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OT...Henry Ford trivia...

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EDDIE8N

06-04-2003 19:12:13




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Just got back from vacationing in Savannah, GA yesterday.
While I was there, the wife and I took a carriage ride through the historic section of town.
The picture below is of a building that was originally built by an Arabian sheik as a stable for his horses.
third party image It was later used by Henry Ford as a showroom for the introduction of his Model T car. According to the guide on our tour, the Model T's that were shipped to Savannah had the upholstery in the seats stuffed with Spanish moss.
Spanish moss is known to be infested with insects, so the moss was treated with an insect spray before it was used in the upholstery. Quality control being what it was at the time, a few of the cars got their seats stuffed with "untreated" moss. The insects in the moss eventually ate their way out through the seats, which resulted in Ford Motor Company having their first recall!! Don't really know if this is a true story, but that was the guide's story and she's sticking to it!
Later,
EDDIE8N

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klf

06-05-2003 19:29:14




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 Re: OT...Henry Ford trivia... in reply to EDDIE8N, 06-04-2003 19:12:13  
Was that located on Abercorn? I saw a lot of Savannah when I was with the 3rd infantry Division. Did you go there, or to Hunter Army Airfield? Did you visit the Mighty 8th Museum?



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EDDIE8N

06-05-2003 19:46:59




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 Re: Re: OT...Henry Ford trivia... in reply to klf, 06-05-2003 19:29:14  
klf,
I couldn't say for sure if it was on Abercorn, but it is real close to it.
I didn't get to the airfield or the museum. Since I was on a limited time frame, most of what I got to see was right in the old historic part of town.
Later,
EDDIE8N



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Rich, NJ

06-05-2003 05:22:21




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 Re: OT...Henry Ford trivia... in reply to EDDIE8N, 06-04-2003 19:12:13  
Funny I always heard that Henry used dried Sphagnum Moss for insulation and seat padding.
Not only was it soft, but you couldn't light it with a blowtorch. So the story goes. Here in so Jersey the moss grows wild all over the place and it was a cottage industry supplying it to the florists and Ford. Anybody else hear this also? Regards, Rich



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EDDIE8N

06-05-2003 19:24:51




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 Re: Re: OT...Henry Ford trivia... in reply to Rich, NJ, 06-05-2003 05:22:21  
Rich,
The tour guide made it sound like the Model Ts were shipped to Savannah, then had their upholstery stuffed. I can't for the life of me think that ole Henry would ship all his cars to GA to get their seats stuffed. I tend to think that he would use whatever materials/natural resources would be available at their destination,i.e. Spanish Moss in the South, Sphagnum Moss in the North, etc.
Just a thought on my part. I have no research on the subject to prove or disprove any of it.
Later,
EDDIE8N

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Adam P

06-04-2003 20:36:42




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 Re: OT...Henry Ford trivia... in reply to EDDIE8N, 06-04-2003 19:12:13  
Yup, been there, have the same photo, and probably took the same tour.... A few questions though... 1, did you take a night/ghost walking tour??? 2, did you go to Boneventure cemetary???, and 3, most important, did you eat at Mrs. Wilkes for either, breakfast or lunch??? Savannah, is a real pretty place.
Me and my other half love it there... Are you from GA?
I'm from north central GA.
Well, I'm glad you had a great time, and also happy Henry changed his seats!!! Thx!
AP PS Now will you be doing Charleston soon and eating shrimp and grits???

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EDDIE8N

06-05-2003 02:39:33




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 Re: Re: OT...Henry Ford trivia... in reply to Adam P, 06-04-2003 20:36:42  
Adam,
Thanks for reply. We didn't take the ghost tour or visit the cementery...wife doesn't care to get the bejeebers scared out of her!LOL
Didn't eat at Mrs. Wilkes either, but I did manage to gain about 10 lbs. while I was there.
Took in a river boat ride at night, and ate at The Crab Shack on Tybee Island the last night we were in town.
As for the carriage ride, it was one from the center market, name slips my mind now. Ironically, the two French Percherons that were pulling the carriage were purchased in Lancaster Co.,PA, where my wife and I call home at the present time. third party image
This is a photo of four Lancaster Countians in "another place and time". That's Sonny (between my wife and I) and Cher on the far right.
Later,
EDDIE8N

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Adam P

06-05-2003 14:47:45




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 Re: Re: Re: OT...Henry Ford trivia... in reply to EDDIE8N, 06-05-2003 02:39:33  
Eddie,
Yes the The Crab Shack on Tybee Island is a great place to eat!!!! Down from the Amish country then??? Beautiful area.... Been there a number of times. The Penns Dutch (Deutch) / German eats are awesome!!! I love the strudel!!! I forget the last time I was there, seem to remember a town in the area, with antique trains as the theme,,, but forget the name of the town, I did take a steam train ride though...Real pretty. And on another trip, went to the Koontztown (sp?) fair.
Beautiful terrain you have there, Eddie, and great to here from you too!!!
Adam

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EDDIE8N

06-05-2003 19:39:09




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: OT...Henry Ford trivia... in reply to Adam P, 06-05-2003 14:47:45  
Adam,
That would be Strasburg,PA and the Strasburg Railroad. They have a museum there with several old steam locomotives, and the railroad is still running the train rides that are pulled by a steam locomotive. Strasburg is only about 15 miles from me.
Later,
EDDIE8N



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