Clocked for Christmas by Jim Dillenschneider

December 2024

The dictionary defines “clock” as follows–

Noun: a mechanical or electrical device for measuring time, indicating hours, minutes, and sometimes seconds, typically by hands on a round dial or displayed figures.

Verb: To attain or register a specified time, distance or speed. “I clocked nearly nine hours of uninterrupted sleep.” and to hit someone (especially on the head). “Someone clocked him for no good reason.” ...

I’m sure that each of us have opened a Christmas gift that was unique and special in a very meaningful way. And for me, as I opened a Christmas gift from my bride of 53 years, I was clocked (figuratively) when I folded back the wrapping. What came into view was a clock mounted in a headlight trim piece from a 1955 Ford Fairlane. For a moment, the very pleasant surprise of receiving this gift caused a tapestry of memories to flood my mind, from “I married one of the best girls I’ve ever known! How did my bride know to come up with this brilliant idea for this gift? to “Surely she didn’t have this creation made from one of the headlight doors from our ‘55 Ford Victoria?” and finally, “If she did, where am I going to get a replacement headlight?”

But then I remembered Mr Curtis Johnson, CVA member #0686, CVA Technical Advisor, independent business owner, a self-taught and Salina, KS technical alumni restoration specialist and husband to his bride of 53 years, Linda, and the person who created this “Christmas Clock”.

After quizzing my bride Martha about how she went about collaborating with Curtis regarding my clock, it was only proper to call Curtis to thank him. That conversation yielded some interesting information about Curtis who normally maintains a level of modesty when participating in a conversation. It was said that his initial interest in cars began when he was a young man dealing with a 1950 Ford; he obtained some self-taught knowledge by painting the 1950 Ford mint green metallic.

This “trial by fire” learning experience happened just before he was called upon to serve his country in the military. During his time of fulfilling his military obligation, additional self-taught knowledge was obtained by spending off duty hours utilizing base-provided automotive maintenance facilities where he could enhance his abilities. As his military obligation neared completion, the opportunity to gain formal educational training became available.

Even though his abilities in automotive painting had become recognized as being superior to independent production shops, Curtis took advantage of his formal education opportunity and learned skills that enhanced his abilities in this and other areas - interestingly, a desire to be involved with his family-owned business. It should be mentioned that through the years, in addition to the cars that are now, and have been owned by Curtis and Linda, (as well as the aforementioned 1950 mint green metallic Ford), a 1956 Ford Crown Victoria was purchased, and that particular vehicle holds a special place in his heart because of his wife, Linda.

If I remember the story correctly, while they were driving through a town called Fordland, Missouri Curtis and Linda viewed a 1956 Ford Crown Victoria that was for sale for the price of $850. Being a young married couple with their first-born riding between them in a baby seat, the thought of purchasing the Crown Victoria was not a wise thing to do considering the family budget at the moment. However, that Crown Victoria lingered in their minds to the extent that Linda researched contact information of the Crown Victoria’s seller.

Linda encouraged further interest in acquiring the car, resulting in the seller being contacted and finding that the car had not been sold, the seller would accept either cash or certified check to purchase the car. Further consideration of the car purchase was induced by the fact that not only was the car in good condition, the asking price was considerably below what the market price was for the car.

So, after contacting the seller to commit to purchasing the car, and the seller saying the car sale was to the “first buyer to show up with the money”, the next weekend found Curtis and Linda on their way to Fordland, Missouri, cash in hand and a tow bar in the truck to bring the Crown home. As in all these types of adventures involving our beloved Fords, the final twist in the success of this adventure was when the tow bar could not be fastened to the Crown and Curtis and Linda were forced to drive each individual vehicle to their home, which resulted in the safe arrival of Curtis, Linda, their tow vehicle and the Crown.

Another interesting story is that a talented friend that works well with Curtis when involved with car projects is a fellow named Bobby Moore. While they would work on the car, it seems that Curtis being right-handed and Bobby being left-handed taught each man that when one of them couldn’t manage to reach part of the vehicle, the other man could. When the two work together it could be said that the right hand DOES know what the left hand is doing.

Over the years, many Fords (40-50) have been owned by Curtis and Linda which have many times had damaged headlight doors–and like many of us, even though those headlight doors were damaged to the point of being unusable, there was still value in them, and the thought of discarding them wasn’t an option. I’ll wager that many of you reading this might agree; you can decide.

These unusable headlight doors have been resurrected as (in my opinion) beautiful timepieces; again, you can decide. Many of these clocks have been created by Curtis to use as awards, gifts for fundraisers, recognition awards, and gifts like mine. The included photos show some of the unique creations Curtis has created using Ford parts–wall coverings of exclusive Ford hubcaps from 1950-1976, shadow boxes displaying Ford Mustang logos, before and after pics showing the results of restorations, historical photos of a young 19 year old with his bride of 52 years, with their “Fordland, Missouri” Crown Victoria.

Finally, I’m not aware of the reasons for the efforts that resulted in creations such as the headlight door clocks, but I can honestly say this–it was nice to have been “Clocked for Christmas”. Thanks to Curtis–and to my bride, Ms. Martha Ann Dillenschneider.