1949-50 Frazer hood ornament

[Gordie]

As you know not all Kaiser's and Frazer's had a hood ornament as they were an accessory and many were used on the 1947 and 1948 models.  I have a nice example with the Frazer name on the lower front of the ornament.  I received a picture of a 1948 Frazer with the accessory mounted on the hood but it does not say Frazer where mine does, it is smooth and never had the Frazer name.  I did not realize that they came both ways and there must be an early and a late version.  Gee, I wished we had some nice judging manuals that showed all of that stuff!

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

FYI, there was only the one version of the Frazer hood ornament released by K-F prior to the 1951 models (which all came with their own).  Part # 100115 is the item with the knight's helmet with a vertical fin and the word "Frazer" running front to rear along the sides.  According to a memo dated 11/11/1948, this was the first factory-approved hood ornament for the make...the Kaiser ornament with the smaller plastic fin and "Kaiser" in script (the Frazer name is printed) came out about the same time.   

Actual availability of the item for dealer order was made on P&A Bulletin 105, dated 3/21/49; the delay refleted tooling and production problems at the vendor.

Jack Mueller

[joefrazer]

It's not uncommon to see 47-8 Kaisers and Frazers with generic hood ornaments on them. Soon after the cars were introduced, dealers and owners started asking for hood ornaments. Companies like Whitney and others quickly added KF to their lineup of ornaments...most of which looked either like a flying bird or an airplane, the latter compliments to the war that had just ended. So, if you own an early Kaiser or Frazer and it has an unmarked hood ornament on it, chances are it's an aftermarket.

There was one exception. A third party vendor did sell two types of ornaments meant specifically for a K or F car. One had a buffalo head and another a large "F" held up by a fist. Both were of marginal quality cast pot metal so there are few worthwhile examples around today. The curious thing about the "F" ornament was that from one side, the F is backward!

[Gordie]

I collect K-F aftermarket hood ornaments and am familiar with most of the models made.  I have a couple of the Buffalo ornaments and the original ad for it stated "For either Kaiser or Frazer."  The variety with the "F" at the front also had a matching ornament with a "K".  I have the brass masters for both of these ornaments.  I just bought a NOS Kaiser ornament in the box and the owner sent me pictures of his '48 Frazer with the accessory '49 hood ornament and it does not say Frazer where mine does.  It is plain!  Just wondering!

[Jeri Conklin]

Speaking of accessories, does anyone have a list of just exactly what accessories would have been available for a 1949 Frazer? I ask because mine came with several items that don't seem to be on any of the pictures I see. My hood ornament is one of the original ones and it does have Frazer along the side. I hadn't noticed that before reading the info below. I love my Frazer and can hardly wait to get brakes fixed on it and get it on the road. Thank you all for being so willing to share information with new members and old alike.

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

If you check KFOCI HANDBOOK VERSION 4.0 in the 1949-50 Frazer sub-folder, you will find a .pdf file marked Accessories.  Contents are a good scan of the 1949 Accessory Price List with P&A Bulletins covering any applicable items issued during the model year for 1949-50 Frazers that came on board after the price list was issued.

KFOCI HANDBOOK VERSION 4.0 went out with the last quarterly on a CD (sorry, it cost too much for the club to print and mail hard copy) to all club members getting publications. 

[Jeri Conklin]

I joined in July 2009 and I have not received anything with a CD or on a CD? I've gotten an old membership list 2008 and a calendar for 2010 and I get the newletter. Anyway I can get a CD?

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

The mailing the CD went out on included the CD, an issue of the QUARTERLY magazine (which has a page on how to use the CD) and the 2010 Calendar.  The whole thing was mailed by the QUARTERLY/Calendar printer in MI; it was in a flat cardboard mailer.  If you didn't get the magazine or the CD with your calendar, contact the Club Secretary to see about the missing stuff.

[Gordie]

I still have not received mine either.  Unless it goes first class it can take awhile.

[dogwalkfinds]

Has anyone seen a hood ornament like this one?
It is on a '48 Frazer 485 and it spins from the wind as the car moves along.

[Gordie]

That is a 1947-48 Ford hood ornament with an aftermarket spinner in place of the original blue plastic strip that is supposed to be part of the Ford hood ornament.

[dogwalkfinds]

Wow, nicely done! Thanks!
It seems to be a perfect fit on the hood of the Frazer. Not going to win me any points in the judging I'll bet though.

[Gordie]

Most of our cars are not perfectly restored but fixed up drivers.  When you go to the National and Regional meets you will see a variety of our K-F products with aftermarket accessories and part of the charm of our cars is to see how people modified them through the years.  Kaisers and Frazers never had hood ornaments on the 1947 and '48 cars and owners were used to seeing them on cars and wanted one so many accessory manufacturers filled the need with at least twenty different ornaments to choose from.  Some were two or three piece affairs that went from the front of the hood to the rear near the windshield.  Another set had a red or green glass emblem and matching ornaments that went on the tops of the fenders. K-F got the message and accessory hood ornaments were made available through the parts department in 1949 and from 1951 on all cars had hood ornaments.  We will try to have a  story about the aftermarket hood ornaments and illustrate some if the interesting variations.  Thanks for showing yours.  It looks great!