While visiting my mother, my wife was going through some old boxes and found this old biz card. It's printed on a blue metalic/reflectorized stock. It must be from the 50's due to the Custom City and the phone number?? Kelly is still striping out of his shop in Bellflower.
I had Tom letter my 68 camaro D/G race car in 1970 we came down to run a points meet at orange county droped it off thurs picked it fri morning he charged me 75.00 in gold leaf with hi lite lettering . the shop at the time was off the 605 on to Alondra Blvd.
Still in Bellflower , one block off of Alondra , close to the 605 fwy . A good striper and a good friend . The current shop name is ,"Kelly and Son " since he now works along side his son Mitch .
I grew up 4 blocks west on Harris ave.....my gang (three white 9 year old's) rode our bikes and spent many summer days mesmerized watching Kelly work and also the car painter next to him.....He shared an alley/driveway with Custom City and Service Center was the next door down....Compton was great in the 60's.....The NE in the phone number was for "Newmark"
I think the first one was Baron, Roth and Kelly...Then just Kelly....when he first moved to the Alondra shop it was Kelly and Dave for a short time, then with Mitch, then the move to where he's at now....
As for the Baron, I think Tom told me that he was his grandfather . Give him a call , he works everyday .
I'll keep it and put it with my biz card collection. I have some other cool ones This find is special to me because I am also friends with Mitch and John. My son just graduated High School with Kellys grandson, Mitches son. In 1990 I needed some flames striped low on my 55 Buick, everyone I could afford wanted it on a lift and made exuses, Mitch said Ill have my dad do it and I told him I couldnt afford it. The next day at lunch time I took the old Buick in and Kelly striped it in about 20 minutes on his hands and knees, made no exuses and it cost me a lunch. From that point on he has always been my hero.
Tom is a hero. Ive learned more from him over the last few years than the previous 10. Hes always willing to teach. I have two kelly pieces in my collection. Treasures.
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