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My Mother's Studebaker Car Named Tillie
Studebaker Car Photo
Memories of Past Times
When my younger brothers and I were youngsters living in the beautiful countryside of Wisconsin, my mother had an old Studebaker car and her name was "Tillie." We were fortunate in that my mother was a stay at home mom.
My dad drove his car into the City of Milwaukee each day to go to work which was about 30 miles east from where we lived. Thirty miles seemed quite the distance back then.
Of course roads have been greatly improved since those days and today we think nothing of traveling a similar distance all within this city where we now reside just to go to a symphony performance or even to go out to a special restaurant or to go to a friend's house for an evening of camaraderie.
Tillie
At the time we thought nothing of the fact that my mother referred to her car as Tillie.
My dad's car did not have a special name and why my mother's car was so named, I have no idea. We all just took it as a matter of course that Tillie was a part of our family's landscape of possessions at the time.
What made this car so special?
Plenty!
Post World War II
In those days of growing up in the 1950s and following "the war to end all wars" (sadly that was not the case!) not every family was fortunate enough to have a second car as well as a stay at home mom.
My parents worked hard and were thrifty in their spending habits and also believed in saving for a rainy day.
They had built the house in which I first remember living. My memories did not capture the earlier days of living in a cottage on the lake next door to my paternal grandmother.
Ah but I do remember the Studebaker car named Tillie!
Why was Tillie so Memorable?
First of all, the cloth lining on the roof interior of the car had started disintegrating. When there was more of it hanging down than remaining attached to the roof, my parents decided to just remove all the remaining fragments.
I have no idea if a new headliner was not in their budget or if they just decided that Tillie deserved a new more distinctive look. Whatever the case may have been, the interior roof was painted instead.
My mother seemed pleased and after all it was her second hand car to do with as she wished.
In addition to no headliner, the primary reason that Tillie was unlike most other cars was the condition of her heater.
Few cars back in those days offered air conditioning. Windows were simply rolled down and whatever breezes passed through the car offered a bit of respite from the summer heat.
However in Wisconsin the cold weather lasts for many months of the year.
All cars of which I was familiar did provide heaters. Tillie's heater was obviously just plain old and worn out.
That is not to say that Tillie's heater did not work. It worked but sadly just about at the end of any trip a faint bit of heat would start coming out of her.
Since we lived in the country and attended a private school, my mother would drive us there and pick us up each day. In the dead of winter, we would all be bundled up and shiver all the way to school. My mother tried her best to convince us that it was merely invigorating! Ha!
My mother and me in 1958.
Kids of a certain age like to blend in with their peers.
Even though some other friend's parents did not even own a second car, the fact that Tillie was so different embarrassed my brothers and me back then. We would ask my mother not to drop us off right by the school doors, but to stay back a bit in the small parking lot so that other kids would not see us exiting from Tillie.
How silly and my mother and I have often laughed about the old Studebaker named Tillie and those times of bygone days. Remembering her on this day, Mother's Day, with love and memories of all the many years that we shared together...even those days with her car, Tillie.
Where We Lived at the Time
Oconomowoc, Wisconsin - Do you have funny car stories?
Studebaker Car History
The new craze now-a-days is the thought of using more hybrid cars which can travel further without spending so much money on fueling them with gasoline.
The history of Studebaker is interesting.
Did you know that Studebaker actually made electric cars a couple of years before they introduced those powered by gasoline?
The gasoline powered ones came along in the year 1904. They were heavily marketed and sold beginning in 1912 and until they closed their last manufacturing operation in 1966, they were well received by the public and were known for their quality.
For many years when we lived in the Bear Creek subdivision in Houston, Texas, our next door neighbor could be seen working on his vintage Studebaker cars and or trucks. He spent many of his free hours in his garage or driveway lovingly restoring these vehicles. It was a thrill for him to take an old possibly rusted out non working vehicle and get it shined up and operational.
