Nethercutt Collection

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Nethercutt Collection
NethercuttLogo.jpg
Nethercuttgrandsalon.jpg
Grand Salon of the collection
Nethercutt Collection is located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Nethercutt Collection
Location within the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Established1972 (1972)
LocationSylmar, California, USA
Coordinates34°18′24″N 118°27′49″W / 34.30667°N 118.46361°W / 34.30667; -118.46361Coordinates: 34°18′24″N 118°27′49″W / 34.30667°N 118.46361°W / 34.30667; -118.46361
CollectionsAutomobiles and mechanical musical instruments
Collection size250+ automobiles
FounderJ.B. Nethercutt
OwnerNethercutt-Richards family
Websitenethercuttcollection.org

The Nethercutt Collection is a multi-storied private car collection and museum complex located in Sylmar, California. It was founded by J.B. Nethercutt in 1971 and its centerpiece is the prestigious automobile collection of the Nethercutt-Richards family, which has led several publications to name it as one of the greatest collections in the world.[1][2]

The collection also houses collections of mechanical musical instruments, including orchestrions, player pianos and music boxes, and antique furniture.[3] As Nethercutt's former residence, the San Sylmar penthouse tower was tied as the 23rd largest house in the United States at 60,000 square feet.[4]

Another unique piece in the collection is the Canadian Pacific Railway's famous Royal Hudson steam locomotive No. 2839 built in 1937. It is displayed with a 1912-built Pullman private sleeping car. The semi-streamlined Royal Hudson steam locomotive is one of four that survive today.[5][6] There are also two older-model railroad cars.[3]

The collection is free of charge and has been consistently listed as one of the top 10 things to do in Los Angeles.[7][8]

History[]

In 1956, J.B. Nethercutt (1913–2004), the cofounder of Merle Norman Cosmetics, purchased two cars: a 1936 Duesenberg Convertible Roadster and a 1930 DuPont Town Car, needing refurbishing. The DuPont restoration, which Nethercutt thought would take a few weeks, instead took 18 months and over $65,000. By 1958, his rebuilt project claimed its first prize — the coveted “Best of Show” award at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in California.[9]

In 1971, the Nethercutt Collection building was constructed, a 10-story tall tower in Sylmar, Los Angeles connected to a Merle Norman manufacturing plant, dubbed the "The Tower of Beauty" or "San Sylmar."[10] The first two stories of the tower; the Lower and Grand Salon, feature the most expensive vehicle collection of the family, with the Grand Salon being inspired by 1920s-30s New York City luxury car grand showrooms.[11] The third story features an awards room and collection of hood ornaments.[12] The fourth story consists of a music room with several large antique music boxes and player pianos, with a Wurlitzer theatre organ in the centerpiece of the room. The fourth floor also features a Louis XV styled dining room and a large kitchen.[13] The fifth floor has a theatre which includes a 24 karat gold proscenium arch next to a massive room of pianos. There was a 6th floor penthouse which J.B. used as his secondary residence.[10]

In the early 2000s, the Collection expanded and constructed a new display building directly across the street which was separately called the Nethercutt Museum. The building also contains the Nethercutt Automotive Research Library and Archive, which is considered one of the greatest in the world.[14][15] In comparison with the Collection which requires reserved guided tours, the newer Nethercutt Museum is openly self-guided.[7] Outside of the Museum contains a CPR steam locomotive Royal Hudson No. 2839 is presented together with a 1912 Pullman private car.[16]

After J.B. Nethercutt's death in 2004, the collection was handed down to his son Jack Nethercutt II along with his wife, Helen Nethercutt.[17] The collection had a budget of around $2.5 million a year.[1]

From 2020 to 2021 the collection was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[18]

Vehicles[]

The Twenty Grand and Hussy

Cars[]

The Nethercutt Collection has over 250 prestigious, antique, and exotic vehicles from American and European origin, notably including from Aston Martin, Austin-Healey, Bentley, Bugatti, Cadillac, Duesenberg, Ferrari, Lincoln, Maybach, Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce and others.[19] Several vehicles in the Collection were formerly owned by world leaders and public figures such as Emir Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah, Marjorie Merriweather Post, Tim Allen, and others.[15]

Notably the Collection's custom 1933 Arlington Torpedo Duesenberg Model SJ dubbed the Twenty Grand was a key display at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. Its one-off design by Gordon Buehrig is considered to be the most beautiful Duesenberg built and is one of the most valuable cars in the world.[20][21][22]

Locomotive[]

