Al Brass

1941 - 1945, MB, GPW Technical questions and discussions, regarding anything related to the WWII jeep.
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Paul FitzGerald
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Re: Al Brass

Post by Paul FitzGerald » Tue Feb 13, 2018 9:35 am

To add to Chucks post. Al was at the national in Portland 2008, Beryl and my wife went shopping and had a GREAT time. They stayed at our place for a few days and their company was a pleasure to behold. We had a great time. Al was full of life and a great guy. Very full of knowledge and a good (although sometimes warped sense of humor) He chased after the dog and drove Sally Ann crazy. And he will be missed. If you don't know is address here it is. Hope it is OK to post the address
Beryl Brass
12 Earl St.
Christchurch 8022, New Zealand
Send Beryl a card if you would like.
RIP. AL
Paulie
Last edited by Paul FitzGerald on Tue Feb 13, 2018 10:16 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Fabrizio
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Re: Al Brass

Post by Fabrizio » Tue Feb 13, 2018 9:52 am

I didn't know Al Brass; but he was part of my "Jeep World"!

He was that small lettering, "Al Brass" on JeepDraws pictures, one of the guys that gave me the will to document, read, browse, scroll, google for months and years about every single bolt and nut; one of the guys that gave me the will to raise my restauration and knowledge as far as it could possibly be done!

He would, maybe, be proud to know how much he has brought to dozens of little guys like me, all around the world, connected only by some wires and a screen.

All my sympathy goes to his family, friends, and all the people who knew him and will miss him.
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Re: Al Brass

Post by mn42ford » Tue Feb 13, 2018 10:22 am

My condolences to his family.

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Re: Al Brass

Post by MikeNZ » Tue Feb 13, 2018 1:13 pm

I was really really saddened to read the obituary in our local newspaper yesterday morning. I live in the same city as Al and Beryl.

I met Al Brass about eighteen years ago, when he was a customer of a company I worked for. He heard I had an interested in WW2 jeeps, and brought his GPW around, so I could take it for a drive. That was the kind of guy he was.


A few months later, he wanted to take both his jeeps on a local vehicle rally, and so asked me if I would drive his MB in the rally for him. He let me take it home overnight, and driving it back to my place with my then young children, with them grinning, as the occasional vehicle tooted their horns and the occupants waving, is an enduring memory I will keep forever. He let me drive his jeeps several times, and I learnt a lot from him about these great vehicles. The fun I experienced driving his jeeps will be etched in my memory, and one day I will get one myself.

I lost touch a little with him, but spoke on the phone a few times. The irony is that I was thinking of him last week, and I intended to call him to drop in and visit, as it was well overdue. It wasn't meant to be.

I'm feeling really sad right now, as the world has lost a really great person, far too soon, and I wont get to catch up with him again.

Rest in peace Al. And my heartfelt condolences to Beryl and the Brass family.

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Re: Al Brass

Post by JAB » Tue Feb 13, 2018 6:10 pm

So sad. Al helped a lot of us here on the Gee. He will be missed. My condolences to the family, including us here on the Gee, his family of friends and fellow jeepers.
-Jeff

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tamnalan
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Re: Al Brass

Post by tamnalan » Wed Feb 14, 2018 4:13 am

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Alan W. Johnson
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Kings
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Re: Al Brass

Post by Kings » Thu Feb 15, 2018 1:18 am

Sadly I never met him, but he always helped me. You knew if he posted a reply to you it would be a good info.
RIP Al

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Re: Al Brass

Post by jeepfinger » Fri Feb 16, 2018 10:41 am

Such sad news, I never met Al, but like a lot of others have said, he was an inspiration to all the Jeeping community. I used the photo's of Al's GPW for a lot of referances, a beautiful Jeep.


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Re: Al Brass

Post by Marc Roberts » Fri Feb 16, 2018 8:26 pm

There is no greater generosity to aspiring restorers than to be generous with your knowledge and time,

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Re: Al Brass

Post by Mark Tombleson » Fri Feb 16, 2018 10:24 pm

I think this was the last time he was at Tower Park.

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Please correct me if I'm wrong.
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Mike Soltis
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Re: Al Brass

Post by Mike Soltis » Sat Feb 17, 2018 4:01 am

What sad news indeed. My condolences to his family. It's been mentioned by others already but when I first found this site I somehow gravitated to Al & he became a trusted resource to a young GPW owner wishing to restore my GPW to the level of his. he never once shied away from the lists of basic questions I would throw his way. I wish I had the opportunity to have met & thanked him in person. Thank you AL for all your kindness, patience & wealth of knowledge you have shared with us. Rest in peace my god be with you.. Mike
1942 GPW 81835 Chester, PA. USA 20186310
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Carsten
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Re: Al Brass

Post by Carsten » Sun Feb 18, 2018 6:57 am

Very sad news indeed.
Unfortunately, I never met Al in real life, but he helped me on many occasions here on g503, and has made countless contributions to our hobby.
What a tremendous loss, not only because of his wide knowledge and experience in WWII jeeps, but also because the world is a poorer place without such a kind and helpful man as Al Brass.
The best wishes to his family.
Carsten
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David
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Re: Al Brass

Post by David » Mon Feb 19, 2018 2:00 am

Very sad news, I never met Al but the pics of his GPW on JeepDraw were usually my first stop if I needed information on how something was fitted. A real loss to the jeep-community! :cry:

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Chuck Lutz
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Re: Al Brass

Post by Chuck Lutz » Mon Feb 19, 2018 8:28 am

Mark....I believe you are correct that 2011 was Al's last trip to Tower Park....here is the rest of the gang...
TP 2011.jpg
TP 2011.jpg (96.92 KiB) Viewed 492 times
First we lost Joe Potter (2nd from left back row) then Al (2nd from left front row).
Chuck Lutz

GPW 17963 4/24/42 Chester, PA. USA 20113473 (USA est./Tom W.)
Bantam T3-C 1947

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Mark Tombleson
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Re: Al Brass

Post by Mark Tombleson » Mon Feb 19, 2018 10:09 am

Yes, Al, Joe and Mark Open... though I cannot remember if Mark had a shirt?

Al looks good in his with that cap.

I cannot remember how many shirts were made but we all had them... Even Mike Wright I think. Jon Rogers made his a little different... 22 maybe?
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