Wow 🤩 μόνο μη μας σκοτώνεις το επίθετο Ρηγινός ❗️🙏
Ναι ο Αλέκος ήταν ο δευτερότοκος γιος του Βασιλείου και Σταυρίτσας, ενώ ο πατέρας μας Μανώλης ήταν ο πρώτος.. . (*) Η απάντηση μου σε μήνυμα της φίλης μας Ξένιας Πετσοπούλου, που πρόσφατα της χάρισαν το περίφημο «τσαντάκι της θείας Αντιγόνης» και που αποτέλεσε αφορμή για τη συγγραφή της εξιστόρησης αυτής. Thanks 🙏 Ms. Xenia 👏.
Το τσαντάκι της Θείας Αντιγόνης, συζύγου του Θείου Αλέκου!,
Όταν επέστρεψε μετά από 15 χρόνια εμιγκρές στις ΗΠΑ, την μαύρη περίοδο του κράχ της Αμερικής, γύρω στο 1930, έφερε την αντιπροσωπίαa της #AtwaterKent [μια μεγάλη κατασκευάστρια ραδιοφώνων και ηλεκτρικών συστημάτων ανάφλεξης αυτοκινήτων], στην Ελλάδα ξεκινώντας την Ελληνική Ραδιοφωνική Εταιρεία Α.Ε.
Μια από τις πρώτες διαφημιστικές καταχωρήσεις του πατέρα μας: Πιστός για χρόνια συνεργάτης της Πειραιώτικης διαφημιστικής οικογένειας Σκυλίτση-ΓΚΡΕΚΑ. Σηματοδότησε την ίδρυση της πρώτης οικογενειακής επιχείρησης των Αφών Ρηγινού, γύρω στο 1932.
Ο θείος Αλέκος στο μπροστινό φτερό, ο πατέρας μας Μανώλης στο τιμόνι και η θεία Κική (αδελφή τους) στο πίσω κάθισμα του 1929 Ford Model A Tudor με το λογότυπο της ATWATER KENT RADIO στις πόρτες 👌👍😍
Σπάνιο οικογενειακό ντοκουμέντο με την μεγάλη Billboard διαφήμιση της KENT ΡΑΔΙΟ (σε άγνωστο σημείο της Αθήνας) και με το 1929 Ford Model A Tudor παραδίπλα…
Και με τα 3 αδέλφια του να συμμετέχουν στη νεοσύστατη εταιρεία, δηλαδή εκτός από τους προαναφερθέντες, και με τους Κώστα και Γιώργο τον «Βενιαμίν», τον οποίο ο πατέρας μας είχε σπουδάσει με πτυχίο Ανώτατης Εμπορικής, τρέφοντας του παθολογική αδυναμία, η οποία εξελίχθηκε καταστροφική πολλά χρόνια αργότερα…
Ο πατέρας μας Μανώλης εξω από την έκθεση της #General Electric της οδού Παπαρρηγοπούλου 9.
Αυτό που θυμάμαι έντονα ήταν οι μυρωδιές της Έκθεσης: Ένα μείγμα από των λεγόμενων ‘White Goods’ δηλαδή των ψυγείων, κουζινων , πλυντηρίων κ.ο.κ., των πλακιδίων της #Armstrong (μια ακόμα επιτυχημένη αντιπροσωπεία του Μανώλη), που αποτέλεσε την αφορμή της σύστασης – δια του τρία νέας εταιρείας «Σωτήρης Θ. Βικόπουλος & Σια Α.Ε.» – δηλ. του αδελφού της γυναίκας (Θείας Καίτης) του Γιώργου «Θείου Σώτου+του Μανώλη+του Γιώργου. Το εταιρικό δαιμόνιο του Πάτερ Φαμίλια μας, αργότερα εμπλούτισε την εταιρεία που μετακόμισε από την αρχή της οδού Αμερικής, στη νεα έκθεση, άνετη και με πρεστίζ, της Λεωφόρου Αμαλίας 21, με δυό ακόμα αντιπροσωπείας των ΗΠΑ : της #Evinrude Outboard Motors Corp. & των Luxaflex Venitian Blinds.
Να σημειωθεί ότι ο κολοσσός Général Electric της Αμερικής κατά την τελευταία 15-ετιά περιέπεσε σε μεγάλες περιπέτειες: όλα τα στοιχεία με κλικ ΕΔΩ!