The Collection acquired Canadian Pacific Railway's famous Royal Hudson steam locomotive No. 2839 which was built in 1937, it is displayed with a fully restored 1912 Pullman private sleeping car outside of the museum complex. No. 2839 steam locomotive is one of four that survive today.[5][6]

Music[]

The Collection houses dozens of world-class antique music sets, including mechanical musical instruments, phonographs, massive orchestrions, dozens of player pianos and music boxes, and antique furniture.[3] The Nethercutt Collection's Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ is the largest theatre organ in the Western U.S. and third largest in the world.[23][24][25]

Events[]

The Collection hosts silent film screenings and organ concerts in the 4th floor music room, using the Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ.[24][25]

Every year until his death, J.B. Nethercutt would take dozens of cars from the Collection with family, friends, and invited guests on a cruise through the hills to a picnic at Frazier Park with catered foods from the professional chefs at the Collection. The event was one of the most exclusive items on any car lovers wish list as Autoweek magazine described it, "You can be as rich as Bill Gates or have a collection as big as that of the Sultan of Brunei, but you don't get a personal invitation from J.B. Nethercutt himself."[26]

From 2008 to 2010 the Collection's vehicles served as the lead car and transport of the Grand Marshals of the Rose Parade, including Emeril Lagasse, Cloris Leachman, and Chesley Sullenberger.[27]

Concours d'Elegance[]

The Nethercutt Collection team and family competes in several prestigious concours d'Elegance competitions internationally. The Collection is considered as one of the greatest teams of all time in the competitions and has won hundreds of awards since its foundation. The Collection has won dozens of Best of Show victories, including a record six Best of Show titles at the pinnacle Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and five at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, both more than any other competitor.[28][29][30][31]

Notable results[]

Below is a list of notable known Best of Show victories:

Competition event Best of Show
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance[28] 1958, 1959, 1969, 1970, 1980, 1992
Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance[31] 2005, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2016
Palos Verdes Concours d'Elegance[32] 2009, 2012
Las Vegas Concours d'Elegance[33] 2019

Nethercutt Automotive Research Library[]

The museum contains the Nethercutt Automotive Research Library which contains archived encyclopedic engineering materials on American and European vehicles since the end of the 19th century, such as owner's manuals and engineering documents. It is considered one of the ten greatest automotive research libraries in the world.[34]

Accolades and Awards[]

The Collection has been named as one of the greatest car collections in the world by The New York Times[35], Los Angeles Times[36], Motor Trend,[37] CNET,[38] CBS,[39] and several other publications. It is listed as one of America's five greatest automobile museums by Autoweek.[40]

Television personality and car collector Jay Leno described the Collection as a "Smithsonian-style effort on the history of transportation in America" and "The hall of fame for cars.”[41]

In popular culture[]

The Royal Hudson steam locomotive No. 2839 appeared in the 1980 Coal Miner's Daughter film, which won an Academy Award.[42][43]

The 1949 film The Great Gatsby featured the 1936 Duesenberg SJN now owned by the Collection.[44]

In 2011, Merle Norman Cosmetics and OPI Products styled its "Hussy" perfume and lipstick line after the Collection's distinctively red "Hussy" 1934 Packard LeBaron Sport Phaeton, which is nicknamed after John Hussey.[45][46]

Gallery[]

