Stories
Read some stories about Franklins or Franklin Members that have been sent to the Webmaster over the years.
December 7, 2024
Excerpted from the McPherson College magazine, the 'Flywheel,' read about how the members of the H. H. Franklin Club and the students at McPherson find each other and share the enjoyment of Franklin automobiles and the Franklin 'Trek.'
Click on the image to read the article.
Student Experience Program Challenge
Congratulations!!
The Club received a matching grant from an anonymous donor towards the Club's
suite of Student Scholarship programs.
The donor's match would go as high as $50,000 if the club could garner that many donations.
As of March 27, we have met the challenge and have
raised $100,000 for these programs.
This will allow us to significantly increase engagement with young students.
Click here for more information on the
Student Experience program.
February 4, 2023
With full support from the Board of Directors, the Trek Committee has announced that the 2023 Trek will be held at Union College in Schenectady, New York. A great deal of time and patience was required to ensure the membership a comfortable and recognizable Trek experience. The 2023 Trek Committee has gone above and beyond normal expectations. Collectively, we owe Steve Braverman, Rachel McNaughton, Sarah Schopmeier and Lee Schopmeier a debt of gratitude for their tireless efforts over the past 4 months.
With appreciation,
Andrew Sullivan
January 15, 2023
Update Regarding the 2023 Trek
New beginnings; with 2023 well underway, I greet you for the first time as President. The coming months are sure to provide new opportunities for our club, as we turn the page on our chapter at Cazenovia College. Under the steadfast leadership of Bob Cornman, I find the club robust with an increasingly active membership and ever-broadening horizons of growth. Top of mind is the relocation of our Annual Franklin Trek. As with any Trek, the Executive Committee is in close communication with the Trek Co-Chairs to provide guidance and support. Since October 2022, they have been working tirelessly on the vetting of prospective host sites. We look forward to the Trek Committee’s report at the February Board Meeting; updates will be cross-promoted on the Club website and social media platforms.
Aura Vincit!
Andrew Sullivan
January 2, 2023
Dear Sir:
I came across your Franklin Car Club web site as a result of viewing an article on a
1931 Franklin in Hemmings. This inspired recollection of the 1931 Franklin convertible
coupe my late older half-brother Cecil Shanklin owned from 1951 until his passing in 2008
at the age of 90. I believe that he was a member of your Club.
Just a brief history: Cecil was a career Navy man and retired after 20 years in 1958 as
a Chef Petty Officer, diesel technician. In 1951 he was stationed in San Diego and at
that time he noticed a 1931 Franklin convertible coupe in the back of an auto wrecking
yard. The yard owner said that he could have the car for one dollar if he reorganized
the whole yard to get the car out - done deal! He worked for several weekends to get
the job done. The car was straight with some surface "patina".
After doing some work on the car to get it running and tires, he drove it from San Diego
to Panorama City, California in the Los Angeles area, maybe 170 miles. After it sat in the garage a few
months he noticed a small pile of wood dust under the car. The Franklin had termites
he had to have it tented and gassed by an exterminator.
Over the years Cecil would do restoration work on the car, especially after moving to
Loomis, California in 1962 where he had room to build a detached garage and workshop. He
rebuilt the engine and running gear and a local body shop did the body restoration and
paint. He last worked on the car about 1993. See attached photos.
The car was sold in about 2010 by his son to a Franklin enthusiast in the East, whose name
I do not have, likely a member of your Club.
Hope you find this Franklin trivia interesting.
Don Shanklin
Corona, CA
951-898-9304
January 2, 2023
I thought some of the Franklin club members would like to see the family speedster on a little vacation at kellys island on the beautiful Lake Erie island in late summer 2022 . we went over on the kellys island ferry stayed a couple days at the island hotel and drove the franklin around everyday and returned on the ferry. Very enjoyable weekend. Car is pictured at the Old General Store. Gus Alai
February 18, 2022
Click here to see Jim Eby turn a 23 second 1/4 mile in his 1925 Series 11A Hot Rod Coupe.
