Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

Attached (hopefully) are photos of the hot air heater register in the rear passenger compartment. Also an attachment to the firewall in the engine comaprtment. All I have as the car is 30 minutes away and my camera batteries died.

O-D, are you familiar with this? I looked and could not find any markings or writing on the pieces. I don't know if this is similar to Bill Wurts set up on his 39 Super 8.

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Yes, I'm quite familiar with the item in your first picture. Did you take a look at the pictures of the 1937 Kelch rear floor register over on PAC forums? Looks identical to your photo to me and I believe this style rear register was used 37 thru 39. I also believe that 36 and prior used a cast aluminum floor register in the front and then when defroster dash outlets became common, they switched to the stamped steel front register on the cowl, with defroster deflector, also pictured in my Kelch article.

Shame so few have survived, some years back I got a letter from a gentleman in the UK who had a 34 Super Eight with an intact original and still functioning Kelch heater.

Since I wrote the article back in 2000, I've come to the conclusion that the heat exchanger tubes were made of monel.

Dave,

I haven't had a chance but will look at the pictures in the PAC forum very soon. Is the article you wrote also posted there?

Thanks

Is the article you wrote also posted there?

Yes, I posted the entire article. I've learned a few drips and drabs more since 2000, but not enough yet to consider doing a follow-up. So I'm still interested in new information on the subject.

Dave,
I would suspect that the gentleman you had contact with was a Mr Peter Bolton who sadly passed away last year. I have actually seen his car and the kelch heater which is still working fine.
The car was bought from an auction by a gentleman that lives in Norfolk UK.
Terry

Terry, your suspicions are confirmed, it indeed was Peter Bolton and I'm so sorry to hear of his passing, we exchanged quite a few letters over the years on the subject of Packards.

Sorry, just too good to pass up. "Hot air heater. Whats that for? Hot air doesn't need any heating!"

'Cuz if we called it a "cold leg heater" it would sound funny :)

A question for O_D. Looking at the blower picture on the 39 thread and the catalog and PAC article brings a question of where the air supply is from. It appears to just be drawing air from the area around the engine rather than from outside the car. I would think that would bring in some impressive fumes to the heated air or is that incorrect. It also appears to be a fairly small diameter tubing and blower so how much air flow is actually present and is it enough to do the job adequately in such a large car.