Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 02-09-2017, 04:34 AM   #1
reggiedog
Senior Member
 
reggiedog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 890
Question The Jeffery Automobile Company

Has any one ever seen one of the Jeffery Auto's or maybe has one of them as they were only built from 1914 to 1917 in Kenosha, WI. And no I'm NOT looking to buy one I was just wondering if there actually still around anymore or if the earth took them like allot of these old cars they just sink into the dirt and there gone.

As these cars have to be very rare to have one of them and worth allot of money.

And I do know that the company was called Rambler before it was called the Jeffery and Co as the name change after the owner died and then the son changed the name in honor of his Dad.

And then I don't know as to when this happened but Nash Automobile Co at some point bought them out but I don't know if Nash kept the Jeffery Auto's going for a while or not but I would like to find that out.

So if anyone knows anything about the Jeffery cars let me know.

Thanks Reggiedog
reggiedog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2017, 04:40 AM   #2
Synchro909
Senior Member
 
Synchro909's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 7,471
Default Re: The Jeffery Automobile Company

Here's something:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffery_armored_car
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffery_armored_car
__________________
I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.
Synchro909 is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 02-09-2017, 05:12 AM   #3
reggiedog
Senior Member
 
reggiedog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 890
Default Re: The Jeffery Automobile Company

Thanks I was just headed that way but you beat me to it but as far as I can tell this car is a no go as in the US there just isn't any of them around anymore I wish as I would love to see one of them close up to find out the difference between those cars and the Model A's or T's I should say.
And to see who was more up to date on there car building as everyone thinks it was Henry Ford but I've been finding stuff that he was way behind on building some of his own cars but he was the first to start the actual assembely line so I got to give him credit for that as that was a major feat in itself back then.

Reggiedog
reggiedog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2017, 05:58 AM   #4
updraught
Senior Member
 
updraught's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,966
Default Re: The Jeffery Automobile Company

There was, may be still is, a 1916 tourer here restored RHD.

updraught is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2017, 07:36 AM   #5
Hoogah
Senior Member
 
Hoogah's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia
Posts: 800
Default Re: The Jeffery Automobile Company

Quote:
Originally Posted by reggiedog View Post
.....And to see who was more up to date on there car building as everyone thinks it was Henry Ford but I've been finding stuff that he was way behind on building some of his own cars but he was the first to start the actual assembely line so I got to give him credit for that as that was a major feat in itself.......
This article credits both Olds and Jeffery with building their cars on assembly lines before Ford.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thom...effery_Company
Hoogah is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2017, 08:19 AM   #6
ronn
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ
Posts: 6,758
Default Re: The Jeffery Automobile Company

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
As these cars have to be very rare to have one of them and worth allot of money.


believe it or not- not everyone wants an "orphan" car
most parts have to be machined, as there arent any. so it becomes quite difficult to restore one.

that is the beauty of the model A.............
ronn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2017, 08:23 AM   #7
ronn
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ
Posts: 6,758
Default Re: The Jeffery Automobile Company



Car of the Week: 1916 Jeffery Touring

By: bearnest | May 5, 2014

2


By Steve Jansen
Charles T. Jeffery was a bicycle manufacturer in 1887 and sold bikes under the name Rambler. After apparently becoming bored with the business, he sold his bicycle plant but kept the Rambler name.
In 1898, he and his son Thomas designed their first automobile. In 1904 the first Model ‘L’ went into production using the Rambler name. Following Oldsmobile, they were the second company to use the assembly line method. (Ford didn’t use this method until 1908 with the Model T). The Jeffery Company was the first to replace the tiller with a steering wheel. It also took the engine and placed it in the front instead of under the seat.
In 1910, Charles Jeffery died, but Thomas continued to build Rambler autos. In 1914, to honor his father, Thomas introduced a new model and named it the Jeffery. This model was produced from 1914-1916 and it is estimated that 1,350 cars were built.


