Robert Wyant's

1951 Chevy 1/2-Ton


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24 April 2006 Update
# 1125

From RW:

       I have installed a Klaxon horn (AAOGAH type) -- it has the same sound as a "Dive - Dive" sub horn used in WWII. I want to know anything about this horn. I do know it is a Klaxon 20L horn and was manufactured by Lovell-McConnel / Patent date 1908 Newark, New Jersey. I am guessing it was for early 1900 cars. I do not know how long the company was in business, what vehicles the horn was designed for, or when the company was bought by Delco-Remy. I do know (through Google search) that an orchestra piece was composed by Henry Fillmore called "The Klaxon - March of the Automobiles" in 1928.

       The horn is six volt and very heavy. That is all I know. Any horn experts out there?

       A little personal history on this horn: My dad (from small town, WV) had sold his 1950 Chevrolet pickup in 1960. Since he had a bus route to his workplace, he did not buy a vehicle for a couple of years. When I turned 16 and was enrolled in Driver’s Ed in 1961, I had to take my driver’s test in a friend’s (Father’s) car. It was a 1953 Desoto (big car with the V-8 Firedome Hemi engine). I drove it slowly during the test - not an easy task. It had the 1900’s Klaxon horn on it that came from a very early car. My friend’s Dad had the horn in his possession for many years and installed it on the car for fun.

       For those of you / us old enough to remember, the Noise Police existed in those days. Modified glass packs, split manifolds, and loud horns were illegal and subject to “fines and penalties.” The State Police officer who accompanied me on the driver’s examination asked me repeatedly to explain mysterious black button on the steering column. I resisted his repeated attempts to push the button as it was not my personal vehicle but a borrowed one to complete my test. When I finally parallel parked the big car, the officer admitted that he knew that the horn button operated an “illegal” 5 mile Klaxon horn. He also knew the owner of the car and was testing my sense of right / wrong - Pass / Fail parameters. Gotta’ love small towns - or NOT!

       The Desoto got sold the following year, but the horn was taken off and stored until many years later. When I was helping clean out the basement of my friend’s parent’s house in 1999, he asked me if I wanted the horn. It sat in my basement until I purchased the truck.

       It is not original to Chevy trucks but I have it mounted / working. Love the sound of it and you can indeed hear it for five miles especially in the West Virginia "hollers."

       I purchased the truck in August 2003 and wanted to begin restoration immediately, but my grandson was diagnosed with brain cancer that year. I would like to plug St. Jude’s in Memphis, TN - they were / are praise worthy in their efforts to save his life. So I am just now beginning to restore / preserve the truck after three years.

       Thanks for posting the horn info and pic. I will get more answers here than from any other list. This is a wonderful site - really great people and Chevy truck info.

Regards,

Bob W.
"R Wyant "
Bolter # 4759
Huntington, West Virginia

1951 Chevy 1/2-Ton |||| 1973 Triumph Spitfire

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20 June 2005
# 1125

From RW

       Hi. Here are some photo's of my truck that I took June 2005 along scenic Route 60 in West Virginia. It's a 1951 Chevy 1/2-ton. It's all original with 57,153 miles. The 216 engine was overhauled December 21, 2004.

       The truck came from Trimble, Missouri - shipped out from a St. Louis dealership. It was a farm truck - kept in the barn until 1985. Then it was driven to Arlington, Virginia where it was outside for 18 years.

       It was overpainted "Hunter Green" in 1985. The body is still solid and cab mounts are good.

       I purchased the truck August 2003 from the third owner. "Preservation" will begin this summer with bed removal, repair, and repaint. Frame will be cleaned and painted at that time.

       Next year / summer I will begin on the cab and front end. This will not be a show truck, and will stay stock and original in appearance / function.

BW

Bob W.
"R Wyant "
Bolter # 4759
Huntington, West Virginia


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