into an auto parts store and you are presented with an entire wall of motor oils to choose from. Con- ventional or synthetic, API and SAE ratings, single or multi- viscosity, formulations for high mileage engines and don’t forget about the multiple additives for specific driving or operating condi- tions. Choosing an engine oil seems to be harder than finding a solution for peace in the Middle East. There was a time when a big bottle of castor oil could be used to prepare your food, cure bodily ailments or to lubricate your horseless carriage. Oh, for the simpler times! Fortunately, the commercial of- fered perfect clarity. I should use the oil being advertised because “science” says so. I’ll take a case! I really hope that this company was going for the chuckle, realiz- ing that getting a bunch of car people to laugh would bring them into their stores. After all, car folks are a humorous bunch of people. For proof of that just watch me do an oil change on one of my vehi- cles. I’ll also show you some cool “science” with how cat litter ab- sorbs any type of oil! Tommmmm Because, You Know...Science News from the Northwest Vintage Thunderbird Club August 2020 Volume 37, Issue 8 Thunderbird Flyer Ford’s Studiosonic Sound System 2 FOMOCO Fetches a Pair of Four Legged Robots 4 Old Portland Vortex I 6 Hyundai’s Mobility Vision mmmmmmmmmmm 7 A commercial for one of the large auto part chain stores played on the radio recently. Like most of these spots it was telling me the benefits of doing an oil change myself. As a hobbyist mechanic, I will say an oil change is probably one of the easier tasks an auto owner can perform. That is until you try to twist off an oil filter that was installed by King Kong! Any- way the ad finished by saying that I should use the synthetic oil they just told me about “because, you know...science”. Now, granted, I will be the first to say that I do not know everything about motor oil these days. Walk Courtesy of SEMA
8
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Transcript
into an auto parts store and you
are presented with an entire wall
of motor oils to choose from. Con-
ventional or synthetic, API and
SAE ratings, single or multi-
viscosity, formulations for high
mileage engines and don’t forget
about the multiple additives for
specific driving or operating condi-
tions. Choosing an engine oil
seems to be harder than finding a
solution for peace in the Middle
East. There was a time when a big
bottle of castor oil could be used
to prepare your food, cure bodily
ailments or to lubricate your
horseless carriage. Oh, for the
simpler times!
Fortunately, the commercial of-
fered perfect clarity. I should use
the oil being advertised because
“science” says so.
I’ll take a case!
I really hope that this company
was going for the chuckle, realiz-
ing that getting a bunch of car
people to laugh would bring them
into their stores. After all, car
folks are a humorous bunch of
people.
For proof of that just watch me do
an oil change on one of my vehi-
cles. I’ll also show you some cool
“science” with how cat litter ab-
sorbs any type of oil!
Tommmmm
Because, You Know...Science
News from the Northwest Vintage Thunderbird Club
August 2020
Volume 37, Issue 8
Thunderbird Flyer
Ford’s Studiosonic Sound
System
2
FOMOCO Fetches a Pair of Four
Legged Robots
4
Old Portland
Vortex I
6
Hyundai’s Mobility Vision
mmmmmmmmmmm
7
A commercial for one of
the large auto part chain
stores played on the radio
recently. Like most of
these spots it was telling me the
benefits of doing an oil change
myself. As a hobbyist mechanic, I
will say an oil change is probably
one of the easier tasks an auto
owner can perform. That is until
you try to twist off an oil filter that
was installed by King Kong! Any-
way the ad finished by saying that I
should use the synthetic oil they
just told me about “because, you
know...science”.
Now, granted, I will be the first to
say that I do not know everything
about motor oil these days. Walk
Courtesy of SEMA
Page 2 Thunderbird Flyer
Prior to the introduction of the 8-track tape player in 1965 and FM stereo in ’66, Ford brought automotive entertainment into cars
with the Studiosonic Sound System, a miniaturized reverberation unit that created “music hall” sound for the American driver.
Laurens Hammond was granted a patent for a device that created a reverb or echo effect by running a signal through series of
springs creating a delayed sound. Early Hammond organ reverb units were housed in a large speaker cabinet, but eventually they
were miniaturized to fit into organs of the same name and the Fender Twin Reverb electric guitar amplifier. The Studiosonic used a
Club member Eric
Johansson has sever-
al of these reverb
units available. Con-
tact him for details
about condition and
pricing.
Page 3 Volume 37, Issue 8
compact but specially dampened spring reverb. Adding a delay or echo between the front and rear speakers created a more spa-
cious sound. The Studiosonic delivered what Ford said was another dimension to listening enjoyment with the simple flip of a switch
and twist of a knob.
The pages above are reproduced from June 1964 Shop Tips from Ford, a publication sent from Ford to company and independent
centers servicing Ford vehicles.
Page 4 Thunderbird Flyer
Thunderbird Trivia answer on back page
What year would the Ford Thunderbird first receive an “Opera
Window”, the small glass opening in the C pillar of the vehicle?
FOMOCO Fetches a Pair of Four Legged Robots
T hese four-legged dog-like robots can sit, shake
hands and roll over. They also can perform 360-
degree camera scans, handle 30-degree grades
and climb stairs for hours at a time.
That’s because they are actually 70-pound quadruped ro-
bots with distinctly dog-like mobility. They’re part of a Ford
manufacturing pilot program designed to save time, reduce
cost and increase efficiency.
Fluffy, the name given by the robot’s handler Paula Wiebel-
haus, is one of the two models Ford is leasing from Boston
Dynamics, known for creating sophisticated mobile robots.
