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Knardly Rolls gets Busted — Sort of

June 2, 2014 • CATEGORIES: Features, Reader Stories • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Most of you are familiar with Paul’s stainless M-38 project that’s going on its 26th (?) year (He’s almost done). However, according to the City of Miami, the project is roaming the streets of Florida. I’ll let Paul explain.

For many years my friends have been asking me when the stainless Willys would be back on the road. Thru the years I tried to offer an accurate estimate of when I thought (or hoped) the Willys would be back together but as each deadline passed I realized my completion plans were wildly optimistic. Until today.

I just received official notice from the United States Post Office that not only is my Willys runnable, but during the first week of May 2014 my Jeep was cruising southbound on Biscayne Boulevard in Florida!

How cool is that? I feel like a putz, I had no idea I was finished with my long term rebuild but I can live with that. What really bothers me is my Willys went cruising without me, geeze after all I’ve done for my Jeep I’m quickly cast aside like a used kleenex when it’s time to play. Unfortunately my Willys had a bit too much fun and ended up running a red light. I know things happen and all that but now the city of North Miami wants me to send them $158.00 just because my little Willys turned renegade. There’s even an official photo recording this illegal event. Zowie!

I’m sure this ticket is real, it’s from: City of North Miami

Intersection Safety Program
PO Box 22091
Tempe, AZ 85285-2091

If that’s not enough to convince you I’m supposed to pay the fine to: City of North Miami

Payment Processing Center
PO Box 742527
Cincinnati, OH 45274-2527

paul-ticket2

And best of all the official driving infraction photo doesn’t show a Willys, the vehicle isn’t green (the old body color was OD but the local DMV called it green) and the license photo shows a different license plate design that what’s on my Willys so what’s an owner to do? I feel so cheap and used. I gave this Willys the best years of my life, I ate the cheap cuts of macaroni so I could purchase the parts necessary for rebuilding my Jeep, I stayed late in the garage ignoring friends just so I could have quality time with my Willys and this is what I get? My innocent Willys has turned Renegade and left me for a good time in sunny Florida so here I sit staring out the window watching fresh snow being deposited on the mountains!

My heart is broken, I’ll never be able to trust my Willys again. Yes I heard the often repeated stories about how your Willys will turn on you, how the good times will roll until someone better comes along but I didn’t believe this. I told my friends my Willys was different, my Willys is loyal and my Willys would never get into trouble. I’m so ashamed my Willys is like all the rest, just out for a good time and forget about everything else.

A word of warning to all who read these words…

Your Willys will get you into trouble!

Thank you

A very sad Paul Bierman

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No Updates for Sunday

June 1, 2014 • CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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I was busy all day on the jeep. Progress was steady and the unusual lack of swearing suggests it was a successful day! I will have pics and a report in the next couple of days.

On another note, I’ve been experimenting with no-kneed, no commercial yeast breads over the past few weeks. Right now I’m using a strain of sourdough from the San Francisco area. Besides the sourdough, there’s only salt, water and flour. I bake at 455 degrees in a thick ceramic backing dish with a lid.

So far, the results have been great! Check out that last batch here:

breadsI’m going to ‘grow’ a few more starters and try some more complex combinations of flour. I will also be trying a dutch oven in our regular oven to see if that produces a slightly different flavor from the ceramic baking dish. I’ve just ordered both of Chad Robertson’s books as a happy-birthday-to-me gift (bday is later this week) to help expand my repartoire: Tartine Bread & Tartine Book No 3. Stay tuned!

 

 

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A Couple Unusual Alaska Hardtops

May 31, 2014 • CATEGORIES: Features • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Paul forwarded these two photos of hardtops. Anyone know who manufactured these tops?

The first one is the same model of hardtop Paul’s dad had on his jeep. Paul notes, “This is an old metal hardtop which was used on the WW2 Jeeps. The windows in the doors are moved up and down by straps on the inside of the doors.”

hardtop-oddball1

This is another version of the same top. However, the doors on this top have been modified so the vertically sliding windows were replaced by fixed pieces of clear plexiglass. Rather a boxy design even compared to a Jeep.

hardtop-oddball2

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Pics From Charles

May 28, 2014 • CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Charles forwarded some more pics of the Belgian Army. In the first pic, the seat on the grass suggests it may have been used as a lawn chair.

CA78B6E975584F259B6F887BA5B3DD5A
getimage12 getimage10 ABO_8 B452488BC0A5438F898396AA75A7221A 1A91E9A760AA489FAE89E5666F73DDCE 3D89AB67AA92473F85AB5E641999A215

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Empire Tractors: The Tractor Built From Willys Parts

May 27, 2014 • CATEGORIES: Features • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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empire-tractors-and-willys-jeeps

Willys-Overland powered Empire Tractors in the foreground and jeeps in the back.

The Empire Tractor was made in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by the Empire Tractor Corporation from 1946-1948. Leveraging the Willys drive train, Empire produced two different models: Model 88 and Model 90. You might have seen one of those tractors at a Willys show or for sale, but sightings are rare. The primary reason for their scarcity is that of the approximately 6,660 made around 5,370 were exported leaving about 1,290 available in the US and Canada.

The history behind the Empire Tractor company is complicated. It involves Willys Overland Motor’s largest shareholder, Empire Securities, and a successful international business man named Frank Cohen, who was investigated multiple times for suspicious financial dealings.

Here’s how and why only a few tractors were made . . .

empire-tractor-post1

The two basic models of tractors produced by Empire Tractors. They look pretty close, but one of the most noticeable differences is the seat.

EMPIRE SECURITIES:
 In 1932 George Ritter, Ward Canaday, and H.J. Leonard organized Empire Securities, Inc. They launched it as a holding company to process claims against the Willys-Overland Company, which had gone into receivership. In 1935 Empire Securities offered to buy up all the Willys-Overland Company bonds that were due two years earlier in 1933 so they could reorganize the Willys-Overland Company. In October of 1936, Empire Securities successfully rebirthed the Willys-Overland Company as Willys-Overland Motors, Inc., and became the largest shareholder. Several years later the Empire Securities founders used Willys Overland stock to partly fund a business deal with a man named Frank Cohen.

1936-24-02-reorganization-plan

Side Note: Empire Securities continued to be the largest shareholder through 1946. Meanwhile, Ward Canady was president of Empire Securities and Chairman of the Board of Willys-Overland Motors through 1946.

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