Purchased about 1950 from Murray M. Brown of Athol,
MA
Murray Brown, a tool-maker for the Starrett Company in Athol,
acquired this car during World War II and took it completely apart
to refinish each piece. The story goes that he painted and striped
the pieces while in the nude, so no dust from his clothing would
get in the paint. He used the oil paint and varnish method, with
many coats of varnish, rubbed between coats, which would create a
deep, rich appearance. He also acquired a Model O White of 1909,
and restored it in time for the 1947 Glidden Tour in New England.
Mr. Brown got married about 1949, and subsequently his wife said either the
car had to go or she would! So my father bought the Model H-5
in pieces about 1950 and put it together. It was used at a few
AACA meets, and driven on the 1973 Steam Car Tour, headquartered
at the new Garden Air Field. It took part in the great New Jersey
Steam and Air Race about 1975, and some repainting on the body and
a boiler change were done at that time. It was also taken to
Columbus, OH, as a promotional scheme for the annual convention of
STANLEY STEEMER, Inc. (the rug-cleaning people).
In the 1990's a
cylinder head became so thin that the steam blew through it, and
it was repaired. The car has original wheels, 27" with clincher
rims for 34 x 3 ½ tires. Dunlop metric-sized tires are new, rear
tires are very old and subject to cracking. Robert C. Barrett
installed his hydraulic brakes on the rear, which necessitated
brake drums slightly larger in diameter than the original ones.
The piston and valve rods should be hard-chromed to save packing
and annoyance.
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