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Old 01-06-2020, 12:49 PM   #1
PeterC
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Default What were the chances!

When we disassembled the dash 0f my 1935 Three Window Coupe for restoration ... the glove box was empty... when the original liner was removed .. what a site to behold ... there was the 1st registration for the Coupe when brand new just laying on top of the liner! ! If you look closely after you click the picture to enlarge - you can still see the faded ink stamp -- Apr 11 1935!
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Last edited by PeterC; 01-06-2020 at 02:35 PM.
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Old 01-06-2020, 12:51 PM   #2
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Default Re: What were the chances!

That is to cool.
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Old 01-06-2020, 01:14 PM   #3
40 Deluxe
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Default Re: What were the chances!

Makes one wonder: Did the owner deliberately hide it there, or did it somehow slide there and got lost?
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Old 01-06-2020, 01:28 PM   #4
Seth Swoboda
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Default Re: What were the chances!

IS that a $1.00 fee is see written on the registration?
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Old 01-06-2020, 02:00 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Seth Swoboda View Post
IS that a $1.00 fee is see written on the registration?

Yep ... $1 fee - I bet you thought of as "highway robbery" back in the day I'm sure !


Here's the other side of the registration - registered in Swansea, Massachusetts - so may have lived its whole life on New England as now in Connecticut with me.
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Old 01-06-2020, 02:23 PM   #6
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That is a rare find! It makes me wonder if anyone with the family name Gell still lives on Marvel Street in Swansea.
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Old 01-06-2020, 02:25 PM   #7
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Default Re: What were the chances!

Both the car and literature are great in their own right. To have them together, well, that's just beyond...…


The 'ole fella that owned it was certainly proud when he bought it. Think how he felt the day he pulled away from the Ford lot.
"Just 36 payments and 'she's' all mine!
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Old 01-06-2020, 02:33 PM   #8
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That is a rare find! It makes me wonder if anyone with the family name Gell still lives on Marvel Street in Swansea.

I actually tried to track down the family via Google but no luck so far.
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Old 01-06-2020, 04:36 PM   #9
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That's outstanding!! What a great find.
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Old 01-06-2020, 04:40 PM   #10
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Default Re: What were the chances!

Very cool. You might have someone try Ancestry. You might find a descendant.
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Old 01-06-2020, 05:07 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PeterC View Post
I actually tried to track down the family via Google but no luck so far.
Peter, since many residents from the great northeast migrated to

Florida in their later years, maybe google Florida for the Gell family.
I found a number of them there.
Ken
PS did you sell the '39 yet?
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Old 01-06-2020, 09:01 PM   #12
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Default Re: What were the chances!

I bought a 57 F-1 back in the 80s and the original Bill of sale was in the dash, It causr 1254 bucks
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Old 01-06-2020, 09:47 PM   #13
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Default Re: What were the chances!

Way cool!
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Old 01-07-2020, 12:49 AM   #14
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That is a great find.
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Old 01-07-2020, 12:59 AM   #15
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Default Re: What were the chances!

I have the original ownership papers for both our 33 and 34, they list the first owners details and every owner after that, date and mileage at time of owner changes.
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Old 01-07-2020, 02:21 AM   #16
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Default Re: What were the chances!

The original bill of sale for my coupe is in a museum along with the rest of the owner's papers, and they won't release it to me.
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Old 01-07-2020, 06:04 AM   #17
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Default Re: What were the chances!

If you could come up with a house number thats the best bet. Marvel St. is a long street
which is my direct route to the Swansea Mall Home Depot Lowes etc. No reason why
the police dispatch; tell them you are searching " for William N Gell "somewhere on Marvel St." That bought a new 1935 Ford which is mine and I am tracking the origional owner
or relative . I have the origional and first vehical registration . Thats what I would do.
Or maybe town hall all departments have a street listing book kept in all fire police
highway dept vehicles. sam
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Old 01-07-2020, 07:42 AM   #18
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Very NICE ! GR8 to have the reg. for such a cool 35....love it !
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Old 01-07-2020, 08:03 AM   #19
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I'm getting a little hot, told my good friend owns a junk yard he will call his friend that
use to work for him. I know this man now in his 90's he lives on Marvel St same house
since he was born (old farm). So in 1935 he may have been 12-13 yrs old so this is
a good chance. My thoughts at that time mostly farms no new houses everbody knew
everbody back then. I also told my friend to mention a 35 Ford is the question. As I
said, I know this man when he worked in the junkyard and I guarantee my life He knows all about 1935 Fords and good chance "yours" being a small town. Soon as I get
a word I'll report back ASAP sam

I know when I was a 12 yrs old I knew every make and model from the 30's now I can't
tell any of todays no face vehicles.

