FJ - This 1904 Ford Model B Is Coming Back To Life

[FreighTer Jim]

I can’t close my eyes ....

My hours are up for the day & I am tired after dropping off and picking up in California covering 400 miles today - but I am wide awake.

Somehow I have to get thru Sunday - drive another 300 miles - to be in Southern California
on Monday for a milestone ....

The starting of the 1904 Model B serial number B51 ( and B52 and B55 ).

The Friendship Ford.

It has been 20 months since the thought occurred to get the Model B running.

It has taken a year and dozenss of hours of research combined with hundreds upon hundreds of hours of labor for Kim Dobbins to try and make
the Model B come to Life again.

A Labor Of Love.

For His Friend.

The Story Is Remarkable.

It spans decades and generations.

“ The Story Isn’t Over Yet “ ....

Image courtesy of Kim Dobbins.


FJ

[Wayne Sheldon]

THIS, I have been waiting for!

[FreighTer Jim]

Kim has been plagued by transmission repairs.

Dean Yoder had transmission problems with the 1906 Model K.

Since no one living has had any practical experience with the Ford Model B other than
Wayland in Oregon - it has been a learning process for Kim.

The transmission linkage with recently made fingers and ball.

Images courtesy of Kim Dobbins.


FJ

[D.Yoder]

That looks perfect !

[FreighTer Jim]

Dean

I just updated the Facebook group with images.

Talking with Wayland today on the phone ...

This particular car might be the earliest
recognized Ford in mostly original condition
that came out of Ford’s first purpose built factory.

Hap Tucker has been asked to help find where
this Model B may have originally been shipped
to by Ford.

It is believed this 1904 Model B came from
a building being demolished in Elmira, New York where a blacksmiths shop was located In the basement where the car was found.

The year of this discovery is not known
at this time.

Sometime later Jack Grace found the car acting on a tip.

Jack found it in the daylight basement
of a residential home.

The home belonged to a gentleman involved with the demolition of the building who purchased it for scrap metal value because he wanted an old car.

Jack Grace handled all the details regarding
the purchase of the car on behalf of
Cecil Ralston of Gruver, Texas who bought
the 1904 Model B.

The name of the town where the house was
located and the name of the gentleman are unknown as of now.

Photos of the 1904 Model B taken at
that time with dates on the back may exist.

If that happens - perhaps records exist of
building demolitions prior to the photograph(s).

Then perhaps the gentleman might be able
to be identified who saved the Model B.

FJ

[FreighTer Jim]

For this historic day - KD assembled a top notch crew of brother in laws and friends.

I filmed the process of start attempts for history.

The B caught - fired - ran briefly on three cylinders.

Celebration was in order so a group drove to an historic Longshoreman’s
Bar in operation since the 1940’s for yellow pickled eggs and sausages wrapped
in a slice of white bread ....

Seems like when I visit we go somewhere that KD eats at only once a year.


FJ

[dmdeaton]

I subscribed to this
Keep it coming

[FreighTer Jim]

Here is the two speed B transmission on KD’s workbench.

FJ

[dmdeaton]

Any pics when it was dragged home?
Barn condition?

[FreighTer Jim]

The story of the discovery of the car is outlined in an earlier post on this thread.

This is December 2018 when I picked it up for transport to KD.

FJ

[dmdeaton]

Wow, I haven't paid much attention to the B. I just started my T hobby 6 months ago. Wood body, and that engine, very cool. If you showed me that pic and asked me what it is, my last guess would be a Ford. Thanks, I have more reading to do.

[FreighTer Jim]

Since I last checked in - I started a photo album on Facebook and uploaded all the videos and most of the images for public viewing that I have taken along with images provided by KD.

The 1904 Model B caught on all four cylinders
and ran smoothly for at least a minute - I was
on hand to video that historic moment.

Images courtesy of KD ( Kim Dobbins ).

KD has installed the transmission back in the car.

He has to get the brakes & linkages hooked up.

He has fashioned a temporary seat for the maiden
voyage which I hopefully will get to video.

This has been the most historically important
endeavor I have ever or will ever probably be
fortunate and honored to document.


FJ

[Wayne Sheldon]

Wonderful! Facebook is a good place to showcase much of this for the masses. I personally do not like Facebook, and cannot easily see it. But I have followed the story enough myself that I really do not need to see all that is there.
This car is a very important piece of automotive history!
My thanks to all involved in bringing this piece back into view as a running piece of history!

[Rob]

Great thread! Thank you Kim and FJ for the updates.

[FreighTer Jim]

Wayne,

I can upload 30 minute videos and they are hosted for free on Facebook.

That is why I use it to share stories from the road.


FJ

[KimDobbins]

I don't want to put the body on the car until I'm sure it's road worthy, and didnt want sit on the gas tank so I made this temp seat. I probably won't have it on the road until after I get back from Chickasha. Work, family and customers cars seem to keep delaying the B. I'm really looking forward to driving it around for a bit.

[JimDix]

Kim,
Hopefully filling in some history of your B.
From FJ’s post on Facebook.
Talking with Wayland today on the phone ...

This particular car might be the earliest recognized Ford in mostly original condition that came out of Ford’s first purpose built factory.
Hap Tucker has been asked to help find where this Model B may have originally been shipped to by Ford.