June 28, 2019
If you enjoyed Jim Eby's article in the Spring 2019 Air Cooled News about his 9,000+ mile drive in his 1919 9B Touring car, you might enjoy reading a more comprehensive version of that article. This includes more photos, more descriptions, and supplemental information about the history of the car and its original owner(s). Click here to read the article.
October 10, 2017
Every year at Hershey Sue Roberts puts up a signing sheet and asks all of our members who stop by to sign up. Look how many did!
February 23, 2015
Watch some of the cars that attended the Mid-Winter Sunshine Tour at Mount Dora, Florida. Thanks to William O. who put this video together.
January 2, 2015
A Series 7 at the start of a Franklin economy run in Chicago.
Model M - Series 6 - Early 1915
Model M - Series 7 - Mid 1915
Model M - Series 8 - Late 1915 to 1916
61st Annual Franklin Trek Video
October 7,2014
July 6, 2014
A 1926 Franklin figures prominently in How to Solve an 88-Year-Old Literary Mystery, from the New York Times Magazine, June 27, 2014.
July 6, 2014
Read about Lindbergh, the Franklin Car and Magic Moments in Time.
May 3, 2014
Franklinites Played Prominent Role at the 2014 Society of Engineers World Congress, Held in Detroit, Michigan, April 8-10, 2014
Automotive historian and longtime H.H. Franklin Club member, Sinclair Powell, made a presentation to the Mobility History Division of the Society of Automotive Engineers at the Society's World Congress held at Cobo Hall in Detroit on April 8, 2014. The title of Powell's talk was "The Road Less Traveled: the History of the Air-Cooled Vehicle in America from 1890-1940".
After mentioning the persons who aided in the development of the air-cooled engine -- including, of course John Wilkinson of the Franklin firm -- Powell outlined the companies which throughout the period covered built air-cooled vehicles. He noted that Franklin, which produced over 150,000 cars, was by far the key manufacturer of air-cooled vehicles. Powell also observed that John Wilkinson was a founding member, in 1905, of the Society of Automotive Engineers, and an initial vice president of the organization.
As an adjunct to Powell's talk the 1909 Franklin Series G Touring car owned by Christine Gray of Rochester Hills, Michigan, was displayed on the floor of Cobo Hall. This very attractive vehicle, recently restored, attracted a great deal of attention on the part of those attending the Congress. In his talk Powell expressed thanks to Christine Gray for making this fine example of an air-cooled car available for viewing. Also, he expressed thanks to Glen Gray, Christine's son, for delivering the car to the Congress.
February 24, 2014
Mystery photo: Thank you to everyone who helped identify this car as a 1925-26 Chrysler.
November 18, 2013
Read an article about the Franklin Museum, "Franklin Auto Museum is a Tucson treat".
October 21, 2013
Photos from Hershey
Despite the rain, a lot of nice Franklin folks dropped by RNE10, even from as far away as Fairbanks, Alaska! Recognize anyone?
The Franklin kids Friday frankfurter lunch was great fun!
December 9, 2012
A New Franklin Forum
The Board of Directors of The H.H. Franklin Club has authorized the creation of an internet forum.
This forum is designed to replace and supplement the current Questions and Answers department of the Club website.
For many years the Club's website Q&A section has served to provide technical, aesthetic, and restoration advice to Club members. However, using the section has been somewhat cumbersome, both to the members asking for information and for the experts answering. Questions had to be mailed or emailed to our experts or to the Club or to the webmasters, and then replies posted back onto the website. Searching for past replies to common questions required patience.
The Board believes that an interactive forum, where questions are posed directly and can be answered not only by Paul and Tom, but also other members who can contribute their expertise, would benefit all members.
To this end, the Board has authorized the expansion and use of the Franklin Forum already in existence on the Antique Automobile Club of America's website.
Membership in the AACA is not required to read or use this forum. If you want to post a question or a reply on the Franklin forum, you will have to register with the AACA. Registration is gratis, provided by the AACA as a benefit to the car collecting community.
The tag for registration is in the upper right hand corner of the forum's main web page.
This new Franklin Forum will be moderated by Club member, Steve Braverman, ensuring that questions and answers remain relevant.
