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1932 Model of Fisher Price Coach

Joined
Jun 15, 2019
Messages
36
Points
58

Hello,

Here is my latest project....it's a Napoleanic Coach that was part of a contest for Fisher Price Body in 1932. It was started by my uncle, then it was burned in his hobby shop back in the 1950's, and sat in a box since then, unfinished.

I restored what was done and I'm finishing it. This was about six months of work. It's near completion.

This is what I started with:

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This is awesome. You're doing an outstanding job.

A little more background on this please - Was this a kit that was for sale? Where? When?

(LOL I want one.)
 
Marvelous!
I restored one of these a few years ago.
A master model build for certain.
The detailing was stunning.
As I recall there was a contest by the Fisher body corporation and you could win $1000.
Big money in the 1930’s.
Here’s a photo of the one I worked on.
The restoration took in some minor fabric alterations, wheel blocks and mounting the carriage to a mirror base, and a blockings system to support the thing the horses were attached too.
Similar to what is shown on the instructions pamphlet.
It was nice to that all the original paper work was with it.
That paperwork now resides in a small drawer built into the mirrored top case base.
A very nice restoration job.

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Hallo Jim, dein Bericht ist Gold wert. Alleine schon die kurze Geschichte dazu hat mich berührt. Dann die Fotos – eine absolute Entdeckungsreise.
Für die Augen ein echtes Vergnügen. Und Du hast sie sehr gut restauriert.

Ein hoch auf das Kunsthandwerk und möge Die Kutsche der Nachwelt lange erhalten bleiben ! Mit Besten Grüßen und wünschen Holger Schwarz
 
Interesting factoid for all....

Fisher Body was an automobile coachbuilder founded as the Fisher Body Company by Frederic and Charles Fisher in 1908 in Detroit, Michigan when they absorbed a fledgling autobody maker. By 1916, the company had grown into one of the world's largest manufacturing firms, the Fisher Body Corporation, and was producing over 350,000 vehicles a year for nearly 20 different makers. In 1919, under the guidance of its ever-aggressive president, William C. Durant, General Motors purchased a 60% stake in the company.

Before stamped metal bodies and interiors became the norm, the company owned 160,000 acres (650 km2) of timberland and used more wood, carpet, tacks, and thread than any other manufacturer in the world. It had more than 40 plants and employed more than 100,000 people, and pioneered many improvements in tooling and automobile design including closed all-weather bodies.

Fisher Body's contribution to the war effort in WWI and WWII included the production of airplanes and tanks. Fisher Body developed the prototype Fisher P-75 Eagle heavy fighter.

Over the decades GM increasingly internalized Fisher Brothers in its operations, eventually acquiring the entire company. In 1984 GM dissolved its Fisher Body Division as part of its extensive North American restructuring. Eight parts-making facilities from within the Fisher division were combined with the Guide division, which manufactured headlights and plastic parts, to form the Fisher Guide Division. Other plants formerly operated by Fisher were reorganized to become the Chevrolet, Pontiac, GM of Canada (CPC) and the Buick, Oldsmobile, Cadillac (BOC) groups.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisher_Body#cite_note-breakup-1"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a>

The name and its iconic "Body by Fisher" logo were widely known, as hundreds of millions of General Motors vehicles displayed a "Body by Fisher" emblem on their door sill plates until Fisher Body's demise.

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Hi all. Thanks for all your responses. Seems my daughter made a mistake when she typed the original message that I didn't catch. It's Ficher Body, not Ficher Price. I don't have a lot of background going back to the beginning. All I was told was my uncle was building it for the 1932 contest. I don't even know how much of it he finished. As the story goes he owned a hobby shop in the fifties in Roseland, a part of Chicago. That hobby shop burned down and the coach was in the shop. At that point it was packed away. There are 2 sets of the instructions with it. one was partially eaten by rodents. I also have all the hints on how to do certain tough parts that was printed in, Either the Times or Tribune in 1932. Anyway he was tragically killed in a home invasion in the early 70's and my aunt gave the box to my dad. It was never even opened until 2018 when my dad passed and we cleaned out the house. I took it home and finally decided to take a crack at rebuilding it. I've been working on it for 6 months now and it's almost done. Had to remake several parts that were missing and of course the whole interior. Jerome yours is a work of art. Did you enjoy doing it. I have really enjoyed this restoration. I've really enjoyed the pleasure his kids, now in their 80's, have gotten from looking at pictures of what their father worked on almost 100 years ago. I know parts came in a kit from Ficher Body but I don't know what came in the kit or how much it was. I have all the original plaster of Paris molds made in match boxes from the 30's. these molds are how he then I made all the small bling on the wheels and frame. I also have all the original sheet metal forms used for shaping the body and roof. Any other questions I'll be glad to answer.
 