There are Studebaker meets (conventions) where like minded individuals take their vintage cars and meet up in various states. In 2013, it was in Colorado Springs, Colorado and the hosts were the Pikes Peak chapter. Our neighbors attended that convention as they do many others in various places around the country.
While my early memories of the Studebaker car named Tillie might not have been the greatest, I have come to appreciate their beauty and uniqueness over the years especially because of being exposed to them with our next door neighbor's love of the brand.
Do you have special memories or stories related to the Studebaker? If so, please mention them in the comment section below. Thanks!
© 2010 Peggy Woods
Comments are welcomed!
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Hi Paul,
I am not sure where the Studebaker cars were manufactured. I guess we could put in a search and find out. Glad you liked the old photos. Does that make us old? Ha Ha!
Peggy, This hub is awesome and it certainly brings back memories. I also remember a neighbor or relative having a Studebaker in the 1950s. When my dad first started farming in 1954, he worked at Allis Chalmers in West Allis and drove 30 miles back and forth from near Mukwonago. Did Studebaker have any manufacturing plants in Wisconsin? I remember that one of my neighbors worked at an auto plant in Kenosha. I like your old pictures very much. Voted up as awesome and interesting and sharing with HP followers.
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Hi amazmerizing,
It was fun learning about some of the names you gave your cars. One of mine some years ago we nicknamed the 'mulch mobile' because it had a large trunk and we often transported bags of mulch from the nursery to our yard and garden areas. Ha!
Hi there great hub... and yes we all name our cars in my family... the earkiest one I remember was VOVO which of course was really a Volvo haha kids right? We also had a travelall named the tortuga cuz it was huge and green. My first car was the copper penny.
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Hi Au fait,
Nice that this hub had you strolling down memory lane also with regard to cars that your parents had. Too bad about your daughter's experience with that Prius hybrid car and the cost of batteries. Certainly something to consider! Appreciate the pin. That sounds like a great title for a Pinterest board! :)
What a lovely tribute to your mother and a great walk down memory lane too! We had a Studebaker for a second car for a while. I'm not sure what year it was, but I think early 50s. We had a Packard for a while too.
You mentioned the hybrid cars that many people are choosing nowadays. My daughter recently tried to buy a used Prius, 7-years old. As you know they work on both gasoline and battery. Well, the battery gave out after only a few days and has to be replaced. She said it would cost something like $4,000!! I checked online and the least expensive battery for a prius I could find was over $1350. I wonder if a person really saves given the initial cost of the vehicle (new) and then what happens if the battery or battery pack wears out. The battery pack I saw online was over $3600.
Daughter gave the car back to the owner. I'm told he's going to get it repaired. So for now she's depending on others for her transportation.
Really enjoyed this article. Wonderful photos and you're so lucky to have them. Pinning this to my board, "Fun & Interesting Subjects."
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Hi Indian Chef,
Sounds like you also have great memories of your first car. Glad that you liked the photos. Thanks for your votes and the share.
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Hi Stephanie,
We wouldn't have considered going to church back in those days without our gloves being worn. I still have some of them for old times sake safely tucked away in a drawer. Happy to hear that you enjoyed this hub about my mother's old Studebaker car named Tillie and thanks for the vote and the share. :)
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Hi Dolores,
Ah yes...Wisconsin winters were fun riding in that just about heat-less old Studebaker car. As I stated...it would eventually kick in and start working but it did not do us any good as the trip would have just about been over by then. We were just bundled up like we were going outside when we rode in that car when the weather was cold. Makes me smile now just thinking about it. :)) Thanks for your comment.
Our First car was maruti 800. It was small car but very good though it did not have air conditioning in it. Still have lots of memories of that car. loved the picture of you in boots. Voting up, awesome and shairing
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Hi tillsontitan.
Yes........Tillie lives on, at least in memory! :)) So glad that you liked this and I appreciate your comment and the votes.
