Oil consumption in original engines

[daveboy]

I am running the original 216 in my '52 half-ton. I am certain that it has been rebuilt at sometime in its long past, but not absolutely positive. My question is what type of oil consumption was considered "normal" for these old beasts? Mine seems to have all the power I would expect from an all-original. She smokes for just a second on start-up, but that is all. But, I was surprised to discover that she is using about 1 quart every 300+ miles. And, it is not leakage cause she is pretty tight...at least my garage floor thinks so.

So, what would be considered "normal?"

daveboy