Oilers Club Members 1949

Hopefully this picture will upload - I found this picture on Facebook, posted by Miller Speed Shop. It says "Oilers club members 1949". I know the picture is of a T - but my interest is in the '39 Convertible sedan in the background/left. Anyone know anything of this car, or have seen any other pictures? Am ***uming that this was in California, with the plate on the car which I think was '49-'51 CA. Maybe Rik can help? Any info or leads appreciated. PM me or post on here to discuss further. Thank you!

 

The photo comes from the Robert Genat book The Birth of Hot Rodding.
All the book mentioned about the padded top sedan in the back is this: One member's chopped 1940 Ford is in the background.

It does identify the guys in the car having fun as the five from the "Oilers" club gathering at Jim Nelson's place. The Oilers club was located in Carlsbad, California.

 

Thank you Rik. It's obvious, to me at least, that the car isn't a '40 - not picking on the book's author, but the Convert Sedan wasn't produced past '39 model year - and you can tell by the deck lid it's a convert sedan. The tailights are '40, that we all can agree on! Thank you for the info. Will keep plugging away at it and see what we can find out. I know that Dirtyest Devil has done tons of research on that club - so will see what he comes up with. Thanks again!!

 

Can't help with any ID, but I'll give it a bump. What a great old photo, but something about it doesn't quite look right. A little unusual though not out of the question for it to be color in '49, but the crispness and clarity almost looks like digital. As an old produce guy, I would also be curious as to what crop is that in the background. Not trying to hijack the thread, carry on, and good luck with the search for info..........Don.

 

I'll ask my friend, Jack Carpenter, if he knows anyone in the photo. He was a member of the Oilers and has his original plaque on the back of his 23 Willys Touring/Pickup .....

Jack Carpenter​

 

Here's his plaque .....

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I don't mean to hi-jack this thread but I am looking for info on a Carlsbad Oilers member. Anyone have pictures and info. on Don Cox and his '32 roadster?

 

......Can't help ya, but at least we gave the op a bump back up.

 

I have a 1950 Oilers/RoadRamblers awards banquet program that shows Don Cox's roadster that placed 4th in points that year. Shown is the cover and a couple pages that mention Mr. Cox's name.

Sorry there is no mention of who owns the 39 convert sedan.

Mick

 

I showed the following photo to my friend Jack Carpenter and he confirmed that at least three of the guys were Oilers in the late 40's when he was a member.

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Behind the wheel is Merle Kissinger. He was a CHP officer that was murdered while off duty. Sitting next to Merle may be someone named "Albert". On the p***enger side in the back seat is Alex Waibel. Jim Nelson of Dragmaster fame is sitting behind the driver. He p***ed away in May of last year. The guy in the middle could not be identified. The spelling of names may be wrong but Jack was sure about the three he named as being members. He did not recognized the car in the background.

 

Great detective work. The HAMB never fails to amaze me.

 

G'day Mick, great piece of hot rod literature, thank you for sharing.
Is this the one that was on ebay earlier in the year? Or have you had your banquet program a long time?

 

Hi Jimmy, yes, I bought the banquet program off e-bay earlier this year, it came with a great 1947 SCTA lakes results program as well.

Mick

 

there is a pic of a girl on the opposite page in the book seating in a 27 body smoking cig that looks like it was taken at the same place same time. maybe she's still around?

 

I have a 1950 Oilers/RoadRamblers awards banquet program that shows Don Cox's roadster that placed 4th in points that year. Shown is the cover and a couple pages that mention Mr. Cox's name.

Sorry there is no mention of who owns the 39 convert sedan.

Mick
<fieldset cl***="fieldset"><legend>Attached Thumbnails</legend>
This is very cool. Thanks for the info.

</fieldset>

 

Good to see a HAMBer got it.
I was bidding on it, but I ended up concentrating on the photos, some of which are in the photo albums on my profile.

 

Thank you guys for all the great info - let's keep this going, and maybe a few of us can get some questions answered!!

 

Here is my friend Jack's membership card signed by Jim Nelson, President .....

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Here is a Courtesy Card the Oilers used .....

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Those are awesome Bullet Nose!

 

Hello. I am currently acting as the historian of the Oilers car club and I am afraid some of the names you posted Bullet Nose are incorrect.



Aprox. 1949 Oilers club members planning their next build. Allen Christopherson behind the drivers seat and front p***enger is Bob Telford. In the back seat on the left is Melford Robbins, in the center is Red Lewis and on the right is Jim Nelson. Melford Robbins' red 1939 Ford Kustom is seen in the background. It is a 1939 Convertible with a Carson top. Photo taken at the "bug barn", a chicken shed behind Jim Nelson's house.

Another photo of Melford's Car from the front. Dago Cantarini's car is to the left of his. Dago's car is a narrowed 1927 T roadster body with 165 HP 1942 Mercury engine. It ran Offy heads, Offy manifold, Potvin ignition, Harman Super cam and a 3:27 rear end with 7:00x16 tires out back.



The next photo we took Saturday afternoon (1/25/2014) at Bup's house in his yellow 1930 Phaeton. Bup is the one that signed Jack Carpenter's membership card on the Secretary line.

A little "The club Then and Now" action for ya!!

 

That is very cool Elrod - thank you for the update, corrections and extra picture. Any clue whatever happened to Melford's '39 - is he still living?

 

No, Melf p***ed away some years ago. I've no idea what became of his '39.
Bup

 

Any way to post that photo here?

 

Out of the blue, I received a message from John Williamson. He is a contributor to my car club plaque photos from time to time. He sent me some info about the Oilers car club and included the following .....

"I owned Melf's car for about 12 years, I bought it from his estate thru the San Diego antique Ford store. I redid it with the help of the Guildner Brothers custom shop, drove it and really enjoyed it. At that time it had a stock flathead, 40 col shift with zephyr gears and a columbia rearend. It is in Pat Gh****s Customs book with a picture of it with the black carson and in primer after the bodywork was done, taken at the 1st or 2nd Throttlers Picnic in Burbank. Melf must have been a ladies man, there was a long list of girls phone no.'s under the seat, I always wanted to go down the list call the girls and take them for one more ride but never got around to it. I sold the car to Al Mc Kee of B*** Lake, he sold it to a truck stop owner who then sold it to Woody the current owner who is selling it. I would be really interested in buying it but am working on a 2nd tub of my own which will be more like the Ray Vega car."

 

John also included a link to Rikster's photos of his car but it's incorrectly identified as a 40 .....

1939 Ford Convertible Sedan​

 

I owned **** Robbins Oilers Tub in the late 70's thru the 80's sold it to Al Mc Kee of B*** Lake he sold it to a truck stop owner in the north west, Or or Wash. here's a link to the tub when I owned and restored it. http://public.fotki.com/Rikster/11_...cars/john-williamson-cus/1940-ford-tub-john-/

 

Here's a picture of **** Robbins Tub when I owned it after body work and before paint and new white top material. At an Early Throttlers Picnic, John Williamson

 

Outstanding!

 

Love these history lessons.

 

Rik Hoving has done a great article on my old Melf Robbins Oilers tub here is the link to Rik's article

http://www.customcarchronicle.com/early-custom-cars/melford-robbins-39-tub/#comments