Αγαπητοί φίλοι, ας κάνουμε μια σύντομη παρέκκλιση σχετικά με την μεγάλη αγάπη του πατέρα μας [αλλά και του μικρού αδελφού Γιώργου], την Θάλασσα! Σε σημείο που έχει περάσει στο DNA των 4 αγοριών, Βασίλη, Νίκου, Βύρωνα & Πέτρου🎏⛵🚤⚓ Σημ.: πατώντας σε κάθε όνομα ανοίγει η προσωπική Θαλασσινή ιστορία του καθενός μας. Highly recommended❗️🙏👍✅
Η «ΣΑΜΙΟΠΟΥΛΑ»|κατα την καθέλκυση της στο Πέραμα από το ναυπηγείο Αφών Κουταλίδη. Ήταν το,πρώτο σκάφος της Οικογένειας Εμμ. Ρηγινού. Έφερε μια βενζινοκίνητη μηχανή GreymarineΤο περίφημο Chris-Craft ‘ΔΕΛΦΙΝΙ’ ένα μικρό σκάφος plywood των 16 ποδιών, το οποίο έφερε σε κιτ ο Μανώλης από τις ΗΠΑ, αρχικά εξοπλισμένο με 2Χ18 Hp Evinrudes, αργότερα με την 50 Hp [bewitched model], για να καταλήξει στη φανταστική 75Hp Selecric !!! Οι περιπέτειες με το ταχύπλοο αυτό απαιτούν ένα ολόκληρο ξεχωριστό άρθρο 😉😜🔝🔜Οι γονείς μας Μανώλης και Πίτσα Ρηγινού στο ΔΕΛΦΙΝΙ, με την 50-άρα εξωλέμβια της EvinrudeΜια διαφήμιση εποχής της Evinrude. Με την αγαπημένη μας νταντά Bébé στο Κατραμονήσι της Βούλας με το βαρκάκι μας «ΒΥΡΩΝ» & με εξωλέμβιο 18 Hp Evinrude! [Grossly overpowered, μάλλον μια από τις 2 μηχανές του ΔΕΛΦΙΝΙ, η οποία σύντομα αντικαταστάθηκε απο πιο μοντέρνα και ελαφρύτερη των 6 Hp]
Ακολουθεί μια φωτοθήκη γεμάτη απόΟικογενειακές αναμνήσεις 🥰
Emmanuel Riginos’ Ford Model A Tudor bearing the Atwater Kent radios logo. On the fender posing, his brother Alecos
Readers of my Blog may have seen a previous post titled: My next classic/veteran car investment? dating 11th May 2011. In that post I was sharing my desire to acquire one day a prewar classic and more specifically a Ford Model A, similar to a car that my father Emmanuel Riginos owned in the 1930’s in Athens, Greece.
Hence the famous line of Dr. Martin Luther King “I have a dream“ seems befitting. This dream started many years ago when upon shuffling through old family photographs, I discovered few pictures of my Father’s car in the 1930’s. It was a Ford Model A Tudor.
I was looking at these pictures and was wondering about what kind of driving experiences, sounds, smells etc such a car would offer. Slowly the idea to obtain one day such a car settled in my mind. To boot, one evening at the PHILPA Club, Dimitri Vernardakis, our President, told me this: ‘Byron you ought to get yourself a prewar car’, an advise that was never forgotten.
The Car at the Classic Motorcar Auctions premises in Canton Ohio awaiting shipment
Recently (Spring 2013) that dream became a reality. After an extended search in Europe and in the USA markets, with the help of few good friends, this particular example was found in Canton, Ohio, inspected, serviced and a deal to buy was concluded in mid April 2013. Soon after the car was loaded on a closed transport heading to New Jersey Container Terminal Port from where it was placed in a 20 Foot container and shipped to Piraeus. Of course I was in great anticipation to see and drive the old lady, as this acquisition marked the first time of buying a car from far away without having seen it up close myself…
Special thanks go to my good friends Alex Vazeos, an Etceterini cars collector and Myron Vernis of Glenmoor Gathering Concours d’Elegance who have been instrumental for my ‘Dream to Come True’; plus to my new friend Bob Lichty of Classic Motorcar Auctions who ‘pro-bono’ looked after all the details of the deal, the US title change, fund transfers, getting the car serviced and arranging shipment from Canton, Ohio to New Jersey!
