9-26-23
Hi Kevin,

Sometimes wishes come true. Living near Austin, Texas, "Hershey" has always been the elusive, some day type of event.

Through a referral from West Peterson of the AACA's Antique Automobile, Helen V Hutchings approached me to attend the SAH's author signing/selling event at the SAH tent held behind the AACA Library on Tuesday, 10-3-23, from 2pm to 7pm.

I will be there, and am excited to be invited! I will sell/autograph my two current books:
FACTORY AIR: COOL CARS IN COOLER COMFORT, in paperback and hardcover
WHAT'S A TAILFIN, DADDY? in paperback

If I don't see you at the SAH tent on 10-3-23, I will be sure to visit you at the Packard tent. I copied your Green Field location.

See you soon, I've been waiting to meet you.

See ya, Allen Simons
281-798-3031

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7-9-22
Thanks, Howard, for your observations and comments about my new book, Factory Air: Cool Cars in Cooler Comfort. Personal circumstances have delayed my announcement and publicity for the book. I plan to resume them soon.
Allen, archiveman2977

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1-17-22 Hi Guscha, thanks for the image of a Cadillac family being refreshed by a supply of cooled air delivered at a drive-in in Houston. I have a similar image saved from another magazine of the time period. As we always said in Houston, "it's not the heat but the humidity" that made our weather miserable. archiveman2977

8-17-20

Hi Howard,

According to the late Rod Barclay, author of Boy! That Air Feels Good!, Texas entrepreneurs, who remembered the prewar 1940-1942 Packard and 1941 Cadillac AC units supplied by Bishop & Babcock Mfg. Co., met and cobbled similar units for sale in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area in 1948-1949.

Such "hang-on" units from A.R.A., Frigikar, and Mark IV companies sold about 10K units by 1953, literally dragging reluctant Big Three Detroit automakers, plus Packard, into AC production.

Mr. Barclay's photo-filled story captivates the reader in a metaphor similar to one about David and Goliath.


Allen
archiveman2977

8-12-20

Hi Guscha,

Thanks again for your many copies of various American city newspapers that trumpeted the advent of Packard's mechanical air-conditioning for 1940.

I particularly found interesting the copy of the Austin American Statesman article, 11-10-39, from response #191. Austin is a few miles from my home.

Have you noticed the canned wording in each article? Each paper mentioned the local Packard dealer and manager, then continued on with Packard's advertising suggested copy.

You are certainly on a roll. I sure wish you could find images of the 1941 Packard equipped with the Cellarette displayed in one of the 1941 auto shows. Packard displayed it in the New York, Chicago, and San Francisco shows. It was probably the same car, transported to each show.

I have had discussions with the Chicago Auto Show historian, who supplied me with the auto show flyer, "See the Motor Car that Makes Ice Cubes." While he supplied the flyer copy, no images are in his file of the 1941 Packard with the Cellarette during the car show.

Cheers,
Allen
Archiveman2977

7-19-20

Hello Guscha,

Re: #174, 175

Yes, the Pampa news article covered Dave McGahey's 1938 Packard. My cousin said that he bought and sold many cars.

Interesting article about air-conditioning in long haul bus service. Public transportation enjoyed air-conditioning first in Pullman brand dining cars, then complete trains from the early 1930s.

You responded that you lived in Paris. Truly a multi-faceted city.

See ya,

Allen
archiveman2977

7-18-20

Hi Guscha,

Sorry, she gave me no more information about his other cars.

Another question, where are you located?

See ya,

Allen
archiveman2977

7-16-20

Re.#161,163-165

Hello Guscha,

The 1-9-55 and 8-25-77 articles from the Pampa Daily News spotlighted the 1932 Duesenberg owned by Dave McGahey, step-father-in-law of my cousin, Annette Simons Story.

I will forward these clippings to her, along with the RM Sotheby's 8-15-19 Monterey, CA auction listing of his previously owned 1932 Duesenberg Model J-Victoria Coupe that remained unsold after a high bid of $1.2 M.

Thank you again, Guscha, for your curiosity and sleuthing abilities for O. A. K., my acronym for Obscure Automotive Knowledge.

archiveman2977
Allen

7-13-20
Hi Guscha,
Re: #162

Good find from the Corpus paper; it contains a corroborating reference to the HENNEY-PACKARD ambulances.

The Henney company optionally offered the air-conditioning unit in 1938, as evidenced in their literature that is included in the 1940 Packard air-conditioning chapter of my forthcoming book.

Thanks,
archiveman2977
Allen

7-5-20 1941 PACKARD CELLARETTE ENCOUNTER

David E. McGahey, of Pampa, Texas owned a 1941 Packard One Eighty, Body 1442, that was equipped with a Cellarette refreshment bar. Images of the bar are in this Forum, #20, 10-14-16.

According to my cousin, Annette Simons Story, she and her husband, Jim, visited Jim's stepfather, Mr. McGahey in the Texas panhandle town of Pampa in 1977. Located in his storage building, he drove them for a short ride.

She recalled:
1. The exterior color was a dark blue or black.
2. The interior was roomy enough for her 6'6" husband.
3. Mr. McGahey, called Dave by her husband Jim, brought out two clear liquor containers that he kept in storage to prevent damage while driving the Packard.
4. The Cellarette had four drop-down doors.
5. The freezer compartment was in the lower left compartment.
6. Mr. McGahey bought the badly deteriorated car from California some time in the 1970s, then restored it himself. He also restored an unknown year Dusenberg.

Unfortunately no photos or records can be found, as Mr. and Mrs. McGahey and her husband, Jim, are deceased.

Does anyone remember Mr. McGahey or his 1941 Packard?

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