The words you are searching are inside this book. To get more targeted content, please make full-text search by clicking here.
Discover the best professional documents and content resources in AnyFlip Document Base.
Search
Published by klump04, 2018-10-22 10:42:42

2019 AMERICA 1932-1933

AMERICA


1932 - 1933






America




1932 - 1933













An Introduction


BY

Richard E Zimmerman

And

Arlene M. Zimmerman






1

AMERICA


1932 - 1933



Margretta and John Zimmerman




































2

AMERICA


1932 - 1933

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


There has been very few modifications to the Manuscript.
Paul Klump has done a masterful job preparing and editing it.
It’s now possible to electronically convert it to a PDF format.
He has added page numbers which without them we thought
the easiest way to find something was rather convoluted.
We used the U.S. map in the front,(from which we took the
name for our introduction) to locate an area to read. Once
determined we’d search for that section in the book. For
instance: Zion National Park in southwest Utah is about 1/3
of the trip. Therefore we would look about 1/3 of the way
through the book. Paul’s page numbers will allow the book to
be indexed. A click on it will take you directly to the Zion
location .

These improvements are beyond anything we could imagine.
However, he has additionally, switched the scanned pictures
horizontally making them so easy to view and read.

Paul has also contributed to the Introduction we’ve prepared
for the book, by researching any number of items. They
include the camping equipment, the tent manufacturer, and
above all the Pontiac car manufacturer


Thank you so much Paul.









3

AMERICA


1932 - 1933

TABLE OF CONTENTS


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS


A LOVE LETTER

THE ECONOMY


THE MANUSCRIPT

CAMPING EQUIPMENT

THE PONTIAC

HAPPY TRAILS
















4

AMERICA


1932 - 1933

A LOVE LETTER


We begin this introduction with a Love Letter. Written in
1929. It seems appropriate to set the stage for their life
together and to the troubled times they were about to
experience and write about.

































5

AMERICA


1932 - 1933

A LOVE LETTER







































6

AMERICA


1932 - 1933

A LOVE LETTER


























































7

AMERICA


1932 - 1933

THE ECONOMY


Introducing a manuscript that was written 80 years ago and
experienced almost 10 years before raises lots of questions and
interests. In the late 1920’s and throughout the 1930’s
America as well and the world suffered a major economic
Depression. Economic down-turns often lead to wars. This
was no exception as it led to a second major war in Europe
and one in the Pacific. This story precedes those wars, and
although it’s atypical of the type of life many Americans lived,
when unemployment was about 20%, it does indicate
something about the type of people, their strength and
ingenuity.

In the early 1930’s my parents had been working in
Philadelphia, she at a bank and he on the construction of the
Delaware Memorial Bridge. They had been married for about
a year. One of their favorite past-time’s was a fantasy about
traveling around the United States. Yet, they neither drove
nor owned a car. Still they brought home maps to study and
talk about.
By 1932 her bank had collapsed, and he had been laid off in a
major company reduction in force.

So from the start it was difficult for us to understand how they
could have presumed to take a journey like this. Out of work,
no means to pay for next months’ rent, no plans for another
job. And above all without a bus or street car and no way to
get around much less outside of Philadelphia.
We can only guess that they had some saving. My father, was
several years older and might have saved during the high-times



8

AMERICA


1932 - 1933

THE ECONOMY


Of the 20’s. However, despite the dire circumstances, they
stored their furniture, and proceeded to move ahead on this
dream.

They bought an old Pontiac; already owned by several folks.
They took drivers lessons, and although unsteady drove out of
town to Allentown, Pennsylvania, where my grandparents
lived. There they stripped the car, built a storage and bed side
area behind the front seats. Attached a storage unit above the
back bumper, and another on the roof.

Today we would wonder how heavy these things were, for in
those days wood crates were heavy. Their, used tent was made
of heavy canvas, with iron poles, not, nylon and fiberglass.
Bedding was multiple wool blankets, not comfy light, good
below zero degrees, sleeping bags.

It looked like their experience was limited, but they did have a
few things going for them. My mother was a farm girl, she
never showed any sign of fear. Her father was a country
doctor. She used to hold his horses and drive his carriage on
patient rounds. She occasionally held down patients while he
operated, or otherwise administered to them. Paying 10 cents
for a chicken, catching it, plucking and roasting it was no big
deal for her.
My father, an engineer, wasn’t such a large man, he left
working at Bethlehem Steel for college because the wrenches
were bigger than he was. He liked putting things together, and
planning. He even kept his engineering skills alive by making
different estimates as they traveled during the year.



