Classic/Antique Car Repair: 1950 Packard - starter motor, using jumper cables, max merritt

Question
My boy's 1950 Packard will not start...tick, tick, tick from starter even though the battery is charged and the cables are new and shiny.  Off the engine starter will not spin with 6 volts between the battery connection and the starter case.  He is in San Diego, who should he see?

Answer
Any large city will have a starter/generator rebuilder - check your yellow pages for a listing.

Be sure it is the starter and not the solenoid first, though, before you waste money.  Connect the battery using jumper cables, the positive cable clamp on the starter case, the negative cable clamp on the copper strap that is on the engine side of the starter solenoid (opposite the side that the regular cable goes to).  If that makes the starter spin, the problem is probably in the solenoid, not the starter.   The solenoids are getting hard to find - but check with your local auto electric place to see if they can supply one. If not, contact one of the Packard parts vendors (Kanter Brothers, Joel Ray, Max Merritt etc.).   If all else fails, contact me again, I can probably find a used one that will work.   I will need your e-mail address(I don't get that via this site).

Dick