Message Forum

http://www.roswellgarage.com/garage-history/

As I understand it that is the Roswell Garage. It was a Sinclair station somewhere on East Second not far from Main Street. The man in the gas station uniform is Leland Hammond, owner.

The car is a 1943 Tiffin Taylor prototype (supposedly the only one ever built. The man with the tie is Tiffin Erhard Taylor owner and builder. He was a Roswell ecentric and recluse and this is the only known picture of him. A short time after this gas stop, a caravan of trucks loaded up and left town with all his belongs

It was rumored that he went to Germany and became a Nazi and was killed during WWII

10/15/15 10:11 AM

#2747

Danny Cathey

Turley you are so full of it. How do you come up with stuff?? Here is the right answer.........

Source: Go here for full article including the photo.

Goddard’s concerns about secrecy led to criticism for failure to cooperate with other scientists and engineers. The only member of his staff in Roswell that Robert trusted was machinist N.T. Ljungquist who was also Goddard’s automobile mechanic. In 1942 as WWII raged on, Dr. Goddard was granted a military contract to develop a rocket assisted aircraft. In the spring of 1945, Goddard examined a captured German V-2 ballistic missile, then less than a month later at a military hospital Robert was diagnosed with throat cancer. Able to speak only in a whisper, he supposedly died in August of 1945 but no death certificate was ever issued. That same year Ljungquist bought the old Roswell Motor Supply building on Main St. and was reported to have been terminated from the government rocket program.

Goddard was never seen again but his 1938 Tatra T77 was often spotted coming and going from N.T. Ljungquist’s Roswell Garage. It was thought that the secretive American Rocket Societywhich Goddard had been the director of, was holding clandestine meetings at the garage and a new director might be driving the car. But regardless, by the summer of 1946 it was obvious to the locals that the Roswell Garage was building something in secret. Strange machines started to be produced and sold at the Garage. The ratty collection of junk used in the builds quickly earned them the nickname “Rat Rods”.

P.S. don't you just love the flying saucers in the photo?

10/15/15 11:26 AM

#2748

My story is what the "voices" told me.I would rather belive my "voices" than what ever the great dis-information machine of the government puts out.

Somethings I just know and the rest I just make up.

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

10/15/15 12:15 PM

#2749

Danny Cathey

Ok Billy, I believe you. Now devine me this:
Who is "RoswellGarage.com". Anybody know?

Here is a more recent photo of the building sans photoshop dino, saucers etc. from a web site https://www.facebook.com/SaveRMS. If anybody sells BBQ in Roswell don't

they have to get a permit from Tommy?

and another from this past spring by AmeriCorp Student Volunteers who are working on resoration?

10/15/15 12:29 PM

#2750

Rex,David Cagel? had the yellow 57 regular Fairlane 500 named Party Doll, he would unhook the front shocks and bounce up & down when he would speed shift
John L
Ross's T-Bird was hit over on the one way street going south(out by the Zuni Inn on Main), We were going the wrong way. There was Ross, me, De Shirly ,Perry,and the older guy who lived across from De Shirly was driving.
John A ,How do I get a picture on here? Not the goofy one 727-239-8513

10/15/15 12:31 PM

#2751

https://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/rocketry/imagegallery/rp_launch_tower.jpg.html#.Vh_tmflViko

Pioneers - Early Rocket Scientists

Standing in front of the rocket in the launch tower on Sept. 23, 1935, are (left to right) Albert Kisk, Robert H. Goddard's brother-in-law; Harry F. Guggenheim; Robert H. Goddard; Col. Charles A. Lindbergh; and N.T. Ljungquist (machinist) of Roswell Garage, and Bill Turley standing (too far right..). Lindbergh was an advocate for Goddard and his research. He helped secure a grant so Goddard could conduct research and launch rockets.

Pioneers - Early Rocket Scientists

10/15/15 12:35 PM

#2752

Don Ervin

If that is W. Second and Virginia it looks like Jack Waxler's fathers Cevron (or Standard) Filling Station.

