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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1975-06-18, Page 14Max Watts with one of his antique chairs OPNOTCH TOPNOTCH FEEDS LIMITED Ask Us About Our Very Competitive Prices on Your Spraying Needs ▪ Aatrex 90W ▪ Aatrex Liquid Oil Concentrate Ironic Lasso MCPA Embutox 2,4-D Amine 80 Brussels , 88740 11 - , •• ,,,,„ .1 r. Brussels .616n as many h bbies t a. .' Mr.Watts said: "Many people 't throw away their heritage. I am particularly surprised in this area people have completely thrown I. away, their heritage. i "There is very, little in the village of its past; we possess very little compared to what other 1 ,.centers have," he said. "I think since our centennial ,! they are realizing what they have, they should hang on to," he said. In spite of the fact that area residents seem to throw away their heritage, about 20 cars in the Maitland Valley Region Historical Automobile Society to which he belongs comes from this village and area, he said. His Ford. Tudor was originally sold by the Brussels Ford Dealer, .1, B. McIntyre. Its varied and interesting past almost ended Under a coat of barn paint. Mr. Watts bought the car in 1969 and started in 1971 a two year process to restore his car with the help of his friend Don McNeil. Mr. McNeil, president of the historical automobile club, does body work on new cars for a living but his hobby is restoring old cars.14 drives around in a.green 1938 Nash Lafayette. Mr. Watts said that adding the number of hours by each man on the car at a value of $2 an hour, the car had $6,500 hours worth of labor in it. -' He said they completely restored the engine, everything was stripped, the frame sandblasted, and all the wood replaced. Better than New To meet the standards of the Historical Automobile Association of Canada must be made better than new, he said. To this end, it took six weeks to bake on the enamel and a year to dry whereas Henry Ford had them done assembly-line style and if pinholes were found, he painted over them, he said. "Now we are in too many judging meets, where we are docked for small flaws", to allow this Mr. Watts said. - There are about 50 members in the Maitland Valley Region and about 1,000 in Ontario but there are other automobile clubs, Mr. Watts said. The Membership fee is $18 a year and a person doesn't need an antique car to join, `Mr. McNeil said. Before a car can belong to the Hi) lea' Automobile Society, telt1 e cars must pass a harsh set of ules. The cat has to be in bettet than pedal shape, "that's how We keep cur cars on the -road and in a condition for people to see," he said. There is hardly a Weekend throughout the summer where there isn't a meet or tour somewhere, he said. A list of their club's activities include participation in Seaforth's Centennial' Parade On Ally 1st and the Clinton Centennial Parade on August 2. A friend in need is a friend hi 14,—THE BRUSSELS PJSt deed. For this reason, a list of area car club members are kept in each car and if one of the cars breaks down they need only call for ,help. Ready to Help In the Guelph area alone, there are 50 to 75 members "ready to help you out." These people might just have the part you need or help repair, whereas the local garage wouldn't be that muOh help, he said. Since he has redone his car, it has only 2,500 miles since it is only driven for parades froniJune to_ October. • Besides his Tudor in which he took the trophy for the best at Pioneer Village in Kitchener he has two others in pieces in his garage, he said., He said he hopes to restore an antique car for every member of his family which includes his wife, Barbara, Stephanie, 19, Maxine, 17, Da.vid, 1.5, Trina, 11, Darren, 9 and Ruth 6. Mr. Watts said there are a lot of cars still stored and a great many that were junked and cut up to make hay wagons. He said for many people it's no longer a hobby but an investment for there is a lot of money in it. "A lot of chaps don't want to restore them but want to buy them straight from the market, fully restored." For a fully restored 14)15 Ford, one could expect to pay $6,750 while brand new it sold for $700. Mt. Watts is an antique lover, he loves them of all descriptions; As he showed this reporter around his home, he pointed with pride to those items he and his wife had inherited from their respective parents. These included Louis.tupe furniture, "have you ever seen a glass pen? " he said, and many other pieces: Nor was he any less proud of that old noz2le froth an old fire engine, When asked where he got h1 he answered with a grin, "Hit, It'Ve acquired it somehow.' When asked What he does with , all the things he finds- he says he stores it or diSplays it in his home, trades 'it, but nothing is for sale.When showing' me around his home, he picked up a round clOck with its citeulat sides which had ntiinbers on it. A clockmaker saw it• and said it was the firSt of it's kind he's Over ALINE is, 1975 seen. He would have liked to buy it, but "It's not for sale," he said as he continued to walk on. Mr. Watts said: "I don't know why people collect these things. was talking to a man who collects insulators, he probably doesn't know why I" collect car parts." Wheiv'asked if his wife ever said, "the' next time, you cart in another...", he said no, "Barbara likes these things as much as I