After Durant was rehired for the third time by General Motors, the CEO of GM decided to resign and buy his own auto factory. His name was Charles Nash. He purchased the factory in August of 1916. Since the Rambler name came with the sale, he changed the Jeffery logo to what we know today. This same model was continued under the Rambler logo until 1918, when a new model was introduced.
We have all heard the stories about “barn finds,” but this one is a little different. Judging from the VIN numbers, it looks like this car was built sometime in July of 1916. The history only dates back to 1964 when it was purchased and at that time the owner installed a new top (it was never taken out of the tonneau). The owner who bought the car after its barn stay had the jump seats redone and had the Speedo rebuilt. Since he didn’t know how long it had been broken he had it reset to zero. We know it read 7,600 miles when it broke. The man then took it on a short tour with his neighbor, who also owned a 1914 Jeffery. This tour was just short of 100 miles. The next time was a parade when the starter quit with a speedo reading of 103 miles.
It was determined that the starter switch was bad. After trying to get it to work, he gave up and pushed the car to the back of his garage and it soon became his storage center. It had so much piled on it that the car was virtually forgotten. After the owner’s death in 2005, the car was sold. The new owner tried to fix this switch, but gave up and also put it into storage. This owner died in January 2013 and the car was hauled to the California Auto Museum to be sold on consignment. That’s when I purchased it. The speedo still showed 103 miles.

This starter switch in question is a Bijur. I had never seen one before. This switch is the reason the car has so few miles and probably why I have it today. It is a heal start switch, meaning you press it down with your heal. It is both electrical and mechanical; as the button is pressed, there is a resistor dropping the 6-volt system down to 3 volts, turning the starter very slowly. The mechanical arm engages the drive gear into the ring gear to avoid a clash. At the same time they mesh together, 6 volts are applied to the starter. This is a 6-volt positive ground system with voltage always applied to the starter, then a second cable leaves the starter and terminates on the switch to complete the circuit.
After my repairs were made, the compression was checked and all cylinders had the same compression of about 15 lbs. I was then able to scope the cylinders and found the hone marks still on the cylinders and no ring ridge. I scoped the crank case and to my surprise everything was still shiney. I changed the perfectly still-clean old oil and and put Marvel Mystery oil both in the crank case and cylinders. I cranked her over a few times for about three days and then again checked the compression. It was up to 25 lbs. At that point, I filled the vacuum fuel pump with gas and the old girl that sat for 50 years fired right up.

It took about three days to rebuild the fuel pump, clean the gas tank and seal it. While doing this, I ran the car about 20 minutes using the old technique of the gas can on the seat with a hose to the carburetor. Today, one year and almost 500 miles later, the compression is sitting at 50-55 lbs.
The car came with three of the original Firestone non-skid tires and two of them still had the red tubes. The 34 x 4 tires are getting hard to find, so I switched to period correct Goodrich tires. With a few minor exceptions, the old girl has been trouble free and starts right up every time.

Jeffery owned 50 percent of the Seaman body company and Seaman supplied the body for this car. When Nash purchased Jeffery he purchased the other half of Seaman, which continued the Nash bodies until the end of production.
The last time that I checked the Nash roster, this is the only 1916 Jeffery listed. It sold new for $1,000 plus another $35 for the jump seats that made it a “7 Passenger Touring.” The engine and transmission were built by Jeffery, which makes it a manufactured and not an assembled automobile.
I don’t know for sure that this is the last 1916 Jeffery in the world, but it sure sounds like it. Of course, you don’t ever know what might show up on eBay.

_____________________
Show us your wheels!
ronn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2017, 08:34 AM   #8
Patrick L.
Senior Member
 
Patrick L.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Largo Florida
Posts: 7,225
Default Re: The Jeffery Automobile Company

Now thats a heck of a car and a great story !
Patrick L. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2017, 09:51 AM   #9
henry's 31
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Columbus(Cataula) Georgia
Posts: 848
Default Re: The Jeffery Automobile Company

Thanks for sharing. Indeed a great story and a very nice classic auto!
__________________
Henry' s 31
henry's 31 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2017, 09:56 AM   #10
Gold Digger
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Arkansas & Alaska
Posts: 642
Default Re: The Jeffery Automobile Company

Didn't Jeffery also build trucks for the military around WW1? I thank I remember my grandfather talking about using them while chasing Poncho Villa along the border just before we interred WW1. I may be mistaken on the name though.
Gold Digger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2017, 10:51 AM   #11
Terry, NJ
Senior Member
 