9

AMERICA


1932 - 1933

THE ECONOMY


For instance, did you ever want to know how far it was to a
certain mountain peak? Could you actually see 240 miles over
the curve of the earth? Oh! Sure! Everyone wants to know
that. Well he made calculations like this, and proving it was
possible.








































Soon after they began their trip he also became a pretty good
mechanic, replacing worn brakes, patching inner-tubes,
greasing, and tuning the car.


10

AMERICA


1932 - 1933

THE ECONOMY


He got right to work setting up a plan and itinerary. They
would go south along the east coast, then west keeping to the
southern border. California and the west coast was a target
destination, because relatives lived there. By that time they
reached the west they were hardened campers. As the weather
warmed they planned to head north. National Parks were
always a draw, and they included as many as existed during
those days.

With a plan, an auto, camping equipment and a steeled resolve
to go, they set off for a year’s excursion:
th
October 6 , 1932 in the pouring rain they began:


THE CHRONICLE OF AN AUTO-CAMP TRIP.



















11

AMERICA


1932 - 1933

THE MANUSCRIPT

Some would say the manuscript was a Diary others would call
it a Travel Log. The debate lingers, but Arlene and I think of
it as the latter. It lacks the familiarity, of personal thoughts,
such as my mother’s touching letter to her parents, when they
decided to get married a year before.
Daily descriptions are defined by a date, and the number of
miles driven. Every experience is calmly and reasonably
described, yet we know better. Like the occasion when Pop
slugged the mule deer after being pawed and cut by its hoof.
He was not necessarily a mild mannered man. Also there is
the annoying use of single initials for a person’s name
Specifically my mother as M. Not as Margretta, a name I
always liked.

The National Geographic pictures are a story in themselves.
We presume they were gathered by scouring my Grandfather
Williams’ collection, dating back to the 1920’s. Copies of
which Arlene and I both enjoyed pouring over ourselves for
years.
Arlene and I had at one point contacted National Geographic
to see if we could use the pictures, if we decided to publish the
manuscript. Without telling them much about the dates or
when they were published. They told us it would cost about
$125.00 a picture to use their material.

We were in shock!
Now; there has got to be another side of the story to use those
pictures. Copyright protection is only for a limited time, say
17 or 18 years. It’s possible to renew it, but not indefinably.




12

AMERICA


1932 - 1933

THE MANUSCRIPT


Could copyright protection continue for let’s say 1940 to 2000,
60 years, how about 78 years? We don’t think so. But the
Manuscript is just that. It’s not published, nor did my parents
seem to want it published. That being said, we won’t predict
what will happen to it in the future. It is possible that the
Smithsonian Institution might want a copy, and it could be
given as a gift.

The Museum may not be as far-fetched as it seems.
Previously, another museum had reviewed parts of the book
and suggested it would be useful for their presentation on
th
Recreational Vehicles over the 20 century. We didn’t
participate, in their program, but they also thought the
Smithsonian could be interested. We’re not surprised with the
step forward with computer storage systems and the cloud.
Digital space doesn’t seem to be a big problem today, and this
is digital space.
The National Geographic pictures are wonderful. Look at the
Bi-planes flying over the White House or the Dirigible, air
ship, over the Capitol. Choosing these pictures took a lot of
time and effort, then to find the right place in the book to
insert them.

Those pictures are not alone in the effort to choose for the
book. All the photos that Mom and Pop took with a Kodak, a
Brown Box Camera. It was not a top of the line like German
professional photographer’s camera like a Lica. Rather it was
an everyday ‘20 feet’ away picture taking device. Further,




13

AMERICA


1932 - 1933

THE MANUSCRIPT

Kodak made a fortune from film development. So the quality
was poor, black and white, and not so good for long distance
pictures. The effort to make and place them in the manuscript
must have been huge.
The process may have been something like this. Each photo
after being developed was tagged with a written identification,
of where and when. That was something, but look at the
printing, how easy to read. Here’s an example of Pop in
Death Valley, at the lowest point in North America. It’s called
‘Bad Water’ but actually may not have been. Some time
passed before they cut the photo from the usual white frame.
Then as they placed the photo on each page they drew a line
around it and gave it a number.

That is a labor of love. Ordinary authors today don’t do things
like that. And with electronic books it’s getting easier and
easier.


