10/15/15 12:57 PM

#2753

I believe that is East second and Virginia but on the North West corner where Bill Koglin owned a station and parts store. Waxler's was across the street at North East corner of Second and Virginia Note the tall building in the background

10/15/15 04:37 PM

#2754

Fred Miller

This has been one extremely informative day on Roswell history. You guys are amazing...!

(And Turley is right....the voices do make more sense than what comes out from inside the beltway in DC)

10/16/15 02:59 PM

#2755

Fred,

Here's a thought to ponder upon the next few days.

When reading the sports page of the Roswell Daily Record, headlines speak of “Lady Coyotes” and “Lady Rockets” whom participate in various sports events. However, when RDR reports on Roswell Coyote or Goddard Rocket (JV or Varsity) games there is no mention of any titles like the “ladies” have. Does this mean there are no “Gentlemen Coyotes” nor “Gentlemen Rockets”…?

Shouldn’t boys or young men (jocks) have a dignified title as well…?

~ Wylie Coyote Hangin' at Wylie's Drive-In (Flyboy Heaven)

John El, Is there a reason you hung out at Wylies so much... is that because you didn't have the (two) two-bits for gas to drag Main up to Greer's...? Jest 'n astin'

10/17/15 06:46 AM

#2756

John Landess

Rex, Wylies had better french fries and a bigger order....plus that is where all the good looking gals hung out...along with their flyboy boyfriends.

Turley, you are a true American classic! However, Danny is correct on most of the other stuff. It is a 1938 Tatra, though I always thought the 41's were better looking with more streamlined fenders and center headlight. And the fin was gone. I think a 1941 was owned by Leland Hammond's cousin Delbert, down at Dexter. HOWEVER, when Danny is talking photo-shopping, he is incorrect on the flying saucers. I am sure that there are many out there that can attest to often seeing them, usually over the quad at NMMI.

BTW, anyone know what the tall building in the background was??

10/17/15 12:16 PM

#2757

Saundra,

Happy Birthday my favorite adventuress! You and Cal sure had a fine time singin’ zippity do da… while burinin' up the Zip lines this summer Gathering. For some reason Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Tightrope” kept playing in my head while zippin’ along. ‘Wakin’ the Tightrope bring it all around’.

Hope you like the video. It’s at your favorite music venue, Austin, Tejas. Have a wonderful day!

Put on Wide Screen and turn up the volume!

10/17/15 01:05 PM

#2758

El John,

My, my, my like a spider to a fly… go ahead, jump right into my web. Will have to grant you those fries were good… if you could stand eating them without barfing while forced to look at all them-there ugly skags who hung out at Wyllie’s. Boyah, yo needs some serious hep. But alas, after living in Ah’ll ask ha for so long, being elected MC for Most Beautiful contest in Walrus Tundra Land… those snakes at Wyllie’s musta started looking good to you.

Hey Mack K, the “voices” just spoke and we have an idea. How you can get rid of Marie Bigrope And all those alimony back payments in one fell swoop. John El might be interested and would like to meat her. John El make sure you slather-on lotsa bear grease for your first date. ha

Danny, Jimmy Wilmot’s Dad of Wilmot’s Hardware said he and his wife were standing in his backyard and saw a couple of bright silvery craft shooting along at high speed and then making an impossible 90 degree turn doing close to 8,000 mph. At the same time, I was having my tonsils removed at St. Mary’s and remember two Nuns talking and looking out the 4th floor window who said there were two strange-shaped aircraft flying at a high rate of speed going North and chasing each other. From all reports, these two separate UFO incidents occurred within the same time frame seen by both witnesses. Nah, it wasn't the 'ether' either... must have been the ice cream.

10/17/15 02:22 PM

#2759

While you guys were munching on french fries, I was taking Patty the car hop out.What a 5ft 2 fox

10/17/15 03:04 PM

#2760

Bill Leggett

East. Second and Virginia one block east of Main

10/18/15 11:14 AM

#2761

Saundra Bennett (Whiteside)

Gilmore, most of us got a different story from Patty.

Instead of making out with ‘five foot two eyes of blue, didn't you spend most of the evening trying to sell her a 19.95 AAA roadside membership? No sale, eh... You sure that wasn’t Suzie Wong at Greer's?

