The Nethercutt Collection

The Nethercutt Collection

August 20, 2016

Photos and text (except where footnoted) by Carl Morrison, MoKnowsPhotos@mac.com

Replica of a luxury car showroom with restored, licensed, operating vintage cars.

GRAND SALON

Marble columns, crystal chandeliers, painted ceilings all make up this beautiful Grand Salon Showroom of the 1910's, 20 and 30s. On display are approx. 30 of the finest automoblies of that era. Duesenbergs, Cadillacs, Isotta-Fraschini, Delahaye, Minvera, Renault, Maybach, many other European and American built automoblies.

--From: http://www.nethercuttcollection.org/EndPage.aspx?page=grandsalon

1937 Canadian Pacific Royal Hudson Locomotive #2839

#2839 was built by Montreal Locomotive Works and is resplendent in its Royal maroon, gold leaf, gloss black and brushed stainless steel livery, is a testament to the grand era of steam locomotive engineering. The Hudson type is a 4-6-4 wheel arrangement and was a high-speed passenger locomotive with a top speed of 90 mph.

1912 Pullman Private Car #100 California:

Custom built by Pullman in Chicago, Illinois for Clara Baldwin Stocker the eldest Daughter of local Pioneer "Lucky" Baldwin. This railcar has been beautifully restored back to 1912

--From: http://www.nethercuttcollection.org/EndPage.aspx?page=train

The Nethercutt Collection features rare collectibles ranging from mechanical musical instruments and antique furniture to the true heart of the collection: over 250 American and European automobiles dating from 1898 to 1997.

Founder J.B. Nethercutt spent a lifetime establishing this collection of historic importance. Unique to automobile museums, each car on display is attentively serviced and maintained to remain as drivable as when the vehicle originally rolled off the showroom floor. On view are various Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance winners and cars once owned by movie stars, royalty and other notable personalities.

The entire collection is housed in two beautifully appointed exhibit facilities located just north of Los Angeles. Housed in the Museum is the Nethercutt Automotive Research Library and Archives , one of the world’s top automotive research facilities. Just steps outside the Museum are a resplendently restored steam locomotive and railcar.

Opened in 1971, The Nethercutt Collection is a not-for-profit educational institution and a resource for automobile enthusiasts, historians, students and scholars. It is open to the public at no charge.

--From: http://www.nethercuttcollection.org/

Founders

J.B. Nethercutt 1913-2004 - Dorothy Nethercutt 1914-2004. Born in South Bend, IN, on October 11, 1913, J.B. moved to Santa Monica, CA, in 1923 to live with his aunt and founder of Merle Norman Cosmetics, Merle Nethercutt Norman. He later left his studies at the California Institute of Technology to go into business with his aunt.

Jack Nethercutt and his wife Helen now proudly carry on the work that J.B. and Dorothy began. In March 2002, Jack returned as President of Merle Norman Cosmetics. He and Helen now serve as Chairman of the Board and Vice Chairman, respectively. They also serve as Chairman of the Board and Director for The Nethercutt Collection. They continue to restore museum-quality cars, entering and winning at virtually every concours in which their stunning cars appear.

--From: http://www.nethercuttcollection.org/Founders.aspx

Photos from Gary Hess' and my visit to the Nethercutt Collection

THE NETHERCUTT MUSEUM

The Nethercutt Museum showcases more than 130 of the world’s greatest antique, vintage, classic and special interest automobiles including many top winners of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

THE ANTIQUE ERA (1890S-1915)

THE VINTAGE ERA (1916-1924)

THE CLASSIC ERA (1925-1948)

THE POST-WAR ERA (1945-1970S)

--From: http://www.nethercuttcollection.org/Museum.aspx

Pierce-Arrow

(Click for a larger image; Click BACK to return to this page.)

Hand painted wicker

Tucker

We did not know that Westinghouse built automobiles

The funds for the restoration of all these functional art pieces is Merle Norman Cosmetics which also has a museum here.

