6 replies to this topic

[Greg Minuskin]

Hi all,

Well, I went to the national Packard Car Show which was held near my house (10 minutes away) this year. Lots of cars, mostly older people (who can afford these cars when you are young and have to pay for health insurance and a family!)

Anyhow, found this neat Wahl hard rubber desk pen with the Packard base, and box. Guy was crazy asking $1,200 for it, but I did snap some photos below for everyone to enjoy. When I suggested to the seller that the pen needs a new sac and to polish the pen, I got a "are you crazy?" look. Oh well!

I did have a good time walking around though with one of my wife's friend's husband; math teacher at Pepperdine named Harry. Great guy, real friendly and he owns several Packard cars himself.

Enjoy!

Greg Minuskin
www.gregminuskin.com

[Roger W.]

Neat. If I could afford the one car I'd really like is a Packard 1931 dual cowl sports phaeton. Since I can't even afford the runner up a Morgan plus 8 convertible I'll have to settle for ads.

Roger W.




Not a Phaeton but a '31 Victoria

[Greg Minuskin]

There will several of these cars at the show with price tags in the 150K to 275k range. I have photos!

Edited by Greg Minuskin, 29 January 2012 - 08:51 PM.

[matt]

I pass a 1936 or so Packard on the way to work that, sadly, is just sitting out in the weather.

Greg, did you happen to examine the bronze base to see who made it? Certainly looks like something that could have been made by the Medallic Art Co, which usually stamped their name in the edge.

Edited by matt, 30 January 2012 - 10:21 PM.

[Shadow Wave]

I used to have a 1940 Packard -- one of the cheap ones.

The pen base illustrates Packard's East Grand Boulevard plant complex in Detroit. In 1939 a bridge was built across East Grand to connect the body plant with final assembly and since you can't see the bridge on the base, it must date from before then (as you'd guess from the vintage of the pen).

If you want to be depressed this is what the plant looks like today.

http://www.flickr.co...8904117/detail/

[Greg Minuskin]

I pass a 1936 or so Packard on the way to work that, sadly, is just sitting out in the weather.

Greg, did you happen to examine the bronze base to see who made it? Certainly looks like something that could have been made by the Medallic Art Co, which usually stamped their name in the edge.

Yes, I did look at the base (the seller would not allow me to "handle" the base, he held it, ha ha!) and yes, it was manufactured by Medallic Art Co.

Sorry to hear you see a sad, forlorn Packard on the side of the road when you go to work. One thing I did notice at the meet; nobody was under 40 years old there. When someone said to me "Greg, would you like to join our group?" I said quite honestly "I can't; I don't have the wonderful health insurance and benefits/retirement packages that most of the members here have so that they can focus and enjoy such an expensive hobby, and it is obvious that most of the members here at the meet are much more wealthier then I."

Kinda says it all for many hobbies out there today at this level for anyone under 40 years old.

Greg Minuskin
www.gregminuskin.com

[Greg Minuskin]

I used to have a 1940 Packard -- one of the cheap ones.

The pen base illustrates Packard's East Grand Boulevard plant complex in Detroit. In 1939 a bridge was built across East Grand to connect the body plant with final assembly and since you can't see the bridge on the base, it must date from before then (as you'd guess from the vintage of the pen).

If you want to be depressed this is what the plant looks like today.

http://www.flickr.co...8904117/detail/

Oh so depressing! What a photo essay! Thank you!

Greg Minuskin
www.gregminuskin.com