Terry, NJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bucks Co, Pa
Posts: 3,740
Default Re: The Jeffery Automobile Company

Great story! I had never heard of Jeffery before, but I have heard of the old (1st) Rambler, but never realized there was any connection between the original and the later Nash-Rambler. Thanks for posting!
Terry
Terry, NJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2017, 11:05 AM   #12
reggiedog
Senior Member
 
reggiedog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 890
Default Re: The Jeffery Automobile Company

Ron:

Do you live in the US if so what state and do you still own the car today as I would love to see it as I have a Late 31 Deluxe Tudor Model A and I have always been interested in the Jeffery cars reason is my name is Jeff.

And it's spelt the same as the car is but I didn't know all of the information that you sent on here as I have some of the info that you have on there but not all of it and I love the story that go's with it.

And yes Jeffery did make stuff for the military for ww1 as I have pictures of some of the vehicles that Jeffery company made and the link for them is still on here it's right below Reggiedog right on top as I'm the 1 that started this.

But Ron I have a question for you also now you don't have to tell me but I'm just curious here now you said you owned the car since 2013 so you still own it today and you said part of what you had to the car so your saying the paint job on the car is also original or did you or someone else have to repaint it over the years.

I know you said something about the fabric being replaced so since you owned the car and getting the car running is that all you had to do to the car as with my car I had to take it to the frame and start all over from the start as I'm still doing that today.

Thanks let me know Reggiedog
reggiedog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2017, 11:43 AM   #13
old31
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,088
Default Re: The Jeffery Automobile Company

Great, cool story. Thank you for sharing that with us.
old31 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2017, 11:45 AM   #14
ronn
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ
Posts: 6,758
Default Re: The Jeffery Automobile Company

sorry Reggie, I dont own the car........... as you see, it is a featured story I found on the internet, as you were asking if any existed.............
ronn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2017, 12:51 PM   #15
al's28/33
Senior Member
 
al's28/33's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Redwood City, CA
Posts: 1,588
Default Re: The Jeffery Automobile Company

It's amazing to research how many automobile manufacturers there were back in those early days. American Ingenuity at it's BEST!
__________________
1928 "A" Phaeton (mid year with many early features)
1933 "V8" Closed-Cab Pickup Truck
(originally a Model B, 4 Cylinder dating to May, 1933)
al's28/33 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2017, 12:52 PM   #16
abachman3
Senior Member
 
abachman3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Western Springs, IL
Posts: 323
Default Re: The Jeffery Automobile Company

The text of the magazine article says that he took this car on a tour with a neighbor that had a 1914 Jeffery, so there must be at least two of them still around.
abachman3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2017, 02:19 PM   #17
mhsprecher
Senior Member
 
mhsprecher's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Takoma Park, MD
Posts: 2,811
Default Re: The Jeffery Automobile Company

http://theoldmotor.com/?p=70515
mhsprecher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2017, 03:18 PM   #18
reggiedog
Senior Member
 
reggiedog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 890
Default Re: The Jeffery Automobile Company

Ron:

I get it now; So now the question go's out to everyone that owns one of these fine old cars.

What I was asking is this about how much do this cars go for now a days since they all sold for over a 1,000.00 new I was just wandering on how much they all go for now in todays market in the US.

Or where ever doesn't mater what country as it would be kind of neat to know what they all cost in different country's in todays market that is.

Reggiedog

Last edited by reggiedog; 02-09-2017 at 03:25 PM.
reggiedog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2017, 05:38 PM   #19
Tom F OHIO
Senior Member
 
Tom F OHIO's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mansfield, Ohio
Posts: 405
Default Re: The Jeffery Automobile Company

Reggiedog, you might have already done this but if you bring up Jeffery Automobile in the internet there are so many articles and different pictures of the Jeffery.Thomas Jeffery is even in the Automobile Hall of Fame.
Tom F OHIO is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2017, 08:22 PM   #20
updraught
Senior Member
 
updraught's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,966
Default Re: The Jeffery Automobile Company

This is the RHD 1916 one.



The body is also by Seaman which is unusual here as most bodies seem to have been built locally at that time.

"Drive" is worth reading on the early days.
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-r...ne/drive-ford/
updraught is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:15 AM.