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@roamer600
YO
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I
I would suggest that the name alone tells you where to start enquireing. Dale Wells of the Stutz Club is a long time resident of Kalamazoo where the Roamer automobile was built; and he sent me copy of material on the marque from the local historical people which would indicate that a lot of information survives. And Roamer is just the sort of car with its styling and very good body workmanship, plus the extraordinary performance of the Duesenberg and Rochester-Duesenberg engined models which might have appealed to your friend Mr Cosden. Who knows whether there may be sales records: certainly the more expensive cars were built to order, colour, and finish.
The bad news for you is that the % survival of Roamers is very low to this date. Most would go far better than they would stop.
It may be waste of time to bother researching Tulsa automobiles. A friend owned one for some time out here, bought off a farm. It was subsequently bought from him by another collector, very possibly to turn a shiny dollar in export to its origin. Tulsa specification was not such as would appeal to many new buyers who might expect to be transported swifty, silently, and in luxury.
Ivan Saxton
T
You're aware that Kevin's 85-long, 200,000# "car" is a private rail car, the corporate jet of their day. It's doubtful that "Roamer" the rail car has anything in common with the Kalamazoo 4-wheeled version, save the name. My first stop would be in Tulsa, to see if there are any of Mr. Cosden's "papers" squirreled away in College, Chamber of Commerce, or Library collections. Newspaper items may help, but are tedious to go thru'.
Since Tulsa was on a roll back then as one of the largest oil producers
in the country, trade magazines of the day may help, too.
You don't ask the easy questions, do you? <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
TG
James B. Duke's Private Pullman car, the "Doris", named
for his daughter, at the NC Transportation Museum.
M
Roamer600--welcome to the forum. I used to take care of the "Fairlane" rail car, Henry Ford's attempt at telling Pullman how to run their business.
Do you know Peter or Tyler Robbins?
S
Hello!!! I have a Rolls~Royce Silverghost that was once owned by Mr.Cosden!!! I was surprised to see you own his private railroad carriage!!!
I would be interested in speaking to you about Mr. Cosden!!!
I can tell you a bit of this Fine Auto's strange history!!!
Brad Hunter 215 947 4676
S
Hello!!! This Silverghost was bought new by Cosden for $16.500.00 NEW in New York!!! It went through the hands of several owners after he sold it...
In the 30's it was bought by an Atlantic City Hotel and used to Pick-up hotel guests at the Atlantic City NJ train station!!! The true "Red Carpet" treatment!!! As many might not know the cars went out of fashon with most of their wealthy owners during the depression!!! Many did not want to be seen riding in such a costly car while many people were out of work!!! They did not want to flaunt their wealth at this time!!! There are many stories of rocks being thrown at these cars during the depression era...
Many were put in storage or retired or scrapped!!! Their value got to the point that they were almost worthless!!!
The Atlantic City Hotels bought these cars for a song!!! At one time it is said that there were more Rolls~Royce Ghosts & Phantoms in Atlantic City than anywhere in the USA!!!
S
Cosden Rolls~Royce History part II
During World War II Atlantic City NJ fell into a rapid decline!!! Most of the tourists were now gone...Gasoline was in short supply...We were at war!!!
Many Hotels closed or were turned over to our Armed Forces to be used to house troops, as recovery hospitals,etc.
The GRAND OLD AUTOS were sold off by the Hotels...There were War Metal Scrap Drives started at this period of time...Steel, rare aluminum, iron etc. was collected for our war effort!!!Cosden's Grand Rolls~Royce Silverghost was sold for war scrap at this time!!!
I was told that the scrap metal dealer just did not have the heart to cut this Grand Rolls~Royce up for scrap!!! He hid her in one of his sheds until the war had ended...Then drove her himself for several years!!!
S
Cosden'S Rolls~Royce Saga part III
In the early 50s the Atlantic City Scrap Meal Dealer sold the car to a Philadelphia Drug Co. Chairman for his use!!! (National Drug Co. Inc.) He seemed to really love and appreciate this fine auto!!! You could call him an Early Antique Car Collector!!! I have records & letters from him telling of the scrap metal dealers story.and his ownership history...
Because the car finally needed a new paint jop he decided to sell the car...
He woud regret this for years to come!!!
S
Cosden Rolls~Royce Part IV.
After the car was sold in the mid 50s for $600. from an advert in the Philadelphia Inquirer Newspaper it was bought by the son of a Turkey Farmer!!!
They had contract to supply Turkeys to the Acme Stores under the Lancaster Brand name!!! Times were good!!! He, an early Antique car collector began to buy other old cars!!!
The family rented farm fields in Penna. to raise these turkeys!!!
Acme awarded the Turkey contract to a new supplier!!! They were stuck with fields of un-wantd Turkeys with no buyers!!! They soon went bankrupt!!!
The Rolls~Royce was given to one of the farmers who was owed money for security until the rent dept was paid!!!
There it sat for the next 50++ years!!!
The Turkey Farmer's son never came up with the money owed!!!
I had heard rumors about this car for years...
The old "Rolls~Royce in a Barn Story"
I then tried to track it down...
A TRUE "Barn FIND" was about to surprise everyone...
Many Rolls~Royce Collectors had also heard these Rumor stories throughout the years...Some even tried to track the car down...FOR 30 YEARS!!!
S
Rolls~Royce "Barn Find" part V
After many months...wild goose chases,dead ends etc I finally located the farm where the "Barn Rolls~Royce" was located!!! It was very hard getting in touch with the farmer who had this great car in his barn as he is a menonite and does not like modern things like phones etc.
I, along with my father, was finally invited to view the car...
The farm could best be described as looking like "Green Acres" from the TV show!!!
We were taken to a barn where the car was located... When the farmer swung back the large doors there sat the un-mistakable form of the great old car!!! I took one look at my father and we both shook our heads in dis-belief!!!
Our jaws dropped!!!
The car was surrounded with 50 years of farm junk!!! It was piled all around the car...under the car...on top of the car...on the running boards...everywhere!!!
We could not believe our eyes!!!
We spent the next three hours inspecting the entire Rolls~Royce...
It was a time machine !!!
99% complete and correct!!!
The generator had been replaced by a 1950s Delco truck unit installed backwards and driven by it accessory tac. drive!!! The old Westinghouse unit was later found in a pile of junk in a shed next to this barn!!!
We both knew at once that we must BUY this car!!!
S
"Barn Find Rolls~Royce " Part VI
We were invited into the farm house and offered a chance to buy this great car!!!
When asked why he had never SOLD this car in 50++ years the farmer replied..."He was my friend...I had always hoped that he would pay off his dept and come and get his Rolls~Royce!!!"
The turkey farmer had just passed-away 6 months before I found the car!!!
We agreed on a price...and to make a very long story short...
I now own this great ROLLS~ROYCE "BARNFINMD"!!!
W
Brad
Your story begs for photos. Actually, I'm begging for photos. Please post.
Thanks.
S
Greetings West!!!
It is 14*F In PA. this evening!!! I have a number of photos of the car being taken out of the barn on a flatbed and while it is still undergoing retoration!!! I will try to scan them so I can post them here!!!
Please stay tuned!!!
Brad Hunter
T
What a fascinating thread! While we're waiting for SilverGhost to thaw out, take a gander at this great Black & Decker ad from 1920, found while in the weeds looking for a late-'30's Blackhawk Jack ad.
TG
From the Barley Motor Car Company, makers of the "Roamer"...
YO
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