UPDATE: Since this model was on ebay, I contacted the museum’s curator to see if the museum was interested. The curator let me know they already had an original (brand new) version of this heater along with the original box at the Ypsilanti Museum.
Josh spotted this ebay ad for an unusual hand crank heater. It is similar to the Stewart Warner Hand Crank Heater, but made by the Ypsilanti Machine and Tool Company. That is the same company that Preston Tucker owned.
“UP FOR AUCTION IS THIS HAND CRANK MILITARY HEATER.. I DONT KNOW FOR SURE BUT THIS MAY BE A STEWART AND WARNER HEATER.THIS MUST HAVE BEEN USED BY THE US AIR FORCE BECAUSE THE TAG ON IT SAYS PROPERTY OF U.S.A.F. I’AM NOT SURE WHAT THIS IS USED FOR..I’VE HEARD MANY DIFFERENT USES FOR IT I JUST CANT SAY FOR SURE WHAT IT WAS USED FOR. IT IS A HAND CRANK HEATER.. THE CRANK STILL CRANKS OVER AND THE GAS TANK HAS NO REAL RUST AND TANK LOOKS ALMOST NEW INSIDE.. I TRIED TO TAKE A PICTURE OF INSIDE OF THE TANK FOR YOU TO SEE. IT DOES BLOW AIR OUT WHEN YOU WIND THE HANDLE. I HAVENT EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.. I DON’T KNOW IF ITS WWI OR WWII OR LATER..IM SURE SOMEONE ON HERE WILL SEE AND KNOW WHAT IT WAS USED FOR.”
it’s not WWI or WWII during that era there was no USAF-they had the “Army Air Corps”then…
Ypsilanti Machine and Tool Company, wasn’t that Preston Tuckers company?
Yes, that was Preston Tucker’s Company.
I have also confirmed with the curator that the museum at Ypsilanti has a brand new Ypsilanti Machine and Tool heaters with the original box.
The Museum also has a Tucker Automobile and a Tucker memorabilia. It is now on my list of places to visit 🙂
This museum is not too far from my home if someone needs something. It is also part of Miller Motors, the oldest operating Hudson Dealership (1927) still in operation. Great stuff, been there a number of times. There is a very good Fire Truck Museum just up the block also.
Another question. Have the Jeep displays at the Walter P. Chrysler Musem been covered on this website? This Museum is also in S.E. Michigan and 3 miles from my office.
Thx
Brian
Brian,
I discussed the Chrysler Museum here, but I’d like to visit the place personally and get some better pictures. I think I need to do some kind of automotive tour of museums and locations in Michigan/Ohio are. Seems there are quite a few auto museums around there (for obvious reasons).
http://www.ewillys.com/2010/07/26/the-walter-p-chrysler-museum-in-auburn-hills-mi/
Do you have any pictures of the place?
I will be visiting both in the near future as I set up a Vetran Motor Car Club of America Nickel Tour (cars 1913 – 1927) for this June. I’m active with my 1923 Buick and we tour with this group and this year I am hosting the tour in S.E. Michigan. (Your site got me hooked up with an early CJ5 like the one I had in college 30 years ago as you scratch your head as to where this is going)
The WPC has a very detailed Jeep exibit. I’ll take my good camera and do my best. One of the coolest things they have down in the basement is a Cold War Siren powered by a hemi V8 that Chyrsler made and sold to communities. How many people have a 300 hp siren with the huge horns on it? I think the people on this site will like that too.
Miller Motors in Ypsilanti is a treasure. Imagine a small town Hudson Dealership from the early fifties that is a time warp right down to the waiting chairs and calendars and art on the walls. Along with the parts department shelves and cars on the hoist. Most is the real deal, not re-created. They just never remodelled and they still do work. They built a modern museum next door and connected the two.
Brian
Oh, Miller Motors sounds worth the trip!
A Hemi V8 with a siren .. that sounds like trouble 🙂
A Hemi V8 with a siren – that would be great for tailgaters who get too close to your back bumper.
I have a usaf Mach heater wat is it worth it still works like good. Can someone let me know please