I was over at my friends shop today, he recently obtained this unique grille, and asked me if I knew what it was off of. I said I would post it and see what the H.A.M.B. experts come up with. Thanks from Dennis.
The rock guard comment may be close. I’d say we’re looking at it upside down and that opening with the teeth gone is for a crank handle. Just a guess though.
Macks were the closest I saw, but not right, either. It seems awful tall for most cars. Something luxury, mid to late 30s. I've got a truck book somewhere around here, but I couldn't tell you exactly where.
Yeah I told my friend that I thought it was upside down as well and that was a hole for the crank handle, so the search continues. He got it out of our friends automotive machine shop, after the owner of the machine shop p***ed away. Thanks from Dennis.
Nope, its not a bird cage, that much we know for a fact, I say that because the owner of the machine shop was a hot rodder and often used to repair various parts for cars and trucks, old stuff. Thanks from Dennis.
After more looking, I think it’s the actual grille insert that installs from the back side of the shell. Looked at 33-4 Buick and Cadillac and although some slight resemblance, not a match. I’m still looking.
I have what I thought was a 34 Olds grille & shell but having seen your example it may be 33 ? 35 ? as somewhat different, the laid-back at***ude emulates an Indy roadster.
I'm looking at the edges with pairs of mounts being the crossbar twisted into a loop and others being a washer welded on. Probably repairs or since this was from a machine shop it might have been a handmade copy. If so, it was a LOT of work to get those steps (hidden by the shell), the bar spacing and other details.
I would have to say, that the picture that the mighty @squirrel has posted indeed, is a spot on match, and as I suspected, the way it was hung on my friends wall, its upside down. @rdscotty was correct in his guess! Thanks from Dennis, to all that have participated, in the search to identify this mystery grille! I will let my friend know today!
That Jim Forbes is a pretty sharp guy, just flip the grille over. Just add the grille badge at the bottom. HRP
It still looks a little different, like it's a reproduction, as mentioned. Also, there are a few models of 34 Olds, you have to make sure to look at the Eight L series, as he said.
There was a fire inside of the old machine shop that this came from, it wasn't warped by the heat, but it was all sooty from the smoke, so my friend cleaned it up and then used his gl*** bead blaster cabinet to clean it to the condition that you see it in now! Confidence is high that its not a reproduction.
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