Author Topic: 53/54 HJ Hood Ornament Clear Tip  (Read 6931 times)

mbflemingkf

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53/54 HJ Hood Ornament Clear Tip
« on: April 12, 2012, 08:25:23 PM »
I've been speaking with a firm about reproducing the clear "rocket" tip for these hood ornaments.  Is there any demand out there?  I haven't seen one of these for sale in years.  I wouldn't expect a big demand a would likely do about a dozen.  Thoughts on what they should sell for?

Mike
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pnw_oldmags

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Re: 53/54 HJ Hood Ornament Clear Tip
« Reply #1 on: April 12, 2012, 08:30:20 PM »
The last nice ones I saw were listed at $85.  I bought a large group of tips for $400 in Canada just to get a back up.
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Fid

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Re: 53/54 HJ Hood Ornament Clear Tip
« Reply #2 on: April 12, 2012, 08:48:15 PM »
I paid Rudy $90 for an NOS one in 2002 and was glad to get it. I saw one sell on ebay for $325 not too long ago. My guess is there won't be a big demand for them and also,  not a lot of owners know that's what the car should have as many were replaced with the '51 style. 
One interesting note is that Edgar Kaiser's '51 Henry J, which I have here, was undoubtedly made from '53, has a '53 ornament but a '51 tip -  yes, that's common but on this car, it has the metal pin that prevents the tip from turning; not something someone would likely install if they were replacing one. Who knows, they may have mocked that up for it or maybe because of who's car it was, someone did a thorough job when they replaced it.
The fellow that lived just a couple of miles from me, who restored a '53 Corsair (which he sold in the bulletin last Aug) had some made and gave me one for all the help I gave him. He never told me how or where but it looks great if you ask me.  I'm not sure how many you might sell but I do know they are very rare indeed.  Here's the car he restored

« Last Edit: December 06, 2016, 09:19:28 PM by Fid »
1953 Henry J Corsair Deluxe
Edgar Kaiser's custom 1951 Henry J
1951 Kaiser Special
1952 Allstate Deluxe

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joefrazer

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Re: 53/54 HJ Hood Ornament Clear Tip
« Reply #3 on: April 14, 2012, 08:22:03 AM »
I have an NOS unit that I've contemplated selling. For the right offer, they'll own it.

pnw_oldmags

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Re: 53/54 HJ Hood Ornament Clear Tip
« Reply #4 on: April 14, 2012, 08:34:58 AM »
These are beautiful tips

Jim Betts  LM6945
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kaiserfrazerlibrary

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Re: 53/54 HJ Hood Ornament Clear Tip
« Reply #5 on: April 15, 2012, 10:31:14 AM »
The tips are clear for 1953 and black for 1954.  The Automobile Manufacturers Association required a noticable exterior change each model year; that's why the tips are black on 1952 Virginian and Vagabond types.

Chris Luecht

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Re: 53/54 HJ Hood Ornament Clear Tip
« Reply #6 on: April 15, 2012, 11:02:23 AM »
Does anyone have a photo or KF part number of one of the black tips?  I was only aware of the clear ones for 53-54 HJs
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Chris
Christopher Luecht
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pnw_oldmags

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Re: 53/54 HJ Hood Ornament Clear Tip
« Reply #7 on: April 15, 2012, 11:32:28 AM »
Chris -- The Part Number is 213514.  Vagabond Parts Manual not online yet sorry.

« Last Edit: April 15, 2012, 02:12:52 PM by pnw_oldmags »
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joefrazer

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Re: 53/54 HJ Hood Ornament Clear Tip
« Reply #8 on: April 15, 2012, 07:32:12 PM »
The above pic is of a 52HJ Vagabond.

Fid

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Re: 53/54 HJ Hood Ornament Clear Tip
« Reply #9 on: April 15, 2012, 08:20:41 PM »
Yes, the black tip pictured was only used on the '52 Vagabonds. I have never seen one, nor heard of one for a '54 but of course, they were trying to get rid of excess stock so they may not have gone through the trouble of updated documents or issuing bulletins for them. But I suppose it is possible that they may have used '52 Vagabond tips - it would have been a quick easy and cheap update.
1953 Henry J Corsair Deluxe
Edgar Kaiser's custom 1951 Henry J
1951 Kaiser Special
1952 Allstate Deluxe

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pnw_oldmags

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Re: 53/54 HJ Hood Ornament Clear Tip
« Reply #10 on: April 15, 2012, 10:00:22 PM »
The 52 Virginian and the 52 Vagaband models are the only Black tips I am aware of.   Are there otherrs??
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kaiserfrazerlibrary

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Re: 53/54 HJ Hood Ornament Clear Tip
« Reply #11 on: April 16, 2012, 05:20:57 AM »
I saw a 1954 HJ Corsair at a meet in IL back in the 1970's with the black spinner and was told by a former K-F mechanic from one of the Milwaukee WI dealerships that the black one was done to satisfy AMA requirements just as the black spears were on the 1952 Virginian and Vagabond automobiles.  He said there were no differences between 1953 and 1954 versions (other than numbers on the tags).  Otherwise, the industry would not  recognize the cars as 1954 model year products and that would cause problems for financing, etc.

His comments made sense to me.

Fid

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Re: 53/54 HJ Hood Ornament Clear Tip
« Reply #12 on: April 16, 2012, 09:11:04 AM »
Is there a part number for the '55 Kaiser hood scoop? That was the only change on that model and it was done to satisfy AMA so it makes sense that if they had to do it on the '55 Ks they would've also had to have done it on the '54 Js. Was the '55 style hood scoop also used on the Argentina produced Carabellas? If so, that would explain why there might be a part number for that and not the black J spinner.  Another bit of a side topic, was there anything done on the 1950 K and Fs to satisfy AMA requirements?
1953 Henry J Corsair Deluxe
Edgar Kaiser's custom 1951 Henry J
1951 Kaiser Special
1952 Allstate Deluxe

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Corsairdeluxe

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Re: 53/54 HJ Hood Ornament Clear Tip
« Reply #13 on: April 16, 2012, 01:07:39 PM »
At his price you would expect a ornament tip.I can not imagine a worse fitting Henry J hood.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Other-Makes-1952-HENRY-J-CORSAIR-RESTORED-/330718355621?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item4d0059a0a5#v4-45
Jim Brown aka Corsairdeluxe
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behind me. J less at the moment and having irrational thoughts.

Corsairdeluxe

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Re: 53/54 HJ Hood Ornament Clear Tip
« Reply #14 on: April 16, 2012, 01:13:27 PM »
Throw in the one inch whitewalls and black dash knobs and you have "rebuilt to owners specs" , not "restored". He put a lot of money into this car, but his lack of attention to obvious details scares me
Jim Brown aka Corsairdeluxe
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10 Henrys and 1 ALLSTATE
behind me. J less at the moment and having irrational thoughts.