The old Q&A section of our website will remain, but no new additions will be made. For non-internet connected members, the FSS will continue to select interesting or informative forum posts for reprinting.
We hope that Club members find this forum useful. Once registered, members will be able to search for old information threads. The forum can be set up to email registered members when new posts are made. Information on the forum can threaded by date or subject. In addition, Club members are invited to participate in other AACA forums where they can expand their reach when searching for either information or parts.
October 10, 2012
Franklins at Hershey
Here we are at the official Franklin Club space - RNE 12. Stop by and visit!
September 13, 2012
Question: Amelia Earhart Franklin
Do you have any information regarding the Franklin that was once owned by Amelia Earhart? She drove it to Meeteetse, WY in 1934 (?) where she and her husband, George Putnam, stayed at the ranch of Carl Dunrud. She drove the car from New York and met Putnam there. There is a story about how the carburetor had to be adjusted by a local mechanic due to the altitude.
Carl Dunrud began building her a cabin near his ranch in what is now the Shoshone National Forest when she disappeared in 1937. It was never finished and is now only barely recognizable. Her plan was to do some R&R there after the around the world flight. I was there in July and visited the site with Carl Dunrud's son, Jim but any information regarding the Franklin was unknown by him.
I am currently in las Vegas, should be in Tucson in a few weeks and plan to visit your museum at that time.
Sincerely yours,
Dennis
Answer: Amelia Earhart Franklin
You have produced an interesting item relating to Franklin history involving Amelia Earhart Putnan. A few years ago I spent several days at Purdue University going through the Earhart papers but there was no reference to her trip to the ranch of Carl Dunrud.
With respect to the Franklin car owned by Amelia, I can contribute this information. In interviewing Bill Leininger prior to his death, he mentioned traveling with Amelia on a trip from Toledo to Lansing, Michigan sometime in 1933. On this trip Amelia was driving a Franklin V-12. This probably would have been the last Franklin owned by her. I also should mention that some of the Franklins she drove were loaned to her by the company for publicity purposes.
To obtain possible information on any Franklin owned by Amelia in 1934, it might be possible to contact the New York State Motor Vehicle License Bureau to see if they have any information on a car driven by Amelia that was registered in New York. This is a very long shot.
Cordially,
Sinclair Powell
Answer cont.: Amelia Earhart Franklin
To add to the Amelia Earhart Franklin topic...
As Sinclair points out, Franklin used her in their advertising. One ad mentions that she also had a 1931 6 wire wheel, 153 Deluxe Convertible Coupe.
Over the years, there have been rumors about different Convertible coupes that have been thought to be Amelia's. Including one in Connecticut that turned out to be an Olympic, not a 153.
A few years ago, a 6 wire wheel 153 Conv Coupe changed hands. Going by the chassis number, it was built close to the same time as a factory ad mentions hers. The new owner wondered if it possibility could be hers.
I contacted New York State Motor Vehicle Department in Albany, NY to see if they had any registration numbers listed. I was told that any records that old are not in their computers, but might still exist. They are stored in their archive in the basement, and whoever is looking to check those records would have to first make an appointment and then go there to do a physical search of the records.
Going back and taking a closer look at that Franklin ad that shows a picture of Amelia with her 153, it can be seen in the photo that her car was all one color. However, at that time, the 153 in question still had its original two-toned paint scheme. With the car in question, even in a black and white photo, there would be enough contrast in the two colors that the difference would be seen. Oh, well...so close.
When time permits, I still hope to make an appointment to go through those NYS DMV records and see if they have anything about her Franklins so it can be added to the Club's history.
Paul Fitz
September 11, 2012
Check out a very interesting four page article about the Franklin Automobile and John Wilkinson in Skinned Knuckles magazine, September 2012 issue #434, Vol. 37 No. 2, which acknowledges Lloyd Davis for his contribution to the article.
August 27, 2012
It was August 16, 2012...
