Popular Science Monthly -
July 1955 p204
Scan of original article (pdf format)
The Life and Times of Gus
Wilson
(continued from page
202)
him along to be a
fine mechanic. In 1943, a timid 15 year old began helping out after school;
his name was Stan Hicks. Gus promoted Stan to full-time mechanic in 1948,
and Greg Jones took over the pumps and grease rack.
There were many regular customers; Agatha Tarlin, who baffled Stan by
demanding "petrol"; Mr. Spinker, who loathed people who didn't get his name
right; Jason Evants, who wore sneakers and thought his car was fond of him;
Senator Bombey, who gave cigars only to persons of voting age; Mrs. Miller
who always made Gus happy that he was a bachelor; and Kiskum, a Bohemian
with an odd accent ("Me displeased person-displeased by landlord-no kesh!")
Over the years Gus
has occasionally given glimpses into his unrecorded past. He was
wounded in World War I ("I didn't duck quick enough"), and he did some
successful motorcycle racing in the early Twenties. Once in 1930 he
helped a youth hot up what seems to have been a Stutz so that it won
back-road scratch race. His mechanical skill isn't limited to autos; he has
deftly repaired a number of trucks and tractors, a fire engine, an airplane,
a motorcycle, a cabin cruiser, an outboard motor, and a power lawnmower.
Joe
was here.
Martin Bunn has conspicuously not reported on Joe Clark recently. But
Joe is-or was-both half owner of the Model Garage and for more than a
quarter of a century Gus's best friend. Joe was last seen in June,
1949 when his nephew took him for a plane hop and the weather closed in so
suddenly that only frantic work by Gus and Jerry Corcoran got them down
safely. It may be that Joe retired t Florida, comfortable on his half
of the modest but steady profits. Or it may be that Doc Marvin,
finding that he has a bum ticker, has told him to take things easier.
In any event, Joe is alive and well somewhere. In the bright and busy
world of the Model Garage that is assured.
END
