Kaiser-Frazer Accessory of the Day

[AZ_HJ]

I am also going to implement Kaiser-Frazer Service Bulletin No. 333 Dated May 29, 1952, Body, Hinge Pillar Weatherstrip and Scuff Plates, Models; Henry J K513, K-514, K-523, and K-524. This bulletin provides information to permit the installation of new door hinge pillar weatherstripping and scuff plates on earlier Henry Js.

KF P/N 213497 Scuff Plate, RH     K-513 K-514 and Vagabond K-523 and K-524     1 ea req'd
KF P/N 213498 Scuff Plate, LH     K-513 K-514 and Vagabond K-523 and K-524     1 ea req'd


I understand that is not an accessory but implementation of a service bulletin. Since my car is a Henry J Vagabond I assume that it would be possible it was on the dealer floor when this service bulletin was issued. That as an assumtion, I could also put forward that the first owner could have had the dealer do this work at time of purchase.

http://circlekf.com/henryj/Reference/service/sb333.pdf

[Fid]

I've seen a famous 1951 Henry J, which always gets gold at the national, and it has the scuff plates which were not available until the 1952 Corsairs were introduced. They were a standard feature from then on.  Service bulletin 323 lists all the new features for the 1952 models (Not including the 1952 Vagabonds which were left over 1951s) and among them are door scuff plates and glove box, two features which no 1951 Js had originally.  Then service bulletin 333 announced the retrofit kit for installing the scuff plates in the 1951 and 1952 Vagabond models so they would be correct. My '52 Vagabond had some Buick Special aluminum scuff plates installed in it when I got it. I removed them but unfortunately, whoever installed them did so with screws so the screw holes were visible.  The only choice I had was to install the rubber scuff plates, which look very good and seal very nice.

[pnw_oldmags]

Parts & Accessory Bulletin 1B (12/18/1951) Part No. 100289
There were various Part Numbers for the various size openings on batteries 3/4, 7/8, 1, 1 1/4.  Pictures provided by AZ_HJ thanks Mark!!

http://www.circlekf.com/kfcars/accessory/Sav_A_Battery_002.jpg
http://www.circlekf.com/kfcars/accessory/Sav_A_Battery_003.jpg

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

Saw the note on judging...

Forget about not judging KF accessories.  If accessories were ignored in judging, the results should be considered suspect and may have to be thrown out.  Early on, the club implemented a 5 point deduction for each accessory items NOT correct for car model year, based on when the item was released to dealers.  This was a Fred Walker pronouncement that as far as I know never got overturned.  Five point deduct for each wrong item could significantly affect the outcome. 

That said, a very good point is made about retrofits (like the wheel covers where the factory bulletin on it says they work on 1951 and 1952 model year Kaiser and Henry J).  This is one of the many questions that will need to be resolved before the written standards go into final form.  Also it is to be noted that the last 1951 Kaiser-Frazer Accessory Price List includes a continental tire kit for a 1951 Kaiser as well as for a 1951 HJ.  It also lists the Air Circulator for the package shelf...this is worth noting as the actual bulletin came out during the 1952 model year.

That's why I suggest people make books about their cars to cover these little things that can be problems on the judging field.

[Fid]

Yes, the Continental Kit package accessory was available for the 1951 Henry J before the 1952 Vagabond models were introduced. KF Parts and Accessories Bulletin No. 56-A, dated October 12, 1951 announces the new accessory, part number 100282.
The full version of the 1951 1952 1953 Shop Manual also states on page 210 "A continental spare tire mount is available for Henry J's and can be installed after delivery by carefully following the directions with the parts kit..."

[AZ_HJ]

If someone is looking for the KF P/N 100300 Spotlight Mirror they might want to look at the below listing on ebay. This is a Mopar item, but it is the same that Kaiser-Frazer had. Unity USA produced them, but they no longer have them. This listing has it at Buy-it-Now at $106.00 plus $12.00 shipping. That is on the very high side of how much these have sold in the past. I think I paid on average of $75.00 for the ones I have.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290305696393&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT


This will fit on both the large and small spotlights. I have the installation and drill template for them if anyone needs them.


Best,

Mark

[pnw_oldmags]

Parts & Accessory Bulletin 6B (2/15/1952) Part No. 100300

KF Spotlight Mirror

http://www.circlekf.com/kfcars/accessory/kfpabulletin06B.pdf

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

I just pulled my binder of P&A bulletins...56-A says NOTHING about Continental kits for Kaisers, only HJ.  The Dealer Accessory price list dated 11/26/51 also lists only the Henry J.  First listing of a kit for the 1951 Kaiser is the accessory price list dated 5/1/52, which shows it for 1951 Kaiser or 1952 Kaiser Virginian only under p/n 100298.  So far as I know, there was no General Memo or P&A Bulletin to dealers announcing the Kaiser version of the kit.

[Fid]

A company called "Newhouse" made kits for several makes in the '50s, including Kaisers. Were the KF kits supplied by Newhouse?

[pnw_oldmags]

Jack, P & A Bulletin 4B addresses it I believe.

[AZ_HJ]

Jim,

Can you post 4-B and 56-A on here or e-mail them to me? (I prefer in jpg format)



Best,

Mark

[AZ_HJ]

Fid,

I did some research on Newhouse Automotive Industries. The earliest information I have found on them is from1952 and the latest is 1966. They appear to have been just a distributor of automotive items. So I do not think Newhouse was the supplier to Kaiser-Frazer. I would think that Kaiser-Frazer would have gone directly to the manufacturer (OEM). Note: Ernie Newhouse was the owner of Newhouse Automotive Industries.


Mark

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

You are correct that 4-B was an earlier mention than the listing in the Price list but the date on 4-B is January 22, 1952 or well after the 1952 model year got started.  Also, going back earlier than that, the Confidential Bulletin that announced the 1952 Kaiser Virginian models (released in December 1951) lists it as a factory installed option on 1952 Kaiser Virginians.

The bulletin itself states that it is a retrofit item for 1951 Kaisers as well (and will fit just as it should on those cars).  You will find Bulletin 4-B among the items in the KFOCI HANDBOOK VERSION 4.0 section on 1951-1952 Kaiser Virginian accessories (one of the last pages in the .pdf file).

Also, if you check the back side of the KFOCI JUDGING SHEET, you will find a deduction spot for "Miscellaneous Non K-F & Incorrect Components".  According to the Fred Walker judging "schools" in 1975, 1976 and 1980 (that I attended), Incorrect Components includes Kaiser-Frazer factory accessories NOT made available to dealers during the model year the car was built.  Again, this kind of thing is a point to be addressed during the work up of the written judging standards.

[AZ_HJ]

pnw_oldmags

How about posting broadside and Bulletin 61 (Dtd 12/11/47) for the KF P/N 200034 Underhood Light.

[pnw_oldmags]

Been having issues posting new items... once resolved that will be first ... just for you.