The Model A is being loaded onto an enclosed car transport for the journey from Canton, Ohio to New Jersey Port Loaded in the 20′ container and secured for the transatlantic crossing
24th April update: The car was booked on the vessel ZIM Rio Grande 46E sailing on 10th May 13 and arrived in Piraeus on Saturday 1st June 2013; provided it would clear Greek customs in time, what a nice June 6th birthday present that would be!
The ZIM Rio Grande Container Vessel brought the car to me! 🙂
June 7th update: finally chasing the delayed arrival or the US Title within the Kifissia Postal Sortation Office, on Friday June 7th the car, via the adept services of the PHILPA Customs Clearing Agent, namely Elias Athanasoulas [many thanks Elias, well done!], cleared the bureaucracy and the 20” Container was loaded on a trailer truck bed. Then it was taken to a nearby container depot, for placing the box on the ground, thus making the unloading procedure quite easy. The photos and the video clip capture these memorable moments and trace the car resting in company with other cars of my collection safely in my Garage.
Unloading the Container from the semi-trailer
The moment of truth! First glimpse of my much awaited ‘new’ car! Upon opening the container doors a distinctive ‘old American car’ smell oozed out. Immediately, the unfastening and chock removal procedure commenced. Behind the wheel for the first time: rolling the car out of the container Next task, loaded the car onto a transporter for taking her to my trusted mechanic John ‘Motorman’ Palmos for the first inspection and start-up On its way from Piraeus to the North of Athens; many hoots and thumbs up on the way 🙂 My friend Robert Smith behind the wheel, taking her out for a first test drive after adjusting the advance timing
June 16th update: the FMA underwent a ‘crash detailing’ service undertaken by Mike Tsaltas of www.swell.gr in an effort to be ready for its first public appearance in Greece, participating in the Parade of the ‘2nd PHILPA TATOI CIRCUIT 2013” event. In between my good friend Robert Smith offered his knowledgeable services for adjusting the timing and expediting the car’s technical inspection for obtaining its ‘historic car’ FIVA card certification and license plates.
Changing gears on a fully unsynchronized 82 year old gearbox requires ‘old car drivemanship’, a talent Robert has in abundance (owner of a 1918 Ford Model T among other prewar and classics). Mike ‘Swell’ Tsaltas doing his magic on the soiled rag-top At the same time a horde of accessories and spare parts sourced from Mac’s Antique Ford Parts are gradually being fitted, improving the car’s appearance and operation Part of the fun for many car collectors is the ‘deepening knowledge’ for the newly acquired model. Manuals, schematics, reference books, memorabilia etc help to enhance the experience… Mike’s assistant George ‘swelling’ the running boards Among the accessories, the Ford logoed headlight protective covers go well with the radiator stone guard option, to be proved useful when rallying 😉 Front radiator view with the stone guard, ‘my b-d’ bespoke license plate, and the PHILPA-Antique Car Club of Greece badge Detail of the Flying Quail with Motometer radiator cap The RH engine bay after having been detailed View of the LH engine bay after having been detailed The Data Patent and Body Number templates on the firewall indicating S/N 4558478, which means that this car was produced during May 1931 The cabin of the Roadster after being swelled. The seat belts are a modern accessory but allowed by the Judging standards for safety reasons The pedal area after being swelled The dashboard after being swelled The frugal instrument panel of the Model A The dual side mounted spare wheels along with the cowl lights where part of the standard accessories for the Deluxe model B-40 version Side mounted spare wheel detail The RH license plate indicates the car model year The wire spoke wheels are fitted with a set of white wall tires Detail of the side windwing mounts and top release butterfly Side view of the car after being swelled Front view of the car after being swelled Rear view of the car after being swelled
We made the race against the clock and the car did motor proudly and took its place among other historic vehicles, parading in front of thousand car loving spectators 🙂
In good company with a 1934 MG PA at the ‘2nd PHILPA TATOI CIRCUIT 2013’ Parade In good company with a 1934 MG PA and a 1926 Chevrolet SK Tourer at the ‘2nd PHILPA TATOI CIRCUIT 2013’ Parade Parading at the track of the ‘2nd PHILPA TATOI CIRCUIT 2013’
Next event: the ’42nd PHILPA International Rally’ in the Peloponnese during Sept. 2013.
Introduced to the public in late 1927 as a “New Ford Car,” the Ford Model A could trace its roots all the way back to the establishment of the Ford Motor Company in 1903. Actually, the first car produced by the developing auto manufacturer was labeled the Model A. Henry Ford would work his way through a series of letter designations for his automotive creations before settling on the successful formula that would become the Model T. In the years that followed, as America’s roads and driveways filled with Model T’s, Henry Ford would remain reluctant to significantly tamper with his beloved car’s design.
