The first car in the collection, the Model 76 was purchased in 1940 from neighbor John Becker of
Kennett Township for $ 150. It has been driven on many tours and has had partial
restorations in 1941, 1954 and 1985.
This car was sold to Mr. Becker in February, 1913 by agent T. Clarence Marshall, and the owner drove it 9,100
miles in six years. In 1919, he “put it up” keeping it in a dry garage,
moved about two miles away, and disturbed nothing on the car. Mr. Marshall,
thinking he would like a Stanley again to
“play with”, bought it back and soon had it running again, although he
changed the boiler to a Derr water-tube type, and installed a Cruban burner,
which required lowering the steering column to fit everything in. The wheels
were changed also, as 36 x 4 or 37 x 4 ˝ tires (the original sizes for 28”
rims) were nowhere to be found and Studebaker demountable 23” wheels and rims
were substituted. With these changes, the car was used with great satisfaction
until 1954, when a partial restoration and repainting got the original type
Stanley boiler and burner back in the car (although this boiler was 18” high)
and the wheels were changed to 34 x 4’s which looked much better. In 1956 when
37 x 4 ˝ Gehrig tires became available, the original wheels and rims went back
on the car, although at that time wheels and undercarriage were painted red. In
1986, the undercarriage and wheels were painted yellow, much closer to the
original color, and a 14” high boiler, correct for this model, went back in
the car. The engine has never been out of the car, and mechanically it is almost
as built, but an extra water tank holding an additional 27 gallons is hung
underneath. The leather was replaced in 1968 and the padding had to be done
again about 20 years later, at which time a new top, and side curtains were
made. Barrett hydraulic brakes were installed on the rear wheels about 1992. The
car has probably been driven about 45,000 miles since 1940 and has been on
4 Glidden Tours and many Steam Car Tours.
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