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History Pines Winterfront factory

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Phillips, May 26, 2011.

  1. Phillips
    Joined: Oct 26, 2010
    Posts: 1,496

    Phillips
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Waiting for the light to change, I look to my right and see this. I've probably driven by here 300 times and never noticed.
     

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  2. GARY?
    Joined: Aug 15, 2005
    Posts: 1,631

    GARY?
    Member

  3. 117harv
    Joined: Nov 12, 2009
    Posts: 6,589

    117harv
    Member

    cool...or warm depending on how you look at it:):)
     
  4. pasadenahotrod
    Joined: Feb 13, 2007
    Posts: 11,775

    pasadenahotrod
    Member
    from Texas

    Not only did they make the winterfronts but they also made the accessory Pines trim for 36 Fords.
     

  5. WOW, now thats cool!
     
  6. RustyRedRam
    Joined: Jan 24, 2005
    Posts: 1,128

    RustyRedRam
    Member

    I don't know what is better: the building itself, or what was created inside it.
     
  7. RocketDaemon
    Joined: Jul 4, 2001
    Posts: 2,082

    RocketDaemon
    Member
    from Sweden

    I heard that in the cellar there are crates with nos 1932 pines winter fronts... ;)
     
  8. It's amazing that the building survives. Does anyone know when the company ceased to operate? ....Don.
     
  9. Phillips
    Joined: Oct 26, 2010
    Posts: 1,496

    Phillips
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    The building appears to be in good shape, it looks like it is being used for something, although I didn't see any signage of any kind on it.

    I'd like to know when they shut down too, some of their patents from the '20s have been referenced by other patents as recently as 2001.
     
  10. tommy
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 14,757

    tommy
    Member Emeritus

    I never would have thought that they were that successful that they could build their own building. Buying an existing building and putting up a sign is one thing but building your own with that custom front is something else. They must have sold a bunch.
     
  11. Phillips
    Joined: Oct 26, 2010
    Posts: 1,496

    Phillips
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I was surprised as well; but then again they did make them for many cars and trucks, plus they held patents on the thermostat and automatic shutter designs, etc. (This I just learned from reading up last night). It's an impressive structure.
     
  12. flatoutflyin
    Joined: Jun 16, 2010
    Posts: 385

    flatoutflyin
    Member

    They made a fine product in an era of bellows type thermostats, unpressurized cooling systems, and alcohol type antifreeze. I read sometime ago that the wax pellet type thermostat (which allowed pressurized cooling systems), along with more complex grille styling, and permanent type antifreeze, did them in during the early 40's.
     

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  13. Very cool. I love those deco era buildings.
     
  14. F&J
    Joined: Apr 5, 2007
    Posts: 13,222

    F&J
    Member


    Back in 75, I bought a complete but rusted 36 conv sedan with rusty Pines trim. It also had a smooth hood ornament thing to replace the stock one.. Was it part of the Pines trim?
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  15. The Pines Winterfront Co. of Chicago manufactured thermostatically controlled radiator shutters. Invented by James Raleigh in the early 1920s, the Winterfront had a thermostat that pressed against the radiator core. When cold, its shutters cut off air flow, allowing the engine to warm up. When warmed up (I’ve read that the threshold was 130 degrees F, appropriate in the days of alcohol-based antifreeze with a low boiling point), the thermostat operated levers that opened the louvers. Some time in the 1930s, manufacturers began to install thermostats inside their engines. Thereafter, the need for Winterfronts faded.
     
  16. v8 garage
    Joined: May 18, 2006
    Posts: 276

    v8 garage
    Member

    Very cool art deco building. I would like to know more about the history of the building itself.
    V/8
     
  17. bonesy
    Joined: Aug 14, 2005
    Posts: 2,999

    bonesy
    Member

    That really is cool.
     
  18. sololobo
    Joined: Aug 23, 2006
    Posts: 8,378

    sololobo
    Member

    What a knock out building, I am stoked seeing this histrocal monument. Whao would have thought this company was as big as it was, and easy to imagine how quick the demand for the product stopped. Yikes!! Glad to see the structure has been quite well maintained. Long live classic buildings!! ~sololobo~
     
  19. Funny how you can miss stuff in everyday life.



    Did ya drive around back and look in the dumpster?
     
  20. von birch
    Joined: Oct 17, 2008
    Posts: 205

    von birch
    Member

    i know ford introduced an accessory winterfront for their cars in 1937, just a flexible/fabric grille shroud. and 36 is the latest for winterfront for a ford i've ever seen...
     
  21. Very cool Building, was watching a 32 Pines front on eBlag.... its gone through the stratosphere...!
     
  22. fab32
    Joined: May 14, 2002
    Posts: 13,985

    fab32
    Member Emeritus

    Impressive structure for such a focused product. I've got to believe they had other products to be able to support that kind manufacturing operation.

    Frank
     
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  23. hotrd32
    Joined: May 16, 2007
    Posts: 3,560

    hotrd32
    Member
    from WA

  24. Rehpotsirhcj
    Joined: May 7, 2006
    Posts: 1,440

    Rehpotsirhcj
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    1. Northwest HAMBers

  25. Stutz, Duesenberg, and Marmon (and others I'm sure) all used Pines shutter assemblies on their factory radiators. Remember, that was a time when a patent still meant something...
     
  26. thommoina33
    Joined: Jun 27, 2008
    Posts: 1,051

    thommoina33
    Alliance Member
    from australia
    Staff Member

    not to move to far of the subject, i have a 33 ford pines grill,
    i've seen a couple of these come up on fleabay and fordbarn,
    i've never seen a 34 pines grill, did they make them?

    thommo.
     
  27. Bigcheese327
    Joined: Sep 16, 2001
    Posts: 6,694

    Bigcheese327
    Member

    Some diesel trucks still use a winterfront-like device.

    -Dave
     
  28. 1950ChevySuburban
    Joined: Dec 20, 2006
    Posts: 6,187

    1950ChevySuburban
    Member Emeritus
    from Tucson AZ

    I have a 1927 Essex grille with horizontal louvers that open / close. Always wondered if that was Essex or Pines. Anyone know?
     
  29. Years ago, I worked for a restorer/collector who told me that all of the thermostatic shutters were built under Pines patents. Not sure if they all came from the Pines factory, but I could believe it.
     
  30. theHIGHLANDER
    Joined: Jun 3, 2005
    Posts: 10,244

    theHIGHLANDER
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Packard kept automatic shutters (pines system) through 42. I believe all Cadillac 12s and 16s had em as well. That's a lot of cars. Like bigcheese said, trucks had them for a long time. Easy to think Ford accessory almost as an exclusive, but not at all the case. I'd love to stumble through that place. Thanks for the picture.
     

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