'Horse Sense' for a Horseless Carriage

Archived Content

Information identified as archived on the Web is for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It has not been altered or updated after the date of archiving. Web pages that are archived on the Web are not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards. As per the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada, you can request alternate formats on the "Contact Us" page.

CCI Newsletter, No. 26, November 2000

'Horse Sense' for a Horseless Carriage

by George Prytulak, Conservator, Treatment and Development Division - Industrial Collections

Conservation information turns up in some unexpected places. Old automotive books, for example, contain practical advice that is now at the core of modern preventive conservation. A conservator would be quite comfortable offering these words of wisdom—written almost a century ago—to museum staff and the public.

Consider tire care. A source from 1914 states: "Strong and steady light, as well as high or changing temperature, is harmful to rubber...no tire, new or old, should be exposed for extended periods in blazing sunlight" (Homans, p. 124). A text written in 1924 tells us to keep spare inner tubes "in a cool, dark, dry place." For long-term storage, the car itself is to be "jacked up so that no weight rests on the tires" (Hobbs et al., p. 450).

More advice from the 1920s tells us that as preparation for storage, we should coat all bare metal parts with "oil, vaseline, or gun grease to prevent rusting" (Chevrolet Motor Company 1925, p. 89). And "if possible cover the body with a sheet of muslin to protect the finish" (Ford Motor Company 1926, p. 57).

As for textiles, never fold the fabric top of the car "until it has become thoroughly dry, because any moisture remaining in the folds is apt to cause mildew" (Willys-Overland Company 1912, p. 27). Nor should it be "lowered when dusty and dirty...[because] there is the possibility of chafing" (Stutz Motor Car Company 1926, p. 23).

Any of these passages could have been written by a conservator today.

All of this advice indicates a keen awareness of deterioration based on long-term observation. It seems that the old-timers were as aware of the detrimental effects of direct sunlight, dampness, and dirt as are trained conservators today. When it came to the 'horseless carriage', you could say they had a lot of  'horse sense'.

References

Chevrolet Motor Company. Instructions for the Operation and Care of Chevrolet Motor Cars. Chevrolet Motor Company of Canada, Ltd., January 1925.

Ford Motor Company. Ford Manual. Domestic and Overseas Edition. Windsor, ON: Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd., 1926.

Hobbs, G.W., B.G. Elliot, and E.L.Consoliver. The Gasoline Automobile, 3rd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1924.

Homans, J.E. Self Propelled Vehicles. New York: Theo Audel and Company, 1914.

Stutz Motor Car Company.The New Stutz Vertical Eight. Series AA Information Book. Indianapolis, IN: Stutz Motor Car Company of America, 1926.

Willys-Overland Company. Instruction Book for the Operation, Care and Adjustment of Overland Automobiles. Toledo, OH: The Willys-Overland Company, 1912.