 MORE
ABOUT BILL HENTZEN
Restoration of my
TB Tickford
There can be few Tickford owners
as dedicated to the cause as Bill Hentzen from Wisconsin, USA.
At my request, Bill has produced an article on the history of
his car. Not surprisingly, the article reveals the close ties
between Tickford owners worldwide.
"In 1982, with two TCs and three TDs in the
garage, it occurred to me that it was time to look for another
model MG. My first '52 TD was relinquished in 1962 for a three
child size VW after 6 years of fun. After the Graber SA Tickford
escaped my grasp, perhaps a small Tickford would do. Through
adverts in Hemmings, a TA in California and a TB in Illinois
were considered. Although more expensive, the TB had the XPAG
engine - a correct one - was mostly complete, and drove and stopped
well. In August 1982, TB0437, Salmons 5308 was trucked to Wisconsin.
 When
the Tickford was imported from Oxford and delivered to Illinois
in 1964, it was titled there with UK registration MG 6450. It
was sold in 1972 to a new owner, also in Illinois, so no problem
with title transfer. This owner had to secure for me a title
with the chassis number TB0437 as Wisconsin's equivalent of Swansea
would not accept transfer of a number not on the vehicle. Sadly,
history previous to '64 is unknown as the logbook was surrendered
to Illinois authorities and had been destroyed by 1982.
Now, to research what I really had and had
to do, I went to the New England MG T Register's journal 'The
Sacred Octagon' where one Ken Spencer had written articles and
had started a list of TA and TB Tickford owners in North America.
He passed on the records to Scott Barrow, who upon selling of
his TA, passed the list on to me. This list had become part of
the International list done in the '70s by Wiard Krook in Holland
along with contributors in the MG Car Club in England.
Contacting, corresponding with and visiting
these very gracious North American owners to view their cars
and exchange knowledge was marvelous and allowed a consensus
of what was most likely done by Salmons & Sons. The extraordinary
hospitality of owners continued on a visit to Britain in 1983
and meeting the late inimitable Ian Lloyd. That was the beginning
of Ian and my efforts to update and publish a list of owners
and eventual basis of the current data base of the M.G. TA &
TB Salmons and Sons Tickford Registry List - another story! Securing
copies of the 1938 and 1939 UK motoring magazines, and copies
of the MG Car Co., 1939 Salesman Manual, TB Instruction and Parts
books and sales literature, added to the library of data on details
of Tickford construction for the eventual restoration.
The generosity of other owners in sharing was
exhibited by Gene Roth ex TA2736 with his loaning an original
hood liner for the hood patent, David Tankard, TA2848, supreme
Tickford enthusiast, by making the faithful reproduction, including
the backing, of the red/black fleck carpet for Mike Collingburn's
interior, Carlyle Merritt, TA2959, by loaning the rear window,
the door and window winder hardware and interior lamp as samples
for reproductions, Lee Jacobsen, TA2969 by loaning the pin beading
for copying, and by many others, which was extraordinary, yet
typical. Rather than just doing one copy, a number were made
for other owners, as these TA/TB Tickford parts were just not
available.
With the accumulation of all these bits and
information, the decision to start the rebuild was made for me
by TB0437 deciding that it needed a brake system overhaul. Although
the original color was red, it was determined to do the coachwork
in the MG Metallic Grey with black wings and guards, a black
hood, grey liner and red interior. A conversation with Henry
Stone at the 1987 National M.G. Meeting in Perth, Australia confirmed
literature stating that the engine was black - not so, say respected
other good folks?
The professional rebuild, I did only the teardown,
chassis painting and running gear assembly, was completed in
summer of 1990 in time for its debut at GOF Central, just previous
to the August Pebble Beach Concours to which TB0437 was extended
an invitation. Since, it has left wee oil markers at Meadowbrook
Concours, many GOFs, the AACA Grand Nation Meeting and ran the
course at Road America in the rain.
The early 1990s began an increased awareness and interest in
the TA and TB Tickford models. A reunion of owners at the GOF
in Plymouth, Massachusetts in June, 1995, drew five cars and
some 20 owners. Another reunion in Wisconsin at GOF Central in
2003 collected five cars and another, perhaps 15 owners. The
MG 2006 reunion gathering in Tennessee had two of the five TBs
in North America and six TAs on the show field plus about two
dozen owners without cars.
TB0437 and the TA and TB Tickford Registry
List connection opened the Magic of M.G. for me as it brought
me together with other owners of these elegant little motor cars.
All over North America, Britain, Australia, Singapore and Germany,
visits were met with graciousness and enthusiasm, just as now
when contact is often by e-mail, the post or telephone. We owners
have shared our knowledge and efforts, suffered and rejoiced
together through each rebuild, and cherish and enjoy each opportunity
to gather. These are special friends of mine now, who happen
to own a TA or a TB Tickford.
|
Bill
Hentzen