...and it was a significant birthday for Wes Mattie. There was an outing to Aylmer, in the province of Québec with Wes, Joan, Lois and André and two Franklins. Well at some point we lost the air in one of the tires of André and Lois' car... We had to call CAA for a towing home. It was not in the plan but, as for all Franklin rides, it was not boring.
Now I have to practice "split-rim" tire repair...
André
August 26, 2012
More photos -- September 8, 2012
The 1911 Ralph Hamlin Race Car
A very special Franklin arrives at the 18th fairway of the hallowed Pebble Beach grounds — Ted and Carol Davis and the 1911 Ralph Hamlin Race car. The race car was a huge hit and took home an astounding 4 trophies.
May 15, 2012
From Australia: a this photo from Estelle and John Bosich of their 1922 10B after an eight year restoration project.
February 9, 2012
Check out this student project featuring a 1934 Franklin motor. The
motor was donated from a guy that was restoring Franklins and didn't
need it so he donated it. He bought it from a saw mill that used it to
run an old saw blade... From OL'SKOOL RODZ #51 May 2012
December 20, 2011
Happy news, Norm and Kathy Madsen were married October 1, 2011.
August 23, 2011
Round Australia Cannonball Run: Beginning August 6th, the first attempt to circumnavigate the Australian continent in an air cooled 1927 Franklin car. Read the daily digest for an update on locations and status.
June 19, 2011
On Sunday, June 5, the 1932 Franklin Twelve Cylinder Sedan belonging to the Franklin Automobile Collection at Hickory Corners made its official show debut, appearing at the Classic Car Club of America "Experience" Councours de'Elegance on the grounds of the Gilmore Car Museum at Hickory Corners, Michigan.
A gift to the H.H. Franklin Club from the family of Alexander Marshall, the rare V/12 competed against Classics from around the Midwest and was awarded the Gilmore Award, hand picked from the entire field of cars by Bill Parfet, Chairman of the board of the Gilmore Car Museum and grandson of Donald Gilmore, founder of the museum.
January 10, 2011
News from Frank Meredith, Columbia, South Carolina
On Saturday, November 27, 2010, I married a lovely young lady from Sumter, SC. She is now Laura (nee Turner) Meredith! After the reception we went on a honeymoon cruise to the Bahamas, We are now settled in the home that my late wife (Sis) and I had lived in since 1975. She had passed away in 2007, shortly before I found my 1929 4-door Model 135 Franklin.
As background, I retired in August 1975 after 30 years active duty with the Army. I had more than 33 years of happiness with my Sis till she passed away in 2007. She was me while I restored my 1928 Model A Ford and my 1922 Model T Ford. Later in 2007, Doug Hull helped me find my well-preserved Franklin. How Sis would have loved it!
I have enjoyed the 2008, 2009 and 2010 Treks, but I fear that Laura's health may not permit us to make the trip to Cazenovia in August 2011, much as I would like to introduce my new bride to my fellow members of the H. H. Franklin Club.
My best wishes to all in the club who have become close and caring friends.
Frank Meredith
2158 Shady Lane
Columbia, S.C. 29206
(h) 803-782-9492
(c) 803-429-1648
January 1,
2011 
Club members Tamara and AJ Clark (daughter and son in law to members Lee and Junie Webb of Bakersfield, CA) are thrilled to announce the birth of the next generation of Franklin owners!
Liam Alexander Clark was born 11/18/2010 at 10:50am; at birth he weighed 7lb. 3oz. and was 21 inches long. Mommy and baby are doing great after the natural, drug free delivery and look forward to seeing everyone at the Santa Barbara WesTrek in June 2011!
March 14, 2010
Here is some wonderful news:
Pat and Bob Harrison (Bob is the Franklin Automobile Collection
at Hickory Corners Chairman) daughter Liz and husband Paul welcomed
Sophia Grace Caruso into the family on Tuesday, March 2nd at 2:44
pm. She weighed in at 9 lb 3 oz, 21 3/4 inches long. Mother and
baby and doing very well.
Grandpa Harrison holding his first Grandchild!
