The Original OrrieG

[OrrieG]

I use my grandfathers name to honor the time he spent and the knowledge he passed on to me about these old rigs. I grew up at his side tinkering with old Chevies. A couple of weeks ago I was going through some of my Dad's stuff, we had to put him in an assisted living center and I am responsible for all his affairs.

I have always been frustrated that there were not more pictures of the old folks, or me as a child. I'd ask Dad about it and he would say there were probably some around and sometime we could get together to look at them. Since he lived 8 hours away the times to look were not to often and he always had something else to do.

Anyway I found this picture that tells a lot about Orrie Gilroye. He is standing next his 31 Chevy and faithful hound dog. It is obvious he loves the car and dog and is feeling good about himself and the world. I found the hat he is wearing in my Dad's stuff and added it to my collection too.

[STOCKISH]

Thats a really cool pic!

[Kim57]

Very cool.
Kim

[ambryatim]

Awesome!!

I love old pictures like that....it is almost like you have your own personal time machine, looking into pictures like that.

[Daniel U]

Cool stuff!

[lonelywanderer]

thats a super cool pic, i love how the dog is on the runningboard all posing

[Russell Ashley]

Neat picture, wonder what year it was. Looks like the car had a sidemount spare tire.

[OrrieG]

It is a 31 Chevy, my Dad always talked about it. Hole for the spare, who knows where it went. Here is a pic of me in the same hat. It was his special occasion hat, I have pictures that span from the late 30's to 62 when he died wearing it. I have a couple more of his hats (I'm a hat guy) that were more utilitarian and worn every day.

[steve53]

gramps had style! any stories on what happened to the 31?

[OrrieG]

I assume he had it before and during wwII. In 1948 he bought a used 1946 Chevy 1/2 ton panel for his carpentry business. I found the original receipt. That is the truck I remember running around with him in.

My dad had a 31 too for a few years, it may be the same car, but I have no pictures of my dad and the car. One of our family stories is my Dad, Mom, Grandmother and me (age 1 or so) going deer hunting in the 31. They screwed up and got a deer, which for some reason ended up either in the back seat or trunk area. Anyway by the time they got home the deers fleas had bailed and were finding new homes on my Grandmother and me in the back seat. Also taking a liking to the mohair uplostrey. I got a bunch of flea bites and it took them a long time to get them out of the car.

After that they always draped them over the front fenders. I remember when I was about 8 my uncle and one of his kids both shot some nice buck and they came by the house with one draped the the crease between each front fender and hood on his 54 Buick Convertible, quite the scene.

The 46 is still sort of in the family. I tried from the time I was 18 to late 30's to get my dad to sell it to me as I watched it sitting around. A few years later he offered it to me, but it was rusted so bad (I thought) and I did not have the skill level I do now that I passed. I also figured I would get so mad working on it knowing it didn't need to get that messed up that there would be no enjoyment in the process. He gave it to a brother who cleaned it up and kept stored indoors for 10 more years but never had the time or money to restore it. Dad then decided he would do it (mid 90's now) but blanched when the body shops said it would need cowl, side and barn doors bottoms, rear quarters and barn door sill, lowere hinges and probably the windshield done for around 10-12K to get it to primer. I offered to help finance part of it but he decided no go and parked it in his shop. in 2004 he sold it to another brother (who never paid anything on it). Supposedly it is in a shop some where disassembled as my brother works on it, but I know he does not have the skills and has some life style issues that are in the way. My guess is where ever it is the pieces have slowing disappeared. He might show up some day so I can find where its at and see if its something I want to tackle.

[OrrieG]

Wanted to see my new avatar, found an old pit pass from Balboa in the late 60's in my Dad's stuff. Also found a bunch of photos of Orrie, Dad and I as a kid working on buildings and cars. They had a beautiful 39-40 Suburban I don't remember but wish had stayed in the family. Should get them posted here this weekend.

[OrrieG]

Here are some of the photos I found at my Dad's last weekend. His 10 year old 39 Suburban, him working on it, my grandmother and her 31 Chevy and dog Stub, and one of Orrie in his work duds in the 40's. Also one of Orrie and my Dad next to the work truck, looks to be late 20's or early 30's Chevy 1 ton or bigger. His trade was carpenter, brick layer and plasterer. If you have any old family photos do your heirs a favor and write on the back who, where and when it was taken. I found the sales receipt for the 31 Chevy Sedan, they paid $35 for it.

[1956cameo]

Very cool old pictures! What I wouldn't give to have that old suburban!!

[Panelman55]

Thats was when a dollar was worth something.... Thanks for sharing the great photos..