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1912

 

JAN 5 Acc. 575, Letter 261, Ford Archives
T-4322 Hub brake cable. Changed from 12 feet to 14 feet.
T-4335 hub brake cable clamp. Changed number required from 8 to 4.
T-4333 Hub brake cable assembly. Removed the cable clamps from one end and showed the cable to be fastened by being wound with fine brass wire (#20 B&S=.032) and soldered in place.
(Ford used rear brake cables on cars shipped to Germany.)

 

JAN 9 Acc. 575, Letter 263, Ford Archives
T-520 starting crank handle. "Replaced knurling on handle with ridges and grooves. Changed material from hard rubber to aluminum and specified the handle to be black enamel."

 

JAN 15 Acc. 575, Letter 265, Ford Archives
T-4334 Hub brake cable pulley. "Change radius at bottom of groove from 1/32 to 1/16"." (Cars to Germany)

 

JAN 18 Acc. 575, Letter 267, Ford Archives
T-4322 Hub brake cable. Changed diameter from 1/8 to 5/32.
T-4334 Hub brake cable pulley. Changed radius at bottom of groove for cable from 1/16 to 5/64.

 

JAN 19 Branch letter #15 to Atlanta
In response to requests for unpainted Delivery Cars, this letter announced the availability of this style "delivered in the lead," which is just the undercoat. Included in this letter is the following: "You understand, of course, that the chassis will all be black, including the fenders, this lead proposition applying only to the body." This seems to indicate that chassis and fenders on all cars were all black at this date because it hardly seems likely that chassis and fenders would be painted black just for the Delivery Cars.

 

JAN 24 Acc. 575, Letter 268, Ford Archives
T-4333 Hub brake cable assembly. Changed size of cable from 1/8 to 5/32. Also changed size of cable clamps. (Cars to Germany)

 

FEB 8 Acc.565, Letter 398, Ford Archives
T-4332 Hub Brake Cable. "We have changed the diameter from 1/4" to 15/64"." Had also changed the size of the wires and the number of wires that made up this cable.

 

FEB 10 Acc. 575, Letter 274, Ford Archives
T-686 Hot air pipe. "This pipe has been redesigned and material changed from cast iron to cold rolled steel."

 

FEB 15 Acc. 575, Factory Letter 276, Ford Archives
T-520 starting crank handle. (Aluminum) "Removed ridges from outside of handle and added dimensions specifying the exact shape of same. Called for polish all over."

 

FEB 20 Acc. 575, Factory Letter 277, Ford Archives
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.
It would appear that, as with the brake cables, Ford used a worm steering gear on some production. (Cars to Germany) Reference to such steering parts was also found in the 1920 Factory Parts List.

 

MAR 8 Acc. 575, Letter 281, Ford Archives
T-91-1/2 "Changed name from rear spring hanger (with wide flanges on stud end) to rear spring hanger. Changed radius for flange on stud end from 5/8 to 1/2. This makes the flanges on both ends the same diameter. Also changed the number required from 2 to 4."
T-91 Rear spring hanger (with narrow flange on stud end) Obsolete and replaced by T91-1/2.
T-246 front spring hanger replaces T229 as described above.

 

MAR 16 Acc. 575, Letter 284, Ford Archives
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." (Cars to Germany)

 

APR 16 Acc. 1701, Releases, Ford Archives
T1141 (Radiator front wall)
"Made in USA" to be placed on this part (radiator). Extreme care should be taken not to cut the letters clear thru the metal."

 

APR 16 Acc. 575, Letter 295, Ford Archives
T-240B front and rear hub cap. "Have specified the note "Made in U.S.A." to be placed on cap."
T-2530 & 2531 running boards. Specified to have the "Made in U.S.A." added.
T-400C cylinder block also to have the U.S.A. added.

 

MAY 9 Acc. 575, Letter 304, Ford Archives
T-901B "Steering wheel rim changed from 12-3/8" i.d. to 12-1/2". This changes the outside diameter from 15" to 15-1/8"."