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Hi Mary,
Thanks for the pin to Pinterest. That Studebaker photo is actually a Wikimedia Commons photo. I don't think that I have an actual photo of my mother's car. Ah...but the memories of it are vivid. :))
I love your stories and get quite a kick out of the old family photographs that you share with us. We grew up in the same era, and I have vivid memories of my mother and I wearing little white gloves when we got dressed up. Thanks for sharing your fun memories of Tillie and your Mom! Voted up and sharing!
Hi Peggy - I loved the story about your mom and her car. Back then, I think a lot of second cars were a bit funky but driving around in Wisconsin winters without heat must have been a bit more than invigorating! I love old cars, they all seem to bring back memories!
I think we all have some memories of the 'older' cars we grew up with. You certainly brought Tillie back to life in this enjoyable hub!
Voted up, awesome, and interesting.
No, unfortunately, I don't have a photo of Daddy's '29 Dodge. You are so blessed to have all these wonderful photos from your family.
Just came back to let you know I Pinned this Hub!
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Hi Mary,
Your memory of that old car would make for a great hub. Do you have any photos of it? Glad that you enjoyed this hub about my mother's old Studebaker car. Thanks for the vote & share.
What a precious memory of Tillie! My Daddy had a 1929 Dodge that had wooden wheel spokes. We always had to give him a push down the hill in front of our house in order for him to start the car.
Loved your photos, especially of you in the boots.
Voted up, and shared.
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Hi moonlake,
Wow...that is quite a story! No wonder you remember that old Studebaker car. Sounds like a great subject for a hub? :))
I remember our old Studebaker. We were going through Texas dead of winter and a snow storm in Dallas the back window blew out and we had to hold a blanket over the window till we could get somewhere to get it fixed. Enjoyed your hub voted up.
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Hi Sunnie,
I'll bet that the cars your dad restored looked great after he was finished with them. Our former next door neighbor always had a Studebaker car in his garage that he was working on and restoring. Fun to see those old vintage cars, like you said. Thanks for your comment.
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Hi Au fait,
So glad that you enjoyed reading this hub. I don't think that either of my parents ever named a car after my mother's old Studebaker. Ah...but mention the name Tillie, and that car instantly comes into focus in my memories. Rather fun! :)) Thanks for the comment, votes and the share.
Hi Peg,
I really enjoyed reading this hub about your mom and old Studebaker car. I am like you I love the old vintage cars and when we are young, we just cant appreciate the classy cars. My dad used to restore old cars and talk about sharp once he was done. To this day I am always pointing them out. Thank you for sharing. I loved the pictures as well.
Take care,
Sunnie
What a great hub and a walk down Memory Lane! You and your mom are so pretty in those photos. I've seen pictures of an old Studebaker my parents used to own. I remember one of my brothers used to have an old Lincoln that he called Jezebel. ;) I really enjoy reading hubs about days gone by and getting to peek into the past and see how things were from the vantage of people who lived then rather than reading it in a history book with tiny print and no pictures. ;)
Voting you up, interesting, beautiful, and awesome! Will share.
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Hi Rajan,
Our former next door neighbor always had a vintage Studebaker in his garage that he would be working on and restoring. Like you mentioned, it is fun to see the old cars on the streets on occasion. Quite often in nearby Bear Creek Park, they will have gatherings where people show off their vintage cars. It is fun to walk around and see them and talk to the owners. Thanks for your comment.
Peggy, I love these old vintage cars and it was refreshing reading about your memories with one of these vintage beauties.
We had a Standard 10 in the late 50's. Even today I enjoy looking at these vintage cars that have been maintained exceedingly well by those who own them and when they are taken for a drive around town they become the focus of attraction due to their unique looks.
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Will put it in the idea box, oscillationatend. Actually I had already thought of doing it. May move it up a bit. Thanks for the prod.
Thanks! Hope to see you around =)
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Hi again oscillationatend,
That first new car turned out to be a bummer. Should write a hub about it! Think I will. Good luck with your new business and I do indeed think that you are funny. At least you bring a smile to my face and I "get" your humor. Best wishes!
Nice!
