Thread: Need help on bus origins.

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I spent pretty well all day yesterday on the computer, surfing the net, Facebook, anything I could think of, (wandered out for tea at 6 o'clock and She Who Must Be Obeyed said "What have you been doing all day?"
"Well...nothing really..." and got the 'raised eyebrows' look,) and I think I may have cracked it.

I found this site: http://billingsok.swiftsite.com/ and wrote to them asking if they could help.

And...(drum roll please,) got this reply: 'Several of the names you have are cousins of mine .Still some of them live in Billings ,Oklahoma, Such as Karen Durkee. Marilyn Durkee lives in my town, Perry, Oklahoma. That was a great group of children. hope the ones riding it now are as good. Shirley Holt Self'

So I have written back asking if she would be so kind as to send me some contact details for these people.

Fingers crossed!

Wow, Johnboy, I've made 2 phone calls and you've gotten more info than I could from "down under" - - - - way to go - - - perserverence (sp) is a great tool ! Did she give you any clue what the word Canada had reference to??


My Wiffy asked me what I did and I told her nothing and she said that was what I did yesterday and I told her "Yeah, I wasn't through!"

Originally Posted by MelloYello

Wow, Johnboy, I've made 2 phone calls and you've gotten more info than I could from "down under" - - - - way to go - - - perserverence (sp) is a great tool ! Did she give you any clue what the word Canada had reference to??

Hey, I tell ya Emmett I'm as happy as a dog with two tails and a hundred lamp-posts!

All she told me was what was in the post above; essentially that some of these 'kids' were still around, were cousins of hers, and she knew where they lived.

I just hope that a) she realises that this is important to me, and b) that some of those 'kids' still extant will agree to being contacted by me.

I'll give it a couple of days (jigging up and down with suppressed excitement and impatience) and if she hasn't responded I'll contact her again.

Did the link to the photos of the bus work?
I'll post it again so's others can look if they wish to. It's about the 8th post down...there's some more on the next couple of pages too.
(And one of me sitting behind the wheel and just about caught making 'brrmm brrmm' noises.)

http://www.hotrodrevue.co.nz/forum/v....php?f=10&t=81

All it took was that one lucky hit and the whole world opened up. I hope you get some neat information that will help in the style of build you are doing. NZ is not as far away as you think! Keep us posted.

Maybe all y'all (Texan Too) can hook up on Face Book. Look out!! I bet there are stories just waiting to be revealed.

Thanks for that RestoRod, yep; that's the wee beast!
As you can see the damage and rust is really quite superficial...and not a lot of it involves compound curves; so the restoration of the body is going to be pretty straightforward.
And even when you get 'down and dirty' crawling over/under/through it it's in surprisingly good condition.
There are no body mounts forward of the windscreen; it's bolted straight to the chassis so there are a few cracks in the panels in that area...but hey!...this steel's thick enough to arc weld!
The body is built by 'Superior', who, I am told, built a lot of bus bodies during this era.

It's gonna be a lot of fun...something different...and yet practical too!

(I hope Shirley Holt Self contacts me back soon...
I hope Shirley Holt Self contacts me back soon...
I hope Shirley Holt Self contacts me back soon...
I hope Shirley Holt Self contacts me back soon...
I hope Shirley Holt Self contacts me back soon...
I hope Shirley Holt Self contacts me back soon...)

Originally Posted by sfort

Maybe all y'all (Texan Too) can hook up on Face Book. Look out!! I bet there are stories just waiting to be revealed.

That would be about the ultimate...I'm just hoping to make contact at this stage...any sort of contact...

Ah, the Inspector Clouseau of Rahotu or would that beTaranake... Good job on the hunt!

Interesting that it was documented as a '53, though it's got '52 front sheetmetal. I would imagine those custom body manufacturers had the ability to do the MSO documents based on year of delivery rather than chassis manufacturers year of production.

Keep us dialed in on the refurbishment, and don't annoy Ms Rosey too much.

I wonder if you could start a face book page with questions and updates and lure these people in to make comments. If they are internet savvy I bet they would take a look and be drawn in especially if you post pictures with sentimental value i.e. hand writing and any drawings in the buss (I bet the grandkids would help and get a kick out of it). Also see if anyone knows who the driver was and if he or any relatives are still around.

Howdy Mate,
I just wanted to let you know that I "AM" getting your emails but I don't think that you are getting my email replies and information Therefore, I am forced to PM you anything that I find out or need.
Be sure and check your PM's daily and hopefully I can help you with this.
Mello

Originally Posted by MelloYello

Howdy Mate,
I just wanted to let you know that I "AM" getting your emails but I don't think that you are getting my email replies and information Therefore, I am forced to PM you anything that I find out or need.
Be sure and check your PM's daily and hopefully I can help you with this.
Mello

Sweet!
Yeah; it's a bit of a b#%%^r not being able to receive your e-mails...but will check my PMs daily.
I don't know if the lady has replied to me or not...I might not be receiving her e-mail either.
Thanks mate!

I thought that perhaps, the mention of Canada might have referred to the Blue Bird Corp. which made many similar school buses, but when I checked they did not open a Canadian plant until 1958 (in Brantford Ont.) Since the bus is a 1953, that would not apply.
Just so everyone knows what Johnboy is referring to, I have taken the liberty of copying the photos from the link he referred to.
It sounds like a great project and I would imagine the "kids" will be thrilled to hear about it.