Hi guys, to respond to GreenDragon's post, I have done much USPTO research, but let's face it - with Packard you are looking at an enormous task. They had sooo many patents issued. I do remember your article, Russell, and enjoyed it very much. I figued more would be uncovered, but I haven't heard any rumbling out there.

I did do a program for our club, but it morphed into a complete overview of Packard's SAE papers. Some years later I was urged to go ahead and write it up for The Packard Cormorant, which I did. It was published a couple of years ago. What's funny, not one comment was heard either good or bad. <crickets chirping>

There is indeed a wealth of information out there, if one is ready for the work. I think I will have to wait on this one till I am retired, but I am planning to narrow the focus for upcoming research: the patents of Bill Allison, the inventor of Torsion-Level. He was a very prolific engineer before, during and after Packard, filing with the USPTO as late as the 90s just prior to his passing. I would like to interview his surviving family, and try to get the essence of the man on paper, but I am not sure who to turn to for that.

Jeff

(see y'all in Branson in 2 weeks!)

My friend is a Packard owner, as well, having a 1954 Pacific hardtop. He attends many of the Old-Timers meets in Germany, and also loves John Deere farm tractors. I will pass your info along to him... he actually lives in Immensen, outside of Lehrte, outside of Hannover.

Tag!

Your finite element analysis is like reading a topographic map...

What model ZIS (ZIL?) is this?

Und, wo wohnen Sie, bitte?

Ich habe einer Freund, wer wohnen ins Hanover. I would like to send him the link to your website... Er sieht es gern. Mein Deutsch ist jetzt nicht so gut ...

Just teasing...

Very cool indeed!!

Wow! What a guy can do with a French Curve!

It's beee-utiful!

My favorite part was submitting a batch job, waiting 2 or 4 or 6 hours for output, and picking up a 5 pound box of green-stripe paper, only to find a fault in first If-Then-Or routine... grrr.

My children understand my current desire for speed, not why it is so imperative.

To think of all those lovely Packards, designed entirely by hand and paper and pencil. (just trying to tie this to on-topic...)

Something was just mentioned that has always mystified me... our Patrician has a standared embossed VIN plate. But our Constellation has the VIN embossed, but the PAINT/TRIM codes stamped, not embossed. Since our Connie is monochromatic, I assumed that the paint scheme was a custom order of some sort, with the single letter paint code stamped in after the color selection by the buyer. As it is, it is an all Fire Opal paint, with the standard red/black Clipper Custom upholstery. Does anyone have a correlation between embossed VIN plates (like those pictured here) and stamped VIN plates on odd paint/trim codes? Incidently, I have the original Owner's Service Card which shows the VIN and paint/trim info, verifying the correctness of the whole thing.

This thread made me smile. I grew up on Basic (1970s), graduated to FORTRAN via keypunch/cards (1980s) and had a Timex Sinclair as my first "PC" as an undergrad. I coupled it to a B/W Panasonic TV (9" screen) and Panasonic cassette recorder/player for my tape-drive memory. Programming was a bear, and extremely unforgiving. It did work, until it disappeared. I have absolutely no memory of throwing it away... it just vanished from my dorm room, or somewhere between grad school and my first job. Then it was all about DOS, and finally Windows 3.1.

Now, what this MAC thingy?

Jeff

Hi Chad,

Wow, I wondered whatever happened to you! Great to hear from you. You bet we will be in Branson, and for the whole week, of course. You should stop by, or better yet sign up.

We returned to Kansas City about 4 years ago, and immediately started hanging out with the Mid-America Packard crowd. The Packard world is full of old friends, no matter where you go. As a matter of fact, I besides doing tours and programs for the club, I handle membership for the moment, so if you want to rejoin... we'll gladly take your money and put you back in the roster. I set up a re-furbished website for the club:

www.midamericapackards.org

From there you can see our whole schedule, check out member's Packards, our projects page, and download a membership form.

I hope to see you in Branson! And glad you are still Packarding,

Jeff

Thanks for the welcome - I appreciate it. This is one of the nicest forums I have seen, old car or otherwise, and is a lot of fun to be part of.

Your point about the Packard photos and stories is well taken. Asking for the tales behind our Packards is dangerous, for they are winding and lengthy, but uploading some picture can be done much more quickly. We have three Packards - two '55 V-8s, and one Packard Hawk. I purchased my first Packard in 1985, a Patrician, and still own it! I was 23 then and knew I found my dream car. I am now 46, so I have been a Packard owner for half of my life now. That had not occurred to me till just this moment.

Look for my pics and stories elsewhere - again thanks for the welcome!