For those of you who don't know who Samuel Israel III is, feel free to Google his name (John's been watching too much CNN, lately). We've made a few modifications to the cab, starting with the vintage pin-up girl postcard. No, it's not Tracy! Tracy agreed to be photographed in a swimsuit like this one and have it posted on the internet as long as John would wear the same suit and do the same...hence we went shopping on Ebay and found this beauty for less than two bucks. John says he never bought one that cheap before. (Postcard that is!)
We also found this vintage Suicide Knob that we decide to restore. This thing was in rough shape. There was a small disagreement on which one we should purchase and after many words of encouragement John went with the one that needed the most work and fewer dollars. Had a comment for George Bush here but didn't want to turn this into a platform for another one of G.D.'s political rants...oops, I mean educational intellect from my elder.
John first sanded the layers of grime and who-knows-what-else off the knob so it could be re-varnished.
The sweat shop elf then got to work applying the varnish under the boss-man's supervision.
Finally, the metal parts of the knob were painted red (page the shop elf again). The finishing touch will be a bit of a surprise...
P.S. to G.D. ...John says, yes, he knows that "Suicide is Painless" is the M*A*S*H theme song... :o)
6 comments:
I had no idea what a suicide knob was. I had to go look that up.
Well, that's because you're a mere infant. Oddly enough, I did know what it was. Isn't the study of history wonderful?
All i can say is the knob looks better and probaly has more brains than dumbia. Rants we don need no stinkin rants.
So sports fan now that we know what one is do we know why they are called suicide knobs. Especially this model.
Only thing i can remember from mash is Hot Lips Holahans brief shower scene. Which was quite daring for a movie in dem ol days.
ah the march from White Castle and A&w drive-ins, passion pits, and hoop skirts and 900 petty coats.
Drivin a dropped, chopped, frenched and louverd 52 chevy convertable with smitty mufflers, fender skirts, headlight brows and blue dots and a connie kits. Aw baby thats a what i like.
keep it cool daddio, later gator i'm on the slide. Gotta go pomade the crew.
By the way whats an elder, is that a nieghborhood thing?
some comments from the wrinkled set
They are called suicide knobs because there is excess torque and torsion on the pin in the spinner mechanism, which causes the pin to snap, the wheel to go crazy and the car to go ass over teakettle.
TRUE + (GD adds) If you were in a tight curve and hit a pothole (not a lot of paved side roads in the 50s) it would jerk the knob out of you hand and the steering wheel would spin and the knob would try to break your arm.
Another wrinkled guy says
They were also called “necker-knobs” - you could drive a non-power-stearing car without having to take your right arm from around your girlfriend’s shoulders.
If the car had a manual transmission, you also had to teach her how to shift as you pressed the clutch.
Not so true unless you were left handed. Kind of a half story.
But ya goota picture why you had your girl friend snuggled close when you had a floor shift. Darn, sorry darlin i didn't mean to do that.
(but only democrats would do that repubs drove moms car, floor shift were for peons sorry elf you know i can't resist even a small rant)
Here's the suicide knob store of stores for originals. If ya wanna give up the cash.
whoops the glimps of tammy sue in my 38 pickup had me in another world heres the link for the knobs
http://antiquewish-online.com/knobs/knobs2.htm
Good words.
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