Auto Biography
My Uncle Jim was a lifelong, dedicated Ford mechanic.
To him, only Ford made automobiles, the others made junkers. He never missed an opportunity to express his feelings about Fords and there was one story in particular that stands out in my mind.
Shortly after World War I, Uncle Jim decided to travel from Chicago to Sarona, Wis., to visit his parents. Northern Wisconsin was quite rural back then. It was filled with unpaved, rocky roads that ran through forests with land cleared for an occasional farm.
When Uncle Jim was about 50 miles from his parents’ farm, a front wheel turned up a large, pointed rock that hit the underside of his Model T with a loud bang.
To his anguish, he found that the rock had punctured the oil pan, creating a hole big enough to drain all of the engine’s oil before he could think of a way to stop or catch it. To make matters worse, Uncle Jim didn’t have any tools with him, except for a pocket knife.
He remembered passing a farm a short distance back so he walked back to the farm house. But the farmer owned only horses and had no oil.
After a few moments, Uncle Jim asked the farmer for a bar of soap. The farmer’s wife gave him one, refusing payment.
Back at the car, Uncle Jim put his plan into motion.
In the surrounding woods, he found a piece of wood and carefully whittled it to match the hole in the oil pan. Then using a handy rock as a hammer, he drove the wooden plug into the hole.
Next he used his knife to convert the soap into shavings, which he poured down the oil fill tube. Finally, using his hands to form a cup, he transferred water from the ditch alongside the road into the oil fill pipe.
The soapy water made a good lubricant for the Ford’s bearings, so Uncle Jim cranked up the Model T and was on his way.
Upon inspection at his parents’ farm, the bearings were not only in perfect condition, but Uncle Jim said he’d never seen an engine with such a clean interior.
If you have a car-related story to tell, call the Town Crier at 948-9000, ext. 315, or write us at 138 Main St., Los Altos 94022.
