Loading...
The Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-09-02, Page 19Harold McGee of Nile stands amid his collection of old bottles, anti- que radios, antique gramaphones and car parts he stores in a school house,across from his home. McGee has been a collector for over 30 years and said he always will be. His pride and joy is a 1950 Ford Spitfire sedan. The car is completely original down to paint and a working wind-up clock. (photo by Ted Spooner) GODER.ICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER, 2, 1987—PAGE 19 'One man's junk, other!s., tre*isuir e' says collector BY TED SPOONER Harold McGee, 64, of Nile is a collector and has been for 40 years. He collects everything from old cars and farm equip- ment to old clocks, radios, sewing machines and record players. "When I was young my dad asked, why are you buying that for. I was a collector and I always will be," said McGee. His pride and joy is a completely -original • 1950 Ford Custom two -door Spitfire sedan. McGee describes it as a post -World War II car built for veterans. A unique flat -head V8 produces 100 horsepower and McGee said he has been to car- shows all over South - Western Ontario but has seen few cars like it. Everything about the car is original—the paint, the tires, the interior. It even has the original wind-up clock that still keep,s time. The car is registered with the Historical Automobile Association of Canada for cars 30 years or older in good condition. McGee has won trophies and money for the car at shows and plans to take it to a. show at the Zurich Bean Festival. Representatives of the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto have asked him to show the car, but he does not want to make the trip. McGge said people are always asking him to sell it. 'An American offered $20,000 in U.S. money but he turned him down. "I won't sell and I told him; if the car goes I go with it," he said. In fact, McGee won't sell any of the other antiques and collectables he keeps stored in the old school house he owns across from his house. He moved to Nile from Port Albert in 1956 with his wife Eileen. They looked after the school until it closed and they bought it. His wife "strongly, suggested he move his "junk" from their home to the school. McGee, who retired from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications after 35 years (Dept. of Highways) in 1980, owns three acres of land and describes hiself as a market gardener. One man's junk is another man's treasure and he acquired his treasures at auctions, garage sales, and his "happy hunting ground"— the dump. The school house is literally packed to the rafters with thousands of dollars worth of antiques and never to be seen agains. However, McGee is careful to lock the door and he has the police keep an eye on the place. Like his car, McGee has had offers to sell many of his other possessions. "If it was sold then it would be gone; I would be lone- ly," he said.. • Highlights of his collection include: a 1852 Howe sewing machine, one of the first; several old gramaphones, including a 1861 Thomas Edison model; a Baby Grand Vitrola; an O'Keefe soft drink—not beer— cooler and the first Northern Electric telephone. The Edison gramophone comes complete with a 1894 Edison recording of 'Charm Bells' that is at least one-half inch thick and weighs a pound. There are old catalogues, calenders, pop and beer bottles, books, car parts, radios and dust. In fact, McGee, who is a member of the Blyth Pioneer Museum, could fill a museum with his collection. McGee makes an'effort to restore many of his items: One in particular, an old stan- ding, weight -driven clock, he estimates at over •200 years -old, he has. restored to perfect working order. Clock makers refus- ' ed to touch it, but Stewart Taylor, who McGee said can fix anything, repaired the clock in two months. McGee also works daily on -the upkeep •)f his Ford. He touches -up the paint ar d cleans it constantly. He has purchased original fender skirts, sun visor and tires for the car. The Ford originally came from White River and down to Kincardine,- where McGee bought it. He married his wife in 1950 and he calls the old Ford his wedding car. Harold McGee, a collector from Nile, stands beside his pride and joy a 1950 Ford Spitfire sedan. He has won prizes for the completly original car at shows around the area and saves memorabilia of the shows on a plaque. The car has the original paint, original wind up clock that still works and a rare flat -head V8, engine. He also has an old school house across from his home that is filled with antiques. (photo by Ted Spooner) Harold McGee of Nile collects everything from old cars and farm equipment to gramaphones and antique clocks. This pictures shows a clock he estimates at over 200 yers old. Clock makers would not touch the clock, he said, but with the help of Stewart Taylor he restored it in two months. McGee finds most of his treasures at auctions, garage sales and "his happy hunting ground"—the dump. (photo by Ted Spooner) BOB McKINLEY R.R. 3 CLINTON, NOM 1LO Representing your TOTAL FINANCIAL PLANNING NEEDS WE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH: Annuities. RRIF's. Business and Personal Life In- surance. Group Life, Health and Pension Plans. Income Replacement Plang. RRSP's. GIC's. Mutual Funds and Debentures. LICENSED WITH: The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company \!arluratrulers CALL 482-3714 1 Besides a 1950 Ford Spitfire sedan, Harold McGee, 64,, of Nile owns several other old vehicles including from left to right: 1950 half -ton Mercury pick-up, 1960 Ford pick-up and a 1966 Ford Custom. McGee said he has been a collector for over thirty years and always will be. He also collects gramaphones, old radios and farm equipment he stores in an old school house across from his home. (photo by Ted Spooner) ENGAGEMENT Mr, & Mrs. Harold Jeffery and Mrs. Jean Denomy are happy to announce the engagement of their children Jennifer Elizabeth & Jeffrey Gerard. The marriage will take place on September 19th at 4 p.rn. at North St. United Church, Goderich, Ontario. Unusual items Harold McGee, a collector from Nile, displays one of the more unusual items in his collection: a circa 1852 Howe sewing machine he said is one of the first ever built. The old school house across from his home is full of antiques and collectables. His pride and joy is a completely original 1950 Ford Spitfire sedan. (photo by Ted Spooner) Can We Talk: Can we discuss frankly what the (;oderich Signal -Star means to you and your family? ('.ill 1 Keller. the manager at the (iotcrtch *mil Stir' Shtrles has rrscnert the time to spear. to (1U any Friday nutrntng Irom 10 ,r m to I2 noon ,it 524.26 14 for at your comemcncet on the Ci S S "OPEN LINE" 1ell Shirley your opinion about this town. only connnumty nc'~Taper' Gder ich SIGNAL -STAR DAVID BENDING & ASSOCIATES Insurance and Financial Services Ltd. "Let me show you how to maximize your pension." SO South Street, Goderich 524-4407 s�,� -800-265-5504 J.