GLEN CHAFFIN:
CLASS OF 1954
Bellflower High SchoolClass of 1954
Bellflower, CA
GLEN's Story
NEW PROFILE
Glen Chaffin
I was born Nov. 6, 1935 in Bellflower California. A few years later our country was involved in World War 2. I remember the searchlights and air raid warnings and having to pull down our window shades at night. Those were scary years but we survived unscathed. I attended Bellflower high school and graduated with honors in 1954.
While in high school, my friend Jimmy Baker and I started having fun entertaining, We dressed as two hillbillies and sang funny songs which were parodies of current popular songs. We became very popular at school and were invited to perform on several radio and TV programs as well as several service organizations like the Shriners. We got to meet several popular performers at the time like Tennessee Earnie Ford. These were fun times but all ended when I joined the service.
My primary interest at the time was oil painting and art but realized that that was not going to provide the income needed for my ambitions and desired lifestyle. My parents could not afford to send me to college and for some reason no one ever told me about junior college. So I decided to join the Army with a stipulation that they would train me in electronics. I joined the Army Security Agency to avoid any combat and spent the next three years spying on the Soviet Union. I was sent to Scheryn, West Germany where I repaired the radios, transmitters and teletype equipment used to listen to the Soviet communications. In 1956 I stood next to a Soviet soldier guarding the infamous Berlin Wall at the Brandenburg Gate. While there, I listened to the Soviet Communications as they tried to put down the Hungarian revolution in October and November. In 1957 I was able to listen to the beeps from Sputnik, the first Soviet satellite put into orbit. Those were memorable years.
After leaving the service, my new found experience in electronics enabled me to gain a position with North American Aviation as an electronic technician specializing in microelectronics for navigation systems for ships, aircraft and submarines. Fortunately, my mechanical and electrical expertise enabled me to be promoted to engineer without a formal degree. While employed there the company transformed from North American Aviation to Rockwell Corporation and then on to Boeing corporation. I retired after 34 years of service.
Sixty years later and now a resident of Corona California I have seen many changes. As a young man I fell in love with the Model T Ford. In 1973 I started a business called Chaffins Garage Inc. We have been in business for 45 years. . Our charter was to sell Model T Ford parts for the hobby. A few years later we started manufacturing parts. We now manufacture over 300 new parts for the Model T Ford and supply all of the other dealers with our parts. Our gross sales now exceed $500,000.00.
Henry Ford’s Model T played a dramatic role in the transition of America to motorized transportation. Ford built over 15,000,000.00 Model T Fords from 1908 to 1927. It was part of the industrial revolution that replaced the horse and buggy with wheels.
One of the products we manufacture today is a product developed back in 1921. It’s called the Ruckstell Axle and was developed by Glover E. Ruckstell. It was very popular back then and still is today. It was developed to help the Model T climb hills. It is estimated that between 1921 and 1927 Ruckstell grossed over $40,000,000.00 from the sale of approximately 650,000. Ruckstell Axles. Truly a remarkable achievement and the only product ever endorsed by Henry Ford that he didn’t produce.
In my spare time I spent about 10 years researching everything I could find about Glover Ruckstell. I then proceeded to write a biography about him called “Glover E. Ruckstell And The Ruckstell Axle. Mr. Ruckstell was a very versatile and productive person. He took the millions he made selling Ruckstells and got his pilot’s license and started Grand Canyon Airlines in Boulder City, Nevada. He flew people into the Grand Canyon and Boulder Dam on sight seeing tours using Ford Tri-Motor aircraft. The book is quite popular and is still available today.
Another passion of mine was to restore my 126 year...Expand for more
old Victorian home in Corona, California. I bought the home over 50 years ago and have been restoring it ever since. However, it is much nicer today than it ever was. A photo I found showing the house and its owner and builder around 1900 shows an elaborately painted structure. The house when I purchased it was solid white and very non descript. We have since restored the original multi colored paint scheme. In addition, when the old town of Corona was torn down and destroyed, a big mistake by our city fathers, I was able to salvaged many of the old elaborate tin ceilings in the old buildings. I used these in restoring the house and it now has an elaborate ceiling decor it never had when new. When I first bought the home in 1964 all I knew about the original owner was his name, Jacob Stoner and that he owned several orange and lemon groves. He was a prominent resident of Corona at the time being a local business man, a director of the local bank and president of the Orange Heights Fruit Association. Since then I have unearthed much of the history and past residents of the home. I purchased the home from Mr Edmond O’Brien, a District Attorney for San Bernardino County.
Around 1997 I decided to drive my original, unrestored 1913 Model T Roadster in our local 4th of July parade. After the parade my wife, Theresa and I decided to just drive around town and enjoy the afternoon. We wound up at the old Sunnyslope Cemetery where many of the early Corona residents are buried. After entering the gates of the cemetery and traveling about 100 yards something told me to stop, so I did. After peering out of the car past my wife I was staring directly at the headstone of Jacob Stoner, the prominent citizen who had built my home. Something had led me directly to his grave! This was the experience of a lifetime. I now had the birth and death dates of Mr. Stoner, his wife, Ida and his son, Elmer. While restoring the house I found the old original wall paper from Elmer’s room with sail boats. In the kitchen we found Red Rooster wallpaper behind the old cabinets. Restoring the house was a very interesting project.
The house is now completely restored and only requires maintenance. My goal has been to truly retire and work on restoring my 1909, 1911 and 1914 Model T Fords. But that may never happen. While I have had a lot of interest in buying the business, no one has any money, so I may just dye working. 83 and going strong, no dementia and still walking. But most of all, a loving wife and five children between us. What more could you ask for?
Another passion of mine has been ancestry. I have spent countless hours in research and have written a Chaffin Family History dating back to Scotland and 1725. Perhaps that is why I have been thrifty all my life!
My wife loves to travel. We have been fortunate to do a little traveling to Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Tahiti, Morea and my roots in Tennessee. Hope to do a lot more traveling. Glen
ORIGINAL PROFILE
We served in the Army Security Agency from June 1955 to June, 1958 spending two years in Germany. I held the rank of Sergeant. After my service I joined North American Aviation, Autonetics devision and worked as an electronic technician. I attended Fullerton Junior College and graduated from Long Beach City College in 1969. I was promoted to Electrical Engineer around 1980 and designed and fabricated Micro-electronics for Navigation Systens for Missles, aircraft, surface ships and submarines.. I retired in 1992 after 33 years. In 1973 I started my own company known as Chaffin's Garage Inc.. We manufacture and sell parts for the Model T Ford. I currently have four Model T Fords of my own and help people all over the world restore their cars.
I am currently married to Theresa, my second wife, I have two sons and Theresa has one son and two daughters. Together we have 10 grandchildren. I think we have done our part in promoting the family line. We live in Corona in a beautiful Victorian home built in 1892. I plan on living to be 150 in order to complete all of my wifes projects. I'm now half way there plus one year. Life is good and so are the memories.
Register for Free to view all details!
Yearbooks
Reunions
Register for Free to view all events!
Photos
