1905 Fiat Touring Car

I received some interesting information the other day from Jonathan Sierakowski, who researches the provenance of antique autos for RM Auctions. He lets me know whenever he finds an ex-James Melton car. (Thank you Jonathan!)

 Here’s what his most recent communiqué said about a car my father previously owned (but sold in 1942) that will come up for auction in  Italy in May.

 "Heading the ever-expanding list of mouth-watering vehicles on offer is the 1905 FIAT 60HP Five-Passenger Touring Car, built especially for American-based brewing magnate August Anheuser Busch. The example on offer is the second of just 20 chassis manufactured, the first having been supplied to Anheuser Busch’s friend, Kaiser Wilhelm II, of Germany. Often thought of as one of the first true, cost-no-object supercars, this mighty FIAT was ordered through the American importer Hollander and Tangman, and the completed chassis was delivered to the luxury coachbuilder Quimby, in New Jersey. Spectacularly extravagant and expensive in period—it cost in excess of $20,000, a staggering sum in 1905—chassis 3003 is offered for sale publicly for the first time in 108 years, having lived most of its life within a few miles of its very first home.

Described as being totally original, including paint, brasswork, upholstery and mechanics, and with complete matching numbers throughout, this FIAT now represents the only one of its kind left in the world, and it is without doubt one of the most coveted examples of the early high-powered, road going race cars to be found. With its aluminum-clad body, it still boasts many unique mechanical features fitted exclusively to the car in period. It is offered in excellent running condition, yet it retains a wonderful patina accrued over its 108-year life. The car graced the lawns of Pebble Beach at the 2012 Concours d’Elegance, and most recently, it was displayed at the LeMay America’s Museum."

Norwalk Museum

In recent weeks I've been contacted by two people interested in the history of the Melton Museum in Norwalk, Connecticut (1948-53).

The first is Lisa Wilson Grant, who is writing a book about the history of Norwalk.

The second is Nicholas Ord, who is a marketing consultant for the yet-to-be-built New England Auto Museum.  (Check their website: neautomuseum.com for more details.)

Here is an undated aerial photo of the museum property. Even along Route 7, it was wide open countryside back then. Amazing! 

You can also check my blog of February 11, 2011 for details of the Melton Museum.

Happy Thanksgiving!

My parents harvesting pears from our Weston, Connecticut orchard

My father loved to cook—I think not so much for relaxation as to impress guests with his culinary prowess in an era when few men entered the kitchen. He also liked to take over when Southern cooking was required, making spoon bread or grits or Southern fried chicken. Our Thanksgiving turkey always had two kinds of stuffing—traditional bread stuffing in the front of the bird, and cornbread stuffing in the rear. There was always a friendly battle over which guests would prefer which stuffing, with most guests diplomatically opting for some of each.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Wartime Transportation

The Met’s opening night for the 1942–43 season was November 24. James Melton, newly signed to the opera company, but having yet to make his debut, drove down Broadway to 39th Street with IBM founder Thomas J. Watson Sr. and his wife in a 1922 Detroit Electric he had reconditioned for use during gas rationing. 

In February of 1942, as the last civilian car rolled off the Ford assembly line, my father had 76 cars and one “A” ration book (limiting his weekly fuel purchases). The ancient buggies all ran, but he certainly couldn’t drive them during the war, except the steam cars and the electrics. The electrics became so popular in Fairfield County that my father supplied a number of friends with cars from his collection "for the duration."

Great Brass Era Cars

A couple of weeks ago I went to a really delightful luncheon at the Woodstock, Vermont home of Curt and Pat Blake.  Curt was one of my father's car-collecting buddies, and has remained a friend of mine to this day.  The luncheon was a gathering of the FARTs -- Friends of Ancient Road Transportation--and there were about twenty-five gorgeous brass era cars in attendance.  During lunch Curt regaled the attendees with stories of car collecting, including the fact that it was my father who, after WWII, got Firestone to resurrect their old tire molds, and quite literally helped put these ancient buggies back on the road. I also had a chance to meet Richie Clyne, who currently owns my father's 1917 Winton House Car. (See my blog from November 5, 2009.) The housecar resides in Las Vegas. What a fun day!

Restocked Melton CD

Berkshire Record Outlet has just restocked the Preiser CD Lebendige Vergangenheit (Legendary Voices) James Melton. If you like opera, you'll love this recording. And it's only $5.99 through Berkshire.  It's got arias from Don Giovanni, Magic Flute, Lohengrin, Meistersinger, Manon, Carmen, Martha, Tosca, Butterfly (w.Licia Albanese) among others. 

Berkshire also offers CDs of Melton in Madama Butterfly (with Albanese) and Mignon (with Rise Stevens).

Go to http://www.berkshirerecordoutlet.com/search.php?row=0&brocode=&stocknum=&submit=Find+Item&text=james+melton&filter=all

By the way, I get no financial remuneration from any of these recordings. My vested interest is only in seeing my father's voice circulating as widely as possible!

The Student Prince

James Melton and co-star Barbara Meister

In the summer of 1960, mostly because he needed the money, my father signed to do a traveling summer stock production of Sigmund Romberg’s The Student Prince. He sang seven shows a week for seven weeks. A killing pace when he was in his late fifties and in poor health.  He was cast as Dr. Engel, the tutor of the student prince, but the role was expanded to have him sing several duets and trios (with the prince and his lady love) so as to take advantage of his celebrity.

Recently I was contacted by Chic Silber, who was a stagehand on those shows in 1960!

Here’s what he wrote:

The summer of 1960 when I worked for Guber Ford & Gross for their chain of tented theaters was just prior to my starting an apprenticeship in the stagehands union (IATSE). 

During rehearsals for The Student Prince I met your father and instantly became in awe of him and his presence. For some reason he encouraged an acquaintanceship. During a discussion of his bringing the Winton "General" [ Ed. note:1917 Winton housecar, see my blog post of 11/1/09] on the tour of the show for publicity. Somehow it became clear that I was both eager & capable of driving it. He entrusted me to drive it
from tent to tent during the run of the show.

Chic, by the way, went on to fame and fortune as a theater engineer, creating special effects and props for circuses here and abroad, and Broadway productions (like Wicked and Dracula and Amadeus).  I'm delighted to have made his acquaintance fifty-two years later!