Henry Ford portrait
It was only in the face of plummeting sales by the mid 1920’s, the result of a buying public that sought the modern upgrades offered by Ford’s competitors, that Ford finally relented. In an unusual business move, Ford halted production of the Model T in May of 1927, shutting down the entire production operation for 6 months to allow for retooling and final development of the new Model A Ford.
1928-29 Standard Coupe
A Ford Mod. A Coupe being assembled.
Working under an impossible deadline, Ford managed to get the design and production requirements in place for the release of the “New Ford Car” by November of 1927. Henry’s son, Edsel Ford, had unsuccessfully tried to convince his father to abandon the Model T years earlier. Unbeknown to his father, Edsel had been secretly working on the development of a new car and would ultimately play a significant role in the design of what would become the Ford Model A.
A Ford Model A Roadster body ready to be mounted on its chassis.
Unlike its predecessor, the Model T, which was the result of an evolving process of design, the Model A was designed, complete, from the ground up. The Model A was truly a “New Ford Car.” Mechanical upgrades for the Model A Ford included a new 3-speed transmission, hydraulic shock absorbers, and four-wheel mechanical brakes. Other significant improvements were an electric starter, water pump, speedometer and gas gauge, and the introduction of Triplex safety glass. The styling of the Ford Model A, elegant and integrated compared to the Model T, brought Ford into the modern era with a vehicle that looked more like a car and less like a horseless carriage.
A period Ford Salesroom featuring Ford Model A’s.
The first Mod. A was delivered on Jan. 26, 1928.
Henry Ford created a sense of hype and mystery surrounding the release of the Model A Ford, relying on the media to reach the buying public and generate interest in the “New Ford Car.” Shortly after the Ford Model A was made available to the public on December 2, 1927, orders for the new car far exceeded supply. Ford scrambled to increase production and by mid 1928, producing up to 4,000 cars per day, was still not meeting the buying publics demand. In an effort to meet demand, Ford steadily boosted production, peaking at around 9,200 cars per day by June of 1930.
During its four-year production run, the Model A Ford would be offered in a wide variety of car and truck body styles. For 1928, Ford offered several different style passenger car bodies:
Early Ford Mod A. Fordor
Standard Phaeton, Standard Roadster, Standard Coupe, Special Coupe, Sport Coupe, Business Coupe, Tudor Sedan, Town Car, and Leatherback Fordor Sedan. Truck bodies included: Open Cab Pickup, Closed Cab Pickup, Pickup (box), “A” Panel Delivery, “AA” Panel Delivery, and Deluxe Delivery.
In 1929, Ford expanded the options for passenger car body styles by adding the Steelback Fordor, Cabriolet, Station Wagon, both Murray and Briggs versions of the Town Sedan, as well as Murray and Briggs versions of the Standard Fordor. The Standard Fordor (2 window) was also introduced. Options for truck bodies remained the same from the previous year.
For 1930, the Leatherback and Steelback Fordors, as well as the Special and Business Coupes, would be dropped from the lineup. New passenger car bodies included the Deluxe Phaeton, Deluxe Roadster, Deluxe Coupe, Deluxe Fordor (2 window) and Victoria. Truck body options included the addition of the Deluxe Delivery and Panel Delivery (drop floor), Special Delivery, Town Car Delivery, “AA” Panel Delivery and the “AA” Deluxe Delivery.
Introductory Period Brochure
The Story of the New Ford Car poster.
The year 1931, was the final of Ford Model A production, would mark the most extensive offering of passenger car and truck body styles in the vehicle’s brief history. New passenger cars for 1931 were the Deluxe Tudor, Slant Window Cabriolet, Slant Window Standard Fordor, Slant Window Town Sedan, Slant Window Deluxe Fordor (Blindback) and Convertible Sedan. The Standard Fordor (2 window) and Town Car were no longer offered. For truck bodies, a Deluxe Pickup and a wide bed Pickup (box) were introduced.
Like the rest of the nation, the Ford Motor Company would endure the effects of the economic Depression that began with the stock market crash in October of 1929. Despite reducing prices for 1931, Ford continued to see a steady decline of new car sales.
Perhaps learning from his mistake of sticking with the Model T long after the public regarded it as outdated, Henry Ford had been actively working on a new design for 1932. The successful development of the new V8 Ford for 1932 would ultimately put an end to the short but successful run for “Henry’s Lady,” the Model A Ford.
