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08-30-2021, 09:03 PM | #1 |
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Model A police car pictures needed
Hi All... First post here. I have a 1931 Model A that was used as a Police Car in Georgia way back when. I am restoring it and I need Pictures or information on what was used on the car (like a star on the doors, etc) way back then. I have tried to get info but to no avail from Atlanta Police. All I know is Georgia Patrol wasn't founded until 1937. I Live in O.C. CA and I was even going to use their Sheriff emblem here, but they claim they had nothing on cars until 1958. My Model A is similar to the police car rammed in the Bonnie and Clyde Movie getaway scene - but that is Texas / Missouri area in the Movie, and might not even be a "real" look. Any suggestions on what to do or how to find out that stuff for my car? I have posted a picture of my Model A in my Photo Album... Thanks
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08-30-2021, 09:07 PM | #2 |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
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08-30-2021, 09:28 PM | #3 |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
Was it used as a police or sheriff car. Do you know what agency? If so, contact them.
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08-30-2021, 09:58 PM | #4 |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
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08-30-2021, 10:37 PM | #5 |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
What body style?
In the Model A era most police cars were not fancy paint schemes with graphics and emblems. While a lot of people today paint them in two-tone saddle shoe schemes those just weren't the regular style for cash strapped departments during the depression. Hand painted lettering with the department name and maybe a car number was about all you got. -Tim Chicago, these phaetons were either painted yellow or orange, depending on the source. NYC This is probably the most dramatic color scheme on a car of the era. New Mexico supposedly had copper colored cars but that doesn't come out in the pictures. 119950519_10103629171657901_1615951114874558420_n.jpg 1920-1929~~element61.jpg FB_IMG_1538717222519.jpg 1040403_orig.jpg
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08-30-2021, 10:51 PM | #6 |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
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In '31 police departments could order the so call "police head" which was a high compression head. There was also an option for a low speed generator that would put out more power at idle to help power radio equipment. You should check to see if your car has either. I see now that your picture didn't show up (looks like you cut off the "h" of "http". You have a '31 Tudor. Here's an example of one. 5a95416882c05.image.jpg -Tim
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08-31-2021, 06:45 AM | #7 |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
Its your car do what makes you happy and what you will enjoy. For me I think the black and white with the huge star is kinda kitchy. Like you have found in your research they just werent made that way back then. I do like some of the period photos that show a more subdued vehicle.
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08-31-2021, 07:10 AM | #8 |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
Researching this over the years (I once restored a 1947 Chevy as a patrol car) it seems to me that there really weren't any hard and fast rules to it. It varied from state to state and department to department. You would even see convertibles! The big thing, in my mind, would be keep it simple. They didn't have a lot of 'flash' to them. You referenced 'Bonnie & Clyde' in the Joplin shoot-out scene. That's probably a good example. Also there is a brief car chase in 'O Brother Where Art Thou'. Beyond this......it's your car and you need to make it in a way that makes you smile every time you see it! Good luck and post lots of pictures!
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08-31-2021, 08:17 AM | #9 |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
If you know the department or general area, do some research and see if you can find some old photos from the historical society.
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09-12-2021, 12:59 AM | #10 | |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
Quote:
My Car is similar to that Pictured, but with a Spotlight where many put signal lights on the Driver side... All I know is it was used by Georgia Patrol as late as 1976 because of a sticker on the windshield stating such... But that agency wasn't around until 1937 - so looking for anything in Atlanta (GA's Biggest city) from 1931 emblem for Police or Sheriff if there was such a thing on their Police cars, but I do really like your Picture you have on here... close to what I seek. Thanks |
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09-12-2021, 01:10 AM | #11 | |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
Quote:
I was hoping to find something that would give me a real feel (I love history and things "authentic" but finding little thus far... I have called Atlanta main archive library... waiting to see what they have. Seems the Jimmy Cagney Movies are more what I am looking for than what existed in reality back then for most police cars... LOL - Here is another attempt to put my picture on here... Thanks to ALL. |
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09-12-2021, 01:14 AM | #12 | |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
Quote:
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09-12-2021, 03:11 AM | #13 |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
Hi All, I'm toying around with making my own "STAR" for the car...
but I wasn't too impressed with this 1st attempt. Any Suggestions on how it could be made to look more realist for the 1931 time era? Thanks |
09-12-2021, 04:41 AM | #14 |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
1929 Ford Model A Police Paddy Wagon - Chicago Police. |
09-12-2021, 04:47 AM | #15 |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
1929 Ford Model A Police Paddy Wagon - Chicago Police. |
09-12-2021, 04:48 AM | #16 |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
1930 Ford Model A Police Patrol Wagon - Chicago Police. |
09-12-2021, 04:51 AM | #17 |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
1930 Ford Model A Police Patrol Van. |
09-12-2021, 05:01 AM | #18 |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
Ford Model A Coupe Police Car - Penn College. |
09-12-2021, 11:47 AM | #19 |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
When I was a child the police "paddy wagons" were called black Marias. Don' ask me why as I dunno.
