A guy came into work yesterday and handed me an old speed shop catalog. The company is called F.E. Zimmer Co. and they were located on Ventura Blvd in Encino, CA. It's a really nice catalog so I would think they were a pretty good-sized business but I've never heard of 'em. Couldn't find much online searching either. From what I can tell, the catalog has got to be from 1950 or '51 (judging by the years listed for parts and pictures). Just full of cool stuff either way. Anyone know anything about them?
I don't know anything about the company but my 1947 catalog is separate pages punched for 3 ring binders. It's my favorite catalog.
Yup, that's what mine looks like. Mine lists model years up through 1950 though. It's a pretty cool catalog. Sure would like to know how long they were around.
They advertised in Hot Rod well into the '50s. You could even buy "Zimmer" dropped and filled axles from them.
thats cool, i love old catalogs i have a honest charles from 61, and a california hardware company catalog from 57. really fun to just look at all the old stuff.
The HAMB "Search" feature works well, I was going to ask the same questions about this catalog I've had for a good 30 years now. Does anyone know whos Roadster is on the back cover?
It's interesting to me to see this flathead in a few catalogs. This is one that I photshoppeded to get rid of the rest of the **** but It is the same engine. Same engine in a 53 Almquist catalog. I agree it has the very distinct hood side louver pattern.
Tommy, That photo swapping started in the 1920's with Fronty Ford and Morton & Brett T speed equipment catalogs. Makes you wonder who actually made what. Bob
I have that same FE Zimmer catalog with the flathead on the cover. It must be 1950 if not late 1949. The listings are almost all 1948 and older applications with quite a few 1949. The only 1950 mention is not in type but handwritten before being printed. It's the oldest speed catalog i've got. I've got a few mid 50's, Almquist, Newhouse, etc.
Sorry for digging up such an old thread, but I was showing my buddy how instrumental his dad was to the car scene in Los Angeles and this came up. I grew up with Fred Zimmer's (of FE Zimmer &Company) youngest son....he has a shop full of his dad's speed parts from 50 plus years ago. He is finally to the point of wanting to sell things off. Would any of you guys know where the best place to list parts for sale would be? Thanks.
I'm Frank Eugene Zimmer. Fred Eugene Zimmer was my grandfather he had the speed shop in Encino California my son is the last of the fezimmer line any questions I'll answer here parts that are left over from my grandfathers old speed shop are not for sale I have some neat photos of my grand father and some of his shop buildings I'll post as soon as I can.
It is, the louver pattern on the hood side panels is pretty distinctive as well. As far as selling that stuff, the cl***ifieds here would seem to be a natural.
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