In the Beginning .....
by Harriet M. Mogge
The Model T Ford Club International
The official founding date of the club is December 1952. However, like most beginnings, the “seeds” were sown over several years prior to that date. Owners of antique and classic automobiles would gather each summer on the last Saturday of the Illinois State Fair for antique car day, as well as attending other car gatherings. The Model T owners were drawn together at these events, discussing the joys and frustrations of this unique automobile. They found it helpful to discuss restoration problems, sources for parts and tools, to exchange manuals and other literature, and to offer each other encouragement when “Henry’s Lady” was particularly obstinate. Eventually these owners began to hold meetings specifically to help one another with restoration projects.
After several years of these informal gatherings, the Model T Ford Club was born under the guidance of founding president John A. Stynoski of Chicago to further these activities and to provide car meets, social functions, and a newsletter for items of interest to Model T owners. Officers were elected, bylaws were written, and several standing committees formed. The club was incorporated in the State of Illinois as a nonprofit historical association dedicated to the preservation of the Model T Ford, its history, lore and literature. A meeting schedule was set yearly, to include an Annual Meeting Banquet each January, and the first such banquet was held in January 1954.
The first newsletter, three pages mimeographed, was published September 1, 1953, edited by Robert Syverson and titled Model T Ford Club Bulletin. As the editor said: “We’ll call it that for lack of a better name. As you know, a means of keeping in touch is vital for Model T owners, so let’s just regard this first issue as exactly what it is, a beginning.” The editor also wrote that a contest would be held for an official name for the newsletter, with a prize “...such as an old head gasket or something” ... for the winning name. The winner was W. Thompson Hoyt of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, who coined the name which began with issue No. 2 and continues in use today. A great beginning, which has brought us to the fine, award-winning Model T Times members now receive six times annually!
Over the years since, just one editor was a professional journalist -- Philip Hoffman, who served from mid-1964 to mid-1968. Other editors were dedicated members who followed Syverson’s example: Ray Melander, Lorraine Kupka, Chris Katz, Bob Mogge, Richard Leiser, Bob Nelson, Bob Cain, Leonard Bonnevier, Ed Gathman, William O’Rourke, John Miser, and current editor (with the distinction of serving the longest time of all) Howard Gustavson.
Issue No. 1 gave a brief rundown on contents planned, and the years since have
brought all of that to the pages of Model T Times. Information on club
meetings; write-ups of past events; descriptions of restoration projects; a
listing of cars and parts for sale; free ads for members; services available
from members (forerunner of our display advertising); and tips for restoring the
Ts. Subsequent issues have included all of this and more as the editors and
staff work to make the magazine informative and enjoyable. We are fortunate
that with the coming of the computer age, dedicated magazine staff have given us
an index of all issues, updated and published once each year.
Some years after Issue No. 1, the typing for mimeograph gave way to typeset and printing press, and over the years the Model T Times has been printed by six commercial companies. Issue No. 5, an anniversary issue, bore a magazine cover. The first full issue in magazine format was No. 53. Later came No. 86 (in 1963), a special Henry Ford Centennial issue with a two-color cover; and then to full color cover with No. 131.
The Annual Meeting has evolved in several ways since the first one in 1954. For many years, members gathered for an evening banquet, followed by the business meeting including the election of officers. Eventually the voting process was refined with directors being elected by mail prior to the meeting, and officers elected by the Board just prior to the banquet. In planning for the 1977 Annual Meeting, incoming president Howard Gustavson decided that the club should begin it’s 25th year with a special, enlarged weekend meeting. And so, the current format of seminars, banquet and other weekend events began. The official business meeting, required by our Illinois corporate charter, remains part of the banquet program. The Annual Meeting was held in the Chicago area for many years, but eventually began to move around the country to provide better attendance opportunities for members in other areas.
Touring in the Ts is something we all love to do. In the early days of the Model T Ford Club, there were one-day tours for a picnic, or to see a special place or event. As interest and membership grew, so did the desire to expand driving distance. In July of 1957, the first Annual Tour took place -- an Illinois-Wisconsin Tour! It was all of two days long. The cars gathered in a department store parking lot in Wilmette, Illinois (north of Chicago) and headed up US 41 toward Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in a “long, black line.” There were a few spots of color -- a green T Fordor, a red Hupmobile roadster, an immense red and brass American LaFrance fire engine. The latter belonged to president Walter Goodman, who conceived the tour and was determined to “shepherd” his flock up the busy highway. A truck borrowed from a Chicago restaurant transported all luggage and a few spare parts. Another truck from the same restaurant met the group in a park at the half way point with lunch, cold drinks and coffee. At the end of the day, the long line (with a president exhausted from running the fire engine up the line and then dropping back to make sure all was well) entered Milwaukee, toured several blocks along the waterfront, and pulled into the hotel. A banquet followed, then to bed for tomorrow was another day -- back the way we came, in the same fashion and on the same highway -- and followed all the way by Look magazine’s photographer and reporter!
The Annual Tours have grown and changed tremendously since that first overnight. They now comprise the better part of a week and often schedule optional activities for early arrivals. A “Kick-Off” event begins the Tour and the days of touring and fun end with the Awards Banquet. Following the 1990 Tour sponsored by the Ontario Region Chapter, excess money in the tour fund was donated to the International as an endowment whose income annually was to be used for scheduled, supervised youth events on tour. These events have been a very welcome addition to tour activities, as has an auction held on tour since 1996 to further benefit the youth by providing scholarships through our foundation..