 

MAY 15 Acc. 575, Letter 305, Ford Archives
T-240B hub cap. Specified that the note "Made in U.S.A." be embossed instead of stamped. "This means that all the letters on this cap will be embossed and the background oxidized."

 

JUN 11 Acc. 575, Letter 314, Ford Archives
T-410 camshaft. "Redesigned, bringing the shape of the cams up to date with the change in T-533 (drawing of the cams); also changing the angle between the Exhaust and Inlet cams from 111 degrees to 113 25' degrees. This change to take place on the 1913 car. (To be used when present stock of camshafts is used up.)"
T-901B steering wheel. Cross section made larger, from 1-1/4 to 1-3/8". Inside diameter now 12-1/4, O.D. the same."
T-156 1/8" brass pipe plug used on cylinder head (four used). Head drilled and 1/8" drill to combustion chambers. (Drilled with 21/64" later, according to letter #319 of 7-3-12.)

 

JUN 13 Acc. 575, Letter 315, Ford Archives
T-2852 and 2853. New (1913) rear axle housings specified for use on 1913 cars.

 

JUN 14 Acc. 575, Letter 316, Ford Archives
T-4476 Cylinder oil tube funnel. "To be a brass casting and only to be used until the brass stamping funnels can again be obtained, after which the brass casting will be obsolete."
Note: During July many references were made to the "1913" touring car bodies.

 

JUN 14 Acc. 509, Letter, Ford Archives
Production sold out (except for 1,000 Delivery Wagons) until September 1. No orders accepted except for Delivery Wagons.

 

JUL 29 Acc. 575, Letter 329, Ford Archives<
T-55 Hub brake shoe. "Redesigned and change number required from two to four. The new shoe will require two brake shoe springs."

 

AUG 10 Acc. 575, Letter 335, Ford Archives
T-410 camshaft. Angle between intake and exhaust cams changed from 113 degrees 25 min. to 115 degrees 21-1/2 min.

 

AUG 16 Acc. 575, Letter 337, Ford Archives
T-685 Breather pipe cap. " `Made in U.S.A.' under the name `Ford'; also specified the name `Ford' to be embossed, and the `Made in U.S.A.' to be stamped."

 

AUG 27 Acc. 509, Letter, Ford Archives
Orders being accepted for all models except the Roadster.

 

AUG 30 Acc. 575, Letter 342, Ford Archives
T-428 Exhaust and intake valve stem bushing. "New drawing. This bushing is to be used when, owing to the variation of the cylinder castings, the holes for valve stems do not come concentric with the bosses for same, in which case the bosses are machined off, and a 1/2 inch hole reamed in the casting, allowing for this special bushing to be pressed in place."

 

SEP 4 Acc. 575, Letter 344, Ford Archives
T-528B Starting Crank Ratchet. "Redesigned changing material from drop forging to pressed steel." (This experimental ratchet was noted earlier in the Factory Letters as being made at the Buffalo plant, which was formerly the Keim company which developed the deep pressings for the crankcase, rear axles, etc.)

 

SEP 28 Acc. 509, Letter, Ford Archives
Prices (1913 models?): Touring, $600. Torpedo, $525. Delivery Wagon, $625. Town Car, $800.

 

OCT 1 Acc. 575, Letter 352, Ford Archives
T-1414-B and 1413-B Front Fenders. Notes the change in the front flange (bill) from the 1912 pattern to the new 1913 pattern (no bill). Further comments that if one fender is replaced on an older car, both fenders would be needed to have a "matched set." Other minor modifications were made in the overall design to better facilitate installation on the 1913 cars.

 

OCT 5 Acc. 509, Letter, Ford Archives
"The only equipment permitted to be attached to any Ford cars is a robe rail, a clock, and a tool box on the running board. No exhaust cut-outs, trunk racks, bumpers, batteries or other items mentioned in previous letters should be recommended or permitted to be put on Ford cars either by our branches or by our dealers; and, as previously noted, our guarantee will become void if devices of this sort are attached."