do." Packed Away When he lived in Brantford, he had pioneer articles displayed and gave school children tours. Now all that stuff is packed away in boxes, he said. "One day, I want a log house to put it all in it," he said. "I've just dug up a'bottle in the backyard that's in a bottle catalogue," he said. Down in this basement, he has a hobby that allows him the most privacy, his model train. He is working on the third layout for his The train includes 200-300 boxcars and about 20 engines. "one day I just completely demolished it. My family came down and thought I had gone crazy," he said. He admitted that a train set is never completed, the fun is in its creation.The set he has now takes up a room and next thing he knows he'll knock out the wall and Move into the next room. The train- set has mountains that took four months to build with the trains passing through rock made from plaster of park. It has a logging camp, coal yard and he hopes to build a replica of, downton Brussels and the schoolhouse where his, wife went to school. He admitted that he has had train crashes but • the worst danger is if a train falls off the platform and onto the floor: He said he doesn't belong to a club, but there are huge clubs in which retired railwaymen belong. Age nine He said he first got interested in models when he was lying hi the hospital at the age of nine with bone cancer. Then for 2% yearS he Waked as a call boy, for the e.N.k, near his 43elleville hoitie and he'd ride his bike so he could call each railway crew so they'd be ready fottellt train. He estimated the train set was worth $1860 with a few engines worth as much as $6Q. have now," he said. to revitalize and maintain what approached• by the Hisotrical in their activities, but "I can hardly fulfill the obligations I historical organization we can get Society in Goderich to participate Mr. Watts said he has been "I think we need all the -we haVe," he said. that was no problem since for his, family antiques are "a way of, life." with all the antiques later, he said for something "different" and IF everyone has to take a look, an old car comes on television . When asked what he wool do Everybody in the family looks EIIiotfs married in Beirriore• ceremony In a spring ceremony similarly, wearing yellow and Belmore Presbyterian Church on peach. The charming little flow May 17 at four o'clock, Rev. girl, who is the bride's youngest' Dennis Freeman of Geraldton 'sister, Treena Jeffray, was attired, officiated for the exchanging of in a petite blue dress, sstylecl, marriage vows between Larry identically to those of the senior Elliott and Grace Jeffray. attendants. Each of the" The bride is the daughter of attendants carried a milk glass' Mr. and Mrs.' Arnold Jeffray of basket filled with fern aids Wingham. The groom is coloured daisies. the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Kalvin Fischer of Blueyale,: Elliott, R.R.#1, Bluevale. cousin of the groom , was the Mrs. Nora Moffatt best: man. The guests were; accompanied Mrs.Ruth ushered by Daryl Walken;; Townsend and Mrs, -Grace R.R.#4,Wingham, also a cousin of Campbell who sang - "The the groom, and Brian Jeffray oit Wedding Song, 'The Wedding R.R.2, Wingham, brother of the: Prayer and We've Only Just bride. They were handsomely; Begun". attired in powder blue tuxedos) The bride entered the church trimmed with navy velvet and; on her father's arm. She ..was white shirts edged with blue. gowned in white polyester jersey ruffles. trimmed with blushing pink The rinbearer, Master velvet ribbon interwoven through Harper, nephew of the bride, was lace trim. A soft ruffle formed a V dressed in a similar suit. 14 neckline. The skirt was gathered carried' the matching wedding, at the waistline and pink ribbon bands on a white Bible. Rd enhanced the gathered Long full male attendant wore a sleeves were gathered to create a buttonniere, of white mums while cuff. Her train, attached at the the grooms was of blushing pink shoulders, was gathered to the rosebuds. waistline and held with the ribbon Following the ceremony a trim, then fell gracefully and dinner was enjoyed by all at the ended in a double ruffle at the Belmore Community centre hemline. She carried a cascade of. followed by a reception. -blushing pink' roses and whit .e The bride and groom hate. mums surrounded by trailing take' up residence in Teeswater, green ivy. • Mrs. Sally Harper of R.R.#2, Mildmay, sister of• the bride, was matron of honor, wearing. a pink dress of flocked nylon, styled with V empire waistline and A line skirt and featuring a cape collar edged with scalloped trim. A crescent shaped hat, trimmed with lace and roses, completed her ensemble. Lynne Willitts of Waterloo and Debbie Busby of Listowel, acting as bridesmaids, were gowned By Nancy Andrews Most of us are lucky if we enjoy one absorbing hobby, but few of us can boast as many as Max I Watts of Brussels. Max Watts, a local business- • man, is not only an old car buff owning a 1928 Ford Tudor, but he also collects antiques and has an • electrical train set in the basement of his home. collect antiques of all descriptions. Anything old I 1collect, don't like to see things I, thrown away," he said. 1 ; Although his interest in old cars goes back only about ten years, his interest in antiques goes back decades. SUPPORT YOUR. LOCAL RED CROSS B CI 25