How should I use this bumper jack to change a flat? What is the proper indicated oil pressure at a road speed of 50 mph? How often should the front wheel bearings be serviced? These and similar questions are probably answered in the owner's manual for your car. So the Owner's Manuals are not just collectibles--they can be useful to us in enjoying our cars.

     Now you may have no interest at all in collecting paper items for K-F cars--but I think everyone should attempt to at least get the proper owner's manual for their K-F product. If nothing else the manual can make a nice addition when showing your car. And as already indicated the manual might even be useful.

The 1951 Henry J manual is not a manual at all in the conventional sense but instead is a sort of "road map" to the car. The map unfolds to a two-sided sheet measuring 21 x 24 inches. It carries the part number 740343 and is rose, black, and white. It originally came in an envelope along with a service policy and owner's card. The envelope has part number 740577. Radio and air conditioner instructions were available as needed. These manuals are almost always found in an original envelope--this is probably because most owners probably hid them from public view that way.

The 1952 Henry J Vagabonds evidently used the same manual as the 1951 Henry J.

The "real" 1952 Henry J came with the same type manual as used in 1951--colors are now blue, black, and white with part number 740988. The illustrations show the new features of the cars. The matching blue, black, and white envelope has part number 740987 and included service policy and owner's card along with air conditioner and radio instructions as required.

Click on Manual Cover above to view it in detail

The 1952 Allstate manual is red, black, and white covers and 20 pages. It measures 5 x 7 inches with part number RF28-99996. These came in an envelope with service policy and owner's card plus air conditioner and radio instructions as required. A rare item--if you find one and can afford it, you should grab it because you probably will not find another.

Click on the Manual Cover above to view it in detail

The 1953 Henry J finally merited a real manual rather than a "map." The blue, black, and white item has 32 pages and the part number is 740880. The back cover has slots for the service policy and owner's card. Air conditioner and radio instructions were included as required. These are not as easy to find as the 1951 or 1952 items.

I have never seen a 1953 Allstate manual, but Ray Tomb's description for it is the same as the 1952 version except the cover is orange, black, and white. Pay what they want for it if you can find one.

Henry J Custom Radio with Foot Control Owner's Manual - KF 100219
Thanks to Mark Steele

Henry J Custom Radio Owner's Manual - KF 100205
Thanks to Mark Steele

A word about prices. I listed estimated prices in the original versions of this article but the manuals have become so scarce it is not possible to do that now. You have to decide what you are willing to pay and then find someone who is willing to sell for that price! My only advice is the same that I have given before--if you don't know literature, be sure you know the seller.

Good luck in your search for manuals.

This article was originally published in slightly different form as the Collector's Corner feature in the Kaiser Frazer Owners Club Quarterly Volume 30 No 1.

Home