Last edited by big job; 01-07-2020 at 08:09 AM.
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Old 01-07-2020, 08:34 AM   #20
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Default Re: What were the chances!

Things are slowly coming together. My friend made a call and old George is well you know
memory loss. So my friend spoke with his son 70yrs old. All coming back to me. My father did business with one of two sons of William Gell all from Marvel St. the other son ran
Gell Chevrolet in Swansea Rt6. Unfortunately they have all passed. I know when I had
a 63 split window Vette I got my parts from Gell Chev. in Swansea. Not done yet, the ole
guys son will do more digging....And he still lives on Marvel St. sam
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Old 01-07-2020, 09:21 AM   #21
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Default Re: What were the chances!

Oh, now it's getting interesting!


We gotta see pics and vids if you get to take the 'ole fella a ride...
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Old 01-07-2020, 11:37 AM   #22
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Amazing detective work! Thanks for helping solve the mystery!
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Old 01-07-2020, 02:21 PM   #23
big job
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Default Re: What were the chances!

Not yet Peter. Just now junk yard Stevie called me. William Gell born 1905 to 1997 died in the Swansea nursing home. He had two sons 'gone' one daughter now in her 80's.
The twist is, the owner of the towing company, tow's for Steve, is "Flash" we call him, and
he is in his 80's, back then he was a school teacher and had Williams kids in school. He
said the Gells moved to Somerset, next town date 70's or 80's unknown. Ole Flash went
to school with Williams daughter, He will try to contact her. So both partys are in there
80's so the daughter must remember something.. we getting hot now.. I remember
all these cars after the war, people & soldiers were broke many 30's cars my father
worked on; OK she is 10yrs older than me, That puts her in prime time for remembering
your car most likely during the war, IF flash can speak with her. Thank you Peter and
yes, I was a detective Sgt. 'when I had a job LOL' We do have our ways. Case not closed yet. Now 'Flash" is the key man in this case when he gets to the daughter. sam
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Old 01-07-2020, 03:00 PM   #24
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Another interesting fact on this 1935 Ford Coupe “what were the chances” - some of you may recall...

When restoring the Coupe to its current condition, I replaced the original stock 21 stud engine to a more powerful 1948 59AB. What’s amazing is The original 21 stud was re-manufactured by Portland Clutch in Portland Maine on June 24, 1977. Per the Portland Clutch rebuild tag affixed to the drivers side of the block - Ford Barns very own Walt Dupont of Portland Maine built this engine (has his initials stamped on the tag as well! What were the chances of that!
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Old 01-07-2020, 09:36 PM   #25
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That is very cool as well!!
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Old 01-07-2020, 10:28 PM   #26
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I have most of the bill's of sale for my Daddy's Fords from the first on in 1917
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Old 01-08-2020, 03:11 AM   #27
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Default Re: What were the chances!

I have the original ownership papers for my 34 Fordor and have been to the house the original owner lived in . More interestingly the 3rd owner kept a log book from the day he brought the car in 1935 until he died in 1977. Every mile traveled and every cent he spent on the car is recorded. He seemed to go through a lot of tires -bad roads i guess, He was a WW1 military hero and hence I have lots of information on him including lots of photos.
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Old 01-08-2020, 08:56 AM   #28
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Default Re: What were the chances!

If you're really interested in finding out more about the original owner you might try going to the local library or historical society and looking for a city directory for Swansea for that time period. It will generally list a persons name, address and employer. A later addition may list another address for the person or possibly a wife or children that inherited the house. The city water department for Swansea may have a record for the person giving the dates they lived in the house. Another place to check is the local funeral home as they may have a record of the persons death and the death certificate may have some family information. The local newspaper archive may have an obituary with a great deal of information.

Just my $0.02 worth.
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Old 01-08-2020, 10:53 AM   #29
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Census reports are done every 10 years, and are good records for people living in a specific city or county. They can also provide a few historic details.

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