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09-20-2021, 03:48 PM | #20 |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
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09-22-2021, 06:40 PM | #21 |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
Have you tried the city library or newspaper?
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09-22-2021, 07:44 PM | #22 | |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
Quote:
These were the 'Black Marias', so named after Maria Lee, a giant Boston Negress whose size and strength was such that when the constables required assistance it was common to send for Maria, who quickly dealt with the trouble makers and marched them off to the lock
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09-23-2021, 11:57 AM | #23 | |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
Quote:
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09-23-2021, 01:14 PM | #24 | |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
Quote:
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09-23-2021, 01:27 PM | #25 | |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
Quote:
-Tim
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09-23-2021, 07:55 PM | #26 |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
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09-24-2021, 01:10 AM | #27 |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
To quote a popular Youtube site: "Well, I'll be dipped!" I wonder though, if the radios mentioned in this 1931 bulletin were actually two way. All the references I found said the first two way radios date to March of 1933, in a city in New Jersey. Starting sometime in the'20's though, some police departments were installing AM radios that were just receivers, or one way radios. Thus headquarters could contact the cars and send them where needed.
Anyway, I appreciate the additional information! |
09-24-2021, 01:13 AM | #28 |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
Looks to me like someone didn't want a mundane vehicle like a mail truck so they turned it into a police vehicle.
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09-24-2021, 08:57 AM | #29 |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
Here are some police cars:
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09-27-2021, 09:19 AM | #30 |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
Here’s picture of a CPD squad on patrol. Same vehicles that WTSHNN has posted here, 1929 Phaetons. Maybe they were checking on Al’s tax filings!
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10-03-2021, 09:50 PM | #31 |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
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10-04-2021, 02:49 AM | #32 |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
Dozens of Model A Ford Roadster Police Vehicles. |
05-24-2022, 03:02 PM | #33 |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
As many have indicated, police vehicles of that era were plainly marked......Detroit PD for instance had plain lettering on the doors to indicate it was a police vehicle.
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05-24-2022, 03:11 PM | #34 |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
This photo came off of FordBarn a few years back. The man is wearing a badge so I guess you can consider this a police car even though there are no markings.
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05-25-2022, 01:39 AM | #35 |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
As is been said there's no hard and fast rules. However, I retired after 23 years of Law Enforcement. The Star, at least down here in Texas, usually indicates a Sheriff's Department, where the Badge is typically for Police Departments. Up north is a whole different ballgame.
The local police department had a simple one block word "POLICE " on the door of their vehicles until the 80s. Also just a red spotlight on many units into the 80s in rural areas. As to age, I've driven patrol units well over 10 years old. What I've read indicates many Departments still had model T vehicles during the Bonnie and Clyde days, 33 and 34. The Texas Highway Patrol used one way radios into the 1960s. An old friend said you carried a roll of dimes and when called and told to call the station you drove until you found a house with a phone line, then asked to use the phone. The dimes were for reimbursement. The department I spent the most time with had a framed paper chart in the patrol office indicating speed by using a stop watch and timing the vehicle travel thru an intersection. I wish I'd taken a picture. Last edited by ETAModel; 05-25-2022 at 01:52 AM. |
05-25-2022, 07:52 AM | #36 |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
Hello, some what newer 1933 , but the sheriffs car that John Dillinger stole , and has been restored, is a 1933 Ford standard sedan. It has no markings on the doors indicating it is a police car, however it does have a spotlight and a red light mounted on left front bumper bracket. I tried to copy a picture but could not.
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05-25-2022, 08:50 AM | #37 |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
Almost all of them have Police on the hood. I agree, the coupe has a nice simple look, probably pretty close to what was the norm at the time.
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05-25-2022, 10:45 PM | #38 |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
Here is an interesting photo of the inside of 1931 Ford Model A Tudor, Detroit Michigan, police car, where you can see the location of the radio, the radio controls, the speaker and the rifle:
......and also from the Detroit PD, here is a slightly different radio configuration (with radio components under the rear floorboards): Both are excerpts from the Dutch "Ford Werld" magazine featuring US Ford Model A police vehicles. Brad in Maryland |
05-29-2022, 08:41 AM | #39 |
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Re: Model A police car pictures needed
Chicago
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