(The other Ford robot is named Spot after the product’s
actual name.)
The robots, which Ford is piloting at its Van Dyke Transmis-
sion Plant, are bright yellow and easily recognizable.
Equipped with five cameras, the robots can travel up to 3
mph on a battery lasting nearly two hours and will be used
to scan the plant floor and assist
engineers in updating the original
Computer Aided Design which is
utilized when we’re getting ready
to retool our plants.
“We design and build the plant.
After that, over the years, chang-
es are made that rarely get docu-
mented,” says Mark Goderis,
Ford’s digital engineering manag-
er. “By having the robots scan
our facility, we can see what it
actually looks like now and build a new engineering model.
That digital model is then used when we need to retool the
plant for new products.”
Without Fluffy, the update would be far more tedious.
“We used to use a tripod, and we would walk around the
facility stopping at different locations, each time standing
around for five minutes waiting for the laser to scan,” Gode-
ris recalls. “Scanning one plant could take two weeks. With
Fluffy’s help, we are able to do it in half the time.”
The old way also was expensive – it cost nearly $300,000
to scan one facility. If this pilot works, Ford’s manufacturing
team could scan all its plants for a fraction of the cost.
These cutting-edge technologies help save the company mon-
ey and retool facilities faster, ultimately helping bring new
vehicles to market sooner.
In time, Goderis says, the intent is to be able to operate the
robots remotely, programming them for plant missions and
receiving reports immediately from anywhere in the country.
For now, the robots can be programmed to follow a specific
path and can be operated from up to 50 meters away with the
out-of-the-box tablet application.
The key to Fluffy and Spot’s success is their agility, says
Wiebelhaus, who controls her robot through a gaming-like
device that allows her to remotely see the camera view.
Should an issue occur, Wiebelhaus’ control device features a
safe stop that stops it from colliding with anything.
The robots have three operational gaits – a walk for stable
ground, an amble for uneven terrain and a special speed for
stairs. They can change positions from a crouch to a stretch,
which allows them to be deployed to difficult-to-reach areas
within the plant. They can handle tough terrain, from grates to
steps to 30-degree inclines. If they fall, they can right them-
selves. They maintain a safe, set distance from objects to
prevent collisions.
At times, Fluffy sits on its robotic haunches and rides on the
back of a small, round Autonomous Mobile Robot, known in-
formally as Scouter. Scouter glides smoothly up and down the
aisles of the plant, allowing Fluffy to conserve battery power
until it’s time to get to work. Scouter can autonomously navi-
gate facilities while scanning and capturing 3-D point clouds
to generate a CAD of the facility. If an area is too tight for
Scouter, Fluffy comes to the rescue.
“There are areas in the plant that you might not want to walk
into because they might be tough to maneuver,” says Wiebel-
haus. “It’s easier and safer to send Fluffy back there.”
Although Fluffy is perfectly capable of rolling over, Wiebelhaus
doesn’t see dog shows in his future.
“Fluffy is an amazing manufacturing tool,” said Weibelhaus.
“Yes, it’s interesting and new, but Fluffy should really be val-
ued for his work and tenacity. He can do so much more than
dance and roll over. We want to push him to the limits in the
manufacturing plant and see what value he has for the com-
pany.” Courtesy Ford Media Center
Paula Weibelhaus directs Fluffy
through Ford’s Van Dyke plant
Page 5 Volume 37, Issue 8
T-Bird Talk
Meeting Minutes and
Club Information
The club has not met since February in response to State of Oregon orders to minimize group gatherings.
Small get togethers and/or cruises that respect these new norms may occur and will be posted in this newslet-
ter and through email to members.
One such event occurred recently and club member Eric Johansson provided the story below.
When everything you want to take on
the road trip won’t fit into the trunk of
your Thunderbird...bring along a Thun-
derbird trunk!
No information was available about
how this ‘55 T-trailer was made or its
owner but it sure looks cool!
13 members from Northwest Vintage Thunderbird Club and the Edsel Club gathered at club
member Jason Peters Mid Century Motors shop. Mike (Hinsch) and I were the only ones from
our club, all others were familiar faces from the Edsel club.
One couple was picking up the Falcon station wagon in the pics. Jason had completed work on
the headliner, replaced vent window seal and cat whiskers for windows (keeps the windows
from rattling and cuts down the wind noise), as well as some other details.
His two main topics that he covered were:
1) Vinyl restoration, prep, and dye of new dash pad. Covering techniques, products.
2) Door welt seals, these ones were for Edsels; restoring to original using material from SMS;
and then using his sewing machine to add additional narrow diameter welt to match original.
He is able to reproduce original materials as many low demand items are not reproduced or
not finished completely that were original.
Jason’s restoration talents are numerous. His work experience with SMS allows him to seek
out the most original material items to meet his customers needs.
He is experienced in all phases of vinyl and leather dying, as well as paint touch up, paint and
interior detailing. Jason is a distributor of Griott’s car care products, and distributor for the na-
tional wiring harness company over in Bend, OR, I cannot remember the name of it. He is very
good at finding the original source for restoration products and will pass on the savings to his
customers.
I thought he did a fantastic job on my exterior and interior detailing of Big Red the week before.
He will plan to do the engine bay next year prior to our convention. Jason has also been in-
volved with prepping and selling cars for collectors and estates.
I think he is a great addition to our club. Hopefully he can assist some of our COVID confined
members!
Cheers, Eric
"So that what you have in effect is a Charlie Manson-Jerry Rubin-Angela