What was the bag hanging on the hood ornament?
When they were driving out to the military base the first time there is a bag hanging from the hood ornament. What is it?
shareIt's a water bag to supplement the water in the radiator and keep the engine from over-heating.
shareHey! thanks, I didnt think anyone was going to answer.
shareIt is a water bag that is cooled by moisture evaporation through the canvas cover.
Used for drinking as well
shareIn the 1940s-1960s, you could drive to Las Vegas from Los Angeles and find gas stations selling the water bags. I remember seeing them in Bakersfield, Riverside, Palm Springs and Barstow for sale around 1960 when we drove to Las Vegas. We bought one and I remember my dad filling the radiator a few miles from town when the radiator was boiling over.
shareBefore the days of antifreeze and recycling water resevoir tanks on the car radiators being standard equipment (maybe from the late 60's on), the water would literally evaporate enough that you had to add water every so often, especially in the desert country. The "desert bag" was one way to carry extra water with you in those situations. Cars have come a long ways since then...!
Regards,
Steve
Rsgre...100% correct. They can still be seen in parts of the outback here in Australia. Back in the 60s and early 70s my dad always tied one on the front of the grill of his car during long trips into the country.
shareOf course you have to add water to the radiator. It boils over and loses water because that bag is hanging there and blocking off the cooling air to half the radiator!
Another interesting anachronism from the 40-50s is the tubular shaped evaporative air conditioner that mounted at the top of the window, usually in the passenger's door.