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Records at the Ford Archives indicate that Ford built at
least two special "racing" engines in 1910 and 1911. One of these had
a bore and stroke of 4 x 5-1/2" and the other of 3-1/2 x 5". These
were not, apparently, the same design as Model T engines; having a separate
magneto, water pumps, etc. In addition, Ford built special front and rear axles,
and other items.
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JAN 1 | Ford Times |
Torpedo Runabout first advertised. New 1911 Touring at $780.
With three oil lamps, horn and tools only, $700.
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JAN 4 | Acc. 575, Ford Archives |
T-95E rear axle assembly (with the malleable iron case) blue
prints are indicated. T1990 gas tank for 1911 Open Runabout/Torpedo changed from ectangular to round.
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JAN 5 | Acc.575, Ford Archives |
T-3403 Town Car speaking tube noted.
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JAN 6 | Acc. 575, Ford Archives |
Notes on changes in touring bodies made by Beaudett Body Co.,
Hayes Mfg. Co., and Ford in Walkerville, Ontario, Canada. Beaudett bodies are
identified as "Pontiac" on the shipping invoices, apparently because
Beaudett was located in Pontiac, Michigan.
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JAN 10 | Acc. 575, Ford Archives |
T-1367C and 1398C brake rod supports were changed from left
to right, and vice-versa, due to a change in their location on the 1911 cars. T2314 (Open Runabout and Torpedo) gas tank filler flange changed from polished surface to blue enamel after assembled on tank. "Should be enameled only from the bottom part of the flange up to the lower part of the thread. The filler cap is changed from brass to malleable iron, and finish is changed from polished brass to blue enamel.
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JAN 12 | Acc. 575, Ford Archives |
T1097C dash shield NOT to be black enameled.
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JAN 20 | Acc. 575, Ford Archives |
T400C cylinder crankshaft bearings changed from die cast
babbitt to poured babbitt. (T400C is the new cylinder with the enclosed valve
chamber.)
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FEB | Shipping invoices, Ford Archives |
Many cars marked "1911 front axle" and "1911
transmission cover" (the square-hole cover but wider than the 1910). The first babbitt-bearing engine blocks (T400C) appeared at about 38,263.
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FEB 20 | Factory Letter 277 |
T-5015 Steering gear case (for worm steering gears). New drawing. T-904 Steering gear case specified to be used with regular steering gear. T-983, T4128 and T5010 Worm steering gear assemblies.
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FEB 23 | Acc. 575, Ford Archives |
Brake lever and foot pedal plates specified to be
black-painted steel instead of brass-plated and polished. The hand brake lever
was also changed from brass-plated to black painted. T-1603 dash lamp bracket
changed from brass to blued steel.
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FEB 27 | Acc. 575, Ford Archives |
Notes on the use of the new tapered rear axle to be used on
the 1911 cars.
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MAR 7 | Acc. 575, Ford Archives |
T-990, 991 worm steering gear parts modified. Blue prints
indicate these were used on "T chassis with worm steering gear" at
least through 1926. These came in 6:1 and 7:1 ratios.
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MAR 15 | Acc. 575, Ford Archives |
"T-401C cylinder head. We have increased the compression
space, by moving the wall on cylinder head up 3/32 of an inch."
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MAR 16 | Factory Letter 284 |
T-991 "Changed name from steering worm sector to
steering worm wheel. Have also specified this piece to be a complete wheel
instead of only a sector, thereby allowing the wheel to be turned around from
one side to the other as the teeth become worn out. This will allow one piece to
be used twice as long as before."
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MAR 25 | Acc. 575, Ford Archives |
Notes regarding modifications in the rear axle with the
tapered axle. Perhaps this axle was in use by this time.
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MAR 28 | Shipping invoices, Ford Archives |
First marked "Removable Bottom." (S/N 44,420)
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APR 1 | Ford Times |
First appearance of non-Ford ads in the magazine.
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APR 7 | Acc. 575, Ford Archives |
Holes in engine and transmission side pans changed to slots
of facilitate installation.
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APR 7 | Shipping invoices, Ford Archives |
First noted "All 1911 motor." (S/N 46,326).
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MAY 19 | Acc. 575, Ford Archives |
Boss added to steering arm to support the speedometer swivel gear.
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MAY 26 | Acc. 575, Ford Archives |
Rear seat heel board changed to metal, eliminating the door
in this panel.
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JUN 1 | Ford Times List of Ford colors and prices of all models: |
Model A Runabout, Carmine $850, with Tonneau Carmine $950 Model B Touring, Dark Green, $2000 Model C Runabout, Dark Green or Red, $900, with Tonneau, $1000 Model F, Dark Green, $1000 Model N, Maroon, Dark Green, or Black, $600 Model R, Brewster Green or Carmine Red, $750 Model S Roadster, Red or Green, with Yellow gear, $700 ** Model S Runabout, Red, $700 *** Model K Touring, Blue, $2800 Model K 6-40 Roadster, Red, $2800 Model T All types Brewster Green * * Prior to June, 1909, Model T's came in carmine Red, gray, and Brewster Green. The
same green continued until late 1910 when the extremely dark blue became standard
(1911 models?). (Brewster Green is an all-but-black color.)
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JULY | Shipping invoices, Ford Archives |
"1912" (12-rivet type) rear axle housings began at
about 61,000.