Across the street is the building of 4 floors of the Nethercutt Collection

The Lower Salon

1983 De Lorean

Our grandkids would enjoy this Crosley

Reminds me of our house with separate forks for Strawberries, Escargo, and Pastries.

Ample back seat amenities.

This vehicle's rear seat could only be entered from the rear of the car.

Grand Salon

The reason for so many black cars was that black paint dried fastest for mass produced cars. Therefore luxury car manufacturers began to paint cars like above to have an edge in sales.All cars are in original colors.

Kyle telling us about the most expensive car in the world, a restored 1933 Duesenberg made in Indianapolis, Indiana for the 1933 World's Fair.

Crystal chandaliers in this replica of a luxury car sales room.

1930 Dupont - the first car Nethercutt restored and won Pebble Beach Best of Show.

Radiator caps were also called Mascots

As we ascended the master staircase in the Grand Salon a player piano played music actually recorded by George Gershwin.

Mezzanine Level - Automobile Collectibles and Antiques

On the mezzanine is a large assortment of Radiator Hood Ornaments "Mascots", including Lalique Crystal Mascots and 18th & 19th Century French Furniture.

Rolls Royce ornament about 3 ft. tall

Jack Nethercutt and his wife Helen continue to restore museum-quality cars, entering and winning at virtually every concours in which their stunning cars appear.

--From: http://www.nethercuttcollection.org/Founders.aspx

MUSIC ROOM

This floor displays a world-class collection of automated mechanical instruments including Reproducing Pianos, Nickelodeons, Cyclinder & Disc Music Boxes, Orchestrions and the Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ. During the tour some of these instruments are demonstrated including a mini-concert on the Wurlitzer Pipe Organ. Also on display is our beautiful Louis XV Style Dining Room.

--From: http://www.nethercuttcollection.org/MusicRoom.aspx

Kyle, timepiece and musical instrument curator

A recent restoration

THE MUSEUM
LOCOMOTIVE & PRIVATE CAR

1937 Canadian Pacific Royal Hudson Locomotive #2839:

--From: http://www.nethercuttcollection.org/EndPage.aspx?page=train

Have you seen a restored locomotive more perfectly displayed for photographers? It is raised aout 6 ft. from where I was standing with a vacant lot behind. Their website has a photo taken from a platform where I stood for this photo and has mountains as a backdrop. Visitors were not permitted on the walkway at track level, so people were not taking selphies. There are two tours daily, 12:30 and 3:45. Allow 15 minutes for a walkthrough.

You cannot get this close nor inside except for being on a tour.

I happen to know what a Stoker is - we had one in our farm house in Hayden, Indiana which fed stoker coal (small chunks) from a bin into the firebox of the furnace. We toated 5-gallon buckets from the coal shed/garage into the house and down into the cellar where the furnace and coal stoaker were located. We also removed clinkers of melted coal ash outside onto the driveway and broke them up with a large wooden mallet as covering for the driveway.

We were encouraged to ring the bell.

Gary pointed out that it could also be rung automatically (left) and that the clapper was stationary.

The tender carried tons of coal and gallons of water, but still traveled only about 80 miles on this much steam and coal.

1912 Pullman Private Car #100 California:

Custom built by Pullman in Chicago, Illinois for Clara Baldwin Stocker the eldest Daughter of local Pioneer "Lucky" Baldwin. This railcar has been beautifully restored back to 1912.

--From: http://www.nethercuttcollection.org/EndPage.aspx?page=train

Seating for 8 passengers at meals.

Poppy pattern

Owner suite accommodations

Tilt-up sink. This style is still used on Viewliner Amtrak Trains like the Carolinian which I took from Charlotte to New Orleans earlier in the summer.

The best of kitchen stoves in 1912.

Sleeping accommodations for the chef and staff were immediately to the right - not far to commute to work.

As we made one last pass through the museum from the train to our car to leave, we passed this Franklin air-cooled classic.

LINKS

Plan a trip to Sylmar, California and visit the Nethercutt Colledtion. It is free, but you have to have a reservation for Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. http://www.nethercuttcollection.org/

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