Dr. Cranky Posted July 10, 2012 Posted July 10, 2012 I confess I did not know anything about Mr. Hines before 2004 when he appeared (and captured a whole new group of fans) in MONSTER GARAGE. Since then, I have been a huge fan of the fact that he has not changed his routine for over 70 years. And, of course, the fact that he still has his trademark cigar. I've never met the man, but his work and dedication speaks volumes not only for the folks who do real cars, but for us model builders. So I am hoping those of you who've met him or have stories about him can chime in. No doubt, he is one of the greats, so everything and anything you want to share is welcomed here. Here's a great place to start for all his new fans: http://www.kustomrama.com/index.php?title=Bill_Hines Mr. Rik Hoving has a wonderful Bill Hines archive over in his Fotki. Check it out here: http://public.fotki.com/rikster/11_car_photos/beautiful_custom_cars/bill_hines/ LONG LIVE THE LED AND THE CIGAR SMOKE, Mr. Hines! Your fan, Doctor Cranky
RancheroSteve Posted July 10, 2012 Posted July 10, 2012 Indeed! I was at the Oakland Roadster Show about ten or so years back when my buddy pointed him out to me and hipped me to his work. Good to see him getting his due - one of the greats!
Joker Posted July 10, 2012 Posted July 10, 2012 Thanks for the links Doc. Mr. Hines is a true metal magician.
Von Don Koolkat Posted July 12, 2012 Posted July 12, 2012 Quality wise, Bill does the BEST work! THE Craftsman!
Jon Cole Posted July 12, 2012 Posted July 12, 2012 Jeez, Doc! When I read this post, I thought Bill may have passed away! "Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated"
Dr. Cranky Posted September 9, 2012 Author Posted September 9, 2012 Happy 90th Birthday, Mr. Hines. Wow, and he is still slinging led.
moparmagiclives Posted September 9, 2012 Posted September 9, 2012 There has to be so much chemical in his body, I hope the skip the candles this year. He was from the generation of true craftsmen, the kind that any kid should have in their life. Be it in person or an article in a magazine. Something to make you go, "you can really do that???"
Dr. Cranky Posted September 9, 2012 Author Posted September 9, 2012 And he still smoking the stoggies.
Draggon Posted September 10, 2012 Posted September 10, 2012 Met him at the Oakland Roadster Show, back when it was at the Oakland Coliseum. One of the really true craftsmen in our decade!
mini trucker Posted September 10, 2012 Posted September 10, 2012 And he still smoking the stoggies. Could you please stop advocating smoking on here please, we have forum members who are young and impressionable along with many older members who have given the habit up for various reasons. Smoking is a terrible habit to have and an even worse one to break! With regards to the real topic Bill is deff a true craftsman when it comes to the kustum kar game, his chopped folding top mechanisms are fabulous pieces of machinery themselves.
Von Don Koolkat Posted September 10, 2012 Posted September 10, 2012 I've known Bill for years and talk to him every year at Santa Maria. He is happy to do a model show pick there for me (in my latest issue).. He is a real gentleman and craftsman. The stogie is his trademark. Bill was well known LONG BEFORE Monster Garage.
peekay Posted September 10, 2012 Posted September 10, 2012 I'm a recovering lung cancer patient but after seeing Bill Hines at work I'm thinking of getting some stoggies. Seems to be the secret to a good paint job.
southpier Posted September 10, 2012 Posted September 10, 2012 i think breathing lead, burning slag, and grindings don't help much, either. but if you get 90 years of fun out of it, maybe it's all worth it. http://www.kustomrama.com/index.php?title=Bill_Hines http://www.ahrf.com/legends/bill-hines/
Dr. Cranky Posted September 10, 2012 Author Posted September 10, 2012 Joe, thanks for the video. My "And he is still smoking stoggies" was in no way intended as an endorsement for smoking cigars or using tabacco. It was just a statement of fact, as in he gets up in the morning, he gets dressed, he goes to work, he slings led and does body work, and he chews on a cigar. That's what he does. They are all true facts.
Junkman Posted September 10, 2012 Posted September 10, 2012 (edited) Joe, thanks for the video. My "And he is still smoking stoggies" was in no way intended as an endorsement for smoking cigars or using tabacco. It was just a statement of fact, as in he gets up in the morning, he gets dressed, he goes to work, he slings led and does body work, and he chews on a cigar. That's what he does. They are all true facts. How close to a neurosis must one be to interpret "And he is still smoking stoggies" as promoting smoking? What's next? "He is still driving a motorcar" is promoting global warming? I visited Mr. Hines in his workshop back in the Nineties, and he has a peculiar way to light those stoggies - he lights an oxyacetylene torch with a lighter, then lights his stoggie with the torch. Edited September 10, 2012 by Junkman
Dr. Cranky Posted September 11, 2012 Author Posted September 11, 2012 Eric, Bill is only 90. LOL! But I wish him 100 and beyond.
peekay Posted September 11, 2012 Posted September 11, 2012 His shop had more than a dozen cats and stuff everywhere. So THAT'S the secret to a good paint job!
Tom Setzer Posted September 12, 2012 Posted September 12, 2012 I first met Bill at one of the Motoramas' but I don't remember the exact year, It was a very long time ago! I have seen and talk to him only a few times since then!
Dr. Cranky Posted September 12, 2012 Author Posted September 12, 2012 I just hope most of these master craftsmen are passing down their craft to another generation, although in the next fifty years or so there might not be anything left on the planet to restore. Between the old metal disappearing and the fact that good looking cars are extinct, well . . . it might just be a dying art form like a few others I can think of.
Tom Setzer Posted September 12, 2012 Posted September 12, 2012 Virgil there are a few that I know have passed on their skiils to a younger generation: The Greatest Metal smith of all Marcel has passed His Skills to his sons, who now do a lot of the metal crafting at Marcel's shop, Olson that did all the metal work at the Old So-Cal Speed and Customs, passed his on to Jimmi Shine, Curtice in NC trained me and his son to do Metal work Using an English Wheel, I'm afraid I haven't passed those skills on,Sam Foose who did a lot of the Barris Cars including Sam Barris's Multi award winning Mercury leadsled passed his down to Chip Foose, and there are several others!
Jantrix Posted September 12, 2012 Posted September 12, 2012 I've heard from several people on the HAMB that Gene Winfield will teach just about anyone that walks into his shop.
Dr. Cranky Posted September 12, 2012 Author Posted September 12, 2012 Mr. Winfield is a class act from all the accounts I've heard and read about.
Junkman Posted September 12, 2012 Posted September 12, 2012 I've heard from several people on the HAMB that Gene Winfield will teach just about anyone that walks into his shop. I happen to know a 20ish kid from Sweden who just kind of moved into Mr. Winfield's shop one day and stayed until he got deported because his visa had expired. He learned so much in this odd year, that he now runs a custom shop in his homeland. Not only did Mr. Winfield tolerate this intruder being around for such a long time, he taught him everything he wanted to learn.
Dr. Cranky Posted September 12, 2012 Author Posted September 12, 2012 That's how the craft is passed down indeed.
Jon Cole Posted September 12, 2012 Posted September 12, 2012 Jeez, Crank, you freaked me out with that thread title! It sounds like Bill Hines passed on! Glad to hear he is alive and well!
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