14

AMERICA


1932 - 1933

THE MANUSCRIPT


Part of the back of the photo’s inscription has been lost by
cutting the frame away. It can still be made out to be ‘Death
Valley, California.’











The brown coloration on the back is glue. It’s called Mucilage.
Made from horses, it came in a small bottle with a rubber top
and slit in it. By pressing down on the top it opened the slit
and this gooey brown liquid would pour out. Cheap, but it’s
lasted a long time.

This photo is interesting in that my father has a hammer in his
hand. He used it to open Geodes in search of hidden
crystallized gems.

Finally, as you can see he’s wearing a sport coat and tie. He
wore them all the time. So did a lot of other campers during
that era. He probably wore his suit vest for a little more
warmth.

Near the end of the book they collected all the daily expenses
for the entire trip. It’s amazing, one I’ve always attributed to
an engineering mentality. One my brother Joe also had, but




15

AMERICA


1932 - 1933

THE MANUSCRIPT

not me. As an example the accounting here is a summary of
their total expenses.


























I’d say that it was a inexpensive year, but before getting to
excited about it the dollar back then might not have bought a
as much as we would think. According to a 2000, dollar
conversion chart, the 1932 dollar was worth $12.00. That
would make the trip a little more expensive, at $14,000. But
consider Arlene and I spend between $2,500 to $3,000 a
month. That would make one year about $30,000 to $36,000
dollars. Maybe they did have a good deal, and what an
experience.




16

AMERICA


1932 - 1933

CAMPING EQUIPMENT


They used many different types and kinds of camping gear.
They even made many, including a wash basin (An iron pipe
for a stand and holder, with a wash basin settled inside.

Their tent was a prize, heavy as it was it fit snuggly packed
behind their seats on the wooden floor boards, or overhead.































17

AMERICA


1932 - 1933

CAMPING EQUIPMENT


Of course setting up the tent was a breeze. Here from my
memory is how it was raised.






























The tent canvas may have weighted over 40 pounds and when
stored was rolled up laying on top of the Iron Spider and tent
poles.



18

AMERICA


1932 - 1933

CAMPING EQUIPMENT


Before it was laid out on the ground a flat spot was chosen
and raked or swept clean of any branches or rocks. Then the
tent was unfolded and staked at each corner. Once laid out
the strongest person, Pop, would wiggle the Iron Spider
through the screen door. Inside he would hold the entire tent
up while opening the spider and securing it to the center.
Mom would then bring in a single Iron pole and set it under
the spider thus the heavy burden was lifted from my father’s
back.

His job then changed as the tent would swivel around the
single pole. He had to keep it steady while my mother ran in
and out of the tent collecting the other tent poles. Each one
fit into a sleeve in the corner and attached to one leg of the
spider.
Now the tent was secure, but, not quite finished, Pop would
use the crank and raise the spider into a tight and steady
position before removing the center pole.

That did it. The Tent was raised. The awning used the two
extra poles. From time to time side screens were added to the
awning to enclose one or more sides. They were used
sparingly, often when it was really cold.
Keeping the tent dry was a big issue. There was little they
could do about the rain, but otherwise they would dig a trench
around the tent to encourage any run-off to drain away.

A similar procedure for pitching the tent was followed to
lower and store it. Including sweeping, filling the trench and
cleaning the camp site.


19

AMERICA


1932 - 1933

CAMPING EQUIPMENT


Once pitched my father had a plan for the interior lay out.
Knowing my mother I’d say this was his plan, not actually how
it looked.


































20

AMERICA


1932 - 1933

CAMPING EQUIPMENT


By the time I joined them camping their camp stove and oven
had been painted several times, to protect it from rusting. It
was an American KampStove, just like today’s Coleman. It
used ‘white gas’ a non-leaded version of today’s gasoline.
However, even then they bought it at Amoco.

The oven was attached to the back of the sheet metal and
folded over the top with sides to enclose the entire fire box.





















Because leaded gasoline corrodes metal, they also used ‘white
gas’ in their lantern. They did have flash lights, but it was long
time before lithium and long lasting batteries.




21

AMERICA


1932 - 1933

CAMPING EQUIPMENT







































22

AMERICA


1932 - 1933

THE PONTIAC

The 2018 Pontiac Ad describes a totally new car. It says:
INTRODUCING

THE NEW 1928 PONTIAC

‘The new Great Six from last year has been improved’.


