A FMA Coupe in the snow!
President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) is sitting in a 1929 Model A Ford 68A Convertible Cabriolet.
Summary of models produced:Ford Model A Standard Phaeton, Standard Roadster, Standard Coupe, Special Coupe, Sport Coupe, Business Coupe, Tudor Sedan, Town Car, Leatherback Fordor Sedan, Open Cab Pickup, Closed Cab Pickup, Pickup (box), “A” Panel Delivery, “AA” Panel Delivery, Deluxe Delivery, Steelback Fordor, Cabriolet, Station Wagon, both Murray and Briggs versions of the Town Sedan, as well as Murray and Briggs versions of the Standard Fordor, Standard Fordor (2 window), Deluxe Phaeton, Deluxe Roadster, Deluxe Coupe, Deluxe Fordor (2 window), Victoria, Panel Delivery (drop floor), Special Delivery, Town Car Delivery, “AA” Deluxe Delivery, Deluxe Tudor, Slant Window Cabriolet, Slant Window Standard Fordor, Slant Window Town Sedan, Slant Window Deluxe Fordor (Blindback), Convertible Sedan, Deluxe Pickup and Wide Bed Pickup (box).
Almost every Ford Mod. A car body will be found in this gathering!
From the same FMA gathering.
Fun Facts:
Riding the roads and the airwaves. The Ford Model A was the subject of the 1928 song, “Henry’s Made a Lady Out of Lizzie,” which sang the praises of Ford’s new addition to the road.
The first Model A Ford engine, stamped “A1” by Henry Ford himself on October 20, 1927, was put in a Tudor Sedan that Ford personally drove and tested before giving final approval to begin production of the car. At Henry Ford’s request, the engine was eventually placed in a 1928 Phaeton that was reserved in Dearborn for the use of his friend and fellow innovator, Thomas Edison.
Henry Ford punches the engine number on the first Ford Model A off the assembly line.
The 20 Millionth Ford was a 1931 Ford Model A 160-B Slant Windshield Town Sedan. Accompanied off the assembly line by Henry and Edsel Ford, the black car was lettered on the sides and, so it could be seen from the air, the roof, with “The Twenty Millionth Ford.” The Sedan would be taken on a tour of the U.S., stopping at nearly every Ford territory and dealer along the way. Rumored to be lost in a fire sometime after the publicity tour, the car was discovered in Michigan in 1999. After Ford determined it was indeed “The Twenty Millionth Ford,” the company agreed to lease the car from its current owner. Ford then devoted their resources to a complete restoration of the car in preparation for their 2003 Centennial celebration. As part of the lease agreement, the Town Sedan will be displayed at Ford World Headquarters for the following 10 years.
The Twenty Millionth Ford Model A was an 8 window 1931 Ford Model A 160-B Slant Windshield Town Sedan!
Henry Ford and his son Edsel in front of a Mod. A Fordor.
A period advertisement from the first Ford distributor in Greece, J. Kontellis & Co.
Finally, few pictures of our Father’s (Emmanuel V. Riginos) 1929 Ford Mod. A Tudor which he brought to Greece upon his return from an extended 15 year period of immigration to the USA. Upon his return to his homeland, he also brought (importing & distributing) the Atwater Kent radios to Greece in the late 20’s – early 30’s.
He used a 1930 Ford Model A Tudor as his car and on the door panels the round “Atwater Kent Radios” logo was affixed.
Here Emmanuel and his brother Alekos Riginos admire a newly erected street side advertisement of the ‘Kent Radio’.
He used a 1930 Ford Model A Tudor as his car and on the door panels the round “Atwater Kent Radios” logo was affixed.
The Ford Model A has broken down! The agony of the moment is captured on the faces of Emmanuel and his other brother George Riginos’s faces.
Manolis Riginos Ford Model A Tudor, bearing Greek License Plate No. 30914.
Όταν επέστρεψε μετά από 15 χρόνια εμιγκρές στις ΗΠΑ, την μαύρη περίοδο του κράχ της Αμερικής, γύρω στο 1930, έφερε την αντιπροσωπίαa της #AtwaterKent [μια μεγάλη κατασκευάστρια ραδιοφώνων και ηλεκτρικών συστημάτων ανάφλεξης αυτοκινήτων], στην Ελλάδα ξεκινώντας την Ελληνική Ραδιοφωνική Εταιρεία Α.Ε.
The Byron E. Riginos Blog 