It is believed this 1904 Model B came from a building being demolished in Elmira, New York where a blacksmiths shop was located in the basement where the car was found.
DeNaters Bros in Elmira is listed as selling # 208 (4/6/1905) and #230 (6/8/1905) Model Bs in Trent Boggess’ Datasheet accompanying Carl Pates book on early Fords. I’ve done research locally and have not found and information on DeNaters Bros.

The year of this discovery is not known at this time.
I graduated from Grammar school in 1957 and expect Dick’s purchase of the B to be around then.
Sometime later Jack Grace found the car acting on a tip.

Jack found it in the daylight basement of a residential home.

The home belonged to a gentleman involved with the demolition of the building who purchased it for scrap metal value because he wanted an old car.

Jack Grace handled all the details regarding the purchase of the car on behalf of Cecil Ralston of Gruver, Texas who bought the 1904 Model B.

The name of the town where the house was located and the name of the gentleman are unknown as of now.
The town is Horseheads, NY. The Man was Richard Kurtzenberger.

Photos of the 1904 Model B taken at that time with dates on the back may exist.

If that happens - perhaps records exist of building demolitions prior to the photograph(s).

Then perhaps the gentleman might be able to be identified who saved the Model B.
FJ
My recollections of the B in Horseheads, NY.
Recalling my encounter with the Model B Ford, likely #52 as mentioned in the article. I grew up in Elmira NY. I believe there was an owner of #52 between the blacksmith's shop and Mr. Ralston, of Texas (in 1986).


As I recall we were at a gathering of the soaring group and someone mentioned that one of the members had an old Ford. The conversation went on and eventually we were asked to the member's home to see the vehicle. It was in a suburban home that had a drive in door in the back of the basement. I drive by the house regularly today. The owner ran a local business, and had somehow acquired this car (from a blacksmith shop?). His owner's name was Dick Kurtzenburger. We spent quite a while looking at the car and listening to Dick's stories. The only one I recall was that someone in Texas (Mr. Ralston?) wanted to borrow engine parts to reproduce parts for their car.

My old car interests hung on and I became involved with the local Twin Tiers Vintage Ford Club. One night some members were sitting around telling stories and I mentioned having seen Dick Kurtzenburger's Model N, (or S or R). My friend jumped on it and asked how I knew about THAT car, I related the story, and Bud said that the car was a Model B, not N (or S or R) and that NOBODY knew about it.

I’ve done research locally and have not found and information on DeNaters Bros. I graduated from Grammar school in 1957 and expect Dick’s purchase of the B to be around then.

Jim Dix

[FreighTer Jim]

Hi Jim

I sent you a PM and email asking for a phone number to contact you at.

Research is being done to establish the complete journey of this car & whatever you can contribute sure would be appreciated ...


FJ

[FreighTer Jim]

I just got off the phone with Jim Dix.

He is connecting the dots on the incredible story unfolding about the journey of this remarkable car.

Thank You Jim


FJ

[FreighTer Jim]

The possible demolished building the 1904 Ford Model B came out of ?

This google result links to:

FJ

[FreighTer Jim]

Jim Dix mentioned “ DeNaters Bros. “ in his post
above on this thread ...

I thought perhaps he meant “ De Waters Bros. “

But then a Google image search turns up
what appears to be an Oldsmobile Dodge Dealer
named “ DEKATERS BROS. “

The Elmira Star-Gazette is still in business

FJ

[Wayne Sheldon]

A bunch of interesting stuff! Thank you for finding and posting these things.

A pointless side note. I keep seeing the town name Elmira (New York). For so many years, I usually connected to that town from the Jimmy Stewart movie "It's a Wonderful Life"! The Bank examiner says it a couple times to George, and George repeats part of it back I think once. " I plan to spend Christmas in Elmira, with my FA-mily!"

[Scott Rosenthal]

Very nice upholstery. Is this some of Ernie Romero's work?
Regards,
Scott

[FreighTer Jim]

Jim Dix saw the 1904 Ford Model B in the drive in daylight basement sometime between 1955 and 1957.

At that time he remembers hearing Dick saying something about a guy in Texas wanting to buy engine parts or parts off the car.

Jim believes Dick sold the car a few years later - no later than 1970 - it appears to Cecil Ralston.

Richard ( Dick ) Kurzenberger of Horseheads, NY.

He was also into local aviation & probably owned a plane.

Anyone recognize the name ?

FJ

[Jim, Sr.]

This has been a very interesting subject to follow.
Kim will have an exciting ride when he takes it on that first test run.
Here are some scans of an original Ford sales catalog that I have in my collection.


If you can not read the scans, "click" on the picture and it will enlarge to fill the screen.

[FreighTer Jim]

Jim,

Your post is an example of why I started this thread.

The story of this car has remained the same since Jack Grace relocated it to Gruver, Texas for Cecil Ralston probably at least (50) years ago.

Until now ....

I think Wayland has a sales brochure for a Ford Model B - they are rare I know.

Thank You for posting

No one could have imagined a young boy would remember a car he saw in a basement (65) some odd years ago and post about it on a Model T public forum - probably the last living person
that can make that claim.

“ The Story Isn’t Over Yet “.

Wayland Henry said that to me a few months back.

It is only fitting that someone who has contributed so much time along with his own resources to bringing it back to Life - be the first one to drive the only acknowledged largely original Ford Model B in existence that anyone living can remember ....

FJ