 

OCT 11 Acc. 575, Letter 355, Ford Archives
T-603. "Changed name from Fan Pulley Driven to Fan. We have made this change in name because the pulley has been re-designed, specifying the fan blades and pulley to be cast in one piece. Change material from bronze to aluminum. We call your attention to the fact that when this drawing was first issued as experimental, the ends of the blades were 2" wide. They have been changed to 2-1/2" wide."
T-1546 Transmission Cover Door. "Redesigned this piece making it a simple flat piece of sheet steel."

 

OCT 17 Ford Archives
T291B front wheel assembly. Specifed 3/16" rivets to be used to hold the rim to the felloe, replacing the #10 x 3/4" flat-head wood screws being used. Also specified that the hole for the inner tube valve stem be lined with 9/16" 25 ga. steel tubing to prevent chafing.

 

OCT 18 Acc. 575, Letter 357, Ford Archives
T-1215. Muffler Asbestos. "Added note specifying this asbestos to be dyed black. Note: If possible we would like to have the muffler asbestos which we have on hand colored black in some way, also that the muffler straps be black enameled."

 

OCT 28 Acc. 509, Letter, Ford Archives
Torpedo Runabouts sold out. None to be available until January 1, 1913.

 

NOV 1 Ford Times
1913 Models illustrated.

 

NOV 5 Letter, Ford to Chicago branch, Acc. 509, Ford Archives
"Whenever you have the occasion to furnish rear axle housings in pairs, be sure to send out the 1913 design. You are also privileged to replace old housings with the new ones at half the catalog price whenever such an exchange is desired by the customer.
"We will furnish 1913 fenders for both 1912 and 1913 cars and will discontinue altogether any further 1912 type fenders. Where customers object to the absence of visor on the forward end of the front fenders, instruct them to trim off the opposite 1912 fender to correspond."

 

NOV 6 Letter, Ford to the Buffalo branch, Ford Archives
"Under separate cover we are mailing you a small quantity of prints of the new Ford Touring Car for 1913. You will notice that these prints are exceptionally clear ones, and we believe they can be used to good advantage by your salesmen."
Which would seem to indicate they made "1913" cars long before they were actually delivered.

 

NOV 6 Acc. 509, Letter, Ford Archives
Kingston Master Vibrator coils discontinued. Replaced with 4-coil Heinze or Kingston boxes at $10 exchange. About 10% of 1913 cars to use K-W coils. (Apparently Ford installed master vibrator coils at the factory or branches.)

 

NOV 11 Acc. 509, Ford Archives
Steering rods and balls 2725, 2725B, 2726, 2726B, 2727, 2727B discontinued. Brazed units only available from here on.

 

DEC 1 Ford Times
1913 Runabout shown.

 

DEC 3 Acc. 509, Letter, Ford Archives
Delivery Wagons sold out and discontinued.

 

DEC 3 Acc. 575, Letter 374, Ford Archives
T-902-B Steering Gear Spider. "Changed material from brass to malleable iron, changed note specifying spider to be black enameled instead of polished." (Refers to blueprint; the change probably was made earlier.)

 

DEC 5 Acc. 509, Letter, Ford Archives
Model N camshafts recalled because of a possibility of the dowel pin hole being drilled incorrectly.

 

DEC 13 Acc. 575, Letter 382, Ford Archive
T-512-B Inlet Pipe. "Changed material from pressed aluminum to cast iron."

 

DEC 19 Acc. 575, Letter 384, Ford Archives
T-619 Fan Assembly. Pressed blades, riveted to pulley, style reinstated. Notes that blades will be made of heavier material than earlier. Drawing to show pressed steel blades riveted to bronze pulley.

 

DEC 27 Acc. 575, Letter 387, Ford Archives
T-4446 Commutator Head. "Changed material from `W' brass casting to aluminum, and specified this piece to be a die casting."

 

DEC 31 (Factory Letter)
26,139 cars produced from October 1, 1912 to this date. (Fiscal 1913 production.)

 

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© Bruce W. McCalley. Rev. February 19, 2007