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JUL 11 | Acc. 575, Ford Archives |
T-55A brake shoe, T-55B brake band assembly and associated
parts shown. Apparently a lined brake shoe specified for "1912" cars.
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AUG | Shipping invoices, Ford Archives |
Many invoices marked "No stripes on gear and
fenders." A good number of invoices were so noted, which might indicate that such
striping was common up to that time. The spindle arm with the hole for the speedometer swivel began during August 1911.\
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AUG | Acc. 575, Ford Archives |
A number of references to the use of the Kingston Master
Vibrator on "1912" cars "after the first 20,000."
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OCT 1 | Acc. 509, Letter dated Sept. 15, 1911, Ford Archives |
Prices to be effective this date: Touring, $690. Roadster,
$590. Town Car, $900. Delivery Wagon, $700. Torpedo, $725. Open Runabout, $680.
Coupe, $840. "Coupe to be discontinued in a few weeks." Dealers were advised that cars shipped until October 1 would be billed at the old price but that they should be sold after that date at the new price. No rebate was to be given.
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OCT 2 | Acc. 509, Ford Archives |
Old-style commutators no longer available. New front plate
and a new commutator to be furnished for replacements.
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OCT 6 | Acc. 509, Letter, Ford Archives |
Motor and body numbers not to agree in the future.
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OCT 12 | Acc. 509, Ford Archives |
New 1912 Torpedo using standard height seats was announced at $590.
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OCT 13 | General Letter |
"Please return to us at once all of the Kingston master
vibrator spark coils with which many cars shipped out during the past few weeks
may have been equipped, also return any extra coil units or parts thereof that
we may have supplied you for repair purposes. These coils are not satisfactorily made, and we wish you would replace all of them on customers’ cars with the regular Heinze, no charge." The Kingston coil box had a built-in master vibrator along with the four "slave" coils. It was apparently used for just a short time in 1911.
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OCT 17 | Acc. 509, Letter, Ford Archives |
"Some days ago, we wrote you that we would not permit
the selecting of any particular car as a demonstrator; that you had to sell the
car to the customer you demonstrated it to, as we would not permit the making of
second-hand of any cars. Some question has been raised by some of the Branch
managers as to the practicality of this plan, and we have written them that it
is our opinion cars could be sold without any demonstration whatever; that the
guarantee that went with the cars was sufficient to warrant the investment by
users. If our organization for taking care of the cars; if our financial
standing and reputation is not sufficient to back up an investment of $700, or
more, then we are not entitled to the business, and further, a customer is not
entitled to more than that. "We have bought hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of machinery without a demonstration, and bought it simply on the guarantee and reputation of the concern selling us. We knew the concern had the ability to carry out their guarantee and their record proved that they had the disposition. We believe that we have established a reputation of ability to take care of our guarantee and we are confident that we have satisfied the public of our disposition to do so. "Therefore, from now on we will permit no demonstrations to be made of the delivery wagon. Salesmen will have to sell them off the floor or not at all. Therefore, there will be no excuse for cars becoming second-hand, or being sold at a reduced price, or being on the streets at all. We have long had it in mind that cars could be sold without a demonstration, if the cars were sufficiently reliable and sufficiently backed up by a good guarantee. We are, therefore, going to adopt it in the case of the Delivery Wagons." (Signed by the Secretary-Treasurer of the Ford Motor Company.)
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OCT 20 | Acc. 509, Letter, Ford Archives |
"In the writer's haste in getting out the letter of
October 17 on this subject (Delivery Wagons), we stated in the last paragraph
that there would be no excuse for cars being on the streets at all. We should
not have said this, as we intend to grant you the privilege of taking the cars
to the prospective purchaser's place of business for exhibition purposes only.
We cannot expect the customers to come up to your store, so you may take the
cars to their place of business for exhibition purposes, but you will not do any
demonstrating or perform any service for them."
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OCT 27 | Acc. 509, Letter, Ford Archives |
1912 Torpedo announced at $590. "An improvement over the
previous design as a result of complaints of low seat."
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NOV | Acc. 575, Ford Archives |
Several references to the 1912 Delivery body. These were made
by Beaudett Body Co. and Hilburn. Delivery bodies were shipped made up or "KD" (knocked down) for assembly elsewhere.
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NOV 1 | Ford Times |
1912 style Touring and a new Torpedo shown. "Fore
doors" in which the left side will not open are described. Town Cars now
have detachable front doors.
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NOV 11 | DeAngelus Collection, Ford Archives |
T655 valve cover door thumb screw changed to nut.
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NOV 18 | Acc. 575, Ford Archives |
Oil funnel changed from 5/8" wide to 3/4", and
length from 1" to 1-1/2".
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NOV 21 | Acc. 509, Letter, Ford Archives |
Discount allowed by Ford dealers to outside shops on parts
reduced to 15% (from 20%).
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DEC 6 | Acc. 509, Letter, Ford Archives |
Discounts allowed on cars to any one customer, in any one
year: 10, 2%; 20, 4%; 40, 8%; 50 or more, 10% maximum).
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DEC 8 | Acc. 575, Ford Archives |
T1091B dashboard (firewall). This dash used on 1911 touring
cars and first 1000 cars in 1912, and on town cars, and for repairs when these
1911 types are equipped with the Kingston Master Vibrator.
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GO TO 1910 GO TO 1912
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© Bruce W. McCalley. Rev. February 19, 2007 |