I've only purchased one semi-new car, but ended up not keeping it. We're now just a one car family, but I'm good with that. If I'm lucky the biz should be mostly home based anyway when it takes off. =)
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Hello oscillationatend,
My first new car was a 1970 Pontiac that had a white roof and was a nice body color of green. I was still single and living in the nurse's dorm in the Texas Medical Center. What a proud moment of new car ownership! :-) That was many years and cars ago!!!
Cute storry Peggy!
I remember some of my parents old cars, they were great! Kept in good shape.
My first car was an '89 chevy celebrity, with tinted windows. It was the pimp mobile.
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Hi reddog1037,
I agree with you that no matter what the story is...it is good to keep passing on family stories like this one about my mother's Studebaker car. It certainly left an impression upon us! Ha! Thanks for reading and leaving a comment.
What a delightful family memory. My family doesn't have any car stories but sitting down and remembering the good times helps keep family histories alive.
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Hi Micky Dee,
So...your aunt COULD have been among the first Studebaker NASCAR drivers! Ha! My short little mother-in-law had a very heavy foot when driving also! Not that she was NASCAR material.....
My Aunt had a Studebaker. I loved it. Boy she could drive that thing too. Alas- she lived too early too compete in NASCAR!
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Greetings Wayne Brown,
Happy to hear that you enjoyed this story about my Mother's Studebaker named Tillie. Thanks for leaving a comment.
I liked that a lot, Peggy! What a beautiful memory to associate with your mother. We had some relatives who owned a Studebaker. I was always fascinated by it. I think it was the pointed nose on the front. Great memories...thanks for sharing them.
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Hi Enelle,
Sounds to me as though you had the best backseat being seated on that raised armrest and being able to look out of the front window plus both side windows. Something to be said for being the youngest and smallest! Ha! Thanks for visiting this hub about my mother's Studebaker and leaving your comment.
We didn't have a studebaker, but we did have an old squarish station wagon (not the long, low, sleek kind) with a finicky column shifter. It also had a wide, fold down armrest in the middle of the back seat that used to be my seat whenever we traveled. Being that I was the youngest, and smallest, it afforded me an excellent view through the windshield - as both my sisters had the window seats!
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Hi jacobkuttyta,
Glad you enjoyed reading this hub about my Mother's old car, the Studebaker named Tillie. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Nice hub
Enjoyed reading it.
Thanks
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Greetings timelesshotrods,
So Loki was not a good car for you! Nice that your next unnamed car was a real performer. I don't think that after "Tillie" my mother ever named another car either. Ha!
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Hi Candie,
Here is to the Betsy's and Tillie's of the car kingdom! Happy to hear that this hub about my mother's Studebaker brought back memories for you. :-)
I named my first car "Loki", named after the Norse mythology god who caused trouble. And trouble that car was, always leaving me stranded or breaking down. It finally got totalled in a car accident, and I decided to not name my next car and it was the best car I ever had!
My father called our 66 LeMans "Betsy"! I'd forgotten that till I read your wonderful hub! Thanks Peggy!!
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Hi robie2,
So happy that you enjoyed this story of my mother's Studebaker and the 1950's setting in which it was placed. My dad drove the station wagon in our family and it was definitely more comfortable...at least the heater worked! Ha! Nice to hear that you also have good memories from that time.
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Hi saddlerider1,
So you had your old car memories also. Thanks for sharing yours. Hey........nothing wrong with sleeping with socks on in the winter! Makes sense to me. Ha! Heating systems have improved since earlier days...but it is still nice to snuggle up under blankets, wearing socks, etc. Unfortunately in Houston, most of the year we have the opposite situation...that of needing air conditioning to stay comfortable.
This past winter was much colder than normal...even some most unusual snow days! Many nights I wore socks to bed. :-)
I love the story and the pictures and the '50's memories they churned up for me. I used to love the look of the Studebaker as a little kid-- to me it looked very modern, like a space ship and so different from the sedate sedans my parents drove. I love your memories of that time, your family, and of course, Tillie--t hanks for sharing.
