Building for the Future - Second City Motors

Our friend and fellow enthusiast Jeffrey Lane, leader of the 1/43rd & Automobilia Show in Countryside, is also a budding white metal craftsman. Jeff has long curated an enviable collection of handcrafted models from Brooklin, Motor City, Conquest, etc. and he's more recently turned to commissioning models for his own line of cars called, appropriately enough, Second City Motors. I consider myself fortunate to have one of the handful of his Ford Wagons in my collection.

Well, last fall Jeff took the next step in growing his capacity by building a garage space for a casting and assembly room. Here's an update he recently shared with me:

"This has been in the works for a long time, but like anything worthwhile it takes time, effort and money. Mostly time and effort, especially when doing it all solo. I’ve discussed the idea of a shop visit and an event at my home that would compliment the 1/43rd show for several years now, but I haven’t been ready, although I’ve had the casting machines and equipment about 5 years now. The project is moving forward with a new overhead door, insulating and sheeting the ceiling, and a new electrical panel and conduit going in as well but no power yet. The ground is frozen so I can’t dig the trench. I'm doing most of it myself so I have to prioritize, and for now that means finishing everything inside to get drywall up and taped by the end of January."

"On the shop side, I have 4 casting machines, two vulcanizers, a melting pot and multiple mini lathes and milling machines, plus all the hand tools and spray equipment."

"I have been blessed to be connected with my idol Pete Kenna after buying the last of the Motor City patterns from him. Never in my 1/43rd collecting life would I ever have imagined all these things coming together, but it has.  It’s only a matter of getting the opportunity to do the work without any major distractions and I’m off.  Lots of cool stuff on the drawing board!"

I know you'll join me in wishing Jeff godspeed on his mission as we wait with excitement for future announcements of what I'm sure will be cherished models in our collections.