In Search of Variety

Back in 1946, it wasn't that easy to find a full set of tires or competent mechanics.  Armand found three tires for his Ford in Brantford, Ontario and the fourth and final one in "monkey wards".

On the drive back from Brantford, he and Mary had a three hour delay because  the left front wheel bolts came loose as a result of a careless tire installation by "the Dunlap guy". Then the Ford suffered carburetor problems in Buffalo where a mechanic "fixed" it but the car acted up in Durham but got them home "hitting on 2 -3 cylinders".

Armand then wrote: "On our arrival, got a new mechanic (private- Mac Neman on Green Street) to check it; he said Ford valves almost never stick (i.e., my 10$ previous job unnecessary!), found that points had been put back wrong on distributor - fixed it in a 75 cent jiffy."


Armand had better luck with the arts and on that same day, July 9, 1946, wrote: "Our watercolor from the Costa RIcan artist Amighetti came and is very lovely."

That's the painting that hangs on my wall today so you can imagine my excitement when I found that sentence. I hope to find more written references to the painting, the artist, and the conversation that took place between Armand, Mary and Mr. Amighetti. Until then, I know that it arrived in Morgantown, West Virginia, nearly sixty-four years ago as Armand and Mary came sputtering into town in a Ford, hitting on only two to three cylinders.

Artwork: Francisco Amighetti (watercolor), my iPhone.