It's so comforting to have those pleasant memories of your mom and her Studebaker car. I had my 57 chevy and it had molding that kept peeling off, but she ran beautifully. Oh I remember those days of very little heat when I drove in the Canadian winters, brrrrrr. I also remember being cold in our house and sleeping with my winter coat on and thick socks.lol those were the days, and thanks for sharing some of yours.
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Hi Mike,
You have some great memories as well. Wouldn't you just know it...now I have the "Yellow Submarine" tune going round and round in my mind. Ha! Also Bob Hope's "Thanks for the memories..." Thanks for stopping by and reading about my mother's Studebaker named Tillie. A long ago...but vivid memory! :-)
What a great memory from your childhood, and the photos were terrific, as well. My sister's first car was a 57 Nash Rambler with a Continental Kit on the back, and she drove me to my friends' houses and doctors' appointments in it. The car was 10 years old when she got it, and I remember singing the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine" on the way home from the doctor. It periodically flooded, and she would take a stick and open up the breather to start the car when it wouldn't start.
Great days. As Bob Hope would sing, "Thanks for the memories..."
Mike
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Hi Frieda,
So happy to hear that you enjoyed the story of my Mother's Studebaker, Tillie. Also glad to know that the photos pleased you. It was fun looking through the photo albums choosing these to insert into this hub. As a child, I loved growing up in the country! Thanks for the visit and comment.
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Greetings Hello, hello,
No...Tillie the Studebaker is no longer in our lives...just our memories. Prior to selling our two houses and finding one that suited my mother, husband and myself several years ago, our then next door neighbor collected and worked on Studebakers. So we often got to see them. Thanks for visiting this hub.
Love this post. Had to share it. Gorgeous gorgeous photos.
Thank you for sharing your memories with us. I really enjoyed every word. I hope you still have it because they are the most collectable cars.
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Hi agusfanani,
Glad that you enjoyed this story of my Mother's Studebaker, Tillie. Thanks for the nice compliment.
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Hi Louise,
Mother's Day without my Mother has indeed been difficult as this is the first one. Thanks for the sweet words of comfort.
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Hi Cheryl,
Thanks! Yes, my mother truly enjoyed life and also people in her life. You were one of those special people!
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Hi habee,
Guess there were many Studebaker fans. Hope your grandmother's Studebaker kept people warm when needed! Ha!
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Hi dahoglund,
I don't know the year of my mother's Studebaker...just that the heater was surely on life support if even that. Ha!
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Greetings CASE1WORKER,
If you mean having more stories...I have plenty! This story about my Mother's Studebaker whose name was Tillie is just the tip of the iceburg so-to-speak. Thanks for the visit.
Wow, you have wonderful memories in the family , and you're able to present them in extraordinarily interesting way.
Peggy, thank you for sharing these sweet memories of your dear mother. I know you miss her very much, especially today. She is watching over you and now loves you from afar.
Fun memories to cherish. Your Mom was very beautiful and appreciated life. Always a beautiful smile.
Loved this! My grandmother drove a powder blue Studebaker.
I really like Studebakers. One of my first cars was one of the old ones but I can't remember the year. I was thinking 1947 but I'm not sure. As far as heaters go, I think they had better heaters than other cars did until the mid-fifties or whenever fresh air heaters were introduced.I always wanted one of the Golden Hawks but never got one.
thankyou, hopefully you have more|?
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Hello suziecat7,
It is funny what children remember. Guess the fact of Tillie not offering much heat and looking different stuck in my mind. Also laughing about it through the years with my mother helped reinforce the memory. Have fun with your children and hopefully you can all share happy memories in the future together. Thanks for the visit and comment.
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Hi Putz Ballard,
My mother and I had laughed and spoken about Tillie through the years. I'll miss those days of talking about "the good old days" with her now that she is gone. This just popped into my head today for some reason and it brought back some happy memories. Glad that you liked this little story.
I also loved this story. Such great memories. I wonder what our children will remember with fondness years from now. Great Hub.
I just loved reading your story, thank you for sharing.
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