It’s better than ever. Just look at what you get for as little as
$845, (In today’s dollars $845 x $12.00 =$10,140 plus taxes)
for this 1928 Pontiac Sport Landau Sedan. And it’s all new
this year
New 4 wheel breaks, New Fisher Body design, New fenders,
New GMR cylinder heads (we think that’s Over Head Cams),
New fuel pump, New crankcase ventilation, New carburetor
(single barrel), New Manifolds and muffler, New greater
power (40 hp), New cross-flow radiator, New thermostat, New
water pump, New instrument panel, New coincidental lock


23

AMERICA


1932 - 1933

THE PONTIAC


(not just for the doors, but the engine compartment also.),
New dash gas gauge, New stop-light (Maybe that’s a hill
holder.), New steering gear, New clutch, New frame, new
axles, and New wheels (42 inch).

































24

AMERICA


1932 - 1933

THE PONTIAC

Their ad couldn’t have left much out. The coincidental lock
for the engine was the Pontiac chief on the hood. Until you
turned it you couldn’t open the hood’s side vents. They also
didn’t mention that there wasn’t any oil pump. It must have
been a small problem. Just let the oil slosh around.
If you look closely at the dash there’s a white button that you
can pull out. It’s the chock. Pull it and the engine speeds up.
The emergency brake is really hard to see. It’s on the floor
beside the gear shift.

There’s not much left, no radio or air conditioning. The seats
are covered with mohair. There’s no better upholstery than
that.
Here’s a picture of their Hot Rod if it were new..






















25

AMERICA


1932 - 1933

THE PONTIAC

Actually, that’s not what it looked like. We don’t really know.
It was second hand with a lot of miles on it, but less than
30,000.


















Choosing a car, in an America that has been car crazy since
before cars were invented must have been a real chore. They
probably were looking for a Ford. After all 20 years of their
cars had to say something. However, there were no Ford’s
available. So they must have settled on this one. Their 1928
used General Motors Pontiac Sport Landau Sedan built in
Oakland Michigan. (Often called the Oakland Pontiac.)
Their modifications to the car can be seen from the early
pictures. Few cars in the 1920’s had seats that lay back so you
could rest. They had their seats adjusted so they could make
beds out of them. They lay all the way back.




26

AMERICA


1932 - 1933

THE PONTIAC

















The 4 door openings made it easy to get in and out. Above,
on the roof they put a large wooden carrier. It was covered
with canvas, but the bottom had slats so any water could run
off and down the drain spouts.


















27

AMERICA


1932 - 1933

THE PONTIAC


Where could they possibly put any more storage? On the rear
bumper of course. Here you can see the sideways book shelf
with can goods, an ice box, and on top a locked container.
Beside the book shelf is a large container for extra gas.

Their Pontiac was given lots of attention. Not because it was
special, but probably because it wasn’t. It was simple, and easy
to fix when it broke down. During hot weather you could
open the front wind shield and vent air through it. That’s was
pretty neat and if the air wasn’t cool enough you could put a
water bag on the dash; Hydrated Air Conditioning.

The water bag, made of canvas, was used for many things.
Once wet it didn’t leak. Often it was used instead of a bucket,
although they had a collapsible canvas bucket. When crossing
the desert in really hot weather or climbing a mountain they
would attach it to the front of the radiator.

It helped cool the water in the radiator.
The radiator was given special attention. Because it contained
water, not anti-freeze, and would often over heat, boiling over,
causing them to stop until it cooled down and could add more
water. They always had an extra supply of water to add to it.
Today we campers usually carry extra water, to drink, not for
the radiator.

The radiator was always a concern during the winter. If it got
too cold it would freeze and the engine would be worthless.
Each night in Death Valley they drained the radiator. And
each morning they refilled it and ran the engine.




28

AMERICA


1932 - 1933

HAPPY TRAILS


If Arlene and I were ever going to answer the question about
how life was for our early settlers crossing the plains, or other
travelers before us we could never come closer than to read
and learn from their marvelous experience.

Throughout our travels around the United States we’ve used it
as a guide. It has helped us choose National Parks, and know
what to expect, in different areas of the country. To be careful
of flash floods in the deserts like the Petrified Forest of
Arizona, or always be alert for tornados in strange places like
New England. To appreciate the environment and to leave
behind as much as we originally found.
We have been so fortunate.

We hope that you have a chance to read this Manuscript, and
it too will find some value and enjoyment for you.
Happy Trails to you.



November, 2018
Richard and Arlene Zimmerman

















29

AMERICA


1932 - 1933






























































30


Click to View FlipBook Version