fishing trip to the USofA. While we waited for you to get home from your real job, someone had been playing silly games ordering multiple Pizza deliveries to your home and your good wife brought some across the road to us in our rented Motor Home.
I bought quite a lot from you then, and since then with this internet thing linking us all together, I've bought far more.
You might remember another trip when Sandy and I visited once again in 2015, bought a brass spider steering wheel. I carried it home and fitted it to my Speedster.
My 2 Model T's are restored using mostly Chaffins Garage sourced parts and there will most likely be a 3rd car, when I will most definitely purchase even more T parts from Chaffins Garage.
All the Best to you Glen,(& Mark and Dave) and all power to Chaffins Garage..
Cheers,
Rob

PS; Mark, You are 100% on the money when you say "Family comes first".

PERRY, NICE 22 COUPE. JUST LIKE THE ONE I SOLD TO GET RID OF MY FIRST WIFE. SHE DIDN'T APPRECIATE ME OR THE MODEL T, BUT THATS HISTORY. MY SECOND WIFE APPRECIATES ME AND THE MODEL T'S. THAT RESULTS IN A LOT OF FLOWERS, ANYTIME, ANY OCCASION. GLEN

GREAT NEWS!!! What about our friend and helper DAVE?

DAVE IS A FIXTURE. I DON'T THINK HE WANTS TO LEAVE. I PAY HIM WELL. GLEN

That's more great news. There's tremendous relief rumbling through our Model T worlld!!!

XXXXXXXXXXX

That is super news. Thanks to Glen and Mark for all yall do for the Model T hobby.

And Dave too...I had a nice long conversation with him on the phone last month....super guy.

This is great news. I am very glad to hear that someone is picking up the job. Chaffin's produces many increasingly hard to find parts such as replacement Ruckstell parts, distributor gears, etc.

FANTASTIC!!!!!!

Glenn has always been in the background while I was on the phone with Dave or when I walked into the store. Dave also deserves a lot of credit for being a fantastic people person and above all he will talk your head off on the phone or in person, to make sure you have all the right information for the part you bought or looking for and then making sure you have the right part and install it properly. Chaffins garage would not be as successful as it has been without Dave. He will be retiring in a few years but hopefully Mark will be able to talk him into staying on for some more years, but if not, I doubt he will find a More fantastic salesman and personality as Dave. I am pretty sure I am speaking for all of Chaffins garage customers. A big hipp hipp hurrah for Dave. Frank

Chaffin's wouldn't be the same without Dave!

Great news indeed. Crisis averted.

I have not had the pleasure of meeting all of you in person although I have talked to all three of you, Glenn, Mark, and Dave.

Could you post a picture of the three of you so I can put a face with the names?

Thanks for all you do for the hobby.
Dennis

HOW GREAT IS THIS?!

MARK TAKES OVER APRIL 1ST

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Not to sound mercenary amid all this good news, but does this also mean the 20% discount sale is no longer valid? Just when we were preparing an order list, including among other fairly big ticket items a set of new rear end gears and an original steel clutch disk pack. Don't get me wrong! I am super happy that Chaffin's will still be part of the Model T hobby! I just worry how I am going to explain to the Model T's owner, whom I told we would be receiving a 20% discount on these expensive items if purchased before Chaffin's closed. Lips, do your stuff!
Hurray for Chaffin's! A fine family tradition carried forward!
Marshall

Pretty sure Glen stated the sale would end on April 1st.

"Well the cat seems to be out of the bag. I hadn't intended to post this until April 1st. But continue to enjoy our sale until then. As for the foreign customer who posted, we sell all over the world, no problem. All you need is a credit card"

Awesome Glen & Mark!

And happy is staying in family! All the best!

I THINK MARK WILL DO A GOOD JOB. HE'S A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK! HAPPY TO SEE T STAYING IN THE FAMILY EVEN IF IT IS A LOT OF WORK AND HEADACHES. BUT MARK NEEDS SOMETHING NOW TO OCCUPY HIS TIME AFTER RETIRING FROM THE SHERIFFS OFFICE. MAYBE NOW I CAN FINALLY WORK ON MY CARS. HOPE I STILL HAVE THE ENDURANCE TO DO THAT. BETTER GET YOU PARTS WHILE THERE STILL ON SALE. SALE ENDS APRIL 1ST. GLEN

I just received my new Vintage Ford. There is a one page ad which says Chaffin's is closing and selling everything. That they will stop manufacturing Ruckstell parts etc. Was that ad placed before it was decided that Mark will take over the business and keep it open, or has it been decided again that it will close?
Norm

I'm sure there is considerable lag time between proofing, setting up the magazine, and last second reprieves don't necessarily get reflected in publishing

Scott is correct- Chaffins is staying open with Mark as the head cheese.