Lieber Jim, das ist ein Bericht, der vom Anfang bis zum Ende einfach nur Freude macht und Deine lange Ausführliche Geschichte dazu ist wie ein wirklich guter Film. „Das ist der Stoff, aus dem Modelle werden“. Ich bin wirklich sehr beeindruckt von Deiner wunderschönen Restauration der Prachtvollen Kutsche.

Ich liebe die gute alte Zeit und vor allem gute - wahre Geschichten. Im Anhang ein „Flyabout 1910“ Das erste serienmäßig gefertigte Automobil.
Ich freue mich schon auf die Fertigstellung und genieße noch die Zeit mit Deinem außergewöhnlichen Modell

Bis dahin Dir alles Gute Jim - Beste Grüße Holger

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Jim scar,
Yes I did enjoy restoring it.
It was a very unique piece for myself as I mostly only see ship models for repair.
The owner is still very pleased with the results.
 
Hi Holger Schwarz. I am sorry but the only language I can read is English. I'd love to know what you had to say. The pictures of the Thomas Flyer are indescribable. That model is a true work of art. You are to be commended. Thank you for posting them.
 
These are pictures of the instructions I used. The one from 32-33 came with the coach. The one from 43 I bought on ebay. The newspaper clippings with building tips are from the chicago american in 1932. And of course a picture of the coach now waiting for me to install the doors.

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Hi Holger Schwarz. I am sorry but the only language I can read is English. I'd love to know what you had to say. The pictures of the Thomas Flyer are indescribable. That model is a true work of art. You are to be commended. Thank you for posting them.
Jimscar,
If you hold your finger on the text you can highlight it.
Probably the same using a mouse.
Anyway, highlight all his text and once you’ve done that your computer should bring up a strip of options.
Click on the google translate and it will translate his text into English for you.
Or I can do it if you have troubles with it.
 
His last response

Today at 1:11 AM
Dear Jim, this is a report that is simply a joy from beginning to end, and your long, detailed account is like a really good film. "This is the stuff models are made of." I am truly impressed by your beautiful restoration of the magnificent carriage.
I love the good old days and especially good—true—stories. Attached is a picture of a 1910 Flyabout, the first mass-produced automobile.
I'm already looking forward to its completion and am enjoying the time with your extraordinary model.
Until then, all the best, Jim—Best regards, Holger
 
Thank you Jerome. I'm pretty much computer illiterate. I never could of figured that out, It was awful nice of you to do it for me.
Jim
 
Seine letzte Antwort

Heute um 1:11 Uhr
Lieber Jim, dieser Bericht ist von Anfang bis Ende ein wahrer Genuss, und Ihre ausführliche Schilderung liest sich wie ein richtig guter Film. „So etwas sieht in Modellen aus!“ Ich bin zutiefst beeindruckt von Ihrer wunderschönen Restaurierung der prächtigen Kutsche.
Ich liebe die gute alte Zeit und besonders gute – wahre – Geschichten. Anbei ein Bild eines Flyabout von 1910, dem ersten in Serie gefertigten Automobil.
Ich freue mich schon jetzt auf die Fertigstellung und genieße die Zeit mit Ihrem außergewöhnlichen Modell.
Bis dahin alles Gute, Jim – Herzliche Grüße, Holger
Hello Jerome . thank you so much for translete my message for Jim . i appreciate it . All the best for you - Best greets Holger
 
Vielen Dank, Jerome. Ich kenne mich mit Computern überhaupt nicht aus. Ich hätte das nie herausgefunden. Es war wirklich sehr nett von dir, das für mich zu tun.
Jim
Hello Jim , your work is amazing and wonderful pictures . Thank you so much and all the best for you - Best greets Holger
 
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