How I became a Model T owner
Posted: Tue May 21, 2024 11:20 pm
My father, Eugene Schroeder, was born and raised on the north side of Chicago, Illinois. He lived in a neighborhood where the echoes of car engines and honking horns filled the air. Gene, as he was commonly known, was fascinated with automobiles from a young age. He was captivated by their sleek designs and the promise of freedom they offered.
In the early 1950s, just barely out of his teens, he heard of an old Model T Ford buried beneath the tall grass of a farmer's field in Wisconsin. Once a symbol of innovation and progress, the car now lay dormant, waiting for someone to breathe life into it again. The sight stirred something within him, igniting a spark of excitement and possibility. Gene struck a deal with the farmer, parting with $50 in exchange for the rusty relic. He wasted no time rallying his friends from the Illinois National Guard, where he worked as an auto body and fender repairman, to help him transport the treasure back to Chicago.
It was a laborious trip, as this was before the interstate highway system. The trip home was filled with camaraderie as they navigated the winding roads. The Model T was strapped securely on a trailer hitched to a borrowed truck. Gene couldn't contain his excitement, his mind already racing with plans for restoration.
Gene embarked on his mission amidst the hustle and bustle of city life. During the warm summer months, when the weather was kind, Gene would retreat to his father's garage in a corner of his family's backyard. Surrounded by tools, he poured his heart and soul into bringing the old Model T back to life. With the skills he had honed through years of repairing vehicles and the knowledge from like-minded friends, Gene meticulously dismantled the car, piece by piece. Each part, some correct, and some not so correct, held its own story.
In 1952, Russ Clyde, a founding member of the Model T Ford Club, invited Gene to join its ranks. For Gene, this was more than just an opportunity to mingle with fellow enthusiasts—it was a gateway to a community bound by a shared love for these timeless machines. He was number 87 in a growing crowd of the club's members. Many were automotive industry veterans, their hands weathered by years of tinkering with these iconic vehicles.
Joining the Model T Ford Club opened doors for Gene, introducing him to a community of like-minded individuals. He swapped stories with other collectors, some of whom had witnessed the birth of these automobiles firsthand. They shared tips and tricks, their collective wisdom enriching Gene's repertoire of skills.
By his early twenties, he was quite skilled at his trade. Gene's talent as a painter quickly earned him a reputation within the club. His keen eye for detail and meticulous craftsmanship made him a sought-after artisan among his peers. In exchange for his expertise, he bartered for parts and services, further fueling his passion for restoration. It was a labor of love; he carefully stripped away years of neglect, revealing beauty beneath the surface.
But as the years marched on, life took a few welcome but unexpected turns for Gene: first marriage and then fatherhood.
As new demands arose, Gene was torn between his non-negotiable responsibilities and his favored hobby. Gone were the leisurely days spent tinkering in his garage, replaced by sleepless nights and endless diaper changes. The Model T Ford Club gatherings became overshadowed by the demands of being a husband and parent.
As the seasons changed and months rolled by, Gene's Model T began to take shape, emerging from its cocoon of rust and decay. With steady determination, he painstakingly repaired, polished, or repainted every inch of the vintage automobile. The black panels and fenders eventually boasted eight coats of hand-rubbed lacquer, a skill taught to him by the Cadillac company.
The once-forgotten relic now gleamed proudly in the sunlight, a shining symbol of Gene's dedication and craftsmanship. Word of Gene's restoration project spread throughout the neighborhood, drawing curious onlookers eager to witness the transformation firsthand. The day finally arrived for Gene to unveil his masterpiece to the world. With a few turns of the crank and some slight adjustments to the carburetor, the newly rebuilt engine sprang to life, its distinct "chug-chug-chug" filling the air, signaling the successful culmination of his restoration efforts. With a sense of pride, he climbed behind the wheel, the engine now purring beneath his touch. As he drove through the city's familiar streets, a wave of nostalgia washed over him, transporting him back to a simpler time. These streets had witnessed numerous Model Ts passing through, although it had been over 20 years since their last appearance.
Yet even amidst the chaos of parenthood, Gene found solace in the quiet moments spent with his family. Gene's Model T stood as a silent tribute to the passage of time, a reminder of dreams deferred yet never forgotten. Though the task of restoring the Model T took significantly longer than he could have envisioned at the start, Gene knew that his greatest masterpiece was yet to come—the beautiful tapestry of love and laughter woven by his growing family. As he watched his children grow, he knew that the legacy of his passion would live on, passed down from one generation to the next, a timeless reminder of the power of love and the beauty of family.