10/18/15 11:28 AM

#2762

Thanks, Rex, for the birthday wishes and the 'Tightrope' song. I had a really nice day! I'll have to say the zip line was a kick! It felt much safer than a tightrope, though,....thank goodness! Hope more people will try it next year.

i've been following the discussions on the forum regarding flying saucers, strange cars, and Goddard's mystery mechanic. You guys are full of it! I'm glad you are having fun!

10/18/15 11:33 AM

#2763

Rex,Steve Looney won her heart with the A&W french fries.

10/18/15 07:08 PM

#2764

Remember… Looney bought a black 1963 Ford 427 SS. But couldn’t afford the payments. After he kidnapped Suzie from you, he ‘con’ vinced her to make his car payments. So what does all this mean…? ha

10/19/15 02:14 PM

#2765

Rex , This is a very good question that is going to take great deal of thought and meditation, I must have more time.to see why someone would buy a Ford.

10/19/15 03:01 PM

#2766

Help me !!! Help me.....the Paranoids are after me.

10/19/15 04:32 PM

#2767

Pat Sullins (Carpenter)

Hmmmmmmm....I thought it was a black 1963 Ford 406.

10/19/15 04:52 PM

#2768

Turley,

Gilmore and I are just having some "Ford Fun"... Not to worry. After my '53 Stude sans '57 Vette, came a metallic blue '61 Ford Starliner 2 door HD. 3 speed on the column with overdrive. After tweaking the 390 with a slight .060 bore & 3/4 Duntov cam, it was better suited for our obligable road races leaving Greer's Saturday night Midnite arriving 'Amarillo by Morning' around 3:15 AM for coffee & breakfast at Denny's sprinkled with wild stories about ditching the State Police and local fuzz. Can you believe we would do this race at times for only a case of Coors..? Then came Bronson with a '58 Chevy Impala in LA followed by a '69 Pontiac GTO, Just so all you know, Ford in those early days was easier to change plugs, replace the points and condenser, because the distributer was mounted up front on the motor. The only time I hated Chevys was cuz their distributor was way back in the rear next to the fire wall. Try to get your feeler gauge to gap yer points in dem days. Speaking of how reliable Fords are: I've owned (6) Ranchero's over the years. '57, 67, 71, 73, 78, and a '79 the last of the Mohicans (still have it). So Turley you can come out and play now cause I'm probably gonna catch some heat from Gilmore for all my Fords. "Built Ford Tough"!! Ha

Gilmore,

I remember you driving up to Greer's one day and you wanted us to hear this record you had in your car. You had a '45 record player mounted on the open door of your glove box. The song was by the Beatles "I want to hold your hand". This was in late 1963 way before eight track and cassettes came out. You were way ahead of your time. Been meaning to ask. Did the player run from the 12V DC battery or did you use a 120 VAC inverter? Was that a Ford or Chevy you drove then?

Pat, Steve's black '63 Ford was a 427 (425) fueled by a single body 8 barrel carburetor (two four barrel carbs). I helped Steve install a quick-change rear end, So it was very easy to change the gear ratio. (from 2.60 to 5.87) ins flash. He would lose a race on purpose then come back in 10 minutes to totally blow away the same car. A few times he raced for the title like the guy with a white 409 from Colorado. He snuck out of town. Never saw him again.

Turley will probably want to split hairs over all the embellishments here... but if he tried using a 9/16 socket wrench instead of pair of vise grips, he might be able to remove those bolts next time. ha

10/19/15 05:14 PM

#2769

Ok Looney's car was a black '63 Ford. It was a Galaxy not an SS. SS was chevy Super Sport. Engine could have been a 427 or a 406. Just a side note what Ford called 427 was actually 425 cid. It was some bs with Nascar about calling it a 427. The story was that Suzy Wong (Taylor) was making his payments. It is all hearsay and not admissible in court.

FORD......Fix Or Repair Daily.

I took a lot of grief for being a Ford guy

10/19/15 05:21 PM

#2770