  • Tower of Beauty

  • Back view of the museum and collection complex

  • Grand salon view 1

  • Grand salon view 2

  • 4th floor music room

  • Mighty Wurlitzer theatre organ

  • Portion of the Wurlizer pipe organs

  • Louis XV dining room

  • Museum display

  • Cars in the museum

  • Outside display with the Royal Hudson and Pullman Car

  • One of the Collection's storage rooms with an Aston Martin DB9

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "A Beauty of a Car Collection". Los Angeles Times. 2001-03-07. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
  2. ^ "J. B. Nethercutt, 91, Co-Founder of Merle Norman Cosmetics, Dies". The New York Times. The Associated Press. 2004-12-11. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-07-15.
  3. ^ a b c The Nethercutt Collection website. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  4. ^ "As a Merchant of Beauty, Merle Norman's J.B. Nethercutt Has Grown Handsomely Rich". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
  5. ^ a b "THE MUSEUM LOCOMOTIVE & PRIVATE CAR". www.nethercuttcollection.org. Retrieved 2020-09-19.
  6. ^ a b http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/archiveThumbs.aspx?id=57857
  7. ^ a b "Visitor Information". www.nethercuttcollection.org. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
  8. ^ "The Nethercutt Collection (Los Angeles) - 2021 All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)". Tripadvisor. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  9. ^ Milian, Gabriela (2019-09-30). "Vintage car museum in Sylmar takes you back in time - for free!". ABC7 Los Angeles. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
  10. ^ a b "As a Merchant of Beauty, Merle Norman's J.B. Nethercutt Has Grown Handsomely Rich". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved 2020-09-02.
  11. ^ "Nethercutt Collection - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  12. ^ "Automobile Collectibles and Antiques". www.nethercuttcollection.org. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
  13. ^ "Nethercutt Collection « Los Angeles Theatre Organ Society". Retrieved 2020-04-18.
  14. ^ "The Nethercutt Automotive Research Library and Archive". www.nethercuttcollection.org. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  15. ^ a b https://www.automobilemag.com/news/visual-tour-nethercutt-collection-museum-classic-cars-photos/. "A Visual Tour of the Incredible Nethercutt Museum Collection". {{cite web}}: External link in |last= (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ "The Nethercutt Collection". trainweb.org. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
  17. ^ "Founders of the Nethercutt Collection" Nethercutt Collection, Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  18. ^ "The Nethercutt Collection". www.nethercuttcollection.org. Retrieved 2020-08-31.
  19. ^ "Automobile History". www.nethercuttcollection.org. Retrieved 2020-09-08.
  20. ^ www.hemmings.com https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2012/01/13/duesenberg-twenty-grand-tribute-to-cross-the-block-at-russo-and-steele. Retrieved 2021-01-13. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  21. ^ "Automobile History". www.nethercuttcollection.org. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  22. ^ "COACHBUILD.COM - Rollston Duesenberg SJ Arlington Torpedo Sedan 'Twenty Grand' 1933". www.coachbuild.com. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  23. ^ "LA Fridays with Bob and Tom: Nethercutt Museum and Collection | Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior". www.semel.ucla.edu. Retrieved 2021-03-11.
  24. ^ a b "Silent Cinema Society". Silent Film Society. 2020-04-18. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
  25. ^ a b "ATOS | SPOOKY SILENT MOVIES". www.atos.org. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
  26. ^ Vaughn, Mark (2002-01-27). "Reborn To Run: Once a year the Nethercutt Museum goes out for a ride". Autoweek. Retrieved 2020-09-08.
  27. ^ "Special Events". www.nethercuttcollection.org. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
  28. ^ a b "Classic Car Week: Return of a champion". Monterey Herald. 2015-08-13. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
  29. ^ Segura, Eleonor (Mar 19, 2019). "A Visual Tour of the Incredible Nethercutt Museum Collection". Automobile. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
  30. ^ "Awards". www.nethercuttcollection.org. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
  31. ^ a b "Previous Winners - Amelia Concours d'Elegance". www.ameliaconcours.org. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  32. ^ "2009 Winners". PV Concours d'Elegance. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
  33. ^ "Check Out Las Vegas Concours D'Elegance 2019". AutoClassics.com. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
  34. ^ https://www.automobilemag.com/news/visual-tour-nethercutt-collection-museum-classic-cars-photos/. "A Visual Tour of the Incredible Nethercutt Museum Collection". {{cite web}}: External link in |last= (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  35. ^ "J. B. Nethercutt, 91, Co-Founder of Merle Norman Cosmetics, Dies". The New York Times. The Associated Press. 2004-12-11. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-07-15.
  36. ^ "A Beauty of a Car Collection". Los Angeles Times. 2001-03-07. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
  37. ^ "A Visual Tour of the Nethercutt Automobile Collection | Automobile Magazine". MotorTrend. 2019-03-19. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  38. ^ Morrison, Geoffrey. "A tour of the Nethercutt Museum and Collection: From classic cars to self-playing orchestras". CNET. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  39. ^ "Nethercutt Collection and Museum: For Car Buffs, Worth the Trip to the Valley". 2011-10-14. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  40. ^ Gross, Ken (2012-02-22). "America's greatest automobile museums". Autoweek. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  41. ^ "J.B. Nethercutt, 91; Co-Founder of Merle Norman, Car Collector". Los Angeles Times. 2004-12-10. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  42. ^ http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/archiveThumbs.aspx?id=57857
  43. ^ http://www.citizen-times.com/story/life/2014/05/22/portrait-past-royal-hudson-train/9461163/
  44. ^ Morrison, Geoffrey. "Nethercutt Museum and Collection: Classic cars, trains, and more (pictures) - Page 27". Roadshow. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  45. ^ "Venerable cosmetics company Merle Norman gets a makeover". LA Times Blogs - All The Rage. 2011-05-03. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  46. ^ "Insights Into The Hussy Story - Crescenta Valley Weekly". Retrieved 2020-05-20.

External links[]

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