September 10, 2009
A Baby Buggie Tradition Continues
By Eric Franklin
In the August 21-22, 2004 issue of the Burbank Leader, Jackie Conley wrote a story called "A Baby Buggie Tradition" about my Father, Allan Franklin, and one very special antique car: a 1923 Franklin Demi-Sedan.
In 1976, the year I was born, my Father was looking through the classifieds for a Model T until he happened upon a car called a "Franklin." Thinking 'how cool it would be to own a car that shared the family name,' he purchased that car instead of the Model T.
This car, like my Father, proved to be the cornerstone of many special family memories; he drove my sister home from her wedding in it, he drove my nephew home from the hospital in it when he was born, he drove my wife and I home from our wedding in it, he drove my wife, myself and my 1st son home from the hospital in it when he was born as well.
These are only a few examples of the wonderful times shared by my family and this car.
The impetus for the article that Jackie wrote was when my Father drove my 1st son home from the hospital in 2004.
To paraphrase my Father's quote from the article, 'Mothers always get to help decorate baby rooms, host baby and bridal showers, etc. This car has helped me to be involved with important family milestones in a very special way.'
Flash forward to September of 2008 when my Father was diagnosed with cancer. It proved to be pancreatic cancer and he died October 13, almost one month to the day after they discovered the cancer and almost one month to the day before his 71st Birthday.
To say my family has been devastated would be a gross understatement. Anyone who knew my Father, knew that he had a heart and mind, more energetic than most 20 year olds. When the Dr. told him he had cancer, after she left the room, my Father sat up in his hospital bed, looked me, my mom, my sister and my wife square in the face and said, "Look, I plan on being here at least another 10 years. I just bought another Franklin (a '31 Salon) and I need 2 years to restore it and 8 years to drive it." Even facing the horror of all horrors, a life-threatening illness, he was positive, practical and upbeat - he didn't complain, he didn't cry and he continued to talk about the future.
One of the few solaces I have found, when I feel like I am the closest I can possibly to be to my Father, is when I'm with his old cars, the 1923 Franklin in particular. The car's smell - a combination of gas and oil, the revving hum of the gears shifting, the 'oo-gah' horn, the 'cat-call' whistle - if ever someone wanted to know what it felt like to be around my Dad, I would simply take them for a ride in this car.
I would always go with my Dad to antique car gatherings but I never drove any of his old cars. There was always a reason why we just never got around to it. I was busy, he was busy, etc. I remember vividly asking my Dad on Father's Day of '08,
"Dad, could you please show me how to drive the Franklin?"
"Yes," he said but for some reason or another we just didn't get around to it, once again.
A few short months later he got sick. After he had been admitted to the hospital, to try and keep his mind on the future and happy things, I continued to ask him,
"Dad, could you please show me how to drive the Franklin?"
"There's a car meet at Johnny Carson Park coming up in 2 weeks. I will show you how to drive it and we can ride together in the Franklin to that," he said.
I continued to try and keep his spirit positive, asking every few days,
"Dad, when's that car meet again? When can you show me how to drive the Franklin?"
As my Dad's illness aggressively progressed, eventually, my Father's answer to this question became,
"Eric, I don't think it's going to work out."
As life would have it, my wife Jennifer and I had our second son on March 26th. At the time of my Father's death in October, I still did not know how to drive the Franklin but was determined to learn so that my son could claim his birthright: a drive home from the hospital in the '23 Franklin.
With the help of my Father's long-time friend Ron Millman and many phone calls and emails back and forth with Lee Webb and Bob Amon of the H.H. Franklin Club, I learned how to drive and take care of the car and can happily report that my son, Lucas Allan Franklin, got to ride home from the hospital in the 1923 Franklin, with me in the driver's seat and one very special angel riding in the car with us.
I wrote about my Dad and his Franklin as well as a tattoo I had done on my leg for my Father's birthday last year.
July 25, 2009
Samuel Clay Braverman was born at 3:57 pm on Tuesday, July 21, 2009. He weighed 7lbs, 6oz and was 20 ½'" long. Sam and Mom came home on Thursday, and all are doing well.