In the early 1950s, just barely out of his teens, he heard of an old Model T Ford buried beneath the tall grass of a farmer's field in Wisconsin. Once a symbol of innovation and progress, the car now lay dormant, waiting for someone to breathe life into it again. The sight stirred something within him, igniting a spark of excitement and possibility. Gene struck a deal with the farmer, parting with $50 in exchange for the rusty relic. He wasted no time rallying his friends from the Illinois National Guard, where he worked as an auto body and fender repairman, to help him transport the treasure back to Chicago.
It was a laborious trip, as this was before the interstate highway system. The trip home was filled with camaraderie as they navigated the winding roads. The Model T was strapped securely on a trailer hitched to a borrowed truck. Gene couldn't contain his excitement, his mind already racing with plans for restoration.
Gene embarked on his mission amidst the hustle and bustle of city life. During the warm summer months, when the weather was kind, Gene would retreat to his father's garage in a corner of his family's backyard. Surrounded by tools, he poured his heart and soul into bringing the old Model T back to life. With the skills he had honed through years of repairing vehicles and the knowledge from like-minded friends, Gene meticulously dismantled the car, piece by piece. Each part, some correct, and some not so correct, held its own story.
In 1952, Russ Clyde, a founding member of the Model T Ford Club, invited Gene to join its ranks. For Gene, this was more than just an opportunity to mingle with fellow enthusiasts—it was a gateway to a community bound by a shared love for these timeless machines. He was number 87 in a growing crowd of the club's members. Many were automotive industry veterans, their hands weathered by years of tinkering with these iconic vehicles.
Joining the Model T Ford Club opened doors for Gene, introducing him to a community of like-minded individuals. He swapped stories with other collectors, some of whom had witnessed the birth of these automobiles firsthand. They shared tips and tricks, their collective wisdom enriching Gene's repertoire of skills.
By his early twenties, he was quite skilled at his trade. Gene's talent as a painter quickly earned him a reputation within the club. His keen eye for detail and meticulous craftsmanship made him a sought-after artisan among his peers. In exchange for his expertise, he bartered for parts and services, further fueling his passion for restoration. It was a labor of love; he carefully stripped away years of neglect, revealing beauty beneath the surface.
But as the years marched on, life took a few welcome but unexpected turns for Gene: first marriage and then fatherhood.
As new demands arose, Gene was torn between his non-negotiable responsibilities and his favored hobby. Gone were the leisurely days spent tinkering in his garage, replaced by sleepless nights and endless diaper changes. The Model T Ford Club gatherings became overshadowed by the demands of being a husband and parent.
As the seasons changed and months rolled by, Gene's Model T began to take shape, emerging from its cocoon of rust and decay. With steady determination, he painstakingly repaired, polished, or repainted every inch of the vintage automobile. The black panels and fenders eventually boasted eight coats of hand-rubbed lacquer, a skill taught to him by the Cadillac company.
The once-forgotten relic now gleamed proudly in the sunlight, a shining symbol of Gene's dedication and craftsmanship. Word of Gene's restoration project spread throughout the neighborhood, drawing curious onlookers eager to witness the transformation firsthand. The day finally arrived for Gene to unveil his masterpiece to the world. With a few turns of the crank and some slight adjustments to the carburetor, the newly rebuilt engine sprang to life, its distinct "chug-chug-chug" filling the air, signaling the successful culmination of his restoration efforts. With a sense of pride, he climbed behind the wheel, the engine now purring beneath his touch. As he drove through the city's familiar streets, a wave of nostalgia washed over him, transporting him back to a simpler time. These streets had witnessed numerous Model Ts passing through, although it had been over 20 years since their last appearance.
Yet even amidst the chaos of parenthood, Gene found solace in the quiet moments spent with his family. Gene's Model T stood as a silent tribute to the passage of time, a reminder of dreams deferred yet never forgotten. Though the task of restoring the Model T took significantly longer than he could have envisioned at the start, Gene knew that his greatest masterpiece was yet to come—the beautiful tapestry of love and laughter woven by his growing family. As he watched his children grow, he knew that the legacy of his passion would live on, passed down from one generation to the next, a timeless reminder of the power of love and the beauty of family.