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How would I go about researching the archives of Philadelphia’s Derham Body Co. that are housed at Gilmore? I e-mailed [email protected] a couple weeks ago but never got a response. Guess I should call instead. Can anyone suggest the right contact person?
Thanks!
Jennifer,
You should talk to Dale Wells at the CCCA Museum. The Derham files are in the CCCA Museum library located in their building. Try the Gilmore switchboard at 269-671-5089 and ask to talk to Dale in the CCCA Museum building. If no connection there, call Dale at home 269-353-4672. Bonnie may have a direct number for him at the Museum. He is usually there 2 or 3 days a week doing research.
Dave Stevens
Pierce-Arrow Museum Director
Dave,
Thanks for your help. Dale Wells is not at the library today, but I spoke with Dick Bowman who will forward my inquiry to him. I didn’t realize how busy their library is.
I also didn’t realize until today that the entire Derham archive is digitized and searchable online for FREE using the CCCA museum’s Archive Viewer! So I’m about to start searching right now.
Jennifer
Does anyone know where Derham Body Co. records from 1958 might exist? I’m looking for correspondence, shop notes, work orders, etc… from their Rosemont, PA location near Philadelphia.
Unfortunately no records from this year exist at the Gilmore Museum Library.
Thanks for any leads. –Jennifer
Without a photo I am wondering (or maybe hoping) if you are describing more than a division window issue. Derham did a number of things with Pierce-Arrows in the mid 1930s, so I would not be surprised if you are about to spring a customized limousine image on us.
My experience researching the Derham records has always found them fascinating but not complete. You can see most photos on the cccamuseum.org website, but most textual records are only available in hardcopy. I would urge you to go there and take a look (an appointment is needed). The Derham files had been kept by a group who later gave/sold them to the CCCA Museum. Tracing that transaction backwards might also reveal what happened to the rest and/or someone with knowledge about Philadelphia Pierce-Arrows.
The Automobile Reference Collection in the Philadelphia Free Library (Kim Bravo is the librarian) can trace the 1936 Pierce-Arrow dealer in the City Directory, and perhaps its principals and their obituaries, and also locate news/obituary of the original owner (the city Social Directory might also be available), which should name relatives that can be traced and contacted for information or photos of the car. Other Derham information may also be available there. Derham was a family enterprise; the business remained active into the 1960s, so there may be other sources of information for them.
There is also a new car museum in Philadelphia, the Simeone Collection, not focused on antiques, but they are enthusiasts and may be able to provide a lead. The Hagley Museum, just across the border in Delaware, has an increasing amount of old car materials. It is not clear how much Pierce-Arrow information is there – they recently acquired Taylor Vinson’s files – but they might know something about Pierce’s Philadelphia showrooms and Derham.
Many say all the Pierce factory production cards have been lost; I suggest looking around when in Buffalo – no one appears to have gone through the Buffalo & Erie Historical Society records in years: what they, or the nearby Clifton Library, have recently acquired could be a surprise. Pierce-Arrow’s last company secretary, William Emblidge, came to early Society meets. He saved company artifacts – some are now in the Buffalo Pierce-Arrow Museum – perhaps car records, too. Several invoices from the St. Louis dealer were reprinted in the Arrow many years ago, so some of those are definitely out there.
I also suggest you contact Bernie Weis, the PAS editor for over 40 years (currently editor emeritus), who keeps the roster of all known Pierce-Arrow vehicles, including vehicles not in the Society’s printed Roster. He also catalogued the surviving factory records at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Sending him car and engine numbers can pull a record of what is known. He requires hardcopy written questions sent by the Post Office. Bernie may also have a suggestion about the Philadelphia dealer and Derham information – including the member from West Chester (Main Line) who was researching the 1939 Pierce-Arrow prototype some years ago.
I hope this helps
Brooks Brierley
Brooks,
I already did a search of Bernie’s records for Jennifer and came up with nothing besides the name of her Dad as the owner of the car. the prior owner was not listed.
Jennifer,
Perhaps, as Brooks suggested, Jim and / or Mary Anne Sandoro, owners of the Buffalo Transportation Museum, could provide information on the car, as they have a treasure trove of information related to the PAMCC.
Who knows, but having a chat with them while we tour their Museum will afford the opportunity to determine if they can be of assistance.
Jim and Mary Anne have always been quite kind to me and though unsolicited, provided me with information about my Series 80 and about my Aunt’s Uncle, who was the first family owner of my car and a PAMCC Supervisor. They are quite good people and well worth knowing.
Keep searching, you will prevail.
Peter
Thanks Brooks and Peter for all your suggested leads! I will definitely pursue each of them one by one. The only certain connection to Derham is my parents took their car to his Rosemont shop in 1958 for exterior restoration only, no customizing or alteration. I was hoping documentation might exist in the archives at Gilmore. If I’m unable to find evidence at home in my parents’ records then I might go to Gilmore myself.
Evidently the division window was not a standard factory option, so I also want to learn more about how the car was originally produced. No way to figure this out by myself online, so I’m bringing to the Buffalo meet many detailed photos which will hopefully yield answers. Looking forward to hearing your expert thoughts in person, as you point to a particular photo and say “this right here indicates…”
I’ve made lots of progress researching the original owner’s life and family tree, which will help me zero in faster on records still in existence. The parents of both Mr. and Mrs. Rumpp were born in Germany, and The Rumpps were surrounded by Germanic culture and society as Philadelphia residents. Their Pierce-Arrow was purchased when Mr. Rumpp was 73. He had no children, but I located his brother’s descendants who may have family photos.
I’ll keep you posted. — Jennifer
I just looked at this again and noticed I may have left out a detail, which I did not see anyone else mention, that the PAS data compiled by Bernie Weis for each known Pierce-Arrow is computerized: the history can be printed out on a page for you. It is a great record to have. If Bernie knows the car, he will have a page set up already and can add your information or start a new file. So, if you ask for it, please include a copy of the prior owner’s registration information.
You mention finding the car’s original owner had German ancestors. It has been a couple of years since I learned that one of the 1936 cars was living in Austria – I do not know if this is now good information but it should be great fun to track it down!
Brooks,
Peter confirms there’s scant information in Bernie Weis’s database about this car, which is understandable since the PAS was formed about the same time my parents bought it in 1958. Will definitely report all ownership history to PAS for future reference. Not 100% certain, but my working hypothesis is Mr. and Mrs. Rumpp were the original owners.
Naturally this makes me wonder what happened to the car from 1936-1958. I considered whether The Rumpps might have ever taken their Pierce-Arrow to Europe, since they made frequent transatlantic trips between the US and Germany. However 1935 was their last documented voyage so I don’t believe their car ever made the journey. It appears they stopped traveling abroad in 1936 when they purchased the car, probably because Mr. Rumpp was 73 with health problems and Europe was on the brink of war.
Jennifer