September, 28, 2008
"It is wonderful to have some wonderful news about a Franklin Club members children:
Our daughter Liz was married to Paul Caruso in our garden here in RI on September 6th. Earlier in the day we headed to a picture site in the Franklins with Tony Adams driving the 1932 Club Sedan and a friend driving the 1932 Coupe. Both cars were included in many of the wedding pictures at the request of Liz who said " I am sure these cars have seen rain before , it won't hurt them!" We got 5 1/2" of rain that day.
Bob and Pat Harrison.
November 15, 2007
If you receive Hemmings Classic Car check out page 70 to 73, a wonderful story written by David LaChance from Classic Car about club member George Staley. If you never knew why George has so many Franklins, read the story. Hemmings Classic Car, February 2008.
WebMaster's notes: We wish we could print most of these stories but most if not all are copyrighted, therefor we cannot.
November 12, 2007
If you receive "AutoWeek you already know what I'm about to say, in November 12th issue you will find a very interesting story on page 31 of a young man named David Phillips. If you have been to the Trek in Cazenovia, N.Y. David is the guy walking or sitting at night playing the "Bag Pipes" (is the one word or 2?) The story is about David's new (in 2005) Franklin and taking it home. It is a must read for those of you who don't like to drive your Franklin very far. The story also give a little information about Franklin and history of David's Olympic. (Find a copy of AutoWeek, November 12, 2007, we think you will enjoy the read)
July 1, 2007
The Franklin Club web site always brings us very interesting people, here is one great guy we have been e-mailing with:
The picture shows my Father, Chief Warrent S. Berkowich U.S.N, my sister Miriam, and me with the Franklin. I was 2 to 3 years old at the time, that is me sitting on the running board. My Dad knew Mr. Franklin and I can remember driving up to New York for my Dad to take the car to the where they were made. I think it was Syracuse, New York. You maybe interested in knowing that when Dad traded this car for the Olympic Franklin, I cried and carried on and made his life miserable. I said to him, "All my friends family get new cars every year, and you will be driving this one when I am twenty one", and he was. My Father's last Franklin was the Olympic Model which he drove until 1955. Michael Brooks
This picture was taken in Washington, DC
June 14, 2007
Below is a picture of new club member James D. Rogers, I (your webmaster) watch the restoration of this beautiful Franklin for many years. We helped to ID all the holes on the fire wall, ID parts that the restorer had no idea what they were. Best of all this Franklin has an interesting history of which part was in Japan for WW2. Your webmaster feels this Franklin is one of the best.
Message from Jerry White in N.J.
December 3, 2006
Information crossed the desk of your WebMaster of a wonderful
happening in Hershey, PA at the AACA Museum. Our Past President and
now Membership Chairman has his beautiful 1904 Franklin on display
in the AACA Museum. If you are ever close, you should spot by, the
museum has something for everyone. Below are a few pictures of the
display, please note the "BANNER".
October 11, 2006
At Hershey this year club member Carl Barker made a purchase of
a 1959 Old, beautiful car. He asked a few friends (?) to drive it
home for him, which they agreed to do after taking it to the motel.
We received the pictures below from a friend, please note what is
on top of Carl's new car which had just been repainted.
June 1, 2005
From Andre and a wonderful Franklin:
The Marathon is an annual event for 30 years in Ottawa and a
beautiful Franklin Day! Lois and I had my friend Carl and his wife
Claudette and their daughter Caroline who respectively finished 12
out of 90 women in the walking marathon and 5 out of 52 in the
women running half marathon! Ho... and yes! The horn works loud and
clear!
May 30, 2005
I will not say where or who owns this but this is a new find,
never been in the Franklin Club or listed. This is a 1928 12-A
Limo, never restored, never touched.
November 7, 2004
It is not often we can find a group of Franklin members having
dinner the Friday before a Board meeting. But thinks to a Board
member we can now see what they do Friday nights.
November 1, 2004
Just put the touring to bed for the winter. But not before a
tour of the pumpkins. Note these leaves blocking the fan
intake...not good for a Franklin!
WebMaster: What a nice way to but a Franklin a way for the winter,
but knowing Andre, it will be on the road this winter!