Class judging is held for all who wish to enter their Ts; costume judging is scheduled for those interested; and judging is held for the International Special Tour Awards (listed in Model T Times prior to the Tour each year). In addition, the Tour is the site of the judging for the John A. Stynoski Trophy for the best restoration of the year. Originally, the Stynoski judging was a two-step process, with restoration contests at the chapter level each year followed by the winners’ pictures and descriptions sent on to the International for final judging for the award. Inevitably, there were a few problems, since pictures don’t always tell the whole story. This system also generated some complaints at the chapter level and, considering these factors, the International decided the Stynoski competition should be held at the Tour site. It remains, however, a separate competition apart from the Tour judging and the two are not interdependent other than using the same site. A Model T entered in the Stynoski judging may also be judged in its Tour class.
In 1963, 1984 and 2003, special commemorative events have been held either in conjunction with, or around, the Annual Tour. A special Henry Ford Centennial Meet was held in July 1963 at the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan, to celebrate Henry Ford’s 100th birthday. Planned around the Annual Tour, special events included a pageant, “The Creative Years of Henry Ford,” written by Robert Mogge and featuring Model Ts from 1909 through 1927 with representation of Ford-made automobiles which preceded and followed the famous “Flivver.” Our club was assisted in providing cars for the pageant by members of Model A, Ford V-8 and Lincoln clubs. The pageant was repeated the following day for the general public, and was designated the official centennial celebration by the Museum and Greenfield Village. Full details and pictures appear in Model T Times No. 86.
A New York City to Seattle re-run of the 1909 Automobile Race won by a Model T was held in July 1984 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the race. With the planning and guidance of Cliff and Sue Jenkins, a hardy group of over 30 Model Ts started out from City Hall with a pistol shot from the mayor, recreating the original start. The group stopped en route in Livonia, Michigan (near Detroit), to join in that July’s Annual Tour celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Model T. Then onward on a route as close to the original as roads would permit and eventual arrival in Seattle to a celebration hosted by our Tacoma chapter. A full description of the trip appears in Model T Times No. 215.
In the year 2003 we celebrated the 100th anniversary of Ford Motor Company in two ways. Many members participated in the official company celebration in June by supplying cars of all Ford makes for display, and providing rides in Model Ts for company employees from the world over attending the company events. The next month, July, the club held its Annual Tour in the Detroit area, visiting many localities identified with Henry Ford and his automobiles. One full day was spent at the Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. A full description of this event appears in Model T Times No. 327.
Not too many years after the founding of the Model T Ford Club, members from beyond the Midwest area around metropolitan Chicago became interested in planning local activities, which sparked several changes. The club amended its bylaws and changed its formal structure to permit the chartering of chapters. This involved a name adjustment for what would then become the parent club and, noting that we had “crossed the border,” so to speak, with the membership of Porky and Marion Schneider from Canada, the word International was added to its name. Since that time we have added many more members from Canada and reached across the oceans with members in several other countries. Choosing International was excellent foresight! The amended bylaws also created a Board of Directors, fifteen in number, to guide the International and accept fiduciary responsibility. In order to keep track of the expanded structure, membership and administrative details, the position of Executive Secretary was created. Three dedicated members have held this position: Edward Gathman, Gerald Flory, and currently Howard Gustavson. The club continues to add chapters and enlarge its membership both nationally and internationally.
The parent organization retained sponsorship of the Annual Banquet as required by law, the Stynoski judging, a Photo Contest in the magazine and the Annual Tour. Eventually, the Board added Regional Tours. Since it became difficult for the officers to operate the Annual Banquet and tours across the country personally, they initiated a format for chapters to host these events upon application to the International. The club has approved Guidelines for the Annual Banquet Meeting, Annual Tour and Regional Tours which are made available to the respective chapters hosting these events. Suggested chapter bylaws are available to new chapters to help them begin operations. The International events now move around the country and Canada, and the club has held them from Washington, DC in the east to Tacoma, Washington in the west; from Ontario, Canada in the north to Kissimmee, Florida in the south, as well as criss-crossing the Midwest and into the Southwest.
In addition to Model T Times, the club
publishes many items of interest including the Judging Guidelines and
Ford Service Bulletins. Back issues of Model T Times and several
informational pamphlets about specific parts are available. The club also sells
items with the club logo--from hats, shirts and jackets to coffee mugs and
jewelry to membership pins and patches. Need a key? Or club decals? Stop at
the International sales table at annual events or check the magazine for placing
orders!
More recently, the club has established a web site with a wealth of information available as well as a Forum, vendor list, classified ads and links to other related sites. We are fortunate to have the services of a professional webmaster who is a club member and Model T owner.
The growth and benefits of the Model T Ford Club International are the direct result of hard work and dedication on the part of many members, both “sung” and “unsung.” A list of all past presidents appears in each issue of our magazine. The current officers, directors, and committee chairs are also listed in each one, along with the current magazine staff. In addition, many hundreds have worked on tours, banquets, officer and director positions and other jobs -- to all of them, thanks for great experiences and we look forward to even greater things in years to come!
Harriet M. Mogge
July 1998; revised February 2004
© Copyright 2004
Harriet M. Mogge
All Rights Reserved