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| HOFFMAN’s 1916 HUDSON
I WAS BUILT IN 1915/1916, ONE OF 25,772 HUDSONS THAT SERIES.
I’M A 7 PASSENGER PHAETON (TOURING CAR) THE LAST OF THE SIX-40 SERIES. THE SUPER SIX WAS ALSO SOLD IN 1916 AS A 1917 MODEL. I WAS BILLED AS THE "ROAD CRUISER", WITH THE "GRACEFUL YACHT-LINE BODY". WE ALL HAD THE 6 CYLINDER-42 HORSEPOWER (6-40) ENGINE, 3 SPEED TRANSMISSION, ELECTRIC STARTER/GENERATOR (DELCO) SINGLE BARREL SIDEDRAFT CARBURATOR (ZENITH) GRAVITY FEED AND 123 INCH WHEELBASE. I CAME WITH 34 X 4 PNEUMATIC TIRES ON DEMOUNTABLE SPLIT RIMS, "WET AND DRY" BATTERIES, SHOCK ABSORBING FRONT BUMPER. ANTI THEFT LOCKING SWITCH PANEL AND NUMEROUS OTHER IMPROVEMENTS FROM THE PREVIOUS MODEL.
I WAS PURCHASED NEW 1916 BY JEREMIAH HOFFMAN FROM CALIFON N.J. OWNER OF J. HOFFMAN AND SON BASKET FACTORY. I ENJOYED TAKING MY NEW FAMILY OUT TO THEIR SUMMER HOME IN NORTHERN N.J. AND WON A FEW HILL CLIMBS AT SCHOOLIES MOUNTAIN, THE ROADS WERE NOT THE BEST BUT I HAVE LOTS OF CLEARENCE AND PLENTY OF POWER. AS THE 1920'S CAME SO DID NEWER CARS, BUT I HELD MY POSITION IN THE FAMILY, I COULD GO TO MY OWNERS PROPERTIES TO SELECT TIMBER FOR THE MAKING OF THE BEST PEACH BASKETS IN THE STATE, AND DELIVER THOSE BASKETS TOO. I WAS ALSO THE ONE THEY CHOOSE FOR CAMPING TRIPS TO MAINE AND CANADA UNTIL THE 1930'S. I CARRIED MORE LUGGAGE , WAS EASIER TO FIX, AND AGAIN, THE MOST GROUND CLEARANCE. LATER I WAS USED AS A PARADE CAR . I HAD NOW BEEN PASSED TO JEREMIAH'S SON FLOYD ALONG WITH THE BASKET FACTORY ETC...
FLOYD'S SON, JERRE W. TOOK AN INTEREST IN ME IN THE EARLY 1960'S I WAS IN THE OLD BARN OUT BACK AND THE ONLY VISITORS WERE JERRE W’s CHILDREN, WE HAD A GRAND TIME ON IMAGINARY JOURNEYS. THE OLD BARN WAS FALLING DOWN SO JERRE W TOOK ME TO HIS HOME WITH THOSE FUN YOUNG CHILDREN. ALL I NEEDED WAS SOME NEW TIRES, FRESH OIL AND GAS. I WAS ON THE ROAD AGAIN. MY PAINT WAS DULL AND MY ROOF HAD BEEN PAINTED SO JERRE W AND FAMILY FIXED ME UP WITH NEW PAINT AND TOP.
JERRE W MOVED TO MASS. IN 1970, THEY TOOK ME WITH THEM. WE WENT OUT A FEW TIMES. JERRE D ( J. W.'S SON) GOT A DRIVERS LICENSE. WE HAD A GRAND TIME. IN 1980 OR SO I BROKE MY WATER PUMP DRIVESHAFT, IT HAD WORN NEARLY IN HALF AT THE BACK PACKING NUT. JERRE W NEEDED GARAGE SPACE SO OFF TO STORAGE I WENT.
I WAS PASSED TO JERRE D, HE WOULD COME TO OIL MY ENGINE AND TURN ME OVER EVERY YEAR. ONE YEAR, 1993, HE TOOK ME TO HIS HOME IN CHICOPEE. HE REMOVED MY BROKEN PARTS AND HAD REPLACEMENTS MADE. AFTER TWO YEARS HE GATHERED ALL THE PARTS TOGETHER AND PUT ME BACK TO RUNNING CONDITION. HE STILL WANTS TO DO MORE "RESTORATION" BUT IT SURE IS NICE TO BE ON THE ROAD AGAIN AND WITH AND ACTIVE CAR FAMILY. AFTER ALL I'M ONLY 85 YEARS YOUNG.
The story continues. Jerre D and his Son Zack have had me painted again and the really worn upholstery replaced. They saved the rear seat back to preserve what was there. They then rebuilt my rear axle and brake system. This year (2007) My #4 connecting rod bearing disintegrated after the wrist pin retainer let go, scoring #4 cylinder wall. They made and installed a new bearing insert and will be getting my cylinder wall and small cracks in my block repaired. Today a nice man from Hemming Motor News came and took many pictures of me. Jerre & Zack tried to answer his questions and help pose me in my best “light” Overall fun day with lots of attention.
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